Mounting device for building surfaces

• US 5,491,931 A
• Filed: 11/08/1994
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert M.M. Haddock
• Original Assignee: Robert M.M. Haddock
• Inventors: Haddock, Robert M. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENT, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US08/336,288
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/25, 52/26, 52/741.1, 52/542, 182/3, 182/45
• US Class Current: 52/25
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/103 De-icing devices or snow melters for drainage outlets E04D13/0409, for gutters E04D13/0762, for down pipes E04D13/08
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3261 Safety-nets; Safety mattresses; Arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines jumping-sheets, jumping-mattresses A62B1/22
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3276 Arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines fastening devices for devices for lowering persons from buildings A62B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3285 fastened to standing seams of the roof covering

Abstract

A mounting device for a building surface. The mounting device includes a mounting body having a slot extending therethrough. This slot may be positioned over/about a standing seam on a metal roof/sidewall and be appropriately secured thereto, such as by the use of blunt-nosed screws which engage the seam material. The mounting device also includes at least one mounting cavity which is adapted to receive an attachment, such as a snow retention device or an interconnector which then engages the attachment (e.g., a frame structure, sign).

Claims

1. An assembly for controlling the movement of ice and/or snow comprising:

a sloping surface of a building comprising a plurality of spaced, longitudinal raised portions, said raised portions extending from a peak of said sloping surface to a lower portion thereof and each being laterally separated by at least one base portion, wherein said raised portions are positioned a greater distance above a reference plane than said base portions;

a mounting device attachable to at least one of said raised portions of said sloping surface, wherein a first said mounting device is attached to a first of said raised portions and a second said mounting device is attached to a second of said raised portions;

a first member extending between and interconnected with each of said first and second mounting devices above at least one of said base portions; and

a second member attached to and extending away from said first member toward and into engagement with one of said base portions.

2. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said second member extends from said first member generally toward said peak at an angle.

3. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said second member comprises a generally convex surface which engages said base portion.

4. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said second member comprises a substantially rigid material.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for snap-fitting said second member onto said first member.

6. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said first and second raised portions are separated by a first distance and wherein a width of said second member is substantially less than said first distance.

7. An assembly for controlling the movement of ice and/or snow, comprising:

a sloping surface of a building comprising a plurality of spaced, longitudinal raised portions, said raised portions extending from a peak of said sloping surface to a lower portion thereof and each being laterally separated by at least one base portion, wherein said raised portions are positioned a greater distance above a reference plane than said base portions;

a mounting device attachable to at least one of said raised portions of said sloping surface, wherein a first said mounting device is attached to a first of said raised portions and a second said mounting device is attached to a second of said raised portions;

a first member extending between and interconnected with each of said first and second mounting devices above at least one of said base portions; and

a second member attached to and extending away from said first member toward and into engagement with one of said based portions;

wherein, said first member has a substantially circular cross section; and

wherein, said second member has an arcuate mounting cavity positionable about at least a portion of said first member and said arcuate mounting cavity comprises an inwardly projecting detent, wherein said second member is snap-fit onto said first member.

8. A method for controlling the movement of ice and/or snow on a sloping surface of a building, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching first and second mounting devices to said sloping surface in spaced relation;

interconnecting a first member with each of said first and second mounting devices such that said first member extends between said first and second mounting devices and is disposed above said sloping surface;

attaching a second member to said first member between said first and second mounting devices such that said second member extends away from said first member toward and into engagement with said sloping surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said attaching step comprises disposing said second member to extend from said first member toward a peak of said sloping surface relative to said first member, whereby snow and/or ice encountering said second member, when moving down said sloping surface encounters said second member prior to encountering said first member.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

bracing said second member against said sloping surface, said bracing step comprising snow and/or ice sliding down said sloping surface and encountering said second member.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said attaching step comprises snapping said second member onto said first member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said first member has a substantially circular cross-section; and

said second member has an arcuate mounting cavity positionable about at least a portion of said first member, said arcuate mounting cavity comprising an inwardly projecting detent, wherein said snapping step comprises using said detent.

13. A method for controlling the movement of ice and/or snow on a sloping surface of a building, said sloping surface comprising at least two raised portions, wherein said at least two raised portions are positioned a greater distance above a reference plane than at least one base portion positioned between said at least two raised portions, said method comprising the steps of:

interconnecting a first member with and extending said first member between said at least two raised portions of said sloping surface, said first member being spaced above said at least one base portion such that a passageway exists between said first member and said at least one base portion through which snow and/or ice could descend said sloping surface;

attaching a second member to said first member to extend away from said first member, said second member being in engagement with said at least one base portion of said sloping surface between said first member and a peak of said sloping surface, such that said second member, when encountering snow and/or ice moving down said sloping surface, will be braced against said at least one base portion to impair the movement of snow and/or ice downward through said passageway.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said attaching step comprises snapping said second member onto said first member.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

blocking only a portion of said passage way with said second member.

16. An assembly for controlling movement of snow and/or ice along a predetermined area of a sloping surface, comprising:

first and second mounting devices attachable to said sloping surface;

a substantially rigid first member interconnectable with each of said first and second mounting devices, wherein when said first and second mounting devices are attached to said sloping surface said first member is disposed above at least a substantial portion of said sloping surface between said first and second mounting devices;

a substantially rigid second member detachably interconnectable with said first member to extend away from said first member, wherein said second member has a width less than a length of said first member and wherein said second member has a length whereby when said first and second mounting devices are attached to said sloping surface and when said first member is interconnected with said first and second mounting devices and when said second member is detachably interconnected with said first member, said second member will engage said sloping surface at a location between said first and second mounting devices and said first and second members will control the movement of snow and/or ice down said sloping surface.