Snow guard for a metal roof

• US 5,732,513 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alley F. William
• Original Assignee: Alley F. William
• Inventors: Alley, F. William
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, WILLIAM GLENN
• Application Number:
  US08/760,667
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/25, 52/26, 411/432, 411/9.7
• US Class Current: 52/25
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device capable of being attached to a metal roof comprises a substantially perpendicular seam. The device comprises a block. A groove is located in the base of the block, and the block is locatable on the roof by placement of the groove on the seam. There are two embodiments for securing the block to the seam. In the first embodiment, a threaded hole is located in the block between the first side wall and the groove, and a cavity is located in the groove diametrical to the threaded hole. A set screw is locatable in the threaded hole. The set screw has an opening at its terminal end for receiving an element having a curved surface, the element protruding therefrom and pivotable therewithin. Driving the set screw into the hole causes the curved surface of the element to engage the seam, driving the seam towards the cavity of the groove diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the seam, and securing the block to the seam. In the second embodiment, a chamber is located in the base of the block. A cam is pivotally mounted within the chamber and translocatable within the groove. A cavity is located in the groove opposite the cam. Sliding the block along the seam causes the cam to engage the seam, driving the seam towards the cavity, thereby forming a pocket in the seam. Both embodiments secure the block to the roof without piercing or tearing the seam.

Claims

1. A device capable of being attached to a metal roof having a first roofing panel and a second roofing panel, the first and second roofing panels each having a bend therein located along a longitudinal axis thereof, the bend forming a substantially perpendicular longitudinal portion terminating at a first terminal end and a second terminal end, respectively, the longitudinal portion of the first roofing panel positioned in close proximity to the longitudinal portion of the second roofing panel forming a substantially perpendicular longitudinal seam, the first terminal end of the first roofing panel wrapped about the second terminal end of the second roofing panel forming a longitudinal joint, said device comprising:

a block having a first and a second side wall, a base and a top;

a groove located in the base of the block, wherein the block is locatable on the metal roof by placement of the groove over a segment of the longitudinal joint and a corresponding segment of the longitudinal seam;

a filler having a first and a second side wall, a base and a top, the filler locatable in the groove of the block between the segment of the longitudinal seam and the second side wall of the block such that the first side wall of the filler is in proximity to the segment of the longitudinal seam and the second side wall of the filler is in proximity to the second side wall of the block;

a first threaded hole located in the block between the first side wall of the block and the groove;

a first cavity located in the first side wall of the filler, the first cavity positionable diametrical to the first threaded hole;

a first element having a substantially curved surface;

a first set screw translocatable within the first threaded hole, the first set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the first element such that the curved surface of the first element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the first set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the first threaded hole, wherein driving the first set screw into the first threaded hole causes the substantially curved surface of the first element to engage a first portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the first element, relative to the first engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the first set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the first element, and wherein further driving of the first set screw causes the first engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the first cavity locatable in the first side wall of the filler diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the first engaged portion of the seam;

a second threaded hole located in the block between the second side wall of the block and the groove;

a third threaded hole located in the filler between the first side wall of the filler and the second side wall of the filler, the second threaded hole located in the block being positionable in line with the third threaded hole located in the filler;

a second cavity located in the groove, the second cavity positionable diametrical to the second and third threaded holes;

a second element having a substantially curved surface; and

a second set screw translocatable within the second and third threaded holes, the second set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the second element such that the curved surface of the second element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the second set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the second and third threaded holes, wherein driving the second set screw into the second and third threaded holes causes the substantially curved surface of the second element to engage a second portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the second element, relative to the second engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the second set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the second element, and wherein further driving of the second set screw causes the second engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the second cavity locatable in the groove diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the second engaged portion of the seam.

2. The device of claim 1, said device further comprising:

a fourth threaded hole located in the block between the first side wall of the block and the groove;

a third cavity located in the first side wall of the filler, the third cavity positionable diametrical to the fourth threaded hole;

a third element having a substantially curved surface; and

a third set screw translocatable within the fourth threaded hole, the third set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the third element such that the curved surface of the third element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the third set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the fourth threaded hole, wherein driving the third set screw into the fourth threaded hole causes the substantially curved surface of the third element to engage a third portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the third element, relative to the third engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the fourth set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the third element, and wherein further driving of the third set screw causes the third engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the third cavity locatable in the first side wall of the filler diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the third engaged portion of the seam.

3. The device of claim 1, said device further comprising:

a fourth threaded hole located in the block between the second side wall of the block and the groove;

a fifth threaded hole located in the filler between the first side wall of the filler and the second side wall of the filler, the fourth threaded hole located in the block being positionable in line with the fifth threaded hole located in the filler;

a third cavity located in the groove, the third cavity positionable diametrical to the fourth and fifth threaded holes;

a third element having a substantially curved surface; and

a third set screw translocatable within the fourth and fifth threaded holes, the third set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the third element such that the curved surface of the third element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the third set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the fourth and fifth threaded holes, wherein driving the third set screw into the fourth and fifth threaded holes causes the substantially curved surface of the third element to engage a third portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the third element, relative to the third engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the third set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the third element, and wherein further driving of the third set screw causes the third engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the third cavity locatable in the groove diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the third engaged portion of the seam.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a portion of a cross-section of the segment of the longitudinal joint is defined by a first geometric design; and

a portion of a cross-section of the top of the filler is defined by a second geometric design, the second geometric design being a substantial counterpart to the first geometric design, wherein the filler is locatable in the groove of the block between the segment of the longitudinal seam and the second side wall of the block such that the portion of the top of the filler having the second geometric design is in proximity to the portion of the segment of the longitudinal joint having the first geometric design.

5. A device capable of being attached to a metal roof having a first roofing panel and a second roofing panel, the first and second roofing panels each having a bend therein located along a longitudinal axis thereof, the bend forming a substantially perpendicular longitudinal portion terminating at a first terminal end and a second terminal end, respectively, the longitudinal portion of the first roofing panel positioned in close proximity to the longitudinal portion of the second roofing panel forming a substantially perpendicular longitudinal seam, the first terminal end of the first roofing panel wrapped about the second terminal end of the second roofing panel forming a longitudinal joint, said device comprising:

a block having a first and a second side wall, a base and a top;

a groove located in the base of the block, wherein the block is locatable on the metal roof by placement of the groove over a segment of the longitudinal joint and a corresponding segment of the longitudinal seam;

a first filler having a first and a second side wall, a base and a top, the first filler locatable in the groove of the block between the segment of the longitudinal seam and the first side wall of the block such that the first side wall of the first filler is in proximity to the segment of the longitudinal seam and the second side wall of the first filler is in proximity to the first side wall of the block;

a second filler having a first and a second side wall, a base and a top, the second filler locatable in the groove of the block between the segment of the longitudinal seam and the second side wall of the block such that the first side wall of the second filler is in proximity to the segment of the longitudinal seam and the second side wall of the second filler is in proximity to the second side wall of the block;

a first threaded hole located in the block between the first side wall of the block and the groove;

a second threaded hole located in the first filler between the first and second side walls of the first filler, the first threaded hole located in the block being positionable in line with the second threaded hole located in the first filler;

a first cavity located in the first side wall of the second filler, the first cavity positionable diametrical to the first and second threaded holes;

a first element having a substantially curved surface;

a first set screw translocatable within the first and second threaded holes, the first set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the first element such that the curved surface of the first element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the first set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the first and second threaded holes, wherein driving the first set screw into the first and second threaded holes causes the substantially curved surface of the first element to engage a first portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the first element, relative to the first engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the first set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the first element, and wherein further driving of the first set screw causes the first engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the first cavity locatable in the first side wall of the second filler diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the first engaged portion of the seam;

a third threaded hole located in the block between the second side wall of the block and the groove;

a fourth threaded hole located in the second filler between the first and second side walls of the second filler, the third threaded hole located in the block being positionable in line with the fourth threaded hole located in the second filler;

a second cavity located in the groove, the second cavity positionable diametrical to the third and fourth threaded holes;

a second element having a substantially curved surface; and

a second set screw translocatable within the third and fourth threaded holes, the second set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the second element such that the curved surface of the second element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the second set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the third and fourth threaded holes, wherein driving the second set screw into the third and fourth threaded holes causes the substantially curved surface of the second element to engage a second portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the second element, relative to the second engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the second set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the second element, and wherein further driving of the second set screw causes the second engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the second cavity locatable in the first filler diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the second engaged portion of the seam.

6. The device of claim 5, said device further comprising:

a fifth threaded hole located in the block between the first side wall of the block and the groove;

a sixth threaded hole located in the first filler between the first and second side walls of the first filler, the fifth threaded hole located in the block being positionable in line with the sixth threaded hole located in the first filler;

a third cavity located in the first side wall of the second filler, the third cavity positionable diametrical to the fifth and sixth threaded holes;

a third element having a substantially curved surface; and

a third set screw translocatable within the fifth and sixth threaded holes, the third set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the third element such that the curved surface of the first element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the third set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the fifth and sixth threaded holes, wherein driving the third set screw into the fifth and sixth threaded holes causes the substantially curved surface of the third element to engage a third portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the third element, relative to the third engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the third set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the third element, and wherein further driving of the third set screw causes the third engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the third cavity locatable in the first side wall of the second filler diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the third engaged portion of the seam.

7. The device of claim 5, said device further comprising:

a fifth threaded hole located in the block between the second side wall of the block and the groove;

a sixth threaded hole located in the second filler between the first and second side walls of the second filler, the fifth threaded hole located in the block being positionable in line with the sixth threaded hole located in the second filler;

a third cavity located in the first side wall of the first filler, the third cavity positionable diametrical to the fifth and sixth threaded holes;

a third element having a substantially curved surface; and

a third set screw translocatable within the fifth and sixth threaded holes, the third set screw having a first terminal end in juxtaposition with the third element such that the curved surface of the third element is diametrical thereto and is pivotable thereabout, the third set screw further having a second terminal end drivable into the fifth and sixth threaded holes, wherein driving the second set screw into the fifth and sixth threaded holes causes the substantially curved surface of the third element to engage a third portion of the seam of the metal roof, thereby precluding any rotational movement of the curved surface of the third element, relative to the third engaged portion of the seam, thus causing the third set screw to pivot about the curved surface of the third element, and wherein further driving of the second set screw causes the third engaged portion of the seam to be driven towards the third cavity locatable in the first filler diametric thereto, thereby forming a pocket in the third engaged portion of the seam.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein:

a portion of a cross-section of the segment of the longitudinal joint is defined by a first geometric design; and

a portion of a cross-section of the top of the first filler is defined by a second geometric design, the second geometric design being a substantial counterpart to the first geometric design, wherein the first filler is locatable in the groove of the block between the first side wall of the block and the segment of the longitudinal seam such that the portion of the top of the first filler having the second geometric design is in proximity to the portion of the segment of the longitudinal joint having the first geometric design.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein:

a portion of a cross-section of the segment of the longitudinal joint is defined by a first geometric design; and

a portion of a cross-section of the top of the second filler is defined by a second geometric design, the second geometric design being a substantial counterpart to the first geometric design, wherein the second filler is locatable in the groove of the block between the second side wall of the block and the segment of the longitudinal seam such that the portion of the top of the second filler having the second geometric design is in proximity to the portion of the segment of the longitudinal joint having the first geometric design.