Device to secure snow guard to roof using a wedge

• US 6,223,477 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alley F. William
• Original Assignee: Alley F. William
• Inventors: Alley, F. William
• Primary Examiner(s): Kent, Christopher T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jennifer I.
• Application Number:
  US09/291,673
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 52/25, 52/24, 52/26, 52/545, 52/42, 52/44, 256/12.5
• US Class Current: 52/24
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

The present invention comprises a block having a first and a second exterior side wall, a base and a top. A groove is located in the base of the block, the groove defining a first and a second interior side wall and a top interior surface. The block is locatable on a metal roof by placement of the groove about a segment of the seam formed by overlapping adjacent roofing panels. A hole is located in the block between the top of the block and the groove, and a locking device is locatable in the hole. Initially locating the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be positioned between a portion of the seam of the metal roof and a portion of the first interior side wall of the block. Further translocation of the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to engage the portion of the seam of the metal roof and the portion of the first interior side wall of the block, thereby securing the block to the metal roof. The further translocation of the locking device into the hole also causes the portion of the seam of the metal roof to incline towards the second interior side wall. Thus, the present invention preferably further comprises a cavity located along a portion of the second interior side wall of the block to accommodate the portion of the seam of the metal roof inclined theretowards.

Claims

1. A device capable of securing a snow guard to a metal roof having a first roofing panel and a second roofing panel, the first and second roofing panels each having a substantially perpendicular longitudinal edge thereon, the longitudinal edge of the first roofing panel positioned in close proximity to the longitudinal edge of the second roofing panel forming a seam therealong, the seam having a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the device comprising:

a block having a first and a second exterior side wall, a base and a top, wherein the snow guard is capable of being attached to the block;

a groove located in the base of the block, the groove defining a first and a second interior side wall, wherein the block is locatable on the metal roof by placement of the groove about a segment of the seam;

a hole located in the block between the top of the block and the groove; and

a locking device locatable in the hole, wherein initially locating the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be juxtaposed between a portion of the first side edge of the seam of the metal roof and a portion of the first interior side wall of the block, and wherein further translocation of the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to engage the portion of the first side edge of the seam of the metal roof and the portion of the first interior side wall of the block, thereby deforming the first side edge of the seam about a portion of the locking device, securing the block to the metal roof.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking device is tapered along its longitudinal axis.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the locking device is a conical structure.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the locking device is a wedge-shaped structure.

5. The device of claim 1, the device further comprising a cavity located along the portion of the first interior side wall of the block to accommodate a portion of the locking device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the further translocation of the locking device into the hole also causes the portion of the second side edge of the seam of the metal roof to incline towards the second interior side wall, the device further comprising a cavity located along a portion of the second interior side wall of the block to accommodate the portion of the second side edge of the seam of the metal roof inclined theretowards.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises a rigid material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises a compressible material.

9. A device capable of securing a snow guard to a metal roof having a first roofing panel and a second roofing panel, the first and second roofing panels each having a substantially perpendicular longitudinal edge thereon, the longitudinal edge of the first roofing panel positioned in close proximity to the longitudinal edge of the second roofing panel forming a seam therealong, the seam having a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the device comprising:

a block having a first and a second exterior side wall, a base and a top exterior surface, wherein the snow guard is capable of being attached to the block;

a groove located in the base of the block, the groove defining a first interior side wall, a top interior surface and a second interior side wall located on the opposite side of the first exterior side wall, top exterior surface and second exterior side wall, respectively, wherein the block is locatable on the metal roof by placement of the groove about a segment of the seam;

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

a locking device locatable in the hole, wherein initially locating the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be juxtaposed between a portion of the top edge of the seam of the metal roof and the top interior surface of the block, and wherein further translocation of the locking device into the hole causes the portion of the top edge of the seam of the metal roof to be compressed towards the base of the block, causing the locking device to be secured in the resulting compression, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the block along the seam of the roof.

10. The device of claim 9, the device further comprising a filler block secured to an interior side wall of the block below the hole, the filler block to prevent substantial vertical movement of the block, relative to the roofing panels.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the groove is wider near the top interior surface, relative to the width of the groove near the base of the block, and wherein the block is locatable on the metal roof by sliding the block over a terminal end of the seam.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the locking device is tapered along its longitudinal axis.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the locking device is a conical structure.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the locking device is a wedge-shaped structure.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the locking device comprises a rigid material.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the locking device comprises a compressible material.

17. A device capable of securing a snow guard to a roof, the device comprising:

a mounting bracket comprising a first and a second plate, the first plate having a base and a top, wherein the base of the first plate is capable of being secured to the roof, the second plate having a first and a second edge and a first and a second side, wherein the first edge is securely attached to the top of the first plate and substantially perpendicular thereto;

a block having a first and a second exterior side wall, a base and a top, wherein the snow guard is capable of being attached to the block;

a groove located in the base of the block, the groove defining a first and a second interior side wall, wherein the block is locatable on the roof by placement of the groove about the second plate of the mounting bracket;

a hole located in the block between the top of the block and the groove; and

a locking device locatable in the hole, wherein initially locating the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be juxtaposed between a portion of the first side of the second plate and a portion of the first interior side wall of the block, and wherein further translocation of the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be secured between the portion of the first side of the second plate of the mounting bracket and the portion of the first interior side wall of the block, thereby securing the block to the mounting bracket.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the locking device is tapered along its longitudinal axis.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the locking device is a conical structure.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the locking device is a wedge-shaped structure.

21. The device of claim 17, the device further comprising a cavity located along the portion of the first side of the second plate of the mounting bracket to accommodate a portion of the locking device.

22. The device of claim 17, the device further comprising a cavity located along a portion of the first interior side wall of the block to accommodate a portion of the locking device.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein the locking device comprises a rigid material.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the locking device comprises a compressible material.

25. A device capable of securing a snow guard to a roof, the device comprising:

a mounting bracket comprising a first and a second plate, the first plate having a base and a top, wherein the base of the first plate is capable of being secured to the roof, the second plate having a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge is securely attached to the top of the first plate and substantially perpendicular thereto;

a block having a first and a second exterior side wall, a base and a top exterior surface, wherein the snow guard is capable of being attached to the block;

a groove located in the base of the block, the groove defining a first interior side wall, a top interior surface and a second interior side wall, located on the opposite side of the first exterior side wall, top exterior surface and second exterior side wall, respectively, wherein the block is locatable on the roof by placement of the groove about the second plate of the mounting bracket;

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

a first cavity located along the second edge of the second plate of the mounting bracket; and

a locking device locatable in the hole, wherein locating the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be in juxtaposition with a portion of the top interior surface of the block and located within the first cavity of the second plate of the mounting bracket, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the block relative to the mounting bracket.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a third plate having a base and a top, wherein the base of the third plate is securely attached to the second edge of the second plate, and wherein the device further comprises a filler block secured to an interior side wall of the block below the hole, the filler block and third plate of the mounting bracket positioned to prevent substantial vertical movement of the block, relative to the roofing panels.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a third plate having a base and a top, wherein the base of the third plate is securely attached to the second edge of the second plate, and wherein the groove is wider near the top interior surface, relative to the width of the groove near the base of the block, and wherein the block is locatable on the mounting bracket by sliding the block over a terminal end of the second and third plate of the mounting bracket.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the locking device is tapered along its longitudinal axis.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the locking device is a conical structure.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the locking device is a wedge-shaped structure.

31. The device of claim 25, the device further comprising a second cavity located within the second interior side wall of the block to accommodate a portion of the locking device.

32. The device of claim 25, the device further comprising a second cavity located along the top interior surface of the block to accommodate a portion of the locking device.

33. The device of claim 25, wherein the locking device comprises a rigid material.

34. The device of claim 25, wherein the locking device comprises a compressible material.

35. A device capable of securing a mechanism to a structure having a projection, the device comprising:

a block having an exterior surface and a base, wherein the mechanism is capable of being attached to the block;

a first cavity located in the base of the block, the first cavity defining an interior surface, wherein the block is locatable on the structure by placement of the first cavity about at least a portion of the projection;

a hole located in the block between the exterior surface of the block and the first cavity; and

a locking device locatable in the hole, wherein initially locating the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be juxtaposed between a portion of the projection of the structure and a portion of the interior surface of the block, and wherein further translocation of the locking device into the hole causes the locking device to be secured between the portion of the projection and the portion of the interior surface of the block, thereby securing the block to the projection.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the locking device is tapered along its longitudinal axis.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the locking device is a conical structure.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the locking device is a wedge-shaped structure.

39. The device of claim 35, the device further comprising a second cavity located within the interior surface of the block to accommodate a portion of the locking device.

40. The device of claim 35, wherein the locking device comprises a rigid material.

41. The device of claim 35, wherein the locking device comprises a compressible material.