Roof snow barrier

• US 6,453,623 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roofer's World Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Roofers - Annex Incorporated
• Inventors: Guenette, Steven Paul, Fabian, Colin, Gerwing, Dave, Nelson, Robin, Krupka, Jiri
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHI Q
• Application Number:
  US09/490,119
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/25, 52/26, 411/432
• US Class Current: 52/24
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

A snow barrier for a roof having modular components including brackets that slidingly interfit into rails that extend up and down the slope of the roof. The brackets may be rotated to provide fences of differing heights. A corrugated fence is easily installed by reason of a self-positioning, hooked, upper flange formed along the upper edge of the corrugated fence. The corrugated fence may be modular, being built-up of smaller, corrugated strips. Pads may replace the rails in supporting the brackets or the brackets may be fastened directly to the roof.

Claims

1. A snow barrier for mounting on a roof comprising:

(1) plurality of slotted longitudinally extending tracks provided with means to fasten each such track to an upwardly sloping roof;

(2) a plurality of support brackets each with two legs, both of said legs having a flanged edge with flanges that will slidably engage with a track, said flange being dimensioned to fit within said slot;

(3) each of said brackets providing an upright leg when the other, slot-engaging leg is engaged with said track;

(4) each leg being of a differing length to provide the alternative of assembling the snow barrier with an upright leg of differing lengths for carrying a fence at differing heights;

(5) fastening means for fixing the position of each bracket at an adjustable position within a slot; and

(6) a fence for installation on the support brackets

whereby, with the tracks mounted to the surface of a sloping roof each associated bracket may be slid to an aligned position, each along a respective track with one of its flanged edges engaged in the slot on the associated track, to be fastened in position on the tracks to receive the fence in an aligned orientation spanning between the brackets.

2. A snow barrier as in claim 1, wherein the fence comprises tubular rails and the brackets are perforated behind both legs to receive and support the tubular rails.

3. A snow barrier as in claim 1, wherein the fence comprises corrugated sheet metal that is fastened to the up-slope side of the upright leg of each bracket.

4. A snow barrier as in claim 3, wherein the upright leg has a to end and the top edge of the corrugated sheet metal forming the fence is shaped to provide a hooked flange that will engage and hook-over the top end of the upright leg of said bracket.

5. A snow barrier as in claim 4, wherein the upright leg has a top end and the top edge of the corrugated sheet metal forming the fence is shaped to provide a hooked flange that will engage and hook-over the top end of the upright leg of said bracket.

6. A snow barrier as in claim 4, wherein the fence comprises multiple, modular corrugated sheet metal portions of a given height and wherein the difference in length between the respective legs of the brackets exceeds the height of a single corrugated sheet metal portion.

7. A snow barrier as in claim 1, wherein the tracks are dimensioned to extend up-slope along the roof, above the line of the fence to be anchored to the roof at a spaced separation from and above the fence.

8. A snow barrier as in claim 5 wherein the fence comprises multiple, individual, sheet metal strips, each with corrugated cross-sections that contain hooked flanges along each of their respective longitudinal edges for interfitting to provide the fence.

9. A snow barrier as in claim 2 wherein the tracks are dimensioned to extend up-slope along the roof, above or below the line of the fence to be anchored to the roof at a spaced separation from and above the fence.

10. A snow barrier as in claim 4 wherein the tracks are dimensioned to extend up-slope along the roof, above or below the line of the fence to be anchored to the roof at a spaced separation from the fence.

13. A snow barrier as in claim 9 wherein the fence comprises multiple, individual, sheet metal strips, each with corrugated cross-sections that contain hooked flanges along each of their respective edges for interfitting to provide the fence.

11. A snow barrier for roof mounting comprising:

(1) support brackets, each having two flanged legs of differing lengths;

(2) bracket support means for mounting to the surface of a roof and for supporting said brackets by either one of said flanged legs to present the other leg as an upright leg; and

(3) a fence for mounting on and spanning between the brackets

whereby said legs may provide support for alternate fences of differing heights when installed with their respective bracket support means along a roof.

12. A snow barrier as in claim 11, wherein said upright legs each have a top end and wherein the top edge of the corrugated fence is shaped to provide a hooked flange that will engage and hook-over the top end of each of said brackets.

14. A snow barrier as in claim 12 wherein the fence comprises multiple, individual, sheet metal strips, each with corrugated cross-sections that contain hooked flanges along each of their respective edges for interfitting to provide the fence.