Non-deforming roof snow brake

• US 6,499,259 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark E. Hockman
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Hockman
• Inventors: Hockman, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/693,786
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/26
• US Class Current: 52/26
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

A one piece pad style snow guard which attaches to the vertical leg of a formed metal roof seam utilizing the formed seamed or locking portions of the seam to attach the guard without the use of penetrations or seam deformations. The guard is attached to a vertical seam by the use of threaded screws creating pressure across the slot which encloses the vertical seam. The location of the set screws intersect and lock under or into folds already in the seamed panel profile. In an alternate embodiment, a ridge located on the side of the guard opposite the locking screws and located below the lower edge of the completed folded seam runs the length of the slot. When the set screw is tightened, the entire length of the folded seam is engaged by this ridge under the folds locking the guard under the seam. This enables the guard to lock under the folded seam with out deforming the metal and lock the continuous length of the guard rather than only at the set screws, and without deforming the seam material.

Claims

1. In the combination of a snow brake and seam of a metal roof,

an inverted, rectangular, U-shaped base having a central slot receiving a folded seam of a metal roof, said seam including a locking nub depression along said seam, said base having first and second sides extending along the slot and a curved top interconnecting the sides, the first side having fastener-receiving openings receiving roof seam-engaging fasteners, a snow plate extending upward from said base, the snow plate having a surface portion extending laterally beyond the sides of the base, and lower, inner sections of the plate connected to said first and second sides, respectively, for supporting the sides with the snow plate and for preventing relative outward movement of the sides when engaging the roof seam, the improvement comprising locating said fastener-receiving openings to align said seam engaging fasteners in said locking groove depression along said roof seam.

2. In the combination of a snow brake and a snap-on style of roof seam including a locking groove depression along the length of such seam, said snow brake comprising an inverted, rectangular, U-shaped base having a central slot receiving a folded seam of a metal roof, first and second sides extending along the slot and a top interconnecting the sides, the first side having fastener-receiving openings receiving seam-engaging fasteners, a snow plate extending upward from the base, the snow plate having a surface portion extending laterally beyond the sides of the, base, and lower, inner sections of the plate connected to the first and second sides, respectively, for supporting the snow plate and for preventing relative outward movement of the sides when engaging the roof seam, the improvement wherein the fastener-receiving openings are located to align the fasteners in said openings with said locking groove depression of said seam.

4. The snow brake of claim 2 wherein further the said snow brake plate is located substantially at one end of said longitudinally extending body.

3. A snow brake comprising a base with a bottom and a top, the base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through the first and second ends for receiving a folded seam of a metal roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second opposite sides connected at the top said first side having holes extending transversely through the side for receiving and holding anchor screws, a snow brake plate connected to the base and extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the base and having lateral portions extending outward from the opposite sides of the base and near a bottom of the plate, wherein further said second opposite side of said base contains a ridge located to protrude below the lowest portion of a rolled roof seam.

5. A snow brake comprising a base with a bottom and a top, the base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through the first and second ends for receiving a folded seam of a metal roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second opposite sides connected at the top, said first side having holes extending transversely through the side for receiving and holding anchor screws, a snow brake plate connected to the base and extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the base and having lateral portions extending outward from the opposite sides of the base and near a bottom of the plate, wherein further said second opposite side of said base contains a ridge located to protrude into the snap on seam locking groove of a snap on roof seam.

6. A snow brake comprising a base with a bottom and a top, the base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through the first and second ends for receiving a folded seam of a metal roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second opposite sides connected at the top, at least one side having holes extending transversely through it for receiving and holding anchor screws such as to allow the snow brake to be reversible with respect to its orientation on said folded seam, a snow brake plate connected to and perpendicular to the base and extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the base and having lateral portions extending outward from the opposite sides of the base, said holes for said anchor screws being located on opposite sides of said snow brake plate whereby said snow brake is reversible on said folded seam.

7. A snow brake comprising

a base with a bottom and a top, the base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through the first and second ends for receiving a rolled seam of a metal roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second opposite sides connected at the top, said first side having holes extending transversely through the side for receiving and holding anchor screws,

a snow brake plate connected to the base and extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the base and having lateral portions extending outward from the opposite sides of the base near one end of the base and near a bottom of the plate,

wherein further said second opposite side defines a ridge to protrude below said rolled seam to prevent removal of said snow brake from said seam when said anchor screws are engaged.