Snow guard mounting assembly with a levered locking mechanism

• US 6,647,671 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• 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): VARNER, STEVE M
• Application Number:
  US09/952,179
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/25
• US Class Current: 52/25
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

A snow guard assembly adapted to be attached to a metal roof seam is provided, having a mounting assembly for having increased gripping efficiency. The mounting assembly includes a mounting block having a seam-receiving groove, and at least one channel formed on an internal side of the seam-receiving groove. A lever member disposed within each channel is pivotally secured at one end by a pivot member. A coupling element passes through a side of the mounting block proximate the other end of the lever member. When the coupling element contacts the lever member, the lever member moves from the channel to a position within the seam-receiving groove. The metal roof seam housed in the seam-receiving groove is deformed under force provided by the mechanical advantage of the lever to form a gripping area that secures the mounting assembly to the metal roof seam and prevents relative movement therebetween.

Claims

1. A snow guard assembly adapted to be attached to a metal roof seam by a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting block having a seam-receiving groove formed in a bottom surface thereof, said seam-receiving groove being partially defined by a first internal side, an opposed second internal side, and an upper internal side interposed therebetween, said upper internal side being spaced apart from said bottom surface of said mounting block in a first direction, said seam-receiving groove extending longitudinally from a front end of said mounting block to a back end thereof in a longitudinal direction of said mounting block substantially perpendicular to said first direction;

a first channel formed in said first internal side of said seam-receiving groove and extending in said longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof;

a lever member disposed within said channel and having a first end and an opposed second end defining a length, L, extending therebetween in said longitudinal direction, and a first side and an opposed second side defining a width, W, extending therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said longitudinal direction wherein said second side is adapted to contact a metal roof seam and L is greater than or equal to 3 W, wherein said lever member comprises at least one of a protrusion on said second side thereof proximate one of said first and said second ends thereof, and a recess on said second side thereof proximate the other end of said lever member;

a pivot member for pivotally securing one of said first end and said second end of said lever member proximate one of said first end and said second end of said channel such that the other end of said lever member is freely translocatable from a position wit said channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove along said second direction toward a central axis of said seam-receiving groove; and

a coupling element having a terminal end extending through a first side of said mounting block and adapted to move inwardly toward said central axis of said seam-receiving groove and penetrate said channel and engage a portion of said lever member proximate the other end thereof.

2. The snow guard assembly of claim 1, wherein said second internal side of said seam-receiving groove comprises a recess substantially axially aligned with said protrusion of said lever member across said central axis of said seam-receiving groove therefrom.

3. The snow guard assembly of claim 1, wherein said second internal side of said seam-receiving groove comprises a protrusion substantially axially aligned with said recess of said lever member across said central axis of said seam-receiving groove.

4. The snow guard assembly of claim 1, wherein at least said second side of said lever member is coated with a corrosion-resistant, non-metallic material.

5. The snow guard assembly of claim 4, wherein said corrosion-resistant, non-metallic material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of urethane, epoxy, plastic and aluminum oxide.

6. The snow guard assembly of claim 1, wherein said lever member is pivotally secured proximate said second end thereof such that said first end of said lever member is freely translocatable from a position within said channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove.

7. The snow guard assembly of claim 1, wherein said lever member is pivotally secured proximate said first end thereof such that said second end of said lever member is freely translocatable from a position within said channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove.

8. A snow guard assembly adapted to be attached to a metal roof seam by a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting block having a seam-receiving groove formed in a bottom surface thereof, said seam-receiving groove being partially defined by a first internal side, an opposed second internal side, and an upper internal side interposed therebetween, said upper internal side being spaced apart from said bottom surface of said mounting block in a first direction, said seam-receiving groove extending longitudinally from a front end of said mounting block to a back end thereof in a longitudinal direction of said mounting block substantially perpendicular to said first direction;

a first channel formed in said first internal side of said seam-receiving groove and extending in said longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof;

a second channel formed in said second internal side of said seam-receiving groove and extending in said longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof;

a first lever member disposed within said first channel and having a first end and an opposed second end defining a length, L₁, extending therebetween in said longitudinal direction, and a first side and an opposed second side defining a width, W₁, extending therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said longitudinal direction, wherein said second side is adapted to contact a metal roof seam;

a second lever member disposed within said second channel and having a first end and an opposed second end defining a length, L₂, extending therebetween in said longitudinal direction, and a first side and an opposed second side defining a width, W₂, extending therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said longitudinal direction, wherein said second side is adapted to contact a metal roof seam;

a first pivot member for pivotally securing one of said first end and said second end of said first lever member proximate one of said first end and said second end of said first channel such that the other end of said first lever member is freely translocatable from a position within said first channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove along said second direction toward a central axis of said seam-receiving groove;

a second pivot member for pivotally securing one of said first and said second ends of said second lever member proximate one of said first and said second ends of said second channel such that the other end thereof is freely translocatable from a position within said second channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove along said second direction toward a central axis of said seam-receiving groove;

a first coupling element having a terminal end extending through a first side of said mounting block and adapted to move inwardly toward said central axis of said seam-receiving groove and penetrate said first channel and engage a portion of said first lever member proximate the other end thereof; and

a second coupling element having a terminal end extending through a second side of said mounting block and adapted to move inwardly toward said central axis of said seam-receiving groove and penetrate said second channel and engage a portion of said second lever member proximate the other end thereof.

9. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein said first lever member comprises at least one of a protrusion proximate one of said first end and said second end thereof and a recess substantially proximate the other end thereof.

10. The snow guard assembly of claim 9, wherein said second lever member comprises at least one of a respective complimentary protrusion and a respective complimentary recess.

11. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein said first pivot member is positioned proximate said first end of said first lever member such that said second end thereof is freely translocatable from a position within said second channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove in said second direction toward said central axis thereof.

12. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein said first pivot member is positioned proximate said second end of said second lever member such that said first end thereof is freely translocatable from a position within said second channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove in said second direction toward said central axis thereof.

13. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein said second pivot member is positioned proximate said first end of said second lever member such that said second end thereof is freely translocatable from a position within said second channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove in said second direction toward said central axis thereof.

14. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein said second pivot member is positioned proximate said second end of said second lever member such that said first end thereof is freely translocatable from a position within said second channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove in said second direction toward said central axis thereof.

15. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein L₁ is greater than or equal to 3W₁, and Lo is greater than or equal to 3 W_2.

16. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein said first channel opposes said second channel in substantial alignment therewith in said second direction across said central axis of said seam-receiving groove.

17. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein said first channel is axially offset from said second channel along said seam-receiving groove in said longitudinal direction.

18. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, further comprising a third channel formed in one of said first and second internal sides of said seam-receiving groove extending in said longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof;

a third lever member disposed within said third channel and having a first end and an opposed second end defining a length, L₃, extending therebetween in said longitudinal direction, and a first side and an opposed second side defining a width, W₃, extending therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said longitudinal direction, wherein said second side is adapted to contact a metal roof seam;

a third pivot member for pivotally securing one of said first and second ends of said third lever member proximate one of said fist and second ends thereof such that the other end thereof is freely translocatable from a position within said third channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove along said second direction toward a central axis of said seam-receiving groove, and

a third coupling element having a terminal end extending through a corresponding side of said mounting block and adapted to move inwardly toward said central axis of said seam-receiving groove and penetrate said third channel and engage a portion of said third lever member proximate the other end thereof.

19. The snow guard assembly of claim 18, further comprising a fourth channel formed in the other one of said first and second internal sides of said seam-receiving groove extending in said longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof;

a fourth lever member disposed within said fourth channel and having a first end and an opposed second end defining a length, L₄, extending therebetween in said longitudinal direction, and a first side and an opposed second side defining a width, W₄, extending therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said longitudinal direction, wherein said second side is adapted to contact a metal roof seam;

a fourth pivot member for pivotally securing one of said first and second ends of said fourth lever member proximate one of said fist and second ends thereof such that the other end thereof is freely translocatable from a position within said fourth channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove along said second direction toward a central axis of said seam-receiving groove; and

a fourth coupling element having a terminal end extending through a corresponding side of said mounting block and adapted to move inwardly toward said central axis of said seam-receiving groove and penetrate said fourth channel and engage a portion of said fourth lever member proximate the other end thereof.

20. The snow guard assembly of claim 19, wherein L₃ is greater than or equal to 3 W₃, and L₄ is greater 3 W₄.

21. The snow guard assembly of claim 19, wherein at least said second side of at least one of said third and said fourth lever members is coated with a corrosion resistant material.

22. The snow guard assembly of claim 21, wherein said corrosion-resistant, non-metallic material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of urethane, epoxy, plastic and aluminum oxide.

23. The snow guard assembly of claim 8, wherein at least said second side of at least one of said first and said second lever members is coated with a corrosion resistant material.

24. A snow guard system adapted to be attached to a metal roof seam by a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting block having a seam-receiving groove formed in a bottom surface thereof, said seam-receiving groove being partially defined by a first internal side, an opposed second internal side, and an upper internal side interposed therebetween, said upper internal side being spaced apart from said bottom surface of said mounting block in a first direction, said seam-receiving groove extending longitudinally from a front end of said mounting block to a back end thereof in a longitudinal direction of said mounting block substantially perpendicular to said first direction;

a first channel formed in said first internal side of said seam-receiving groove and extending in said longitudinal direction tom a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof;

another channel formed in said first internal side of said seam-receiving groove longitudinally spaced apart from said first channel and extending in said longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof;

a lever member disposed within said channel and having a first end and an opposed second end defining a length, L, extending therebetween in said longitudinal direction, and a first side and an opposed second side defining a width, W, extending therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said longitudinal direction, wherein said second side is adapted to contact a metal roof seam and L is greater than or equal to 3 W;

another lever member disposed within said another channel and having a first end and an opposed second end defining a length, L_A, extending therebetween in said longitudinal direction, and a first side and an opposed second side defining a width, W_A, extending therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said longitudinal direction, wherein said second side is adapted to contact a metal roof seam and L_A is greater than or equal to 3 W_A;

a pivot member for pivotally securing one of said first end and said second end of said lever member proximate one of said first end and said second end of said channel such that the other end of said lever member is freely translocatable from a position within said channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove along said second direction toward a central axis of said seam-receiving groove;

another pivot member for pivotally securing one of said first end and said second end of said another lever member such that other end hereof is freely translocatable from a position within said another channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove along said second direction toward a central axis of said seam-receiving groove;

a coupling element having a terminal end extending through a first side of said mounting block and adapted to move inwardly toward said central axis of said seam-receiving groove and penetrate said channel and engage a portion of said lever member proximate the. other end thereof; and

another coupling element having a animal end extending through a first side of said mounting block and adapted to move inwardly toward said central axis of said seam-receiving groove and penetrate said another channel and engage a portion of said another lever member proximate the other end thereof.

25. The snow guard assembly of claim 24, further comprising a first recess formed in said second internal side of said seam-receiving groove substantially opposing the pivotally secured end of said lever member in substantial alignment in said second direction across said central axis of said seam-receiving groove, and a second recess formed in said second internal side of said seam-receiving groove spaced a distance from said first recess in said longitudinal direction and substantially opposing the pivotally secured end of said another lever member in substantial alignment in said second direction across said central axis of said seam-receiving groove.

26. The snow guard assembly of claim 24, wherein said another member is pivotally secured proximate said second end thereof such that said first end of said another lever member is freely translocatable from a position within said another channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove.

27. The snow guard assembly of claim 24, wherein said another lever member is pivotally secured proximate said second end thereof such that said first end of said another lever member is freely translocatable from a position within said another channel to a position within said seam-receiving groove.