Standing seam metal roof wind uplift prevention bar

• US 6,725,623 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Action Manufacturing Snobar, LLC
• Original Assignee: Action Manufacturing LLC
• Inventors: Riddell, Paul A., Sherman, Steve S., Nagaki, Jason T., Riddell, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/713,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/25, 521/671, 525/42, 525/45, 527/50
• US Class Current: 52/750
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/36 Connecting; Fastening

Abstract

Both positive and negative wind loads acting on the surfaces of standing seam roofing often exceed the design capabilities of a particular metal roof, causing the standing seam interlocking vertical seams to disengage. This often results in the roof panels blowing off the roof, causing damage to the roof, the building contents and possible danger to people in the vicinity. A transverse bar is provided across the standing seams of the metal roof. Clamps hold the transverse bar onto the standing seams. At the midsection of each flat panel section of the metal roof a brace descends from the transverse bar. The brace must have a flexible foot member to press down on the panel, otherwise the brace would puncture or otherwise damage metal roof panel. The brace may have an adjustable height adjustment mechanism. Various clamp, bar and foot embodiments are disclosed, all of which provide a structural anti-lift bracket on the roof panel.

Claims

1. A method for controlling uplift on a roof with a plurality of clamps and transverse bars, the roof being formed from a substructure, a plurality of roof panels and seams defining an interconnection between adjacent said roof panels, each of said clamps comprising a base which supports a channel, said channel supported in a transverse orientation to said seams, said channel located above a top edge of said seams, each of said transverse bars being elongated and having first and second ends, and being supported in said channel, wherein each transverse bar bridges from one seam to an adjoining seam, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a first of said clamps on a first of said seams at a first location to receive a portion of said first seam, said first seam interconnecting first and second roof panels;

inserting at least a first of said transverse bars into said channel of said first clamp;

securing said first clamp onto said first seam, and securing a second clamp onto a second and adjacent seam;

inserting a portion of said first transverse bar in said second clamp in a channel of said second clamp;

fastening at a point on said transverse bar between said first and second seams a downward depending anti-lift brace rigidly mounted so as not to move, said brace functioning to prevent an uplift of a roof panel located between said first and second seams and to prevent a rupture of said roof panel; and

wherein a foot means depends from the anti-lift brace, said foot means functioning to provide during a wind uplift a surface contact with the roof, said surface contact having a contact area greater than a contact area of a bottom edge of the anti-lift brace.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming the foot means on said anti-lift brace sized to withstand the wind uplift on said roof without harming said roof.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing a soft bottom layer on said foot means.

4. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor;

a transverse bar between a pair of adjacent raised seams;

said transverse bar supported by the anchor;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace means between the seams, said brace means functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel;

said brace means rigidly mounted at about a 90°

angle to the panel so as not to move; and

wherein a foot means depends from the brace means, said foot means functioning to provide during a wind uplift a surface contact with the roof, said surface contact having a contact area greater than a contact area of a bottom edge of the brace means.

5. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein the transverse bar further comprises a horizontal flange, and said brace means further comprises a horizontal top flange with a connection to the horizontal flange.

6. The clamp assembly of claim 5, wherein the foot means further comprises a flexible foot attached at the bottom of the brace.

7. The clamp assembly of claim 5, wherein the foot means further comprises a solid foot having a height adjustment slot.

8. The clamp assembly of claim 5, wherein the brace means further comprises a Z shaped configuration with the foot means forming a bottom of the Z.

9. The clamp assembly of claim 8, wherein the Z shaped configuration has two sides forming a triangular brace.

10. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein the foot means further comprises a flexible foot attached at the bottom of the brace.

11. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein the foot means further comprises a solid foot having a height adjustment slot.

12. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein the brace further comprises a Z shaped configuration with the foot means forming a bottom of the Z.

13. The clamp assembly of claim 12, wherein the Z shaped configuration has two sides forming a triangular brace.

14. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein the brace means further comprises a pair of vertical members connected at a selectable height, each vertical member having the foot means.

15. A method for controlling uplift on a roof with a plurality of clamps and securing members, the roof being formed from a substructure, a plurality of panels and seams defining an interconnection between adjacent said panels, each of said clamps comprising a unitary body having an integrally formed slot extending there-through and at least a first hole extending through a side portion of said unitary body to said slot, each of said securing members being elongated and having first and second ends, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a first of said clamps on a first of said seams at a first location to receive a portion of said first seam within said slot of said first clamp, said first seam interconnecting first and second panels;

inserting at least a first of said securing members into said first hole of said first clamp to securably engage said first seam within said slot of said first clamp;

positioning a second clamp on an adjacent seam;

connecting a transverse bar above said seams on said clamps;

connecting in a rigid fashion so as not to moves a downward depending brace between said seams on said transverse bar, said brace functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between said first seam and said adjacent seam and to prevent a rupture of said panel; and

wherein a foot means depends from the brace, said foot means functioning to provide during a wind uplift a surface contact with the roof, said surface contact having a contact area greater than a contact area of a bottom edge of the brace.

16. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said clamp assembly being attachable to a raised seam which interconnects adjacent roof panels on a roof, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of said raised seam;

at least one leg for contacting at least one of said raised seams, said leg extending from said unitary mounting body;

a securing assembly comprising a first hole extending from one of said side surfaces through said unitary mounting body to interface with said slot and a first member positionable within said first hole and being extendable within said slot to secure at least said part of said raised seam within said slot;

a cross-member having first and second ends, said cross-member being connectable to adjacent unitary mounting bodies attached to adjacent raised seams;

a flange portion extending from each of said legs of said adjacent unitary mounting bodies, said cross-member being connectable to said flange portions of said legs extending from said adjacent unitary mounting bodies, wherein said flange portion is disposed substantially 90 degrees relative to said leg;

said cross-member further comprising a downward depending segment having a depth chosen to contact or nearly contact a roof panel, to prevent an uplift of said roof panel and to prevent a rupture of said roof panel and

wherein a foot means depends from the downward depending segment, said foot means functioning to provide during a wind uplift a surface contact with the roof, said surface contact having a contact area greater than a contact area greater than a contact area of a bottom edge of the downward depending segment.

17. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said clamp assembly being attachable to a raised seam interconnecting adjacent panels on the roof, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body and adapted for receiving at least part of one said raised seam;

a securing assembly comprising a first hole extending from one of said side surfaces of said unitary mounting body through said unitary mounting body to interface with said slot and a first member positionable within said first hole and being extendable within said slot to secure at least said part of said one said raised seam within said slot,

said securing assembly further comprising a connection to a transverse bar which is mounted on top of a set of adjacent raised seams over a panel;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace between said set of adjacent raised seams, said downward depending brace mounted rigidly so as not to move and functioning to prevent uplifts of said panels and to prevent a rupture of same and

wherein a foot means depends from the downward depending brace, said foot means functioning to provide during a wind uplift a surface contact with the roof, said surface contact having a contact area greater than a contact area of a bottom edge of the downward depending brace.

18. A roof panel uplift prevention system for a roof formed of a plurality of panels and seams, said seams defining an interconnection between adjacent said panels, said each seam having a top, said top being elevated a height (h) above said plurality of panels, said roof panel uplift prevention system comprising:

a first and a second clamp for attachment to adjacent seams;

a transverse bar running above said top of said seams and connected to said first and second clamps;

an uplift prevention leg mounted rigidly so as not to move and depending downward from said transverse bar between adjacent seams, thereby forming a structural abutment against a panel located between the adjacent seams at about a 90°

angle to the panel for prevention of uplift of same during wind uplift pressure and for preventing damage to said panel during said wind uplift pressure.

19. The uplift prevention system of claim 18, wherein the uplift prevention leg further comprises a flexible foot.

20. The uplift prevention system of claim 18, wherein the uplift prevention leg further comprises an adjustable height mechanism.

21. The uplift prevention system of claim 18, wherein the uplift prevention leg further comprises a triangular base.

22. The uplift prevention system of claim 21, wherein the triangular base further comprises an adjustable height collar.

23. The uplift prevention system of claim 18, wherein the transverse bar further comprises an integral screw boss.

24. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor;

attaching a transverse bar between said raised seams;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace mounted rigidly so as not to move between the seams, said brace functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel; and

wherein the brace further comprises a pair of vertical members connected at a selectable height.

25. A roof panel uplift prevention system for a roof formed of a plurality of panels and seams, said seams defining an interconnection between adjacent said panels, said each seam having a top, said top being elevated a height (h) above said plurality of panels, said roof panel uplift prevention system comprising:

a first and a second clamp for attachment to adjacent seams;

a transverse bar running above said top of said seams and connected to said first and second clamps;

an uplift prevention leg depending downward from said transverse bar between adjacent seams, thereby forming a structural abutment against a panel for prevention of uplift of same during wind uplift pressure and for preventing damage to said panel during said wind uplift pressure; and

wherein the uplift prevention leg further comprises a triangular base.

26. The uplift prevention system of claim 25, wherein the triangular base further comprises an adjustable height collar.

27. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor for a transverse bar between said raised seams;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace means between the seams, said brace means functioning to prevent an uplift of a said panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel;

said brace means rigidly mounted at about a 90°

angle to the panel so as not to move wherein the transverse bar further comprises a horizontal flange, and said brace means further comprises a horizontal top flange with a connection to the horizontal flange; and

wherein the means further comprises a flexible foot attached at the bottom of the brace.

28. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor for a transverse bar between said raised seams;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace means between the seams, said brace means functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel;

said brace means rigidly mounted at about a 90°

angle to the panel so as not to move wherein the transverse bar further comprises a horizontal flange, and said brace means further comprises a horizontal top flange with a connection to the horizontal flange; and

wherein the means further comprises a solid foot having a height adjustment slot.

29. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor for a transverse bar between said raised seams;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace means between the seams, said brace means functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel;

said brace means rigidly mounted at about 90°

angle to the panel so as not to move wherein the transverse bar further comprises a horizontal flange, and said brace means further comprises a horizontal top flange with a connection to the horizontal flange;

wherein the brace means further comprises a Z shaped configuration with foot forming a bottom of the Z.

30. The clamp assembly of claim 29, wherein the Z shaped configuration has two sides forming a triangular brace.

31. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor for a transverse bar between said raised seams;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace means between the seams, said brace means functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel;

said brace means rigidly mounted at about 90°

angle to the panel so as not to move wherein the means further comprises a flexible foot attached at the bottom of the brace.

32. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor for a transverse bar between said raised seams;

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace means between the seams, said brace means functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel;

said brace means rigidly mounted at about 90°

angle to the panel so as not to move wherein the means further comprises a solid foot having a height adjustment slot.

33. A clamp assembly for controlling uplift on a roof, said roof comprising a plurality of panels which are interconnected to define a plurality of raised seams with a substantially planar base section disposed between adjacent raised seams, said clamp assembly comprising:

a unitary mounting body comprising first and second side surfaces, upper and lower surfaces and first and second ends;

a slot integrally formed in said unitary mounting body adapted for receiving at least part of one of said raised seams, wherein when said unitary mounting body is disposed on said one raised seam, a portion of said unitary mounting body disposed furthest from an upper surface of said one raised seam is disposed at a first distance below said upper surface of said one raised seam;

said unitary mounting body further comprising an anchor for a transverse bar between said raised seams; and

said transverse bar further comprising a downward depending brace means between the seams, said brace means functioning to prevent an uplift of a panel located between the adjacent raised seams and to prevent a rupture of said panel;

said brace means rigidly mounted at about 90°

angle to the panel so as not to move wherein the brace further comprises a Z shaped configuration with foot forming a bottom of the Z.

34. The clamp assembly of claim 33, wherein the Z shaped configuration has two sides forming a triangular brace.