Metal snow guard

• US 6,922,948 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sno-Gem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sno-Gem, Inc.
• Inventors: Livingston, Troy, Smeja, Michael V., Smeja, George
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/360,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/62, 52/60
• US Class Current: 52/24
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

A metal snow guard is provided with a solid layer of soldering material on its base to be heated and melted with application of heat to the upper side of the snow guard to solder the base to an underlying metal roof. The preferred soldering material comprises an interior layer of solder and an outer layer of flux. In one form, the soldering material is in the form of spaced spots or projections providing a rough surface on the underside of the snow guard with the projections melting and spreading laterally into uneven surfaces where the roof or the base of the snow guard is not flat. The amount of solder and/or flux in the solid layer is limited so that the solder and/or flux does not flow outwardly from the snow guard and run down the metal roof thereby damaging or marring the metal roof surface. The preferred snow guards are formed of sheet metal of relatively few pieces and which are folded and joined together in an inexpensive manner. Preferably, the projections of soldering material are formed by forcing a paste of solder and flux through spaced holes in a plate or screen onto the base and then applying heat to melt the past and form a crust of flux on the outside of the projections which are mainly then comprised of solder. The outer crust layer of flux should protect the inner solder from oxidizing.

Claims

1. A metal snow guard for holding snow and for being attached to a metal roof comprising:

an upper metal portion on the snow guard projecting upwardly for holding snow;

a lower metal portion on the snow guard from which the upper portion projects for being secured to the metal roof;

a solid layer of solder and of flux secured to an underside of the lower portion;

the flux for sealing the solder from oxidation and for wetting the metal roof when melted; and

the solid layer of flux and solder to be melted and to provide the solder for soldering the metal snow guard to the metal roof without an excess of solder and flux flowing beyond the snow guard and marring the roof.

2. A snow guard in accordance with claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises:

a plurality of upstanding members in the upper portion;

the upstanding members having a downward sloping diagonal edge formed at a fold line on at least one of the members to form a seamless diagonal edge along the top of each upstanding member.

3. A snow guard in accordance with claim 1 wherein the solid layer of flux coats the solid layer of solder and seals the solder against oxidation and provides the flux for the soldering operation.

4. A snow guard in accordance with claim 3 comprising:

a viewing hole in the lower portion of the snow guard allowing a viewing of the soldering material during its liquidification.

5. A snow guard in accordance with claim 1 wherein the snow guard comprises:

a flat base on the lower portion having a multi-layered flange to be positioned uphill of the upwardly projecting portion; and

portions in the flange being joined together at the multiple layers thereof.

6. A snow guard in accordance with claim 5 comprising:

a viewing hole being provided in flange to allow viewing of the soldering operation.

7. A snow guard in accordance with claim 5 wherein the upper portion comprises:

an upstanding wall projecting upwardly at an inner edge of the flange; and

a plurality of inclined facet walls extending downwardly from a top edge of the upstanding wall to a lower edge of the lower portion.

8. A metal snow guard for holding snow and for being attached to a metal roof comprising:

an upper metal portion on the snow guard projecting upwardly for holding snow,

a lower metal portion on the snow guard from which the upper portion projects for being secured to the metal roof;

a solid layer of solder and of flux secured to an underside of the lower portion;

the solid layer of flux and solder to be melted and to provide the solder for soldering the metal snow guard to the metal roof;

a flat base on the lower portion having a multi-layered flange to be positioned uphill of the upwardly projecting portion; and

portions in the flange being joined together at the multiple layers thereof.

9. A metal snow guard for holding snow and for being attached to a metal roof comprising:

an upper metal portion on the snow guard projecting upwardly for holding snow;

a lower metal portion on the snow guard from which the upper portion projects for being secured to the metal roof;

a solid layer of solder and of flux secured to an underside of the lower portion;

the solid layer of flux and solder to be melted and to provide the solder for soldering the metal snow guard to the roof;

a flat base on the lower portion having a multi-layered flange to be positioned uphill of the upwardly projecting portion;

portions in the flange being joined together at the multiple layers thereof; and

a viewing hole being provided in flange to allow viewing of the soldering operation.

10. A metal snow guard for holding snow and for being attached to a metal roof comprising:

an upper metal portion on the snow guard projecting upwardly for holding snow;

a lower metal portion on the snow guard from which the upper portion projects for being secured to the metal roof;

a solid layer of solder affixed to an underside of the lower portion; and

the solid layer of solder having a predetermined thickness and amount to solder the metal snow guard to the metal roof without an excess thereof flowing beyond the snow guard and marring the metal roof.

11. A metal snow guard in accordance with claim 10 wherein the solid layer of solder comprises:

spaced projections of solder on the lower metal portion of the snow guard; and

the spaced projections flowing into the spaces between adjacent projections when the solder is melted.

12. A metal snow guard in accordance with claim 10 comprising:

a removable cover covering the layer of solder; and

the cover being removed to enable soldering of the snow guard to the roof.

13. A snow guard in accordance with claim 10 comprising:

a solid layer of flux coating the solder.

14. A snow guard in accordance with claim 13 wherein the solid layer of flux is a solid crust formed by melting of liquid flux onto the solid layer of solder.

15. A metal snow guard in accordance with claim 10 comprising:

a folded metal sheet body having the upper metal portion joined to the lower metal portion at fold lines.