Snow guard and method of attaching the same

• US 7,774,989 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Levi'S Building Components, LLC
• Original Assignee: Levi's Nails & Screws LP
• Inventors: Fisher, Levi S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cajilig; Christine T
• Application Number:
  US12/165,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20100000161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 52/24, 52/25, 52/26, D84/99
• US Class Current: 52/26
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

A snow guard and a method of attaching a snow guard to a seam of a metal roof wherein the snow guard includes a base having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a top wall that define a seam receiving channel. The first side wall is provided with at least one opening. The second side wall has at least one fixed projection extending from the second side wall into the seam receiving channel and toward the opening. At least one moveable fastener extends through the opening into the seam receiving channel and toward the projection, and a blade is attached to a base receiving end of the base.

Claims

1. A snow guard, comprising:

a base having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a top wall that define a seam receiving channel, the first side wall being provided with at least one opening, the second side wall having a plurality of discrete projections adapted to deform the seam, each discrete projection arranged opposite to and corresponding with at least one opening and extending from the second side wall into the seam receiving channel and toward the opening;

at least one moveable fastener adapted to engage the seam, and extending through the opening into the seam receiving channel and toward the projection; and

a blade attached to a base receiving end of the base.

2. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the projection has a substantially convex end portion that opposes a substantially convex end portion of the fastener.

3. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the projection is materially formed in one piece with the second side wall.

4. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the blade receiving end is inclined.

5. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the blade extends upward and outward with respect to the base.

6. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the blade includes a seam receiving channel that communicates with the seam receiving channel of the base.

7. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the blade has a lower surface substantially aligned with a bottom of the base that is provided with cut-outs extending upward from the lower surface.

8. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a set screw.

9. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the top wall have a uniform thickness.

10. The snow guard of claim 1, wherein the opening and the fastener are provided with corresponding threads.

11. A method for attaching a snow guard to a seam of a metal roof, comprising:

inserting the seam of the metal roof into a seam receiving channel defined by a first side wall, a second side wall, and a top wall of a base;

engaging a first side of the seam with at least two discrete projections each arranged opposite to and corresponding with at least one opening, each discrete projection extending from the second side wall into the seam receiving channel and adapted to deform the seam;

advancing a moveable fastener through an opening in the first side wall toward and engaging a second side of the seam; and

clamping the seam between the fastener and the projection, wherein a convex end of the fastener and a convex end of the corresponding projection engages and deforms the seam to securely fix the snow guard to the seam of the metal roof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the projection is materially formed in one piece with the second side wall.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fastener is a set screw.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and the top wall have a uniform thickness.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the opening and the fastener are provided with corresponding threads.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting the seam into a seam receiving channel in a blade attached to a blade receiving end of the base wherein the seam receiving channel of the blade communicates with the seam receiving channel of the base.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the blade receiving end is inclined.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the blade extends upward and outward with respect to the base.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the blade has a lower surface substantially aligned with a bottom of the base that is provided with cut-outs extending upward from the lower surface.