Roof mount having built-in failure

• US 8,683,751 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Stearns, Brian Cecil
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHAN, BETH A
• Application Number:
  US13/272,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 52 4- 26, 52/58, 52/60, 521/731, 521/733, 52409-411, 526/98, 523/026, 523/027, 52/97, 527/414.2, 126/621, 126/623, 136/244, 248/237, 248/500, 248/505, 285 42- 43, 411/439, 411/542
• US Class Current: 52/58
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/186 suspended, e.g. secured to the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1221 onto a wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

A roof attachment assembly to be mounted on a roof substrate. The assembly comprises a plate having a substantially frustoconical protrusion, the plate defining a first surface and a second surface and including an aperture. The assembly further comprises a first membrane positioned adjacent to the first surface of the plate, a second membrane positioned adjacent to the second surface of the plate, a bracket positioned proximate the second membrane and the second surface of the plate, the bracket operable to support one or more roof-mounted fixtures, and a fastener extending through the bracket, the membranes, and the plate, the fastener operable to couple the bracket, the membranes and the plate. The assembly also comprises a second fastener that substantially mates with the bracket, wherein at least one of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.

Claims

1. A roof attachment assembly to be mounted on a roof substrate, the roof attachment assembly comprising:

a plate having a substantially frustoconical protrusion, the plate defining a first surface and a second surface and including an aperture extending through the frustoconical protrusion between the first and second surfaces, the first surface facing the roof substrate and the second surface being spaced from the roof substrate;

a first membrane positioned adjacent to the first surface of the plate;

a second membrane positioned adjacent to the second surface of the plate;

a bracket positioned proximate the second membrane and the second surface of the plate, the bracket operable to support one or more roof-mounted fixtures; and

a fastener extending through the bracket, the membranes, and the plate, the fastener operable to couple the bracket, the membranes and the plate; and

a second fastener that substantially mates with the bracket,

wherein at least one of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.

2. The roof attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener is configured to fail at the at least one pre-determined breaking point when a force or a torque upon the at least one of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener exceeds a pre-determined force or torque.

3. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein the roof attachment assembly is configured to separate from the roof substrate when the at least one of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener fail.

4. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein the fastener is configured to fail under less force than the force required to tear the first membrane or the second membrane.

5. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein failure of the plate includes deformation of the plate adjacent to the aperture to allow the fastener to separate from the plate.

6. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein failure of the plate includes breaking of the plate to allow the fastener to separate from the plate.

7. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein the first membrane fails at a membrane aperture and around a first membrane perimeter, and wherein the first membrane perimeter is defined by a perimeter of the plate.

8. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein the second fastener is configured to fail between a head and a shaft of the second fastener.

9. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein the pre-determined force required to fail the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener is smaller than a force required to fail a connection between the roof substrate and the membranes.

10. The roof attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is connected to the plate to inhibit rotation of the fastener with respect to the plate.

11. The roof attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket and the second fastener are connected to inhibit rotation of the second fastener with respect to the bracket.

12. The roof attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket defines a first recess, a second recess, and a bracket aperture extending between the first recess and the second recess.

13. The roof attachment assembly of claim 12, wherein the second recess of the bracket is sized to engage a portion of the second fastener to inhibit rotation of the second fastener within the second recess.

14. The roof attachment assembly of claim 12, wherein the frustoconical protrusion substantially matches the shape of the first recess.

15. The roof attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket matingly receives the substantially frustoconical protrusion defined by the plate.

16. The roof attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the second membrane is larger than a diameter of the first membrane.

17. The roof attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the roof attachment assembly can be coupled to a flashing mounted on the roof substrate.

18. The roof attachment assembly of claim 2, wherein the pre-determined force or torque required to fail each of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener is different.

19. A roof attachment assembly mounted on a roof substrate, the roof attachment assembly comprising:

a first plate having a substantially frustoconical protrusion defining an aperture extending therethrough, the plate defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the roof substrate and the second surface spaced from the roof substrate;

a membrane positioned adjacent one of the first surface and the second surface of the first plate;

a second plate positioned adjacent to the roof substrate and having a recess defining a second aperture, the second plate defining a top surface spaced from the roof substrate;

a second membrane positioned adjacent to the top surface of the second plate;

a bracket positioned proximate to at least one of the membrane and the second surface of the first plate, the bracket operable to support one or more roof mounted fixtures;

a fastener extending through and coupling the bracket, the membrane, and the first plate;

a second fastener that mates with a portion of the bracket; and

a third fastener extending through and coupling the second plate and the roof substrate,

wherein at least one of the fastener, the first plate, the membrane, and the second fastener includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.

20. The roof attachment assembly of claim 19, wherein the membrane is positioned adjacent the first surface of the plate.

21. The roof attachment assembly of claim 19, wherein the membrane is positioned adjacent the second surface of the plate.

22. The roof attachment assembly of claim 19, wherein the fastener, the first plate, the membrane, and the second fastener are configured to fail at the at least one pre-determined breaking point when a force upon the fastener, the first plate, the membrane, and the second fastener exceeds a pre-determined force or torque.

23. The roof attachment assembly of claim 20, wherein the roof attachment assembly is configured to separate from the roof substrate when the fastener, the plate, the membrane, or the second fastener fail.

24. A roof attachment assembly to be mounted on a roof substrate, the roof attachment assembly comprising:

a base member having a substantially frustoconical protrusion extending away from the roof substrate along an axis and defining an aperture extending along the axis, the base member defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the roof substrate and the second surface spaced from the roof substrate;

a membrane positioned adjacent one of the first surface and the second surface of the base member, the membrane defining a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture, such that the second aperture extends along the axis;

a bracket positioned proximate the membrane and the second surface of the base member, the bracket defining a first recess, a second recess, and a bracket aperture extending between the first recess and the second recess, the bracket operable to support at least one roof-mounted assembly, the bracket aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture and the second aperture, such the bracket aperture extends along the axis;

a fastener extending through the bracket, the membrane, and the base member, the fastener operable to couple the bracket, the membrane and the base member; and

a second fastener that substantially mates with the bracket,

wherein at least one of the fastener, the base member, the membrane, and the second fastener includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.

25. The roof attachment assembly of claim 24, wherein the membrane is positioned adjacent the first surface of the base member.

26. The roof attachment assembly of claim 24, wherein the membrane is positioned adjacent the second surface of the base member.

27. A roof attachment assembly to be mounted on a roof substrate, the roof attachment assembly comprising:

a first membrane supportable on the roof substrate;

a base member that defines a first surface positioned substantially adjacent the first membrane and a second surface spaced from the roof substrate and the first membrane, the base member defining a surface area, the base member including a frustoconical protrusion extending away from the roof substrate along an axis, the first surface forms a frustoconical recess and the second surface forms the frustoconical protrusion, the base member defines a first aperture extending along the axis from the first surface to the second surface, the first aperture substantially centrally positioned in the frustoconical protrusion;

a second membrane coupled to the first membrane and coupled to the base member, the second membrane positioned substantially adjacent the base member second surface, the second membrane defining a surface area, wherein the second membrane surface area is greater than the surface area of the base member, the second membrane being deformable to substantially conform to the frustoconical protrusion of the base member, the second membrane defining a second aperture extending therethrough, the second aperture being substantially aligned with the first aperture, such that the second aperture extends along the axis; and

a fastener oriented along the axis, the fastener extending through the first aperture and the second aperture to couple the base member to the second membrane,

wherein at least one of the fastener, the base member, and the second membrane includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.

28. The roof attachment assembly of claim 27, wherein the base member is coupled to the roof substrate by at least one second fastener.

29. The roof attachment assembly of claim 27, wherein the roof attachment assembly is coupled to the roof substrate by heat welding.

30. A roof attachment assembly to be mounted on a roof substrate, the roof attachment assembly comprising:

a first membrane supportable on the roof substrate;

a base member that defines a first surface positioned substantially adjacent the first membrane and a second surface spaced from the roof substrate and the first membrane, the base member defining a surface area, the base member including a frustoconical protrusion extending away from the roof substrate along an axis, the first surface forms a frustoconical recess and the second surface forms the frustoconical protrusion, the base member defines a first aperture extending along the axis from the first surface to the second surface, the first aperture substantially centrally positioned in the frustoconical protrusion;

a second membrane coupled to the first membrane and coupled to the base member, the second membrane positioned substantially adjacent the base member second surface, the second membrane defining a surface area, wherein the second membrane surface area is greater than the surface area of the base member, the second membrane being deformable to substantially conform to the frustoconical protrusion of the base member, the second membrane defining a second aperture extending therethrough, the second aperture being substantially aligned with the first aperture, such that the second aperture extends along the axis;

a bracket coupled to the second membrane, the bracket defining a first surface spaced from the second membrane and a second surface positioned substantially adjacent the second membrane, the bracket defining an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface, the bracket is operable to support a roof-mounted assembly, the bracket aperture is substantially aligned with the first aperture and the second aperture, such the bracket aperture extends along the axis; and

a fastener oriented along the axis, the fastener extending through the first aperture, the second aperture and the bracket aperture to couple the base member to the second membrane and to the bracket,

wherein at least one of the fastener, the base member, and the second membrane includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.

31. The roof attachment assembly of claim 30, wherein the base member is coupled to the roof substrate by at least one second fastener.

32. The roof attachment assembly of claim 30, wherein the frustoconical protrusion extends at least partially into the bracket aperture, and the second membrane is deformed by the frustoconical protrusion, such that the second membrane extends into the bracket aperture.

33. The roof attachment assembly of claim 30, wherein the fastener is a bolt that further extends through the roof substrate.

34. The roof attachment assembly of claim 30, wherein the first membrane defines a surface area, and wherein the first membrane surface area is greater than the second membrane surface area.

35. The roof attachment assembly of claim 30, wherein the base member is substantially circular and defines a diameter, and wherein the base member diameter is greater than the first aperture diameter and greater than the second aperture diameter.