Roof clamp
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A roof clamp for attaching a component to aroof seam of a building, the roof clamp comprising:
- (a) a saddle;
(b) a roof seam-engaging wedge;
(c) a substantially vertically accessible slot adapted to engage a roof seam, the slot being at least partially defined between a surface of the saddle and the wedge;
(d) a single shaft operable to move the wedge into a roof seam-engaging position and being adapted to allow securement of the component to the roof seam, the single shaft being elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the substantially vertically accessible slot and the single shaft also being adapted to secure the component to the saddle; and
(e) a retainer disposed between an interior surface of the saddle and the wedge to hold the wedge to the saddle at least prior to roof seam engagement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Roof clamps and methods of securing roof clamps are provided. The roof clamps include a saddle, a wedge, and a securing member. The securing member facilitates engaging a seam of a roof with the clamp and removably fixing the roof clamp to the seam through the camming action of the wedge against a region of the saddle. The securing member also serves as the connection point for an auxiliary item, such as a solar panel or a snow guard. The placement of the securing member allows the roof clamp to be secured from, and the auxiliary item to be attached at, a top surface of the saddle.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A roof clamp for attaching a component to a
roof seam of a building, the roof clamp comprising: -
(a) a saddle; (b) a roof seam-engaging wedge; (c) a substantially vertically accessible slot adapted to engage a roof seam, the slot being at least partially defined between a surface of the saddle and the wedge; (d) a single shaft operable to move the wedge into a roof seam-engaging position and being adapted to allow securement of the component to the roof seam, the single shaft being elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the substantially vertically accessible slot and the single shaft also being adapted to secure the component to the saddle; and (e) a retainer disposed between an interior surface of the saddle and the wedge to hold the wedge to the saddle at least prior to roof seam engagement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A roof clamp comprising:
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(a) a saddle comprising a top wall including a saddle bore, spaced apart sidewalls projecting from the top wall, and camming surfaces located at the sidewalls, the sidewalls being made from a sheet of material, the saddle including roof seam-access slots aligned through the sidewalls and a substantially inverted U-shape end view substantially perpendicular to a plane through the slots; (b) a roof seam-engaging wedge riding along the camming surfaces in at least one operating condition; (c) a securing member located through the saddle bore and moving the wedge between a roof seam-engaging position and an open position; and (d) a retainer disposed between an interior surface of the saddle and the wedge to hold the wedge to the saddle at least prior to roof seam engagement. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A roof clamp comprising:
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(a) a bifurcated clamp body comprising; (i) a surface having a bifurcated clamp body bore; (ii) a surface defining a vertical slot; (iii) two sidewalls spanning from an upper surface to a lower surface in a spaced-apart manner; and (iv) a camming surface connected to each of the sidewalls; (b) a spring within the bifurcated clamp body, the spring defining a spring bore; (c) a roof seam-engaging wedge; and (d) a bolt to align the bifurcated clamp body bore, the spring bore, and the roof seam-engaging wedge, the bolt being adapted to both secure at least one of a rail or snow guard to the saddle, and cause the wedge to be secured to a roof seam. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A roof clamp comprising:
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(a) a sheet metal clamp body comprising a camming surface, a side wall having a slot, an upper wall having a bore, and a clamping surface; (b) a wedge comprising a camming surface, a bore and a clamping surface, the camming surface of the wedge riding along the camming surface of the clamp body in at least one operating condition; (c) an elongated member extending through the bore of the body upper wall and through the bore of the wedge; (d) a resilient member attached to at least two of;
the clamp body, the wedge and the elongated member; and(e) a standing roof seam located in the slot of the clamp body and being clamped between the clamping surfaces of the wedge and the clamp body by the installer pushing the elongated member relative to the clamp body to allow access of the standing roof seam into the slot and then the installer releasing the elongated member to allow the resilient member to move the wedge into a clamping position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A roof clamp comprising:
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(a) a saddle comprising a camming surface, a wall including an opening therein, and a clamping surface; (b) a wedge comprising a camming surface contacting against the camming surface of the saddle, the wedge being spaced apart from the clamping surface of the saddle; (c) a resilient member biasing the wedge relative to the saddle; and (d) an elongated member extending through the wall opening and including an externally accessible end; the wedge, resilient member and elongated member all being preassembled to the saddle prior to roof-installation; and pushing of the externally accessible end of the elongated member toward the wall of the saddle overcoming the biasing of the resilient member to open the wedge away from the clamping surface of the saddle. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification