Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof

• US 9,774,292 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Inventors: Stearns, Brian Cecil, Lounsbury, Douglas Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): STEPHAN, BETH A
• Application Number:
  US15/229,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20160344333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/66 Sealings damp-proof courses E04B1/644; fire-proof sealings E04B1/948; additions of anti-leak properties to plaster C04B; bituminous sealing masses C08L95/00; sealings for hydraulic engineering work in general E02B3/16; against ground humidity or ground water E02D31/02; coverings against rain or other precipitations of the atmosphere E04D; composition of material or manufacture of sealing foils, see the relevant classes for these foils
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/04 Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the likegutter tiles E04D1/30; gutter slabs E04D3/40; vessels for collecting rainwater E03B3/03; street gullies E03F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/14 Junctions of roof sheathings to chimneys or other parts extending above the roof
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/1407 for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/147 specially adapted for inclined roofs trays for cavity walls E04B1/70
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/001 for sealing or insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0258 using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts F16B43/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/021 Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.

Claims

1. A roof mounting system, comprising:

flashing defining a first projection and a second projection,

wherein the second projection is within the first projection, and

wherein a first aperture is defined through the second projection;

a support plate installable within and configured to support the flashing at the first projection,

wherein the support plate includes a second aperture that is alignable with the first aperture;

a bracket positionable on the flashing and configured to contact the first projection and at least partially surround the second projection,

wherein a third aperture is defined in the bracket;

a washer installable on the bracket;

a fastener installable through the washer, the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture and configured to compress the washer, flashing, support plate, and bracket against one another.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a seal disposed between the flashing and the support plate.

3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the seal is configured to form a watertight connection with the fastener.

4. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the washer is configured to surround the third aperture.

5. The mounting system of claim 4, wherein the washer is configured to form a watertight connection around the third aperture.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a seal installed in the support plate.

7. A roof flashing system, comprising:

flashing portion defining a projection;

a support plate portion receivable within the projection;

a seal portion disposed between the flashing and the support plate;

a bracket positionable on the projection and supportable by the support plate portion;

a washer positionable on the bracket;

a fastener installable through the bracket, the washer, the flashing portion, the seal portion, the support plate portion,

wherein the fastener is configured to compress the bracket, the washer, the flashing portion, the seal portion, the support plate portion, and

wherein the seal portion is configured to contact and form a watertight engagement with the fastener.

8. The flashing system of claim 7, wherein the projection has a first profile and the support plate portion has a second profile.

9. The flashing system of claim 8, wherein the first profile and the second profile are complimentary.

10. The flashing system of claim 8, wherein the first profile is at least one of substantially square or substantially rectangular in cross-section.

11. The flashing system of claim 8, wherein the first profile is frustoconical.

12. The flashing system of claim 7, wherein the sealing portion is installed through a hole in the support plate potion.

13. The flashing system of claim 7, wherein the seal portion is configured to contact a roof surface in response the support portion being installed on the roof surface.

14. A flashing system, comprising:

flashing including a raised portion and defining a first aperture in the raised portion;

a support plate installable beneath the raised portion and configured to support the raised portion, the support plate including a second aperture that is configured to align with the first aperture;

a bracket installable on the raised portion and supportable by the support plate, the bracket including a third aperture alignable with the first aperture and the second aperture;

a washer installable on the bracket;

a fastener installable through the washer, the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture,

wherein the washer is configured to surround and seal the third aperture, and

wherein the fastener is configured to compress the washer, the bracket, the support plate and the flashing.

15. The flashing system of claim 14,

wherein the projection has a first profile and the support plate portion has a second profile, and

wherein the first profile and the second profile are complimentary.

16. The flashing system of claim 14, further comprising a seal disposed between the flashing and the support plate.

17. The flashing system of claim 14, further comprising a seal installable in the support plate.

18. The flashing system of claim 17, wherein the seal is configured to contact the roof surface in response to the support plate being installed on the roof surface.

19. The flashing system of claim 14, further comprising a seal installable through the flashing.

20. The flashing system of claim 14, further comprising a seal that is configured to create a watertight connection around the fastener.