Snow brake
First Claim
1. A snow brake comprising a base with a bottom and a top, the base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through the first and second ends for receiving a folded seam of a metal roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second opposite sides connected at the top, one side having holes extending transversely through the side for receiving and holding anchor screws, the other side having recesses aligned with the screw-receiving holes for receiving outward bent portions of the roof seams in the recesses, a snow brake plate connected to the base and extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the base and having lateral portions extending outward from the opposite sides of the base near one end of the base and near a bottom of the plate, the opposite sides of the base being relatively thick as compared to the thickness of the plate and the lateral portions of the plate being cast and constructed for providing resistance against separation of the sides when tightening anchor screws for being roof seam portions into the recesses, and for preventing bending or breaking of the snow plate.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A snow brake has three major portions, all of which are formed together in a single mold by casting. The first part is a gripper base having a rectangular U-shaped cross-section and an elongated side elevation. A slit extends upward from a bottom of the base to receive a roof seam. Set screw openings extend inward from one side wall and to the slit. Indentations are formed in the side opposite the set screw openings, so that the set screws may press portions of the seam into pockets formed by the indentations, deforming the seam and locking the base to the seam of a standing seam metal roof. The snow retainer is a curved plate which is inclined to the base at about a 60° angle. The plate is wide at the curved bottom and is curved inward toward the top. Thick side walls of the base provide rigidity of the entire structure and use the force of the blade for preventing separation of the sides of the base when forcing the set screws inward to deflect the seam into the indentations to anchor the base on a roof seam.
68 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A snow brake comprising a base with a bottom and a top, the base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through the first and second ends for receiving a folded seam of a metal roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second opposite sides connected at the top, one side having holes extending transversely through the side for receiving and holding anchor screws, the other side having recesses aligned with the screw-receiving holes for receiving outward bent portions of the roof seams in the recesses, a snow brake plate connected to the base and extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the base and having lateral portions extending outward from the opposite sides of the base near one end of the base and near a bottom of the plate, the opposite sides of the base being relatively thick as compared to the thickness of the plate and the lateral portions of the plate being cast and constructed for providing resistance against separation of the sides when tightening anchor screws for being roof seam portions into the recesses, and for preventing bending or breaking of the snow plate.
- 5. A snow brake comprising an inverted, rectangular, U-shaped base having a central slot for receiving a folded seam of a metal roof, first and second sides extending along the slot and a curved top interconnecting the sides, the first side having fastener-receiving openings for receiving seam-engaging fasteners, and the second side having enlarged recesses for receiving deformations in seams caused by the fasteners, a snow plate extending upward at an angle from one longitudinal end of the base, the snow plate having a curved bottom portion extending laterally beyond bottoms of the sides of the base, and lower, inner sections of the plate connected to bottom portions of the first and second sides supporting the sides with the snow plate and for preventing relative outward movement of the sides when deforming the roof seams into the recesses with the fasteners.
- 10. A snow brake comprising a base with a bottom and a top, the base having a longitudinally extending body with first and second longitudinal ends, a slot extending upward from the bottom toward the top and terminating spaced from the top and extending through the first and second ends for receiving a folded seam of a metal roof in the slot, the slot dividing the base into first and second sides connected at the top, one side having holes extending transversely through the side for receiving and holding anchor fasteners, the other side having recesses aligned with the holes for receiving outward bent portions of the roof seams in the recesses, a snow stop plate connected to the base and extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the base and extending upward to beyond the top of the base, and lateral supports extending outward from sides of the base near the bottom of the base and being connected to laterally extended portions of the snow stop plate near a bottom of the plate, the lateral supports and bottom portions of the plates which are connected to the lateral supports being constructed for providing resistance against separation of the sides when tightening anchor fasteners for bending roof seam portions into the recesses, and for preventing bending or breaking of the snow plate.
Specification