| Snow guard for roofs -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Snow guard for roofsSnow guard for roofs description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070245636, Snow guard for roofs. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to retaining devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a snow guard for installation on a sloped roof to prevent the sudden and unexpected sliding of snow from the roof. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] The accumulation of snow upon roofs can be a major problem in many areas of the world. Generally, roofs tend to be constructed with steeper pitches in areas with greater snowfall in order to allow the snow to slide from the roof slope to avoid excessive snow loads on the roof structure. Steeper roof pitches are also capable of supporting greater snow loads, as well. [0005] Snow does not typically slide from a sloped structure immediately upon contacting the structure. Rather, the first snow tends to adhere to the underlying structure, with additional snow adhering to the first snow. The buildup continues until a significant amount of snow has accumulated on the structure. When the proper conditions occur, e.g., sufficient mass of snow in combination with sufficient heat radiating through the roof structure to melt the snow immediately adjacent to the roof, the snow tends to release from the sloped structure all at once. This can result in extremely hazardous conditions for anyone immediately beneath the eaves of the roof when the snow slide occurs if sufficient snow has built up, particularly if some melting and refreezing, or freezing rain, has occurred to form large masses of ice. [0006] Accordingly, various means of controlling the sliding, or avalanching of snow from sloped or gabled roofs have been developed in the past. Various mounting or attachment systems have been used in the past for the installation of snow guards for roofs. An example of such is found in European Patent No. 389,438, published on Sep. 26, 1989, which discloses a series of embodiments of snow guards, with each using a clip principle to hook or catch beneath the edge of a tile on a tiled roof. A retainer is adjustably attached to the hook or catch portion, to clasp the edge of the tile between the two components. The entire snow guard structure must be removed from its attachment to the tiles in order to remove the fence or retainer portion for snow removal from the roof. [0007] Another example of a snow guard is found in Japanese Patent No. 5-52,063, published on Mar. 2, 1993. According to the drawings and English abstract, the device comprises various embodiments of a snow guard or fence attached along the eaves of the roof. The device comprises a series of horizontal or vertical bars, or an open mesh. [0008] Yet another example is found in German Patent No. 4,235,478, published on Apr. 28, 1994. The device comprises an elongate mounting bracket having an I-beam cross section, with the upper flange shorter than the lower flange and the web tapering between the two. A single round bar is installed through a passage in the web of the mounting bracket. [0009] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a snow guard for roofs solving the aforementioned problems is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The snow guard for roofs serves to prevent the accidental or unplanned sliding or avalanching of snow from a gabled roof. The device has a series of slotted brackets, which are permanently attached to the roof, preferably through the eaves thereof outside of the walls of the structure. A single, flat snow fence is removably placed in the slots of the mounting brackets. The slots of the brackets preferably extend only partially from the top of the brackets toward their bases, thus elevating the lower edge of the snow fence component above the surface of the roof. This enables the snow guard to be installed upon metal or other roof surfaces having strengthening ribs or ridges extending from the ridgeline to the eaves, with the lower edge of the snow fence clearing the ribs or ridges to avoid damage thereto. [0011] The mounting brackets may be secured through the metal (or other) roof covering and underlying sheathing, or may be secured through stringers supporting the overlying metal roof sheathing. The slotted mounting brackets permit the snow fence to be quickly and easily lifted from the brackets whenever desired, thus permitting the user of the device to remove accumulated snow from the roof structure in a deliberate manner when safe, rather than risking random snow slides from an unguarded roof. [0012] These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a snow guard for roofs according to the present invention, showing its installation and general configuration. [0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded environmental perspective view of the snow guard of FIG. 1, showing an exemplary installation of one of the brackets and the snow fence portion of the device lifted from its receiving slots in the brackets. [0015] FIG. 3 is an environmental end elevation view of an exemplary sheathed roof structure, showing further installation details of the snow guard of the present invention and alternative slot configurations for the brackets. [0016] FIG. 4 is an environmental end elevation view of a roof structure having a series of horizontal stringers supporting the sheet roof covering, with the brackets attached through one of the stringers. [0017] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] The present invention comprises various embodiments of a snow guard for roofs, serving to prevent random or accidental slippage of snow from a sloped roof, yet allowing a user of the snow guard to deliberately remove snow from the roof as needed. While the snow guard is particularly adapted for use on roofs having sheet metal sheathing or corrugated roofing, it may be used with other types of roofs as well, if so desired. [0019] FIG. 1 of the drawings provides an environmental perspective view of the snow guard 10 in an exemplary installation on a sloped or gabled roof R covered with sheet metal sheathing M. Such metal sheathing M is generally provided with additional stiffening corrugations C and overlapping seams or joints J, which are raised above the surface of the sheet metal M. The snow guard 10 includes a series of spaced apart snow fence mounting brackets 12, which are attached to the structure of the roof R, preferably through the eaves E to the exterior of the outer walls of the structure. This eaves installation positions all bracket attachment holes to the outside of the exterior walls, thus precluding any leakage through such holes into the interior of the structure. However, the present snow guard 10 could be secured to the roof R somewhat further toward the roof crest and over the interior of the structure, if so desired. [0020] Each of the snow fence mounting brackets 12 includes a roof surface attachment flange 14 which rests upon the roof surface M (or other sheathing material) when the brackets 12 are installed atop the roof R. The roof attachment flange 14 of each bracket 12 includes at least one, and preferably two, attachment holes 16 therethrough (visible in the unattached bracket in FIG. 2) for the installation of a corresponding number of roof sheathing through-bolts 18 for securing the brackets 12 to the underlying roof structure R. Preferably through-bolts 18 and nuts 20 (FIGS. 2 through 4) are used to secure the brackets 12 to the roof R, rather than lag screws or similar fasteners that do not penetrate completely through the underlying material. Continue reading about Snow guard for roofs... Full patent description for Snow guard for roofs Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Snow guard for roofs patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Snow guard for roofs or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Weather strip Next Patent Application: On a sauna structure Industry Class: Static structures (e.g., buildings) ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Snow guard for roofs patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11665 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
