SNOW-RETAINING ROOF BRACKET

Abstract

The invention provides a snow-retaining roof bracket in which the bracket is secured by a hooked end in which the element which hooks over the batten is also provided with two sharp spikes to anchor the bracket if the batten is thicker than the hook's opening. The snow-retaining element is configured with peripheral flanges to strengthen the bracket and grip the snow.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of roof-mounted fenders, stops or brackets for preventing snow from sliding off roofs.

BACKGROUND

It has long been known to attach fenders, stops or brackets to the sloping roofs of buildings to prevent accumulated snow from sliding off the roof and causing damage or personal injury. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 185,137; 401,202; 591,594; 907,355 and 1,222,953. Such guards or brackets typically have a snow-retaining dam, barrier or fence element which extends perpendicularly to the roof's surface to engage the snow. It is attached to an elongated flat strip or bar which permits it to be inserted under the roof tiles or shingles. The strip is secured to the roof by nails or it may have a hook to engage the roof batten as in DE 100 52 979 C1 published 13 Jun. 2002. In a further variation shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,184 the strip has a pointed barb which engages and penetrates the center of the wooden roof batten. If the batten is too thin however it does not perform adequately.

The further problem faced by such roof snow fenders, stops or brackets is that the weight of snow can become considerable and can bend or break the bracket, particularly where it is attached to the roof or roof batten or at the point of engagement with the snow. Also the barb shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,184 typically requires hammering for it to penetrate the batten on installation which may bend the barb and require repair, and resultant weakening of the barb when it is re-installed. There is therefore a need for a snow-retaining roof bracket which reduces the foregoing problems.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

The invention therefore provides a snow-retaining roof bracket for attachment to roofs, each roof having roof battens and differing roofs having roof battens of differing thicknesses, the snow-retaining roof bracket being formed from a strip of metal plate comprising a generally flat elongated central element, a generally triangular snow-retaining element extending upwardly relative to said elongated element adjacent a first end thereof, and a roof batten engaging element adjacent the other end thereof; the snow retaining element being formed by bending the metal strip in three locations thereby forming three sides of a triangle comprising interior angles totaling 180 degrees, a first side being generally upstanding relative to the elongated central element, a second side joining the first and third sides, and a third side parallel to the elongated central element wherein a substantial portion of each edge of the second side of the triangle is bent towards the interior of said triangle forming elongated downward flanges; and the roof batten engaging element being formed by bending the metal strip approximately 90 degrees in two locations thereby forming a U-shaped opening on the opposite side of the flat elongated central element from the snow retaining element, the U-shaped opening being sized to receive a roof batten, the free end of the roof batten engaging element having a V-shaped cut-out therein to thereby form two pointed projections extending parallel to the flat elongated element in the direction of the snow-retaining element.

The invention further provides a method of manufacturing a snow-retaining roof bracket from a strip of metal plate comprising: a) forming a generally triangular snow-retaining element extending upwardly relative to the elongated element adjacent a first end thereof by bending the metal strip in three locations thereby forming three sides of a triangle comprising interior angles totaling 180 degrees, the first side being generally upstanding relative to the elongated central element, the second side joining the first and third sides and the third side parallel to the elongated central element, and bending a substantial portion of each edge of the second side of the triangle towards the interior of said triangle forming elongated downward flanges; b) securing the first end to said metal strip; c) forming a V-shaped cut-out in the second end to thereby form two pointed projections extending parallel to the flat elongated element in the direction of the first end of the snow-retaining element; and d) forming a roof batten engaging element adjacent the other end thereof by bending the metal strip approximately 90 degrees in two locations thereby forming a U-shaped opening on the opposite side of the flat elongated central element from the snow-retaining element.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the snow-retaining roof bracket according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the snow-retaining roof bracket shown n FIG. 1, partially in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the snow-retaining roof bracket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along lines A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along lines C-C of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the spike element of the snow-retaining roof bracket shown in FIG. 1. taken along line D of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

With reference to FIG. 1, a snow-retaining roof bracket 10 comprises a triangular snow barrier 12, elongated attachment strip 14, and hook end 16. Preferably the bracket is manufactured from a single strip of 15 gauge (1.5 mm) zinc-plated steel plate which is powder coated or painted but can also be fabricated from aluminum or copper plate. The length of the bracket is selected according to the length of tile or shingle on the roof. The bracket 10 is formed from the single strip of metal plate by bending, crimping and welding. To stiffen the metal plate, elongated indentations 18 are pressed in the metal upwardly from the underside surface 19 (FIG. 4). Triangular section 12 is formed at one end by bending the metal strip so that it overlaps in area 20, where it is secured by forming tabs 22 in the lower plate which extend through holes 24 in the upper plate and are bent over to tighten. The two plates may then be welded where they contact. Alternatively the plates may be secured by rivets. Triangular section 12 is strengthened by bending down a ¼ inch section 28 along each edge of side 26 thereby forming peripheral flanges 28 on side 26. It may also be strengthened by forming a central indentation 30 (FIGS. 2, 3) which may also be formed as two or more parallel elongated indentations. The peripheral flanges 28 also serve to increase the grip of the snow-retaining section on the snow, since they increase the tendency of the snow and ice to freeze around the triangular section 12.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the bracket with break lines B/B indicating that the bracket is of indefinite length. The length of the bracket is selected according to the length of tile or shingle on the roof, with one standard length being about 16 inches in length and 3 cm. (1 and 3/16 inches) in width. End 16 is bent with the end 32 extending back towards the body of the bracket, and is formed with two spikes 34. In this way the bracket adapts to roof battens of different thicknesses by forming a U-shaped opening on the opposite side of said flat elongated central element from said snow-retaining element, said U-shaped opening being sized to receive a standard roof batten. If the wooden roof batten is thinner than distance E in FIG. 2, then the end 16 will wrap around it. If however the batten is thicker than distance E, then spikes 34 will pierce the wooden batten to anchor the bracket.

The two spikes 34 are formed by forming a V-shaped cut-out in the second end 16 to thereby form two pointed projections extending parallel to the body of the bracket, pointing back in the direction of the triangular element 12. This makes the spikes stiffer than the prior art and more readily hammered into the roof batten, since the outer edges of the spikes are in line with the direction of force of the hammer.

Thus not only is the present bracket stronger than previous snow-retaining roof brackets, but it anchors the bracket to battens of widely different thicknesses and grips and egages the snow more effectively.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the invention be interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within its true spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A snow-retaining roof bracket for attachment to roofs, each roof having roof battens and differing roofs having roof battens of differing thicknesses, said snow-retaining roof bracket being formed from a strip of metal plate comprising a generally flat elongated central element, a generally triangular snow-retaining element extending upwardly relative to said elongated element adjacent a first end thereof, and a roof batten engaging element adjacent the other end thereof; said the snow-retaining element being formed by bending said metal strip in three locations thereby forming three sides of a triangle comprising interior angles totaling 180 degrees, the first side being generally upstanding relative to said elongated central element, the second side joining the first and third sides and the third side parallel to said elongated central element wherein a substantial portion of each edge of said second side of said triangle is bent towards the interior of said triangle forming elongated downward flanges; said roof batten engaging element being formed by bending said metal strip approximately 90 degrees in two locations thereby forming a U-shaped opening on the opposite side of said flat elongated central element from said snow-retaining element, said U-shaped opening being sized to receive a roof batten, the free end of said roof batten engaging element having a V-shaped cut-out therein to thereby form two pointed projections extending parallel to said flat elongated element in the direction of said snow-retaining element.

2. The snow-retaining roof bracket of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped opening is further sized such that said two pointed projections engage said roof batten when said roof batten is thicker than the opening formed by said U-shaped element.

3. A method of manufacturing a snow-retaining roof bracket from a strip of metal plate comprising:

a) forming a generally triangular snow-retaining element extending upwardly relative to said elongated element adjacent a first end thereof by bending said metal strip in three locations thereby forming three sides of a triangle comprising interior angles totaling 180 degrees, the first side being generally upstanding relative to said elongated central element, the second side joining the first and third sides and the third side being parallel to said elongated central element and bending a substantial portion of each edge of the second side of said triangle towards the interior of said triangle forming elongated downward flanges;

b) securing said first end to said metal strip;

c) forming a V-shaped cut-out in the second end to thereby form two pointed projections extending parallel to said flat elongated element in the direction of said snow-retaining element; and

d) forming a roof batten engaging element adjacent the other end thereof by bending said metal strip approximately 90 degrees in two locations thereby forming a U-shaped opening on the opposite side of said flat elongated central element from said snow-retaining element.