ROOF SNOW STOP

ARRETE-NEIGE POUR TOIT

English Abstract

The Invention is a device for preventing snow and ice from sliding off an
inclined roof.
Essentially, it is an L-shaped bracket, the long axis of which is installed
parallel to the
inclined surface of a slanted roof. The shape and surface features of the
device are
adapted to retain snow, and ice formed when snow melts and refreezes.

Claims

I claim:
1. A device for attaching to an inclined roof, to retain snow and ice, with a
substantially
L-shape comprising:
(a) a base member, forming the bottom of the L-shape, including one or more
roof
attachment holes or other roof attachment means for attachment to a roof, and
having
a long edge, and
(b) a vertical member, forming the top of the L-shape, attached to the base
member
along a long edge of the base member and extending above the base member at an
angle between about 90 degrees and 135 degrees,
whereby the base member may be attached to an inclined roof by the roof
attachment
means or by means of screws or other fasteners placed in the roof attachment
holes and
into the roof material, and whereby snow and ice on a roof are prevented by
the vertical
member from moving down an inclined roof.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more gripping shapes
extending from
the vertical member generally perpendicular to the surface of the vertical
member,
wherein such gripping shapes are adapted to engage snow and ice on a roof and
prevent
them from moving up and over the vertical member and then down an inclined
roof.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an angle reinforcement or other
strengthening means or brace member attached to the base member and the
vertical
member, whereby the vertical and base members are held rigidly together, and
whereby
said members will not break apart at the points where they are joined.


4. The device of claim 2, further comprising an angle reinforcement or other
strengthening means or brace members attached to the base member and the
vertical
member, whereby the vertical and base members are held rigidly together, and
whereby
said members will not break apart at the points where they are joined.
5. The device of claim 2, wherein the gripping shapes are selected from the
group
consisting of triangular based pyramids, square based periods, polygonal based
pyramids, rods, cones, triangles, and polygons.
6. The device of claim 4, wherein the gripping shapes are selected from the
group
consisting of triangular based pyramids, square based periods, polygonal based
pyramids, rods, cones, triangles, and polygons.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the vertical member is substantially in the
shape of a
half oval, half circle or polygon.
8. The device of claim 2, wherein the vertical member is in substantially the
shape of a
half oval, half circle or polygon.
9. The device of claim 3, wherein the vertical member is in substantially the
shape of a
half oval, half circle or polygon.
16


10. The device of claim 4, wherein the vertical member is substantially in the
shape of a
half oval, half circle or polygon.
11. The device of claim 5, wherein the vertical member is substantially in the
shape of a
half oval, half circle or polygon.
12. The device of claim 6, wherein the vertical member is substantially in the
shape of a
half oval, half circle or polygon.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises two or more
separate
mounting feet extending away from the vertical member, wherein the mounting
feet are
adapted for attachment to a roof.
14. The device of claim 2, wherein the base member comprises two or more
separate
mounting feet extending away from the vertical member, wherein the mounting
feet are
adapted for attachment to a roof.
15. The device of claim 3, wherein the base member comprises two or more
separate
mounting feet extending away from the vertical member, wherein the mounting
feet are
adapted for attachment to a roof.
17


16. The device of claim 4, wherein the base member comprises two or more
separate
mounting feet extending away from the vertical member, wherein mounting feet
are
adapted for attachment to a roof.
17. The device of claim 5, wherein the base member comprises two or more
separate
mounting feet extending away from the vertical member, wherein the mounting
feet are
adapted for attachment to a roof.
18. The device of claim 6, wherein the base member comprises two or more
separate
mounting feet extending away from the vertical member, wherein the mounting
feet are
adapted for attachment to a roof.
19. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
20. The device of claim 2, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
21. The device of claim 3, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride:
18


22. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
23. The device of claim 5, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
24. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
25. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
26. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.
19


27. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

28. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

29. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

30. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

31. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

32. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.




33. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

34. The device of claim 16, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

35. The device of claim 17, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

36. The device of claim 18, wherein the device is made in one piece from
molding or
stamping and is made from metal, or plastic selected from the group consisting
of:
polycarbonate, styrene, or high impact ABS plastic, or rigid polyvinyl
chloride.

37. The device of claim 1, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

21



38. The device of claim 2, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

39. The device of claim 3, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

40. The device of claim 4, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

41. The device of claim 5, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

42. The device of claim 6, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

22



43. The device of claim 7, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

44. The device of claim 8, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

45. The device of claim 9, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

46. The device of claim 10, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

47. The device of claim 11, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

48. The device of claim 12, wherein the material for the device is plastic and
further
comprises a chemical adapted to make the plastic substantially more resistant
to
degradation by ultraviolet light than the plastic alone.

23



49. The device of claim 37, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

50. The device of claim 38, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

51. The device of claim 39, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

52. The device of claim 40, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

53. The device of claim 41, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

24



54. The device of claim 42, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

55. The device of claim 43, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

56. The device of claim 44, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

57. The device of claim 45, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group,
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

58. The device of claim 46, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of: clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

59. The device of claim 47, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.




60. The device of claim 48, wherein the material has properties selected from
the group
consisting of: clear or translucent, clear or translucent with color, opaque
and black or
white, or opaque with color.

26

Description

CA 02511035 2005-06-28
ROOF SNOW STOP
BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION
The field of the Invention is a group of devices of widely varying shape, or
complexity or
cost etc. designed to prevent snow and ice from sliding off an inclined roof
in snowy
climates.
BACKGROUND-- DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
There are a number of devices covered by design patents, which cover only the
ornamental or aesthetic aspect of the device, which devices are intended to
prevent snow
and ice from sliding off an inclined roof. Representative of such patents are
U.S. design
patent 351,989, November 1, 1994 to R. M. Cline; U. S. design patent 364,338,
November 21, 1995 to R.M. Cline; and U.S. design patent 372,421, August 6,
1996 to R.
M. Cline. These design patents by definition do not cover any function or
structure of the
device, but only their ornamental appearance. These devices appear to have
shapes
which would not be very effective in retaining snow and ice on a roof or which
would be
difficult to install on the roof, or would not be structurally strong in terms
of retaining
significant amounts of ice and snow. U.S. patent 5,205,088, April 27, 1993, to
G. B.
Mueller, describes a roofing panel with certain shapes molded therein and
designed to
prevent snow and ice from sliding down a roof. U.S. patent 5,282,340, February
1, 1994,
to R. M. Cline, discloses a butterfly-shaped device for mounting on a roof to
retain snow
and ice, involving a slot to receive a roof seam, and held to the seam by set
screws. U.S.
patent 5,669,184, September 23, 1997 to T. E. Anderson, describes a snow
bracket with
an elongated body with a number of bent metal parts. Other patents such as
U.S. patent
2

CA 02511035 2005-06-28
5,711,114, January 27, 1998, to G. B. Mueller; U.S. patent 6,536,166, March
25, 2003, to
F. W. Alley; U.S. Publication 2003/0066247, April 10, 2003, by T.P. Trevorrow-
all
disclose much more complicated devices for retaining snow and ice on roofs,
and which
are more complicated to attach to roofs.
The Inventor works at elevations from between 5,000 to 11,400 feet in the
Colorado
Rockies where there are some of the greatest roof snow loads in the country.
If left alone
the snow loads on a roof will break loose and slide like an avalanche causing
property
damage and personal injury or death. Snow and ice weighing thousands of pounds
can
drop from roofs onto walkways and building entrances thus giving rise to
expensive
liability. Snow and ice can cause property damage when falling from one roof
to another,
thus breaking roofs, plywood, and rafters. They can also knock decks away from
buildings, crush cars, rip off railings, and crush walls that are located on
adjacent
buildings, and can break windows and cause other damage to adjacent buildings.
The
Inventor has installed various types of snow and ice holding systems and knows
their
drawbacks. The snow fence is the most commonly used device. It can be made
from
different metals or alloys. Generally it has a post that rises a foot above
the roof with two
holes in it and is screwed down to the roof through a 12 inch base. Snow fence
posts are
installed in a line every four feet along the eave of the roof. Pipes are then
put through
the holes connecting the upright and completing the fence. The fence holds the
snow on
the roof, but there are drawbacks. The ice becomes very heavy along the eave,
which can
cause leaking. If the roof slope above the snow fence is 10 to 60 feet long,
the snow will
creep down to the fence putting all the snow load on the eave of the building,
and over
3


CA 02511035 2005-06-28
time the snow buildup will cause the snow fence to rip off the roof and crash
to the
ground, likely causing damage.
Another common snow and ice holder is a product that attaches to metal roofs.
Essentially it is a rectangular metal plate that bolts to a metal rib in a
metal roof. It is
made of expensive alloys such as copper, brass, aluminum, etc. It is attached
to the
vertical seams of the roof by ratcheting a tight screw against the seam of the
roof. The
product does not attach to the roof sheeting, and generally pulls out and rips
the metal
roof seems, and falls to the ground.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The Invention of the Application is a simple generally L-shaped device of
varying
lengths which attaches to an inclined roof surface in order to prevent snow
and ice from
falling off the roof and harming persons or property below the roof. For very
steep roofs,
the device would have more of a V-shape when looked at from the side, so that
the base
member could be mounted parallel to the roof, yet the vertical member would be
substantially perpendicular to the roof.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
The objects of the present Invention are:
1. To provide a simple and inexpensive device for retaining ice and snow on
inclined roof
surfaces in snowy climates.
2. To provide a device for retaining ice and snow which is extremely simple
and
inexpensive to manufacture.
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CA 02511035 2005-06-28
3. To provide such a device which is extremely simple to install on a slanted
roof.
4. To provide a device which can be made in transparent form to minimize its
visibility
on a roof.
5. To provide a device which can be made in colors to match the color of a
roof in order
to minimize visibility on the roof, or which may be easily made to be black or
white or
transparent.
6. To provide a device which is extremely inexpensive to make in large
quantities by
plastic injection molding.
7. To provide a device which is extremely inexpensive when made of common
plastics.
8. To provide a device the dimensions of which can be easily modified in order
to be
easily adapted to roofs of varying incline, and climates with light, moderate,
or heavy
snowfall.
9. To provide a device which has sufficient strength due to its shape and
material, in
order to be able to retain significant masses and weights of snow or ice.
10. To provide a device with shape and surface features well adapted to retain
snow and
ice, and which sufficiently engages snow or ice under melting conditions to
prevent them
from falling off the roof.
11. To provide a device which could be made from a number of inexpensive
plastics.
12. To provide a device for retaining snow and ice with a shape easily adapted
to various
decorative patterns, and to harmonize with the general architecture of the
building.
13. To provide a device of simple concept adapted to be used in many varying
lengths on
a roof as required by the shape and dimensions of the roof.


CA 02511035 2005-06-28
14. To provide a device for retaining snow and ice safely during storms
cycles, so that
maintenance and snow and ice removal can be done at a later date.
15. To provide a device that will not cause damage or water leaks to the
interior of a
building.
16. To provide a device that can be installed with caulking and two screws and
can hold
300 pounds of snow and ice per device on a roof.
17. To provide a device that retains snow and ice evenly over the entire roof,
thus
keeping the weight of the snow and ice (snow load) evenly distributed over the
roof so
that snow and ice are not just held at the eave.
18. To provide a device that retains snow and ice over the entire roof so that
snow does
not slide into a roof valley and damage or rip the valley apart, or knock down
chimneys
or plumbing vents from the roof.
19. To provide a device that helps retain snow and ice on roofs to protect
walkways and
entrances to buildings below to reduce injury and bodily harm to the people
below.
20. To provide a device that holds snow and ice on roofs thus protecting
automobiles in
driveways and windows on neighboring or adjoining buildings, and avoiding
other
property damage that may occur due to falling snow and ice.
DRAWING FIGURES
Figure 1 is a top view of the device showing mounting feet 1, which are
attached to the
roof and a vertical snow retaining vertical member 4 designed to retain snow
and ice.
Figure 2 is a side view of the device showing the mounting feet 1, the
vertical snow
retaining member 4, and angle reinforcement 3. Figure 3 is a front view of the
device
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CA 02511035 2005-06-28
showing the surface of snow retaining member 4 which retains the snow and ice
and
prevents it from sliding down the roof. Figure 4 is a side view showing one of
the devices
mounted on an inclined roof surface, and Figure 5 is a view looking down on
several
devices mounted across the inclined surface of a roof, in several lines of
devices.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
1. mounting feet
2. roof attachment holes
3. angle reinforcement
4. snow retaining member
5. gripping shapes
6. bracket angle
7. roof
8. fastener
DETAILED DESCIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top view of the device, showing a base member comprised of
mounting feet
1 which are positioned flush with the roof surface, and which are attached to
the roof by
means of screws or nails or other fasteners, which pass through the roof
attachment holes
2 and into the roof material, or other roof attachment means. Part 4 is the
snow retaining
member, or vertical member, which is attached to the base member, and which
extends
upwardly from the base member or mounting feet 1 and the surface of the roof,
and
which blocks the downward motion of snow and ice because the snow and ice
press
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CA 02511035 2005-06-28
against the up-roof surface of snow retaining member 4. Parts 3 are shown in
an edge on
view, and they are the angle reinforcements or brace members, or other
strengthening
means, typically in the shape of a triangle the base of which is attached to
mounting feet
1 and the vertical side of which is attached to snow retaining member 4.
Figure 2 is a side view of the device showing its general L-shape and showing
mounting
foot 1, angle reinforcement 3 in the shape of a triangle, snow retaining
member 4, and
gripping shapes 5.
Figure 3 is a front view of snow retaining member 4 which includes gripping
shapes 5 on
its surface. Gripping shapes 5 are designed to retain snow and ice by
penetrating into the
snow and ice when the snow and ice is initially deposited on the roof, or when
they melt
and refreeze on the roof. Snow retaining member 4 is also shown and mounting
feet 1
and angle reinforcement 3 are shown in phantom form on the other side of this
front
surface of snow retaining member 4.
Figure 4 shows the Invention mounted on an inclined roof 7. Fastener 8 (for
example a
bolt or screw-not part of the Invention) is shown holding the Invention on the
roof 7.
Figure 5 shows rows of the Inventions on an inclined roof.
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CA 02511035 2005-06-28
DESCRIPTION-PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment of the device is shown in Figures 1 through 3, which
show a
simple L-shaped device where the snow retaining member 4 is generally
perpendicular to
mounting feet 1 (unless at an obtuse bracket angle for a steep roof] and is
generally
semicircular in shape. For added strength, the preferred embodiment has angle
reinforcements 3 which make snow retaining member 4 stronger and less likely
to bend
or break in the direction down an inclined roof, under the weight of snow and
ice. The
preferred embodiment is easily made out of several kinds of plastics,
including
polycarbonate plastic, by a fairly simple injection molding process known to
those skilled
in the art, since the overall shape of the device is fairly simple. The
gripping shapes 5 in
the preferred embodiment could be square based pyramids, although many other
shapes
projecting perpendicularly and outwardly from the snow retaining member 4 and
into the
snow and ice, could be used.
For many inclined roofs, the device would have bracket angle 6 equal to
approximately
90 degrees, but for steeply inclined roofs the angle could be greater than 90
degrees. The
mounting feet 1 could be in the range of two to three inches in length and in
the range of
'/4 inch thick. The snow retaining member 4 would also typically be about'/4
inch thick
and approximately three inches high. The thickness of angle reinforcement 3
would also
be approximately '/a inch. These thicknesses could vary with the strength of
the plastic.
The gripping shapes 5 would extend outwardly from the front of snow retaining
member
4 by approximately'/4 inch. The width of mounting feet 1 would be
approximately one
9


CA 02511035 2005-06-28
inch, and the space between the two mounting feet would be approximately 1 1I2
inches,
with the entire length of snow retaining member 4 being approximately 5
inches.
Mounting feet 1 could extend from the edges of snow retaining member 4 by
approximately one inch. Roof attachment holes 2 in mounting feet 1 could be
positioned
approximately one-half inch back from snow retaining member 4. The preferred
embodiment of the device would be made from polycarbonate plastic or other
plastics
well adapted to injection molding, although other types of plastic such as
styrene, etc., all
well known to those skilled in the art, could be used. Caulking around the
fasteners 8 and
roof attachment holes 2 is recommended.
OPERATION OF THE INVENTION
The device is mounted on an inclined roof so that the mounting feet 1 are
flush with the
roof surface and pointing down the incline of the roof, and so that the snow
retaining
member 4 extends generally vertically above the roof, and so that a line drawn
perpendicular to snow retaining member 4 would point parallel to the inclined
roof
surface and up the inclined roof surface. The snow retaining member 4
containing the
gripping shapes 5 is pointed up the inclined roof. Several of these L-shaped
devices may
be positioned in a horizontal line generally parallel to the bottom edge of
the roof, or in a
staggered arrangement in several lines across the incline surface of the roof
so that the
snow retaining member 4 surfaces are positioned perpendicular to the incline
plane of the
roof. Generally, bracket angle 6 would be approximately 90 degrees; however;
for very
steep roofs, the bracket angle 6 may be an obtuse angle of more than 90
degrees so that
that snow retaining member 4 is generally vertical to the ground, so that on
very steep


CA 02511035 2005-06-28
roofs, the snow and ice would not have a tendency to move up and over snow
retaining
member 4. One or more of the devices can be easily mounted on a roof by means
of
bolts or screws or similar fastening means inserted in roof attachment holes 2
in
mounting feet 1, and then into the roof material.
TESTS
The snow and ice holder of the present Invention has been installed and tested
in the
Town of Telluride, Colorado which has an elevation of 8,745 feet and an annual
snowfall
of 300 inches. The installation was as follows. On a 12/12 pitch roof or a 45
degree roof,
caulk both feet of the device and screw two screws into each of the two feet
with a 2 inch
long by 5/16 inch wide self tapping metal screw with a neoprene washer, using
a cordless
drill, into the roofing and sheeting of the roof. Install a line of snow and
ice holders along
the bottom eave leaving a one foot gap between holders. Move up the roof five
feet and
repeat the installation, until reaching the peak of the roof. This snow and
ice holder with
this installation has held eight feet of snow. By having many contacts all
over the roof,
more surface resistance is created, and the area of the snow load is spread
over the entire
structure, making for a safe snow pack. All the weight of the snow cannot move
to the
bottom of the roof. This keeps valleys from being torn up by the downward
force of
snow and ice, which snow fencing does not protect against. The chimneys and
plumbing
vents in the roof remain in place.
The simple polycarbonate product of the present Invention is easy to install,
weighs only
a couple of ounces, is compact, and has not broken in everyday use in an
extreme climate
11


CA 02511035 2005-06-28
with strong ultraviolet light. It also has a very attractive oval shape with a
smooth
surface. It blends with the roof and involves no intrusive fixtures. It can be
made in
unlimited colors to be beautiful on any roof. The strength of the product, its
holding
ability of ice and snow, and the timeless durability of polycarbonate plastic
are major
advantages. The polycarbonate plastic should out last any roof system or any
roof
product. The Inventor believes that the product is much better than anything
available
currently on the market, and that it will provide a safe environment for
people and
property and will prolong the life of the roof.
ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS
The L-shaped device could be made of several parts attached to each other by
welding,
brazing, or adhesives, or it could be molded or stamped from one piece of
metal or plastic
or similar strong material. A number of variations of the size and shape of
the device are
possible including mounting feet 1 which are wider than approximately one inch
or
longer than approximately two inches, snow retaining members 4 which are
taller or
shorter than 3 inches. For very steeply inclined roofs, bracket angle 6 could
be
substantially more than 90 degrees so that snow retaining member 4 would be
more
nearly perpendicular to the ground so as to reduce the likelihood that snow
and ice could
slide over snow retaining member 4 and down the inclined roof. The device
could have a
snow retaining member 4 substantially longer than about five inches, in order
to extend
over a longer distance over the roof and could have more than two mounting
feet,
preferably at least one mounting foot for every 6 to 12 inches of length
across the roof.
Each mounting foot 1 could have more than one roof attachment hole 2, in order
to
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CA 02511035 2005-06-28
provide a more secure mounting of the device on the roof in cases where the
roof is more
steeply inclined and in climates where the device must support a greater depth
of snow
and ice, in which case the height of snow retaining member 4 could be
substantially
higher than three inches in order to retain a thicker layer of snow and ice.
Another
variation of the device would be a device with a snow retaining member 4 of
substantially greater length and with numerous mounting feet 1, molded in one
piece, but
containing lines of weakness in snow retaining member 4 so that a very long
device could
be broken up into several portions each with their mounting feet 1, to
accommodate
roofing surfaces of varying widths. Additional embodiments might incorporate
gripping
shapes 5 in forms other than square pyramids such as triangular pyramids,
rods, cones
triangles or polygons projecting vertically from the front surface of snow
retaining
member 4. While such shapes, being sharper, may increase the risk of injury to
the
installer, the shapes might better retain snow and ice. As previously
mentioned, the
plastic out of which the device is made could be transparent in order to be of
low
visibility on the roof, or it could be white or black or many other colors
selected to match
the color of the roof, in order to reduce visibility of the device on the
roof. It could also
be transparent; or opaque and black, white, or colored. In addition to being
semicircular
in shape, the snow retaining member 4 could be rectangular, half oval, or in
the shape of
many different polygons or oval shapes. Depending on the exact type of plastic
used for
the device, the device may also included various chemicals adapted to prevent
the device
from being degraded by ultraviolet radiation, or becoming brittle or
discolored, etc. These
types of plastic additives are well known to those skilled in the art.
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CA 02511035 2005-06-28
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
In addition to being made of polycarbonate, styrene, ABS high impact plastic
or rigid
polyvinyl chloride plastic could be used. In addition to being made out of
molded plastic,
the device could be made from metals of various kinds, by stamping or cutting
from a
metal sheet of suitable shape. It could also be made of cast metal
CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE
A number of changes are possible to the shape, size, and exact configuration
of the
device described above while still remaining within the scope and spirit of
the Invention.
The specifics about the form of the Invention described in this application
are not
intended to be limiting in scope. The scope of the Invention is to be
determined by the
claims and their legal equivalents, not the examples given above.
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Representative Drawing