Abstract:
A snow and ice diverting apparatus for protecting a roof stack, the snow and ice apparatus having a base angle for securing the apparatus to a roof, a fin for cutting through sliding snow and ice and for diverting snow and ice from the roof stack, and an adjustment device for securing the fin to the roof stack. The fin is attached between the base angle and the adjustment device. The adjustment device is operable to allow infinite adjustability over a predetermined range of roof stack sizes. In addition, the adjustment device has a cable, which has an eye end and a free end, and a retainer device for securing the eye end and the free end of the cable. The cable is in communication with the roof stack and the retainer device. The retainer device is attached to said fin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for diverting snow and ice on a roof to prevent damage to roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts; more particularly, to an improved snow and ice diverting apparatus having an adjustable device capable of infinite adjustability between a minimum and maximum size; and even more particularly, to an improved snow and ice diverting apparatus having an adjustment device comprising a retainer device and a cable assembly. 
     It is known that glacial and sliding action of snow and ice on roofs can cause breakage or damage to roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts. Even the slow, down-slope creep of snow on relatively low-sloped metal roofs can shear off plumbing vents. Conventional sheet metal crickets have been used to protect roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts from damage caused by ice and snow. However, installation of crickets is labor intensive and costly. In addition, crickets typically occupy large amounts of space and are unattractive. 
     Other conventional apparatus for diverting snow and ice use a fin and base design to protect roof stacks, roof vents, etc. In these conventional apparatus, an aluminum fin is used to cut through the sliding snow and ice and divert the snow and ice from the roof stack, roof vent, etc. In the conventional fin design, a base angle is attached to the roof using a plurality of screws. The bottom portion of the fin is attached to the base angle using a plurality of bolts. A pre-punched stainless steel strap is positioned around the roof stack, vent pipe, etc. The pre-punched holes in the stainless steel strap are sized for specific plumbing stack sizes, for example, 1-½″, 2″, 3″, and 4″. The stainless steel strap is attached to the upper portion of the aluminum fin. 
     However, the conventional fin apparatus is limited in its application and lacks versatility because it is limited to specific plumbing stack sizes by the pre-punched holes in the stainless steel strap. Moreover, the conventional apparatus is limited in its application to plumbing stacks of varying shapes. It is therefore desirable to have a fin and base apparatus that has an adjustment device capable of infinite adjustability over a range of sizes to enable the snow and ice diverting apparatus to be installed on a variety of roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a snow and ice diverting apparatus that prevents damage or breakage to roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fin and base apparatus that reduces the time and complexity of installation, reduces costs, and is more attractive. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fin and base, snow and ice diverting apparatus that is not limited in its application and that is versatile and capable of installation on both standard sized and non-standard sized roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts on any existing roof or new construction. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fin and base snow and ice diverting apparatus that can easily and quickly be installed on both new and existing roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a snow and ice diverting apparatus that provides additional support and strength to roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a snow and ice diverting apparatus that is resistant to exposure to varying weather conditions. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view depicting a snow and ice diverting apparatus having an adjustment device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view depicting an adjustment device and cable assembly of a snow and ice diverting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting an adjustment device and cable assembly of a snow and ice diverting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view depicting the hole layout of a retainer device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The present invention is not restricted to the following embodiments, and many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention are provided in order to more completely explain the present invention to one skilled in the art. 
     A non-limiting embodiment of an improved snow and ice diverting apparatus that solves the aforementioned problems, and others, is now described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. 
     FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a snow and ice diverting apparatus having an adjustment device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a vent pipe  5  rises from a sloped roof  4 . The snow and ice diverting apparatus is attached to both the roof  4  and the vent pipe  5 . The snow and ice diverting apparatus comprises a base angle  2 , a fin  1 , an adjustment device  10 , and a cable  11 . 
     The base angle  2  is attached to the roof  4  using a plurality of fasteners  7 , such as #14×1-½″ hex head, wood grip, self-sealing lag screws. The base angle  2  is preferably formed from 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum. In the preferred embodiment, the size of the base angle  2  is {fraction (3/16)}″×1-½″×1-½″×8″. In addition, a 2″×10″ wood block  3 , or the like, can be positioned under the roof  4 . The fasteners  7  can be additionally fastened to the wood block  3  to provide additional strength in heavy snow areas. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a fin  2  is attached to the angle base  2  using a plurality of bolts  6 . The fin is preferably constructed from 6061 T6 aircraft grade aluminum. In the preferred embodiment, the size of the fin  1  is {fraction (3/16)}″×3″×12″. The bolts  6  are preferably ¼″×¾″ stainless steel bolts with stainless steel lock nuts. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 depict an improved adjustment device for a snow and ice diverting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the adjustment device comprises a retainer device  12 , a cable  11 , a plurality of washers  15 , a nylon roller or spacer  16 , a bolt  13 , and a lock nut  14 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retainer device  12  is a 0.030×¾″ Type 201 stainless steel S-shaped retainer device having punched holes  36 - 39 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In addition, the plurality of washers  15  are preferably ¼″ stainless steel flat washers. Furthermore, the bolt  13  is preferably a ¼″×1″ stainless steel bolt with a stainless steel lock nut  14 . In addition, the cable  11  is preferably ⅛″7×19 galvanized aviation cable with an eye end  21  and free end  22 . 
     The components of the present invention are not limited to the preferred embodiment. Alternative materials that possess the requisite strength and durability, and that are resistant to varying weather conditions, may be substituted. In addition, the components can be manufactured with a variety of finishes, for example, S151 polished aluminum finish, P151 gray powder coat finish, or FB 151 black powder coat finish. 
     FIG. 4 depicts the layout of the holes  36 - 39  of a retainer device  12  of the adjustment device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the stainless steel S-shaped retainer device  12  has holes  36 - 39  punched through its surface portions  31 - 35 . The hole  36  is preferably larger than holes  37 - 39  in order to accommodate at least two thicknesses of the cable  11 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Holes  37 - 39  are sized corresponding to the size of the bolt  13 . In the preferred embodiment, hole  36  has a {fraction (9/32)}″ diameter and holes  37 - 39  have ¼″ diameters. 
     The S-shaped retainer device  12  is formed by bending the retainer device  12 , depicted in FIG. 4, to form a first bend  32  and a second bend  34 . Holes  36  and  37  are positioned in the first outside surface  31 , hole  38  is positioned in the inside surface  33 , and hole  39  is positioned in the second outside surface  35 . The retainer device  12  is formed so that the holes  37 - 39  are axially aligned. Other manufacturing methods may also be used to form the retainer device  12  without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a nylon roller  16  is preferably disposed between the first outside surface  31  of the retainer  12  and the inside surface  33  of the retainer  12 , and axially aligned with the holes  37  and  38 . The nylon roller  16  is hollow with an inside diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bolt  13 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the nylon roller  16  may extend along a greater length of the bolt  13 . In addition, the diameter of the holes  37 - 39  can be increased to accommodate the bolt  13  having the nylon spacer  16  surrounding a length of the bolt  13 , whereby both the bolt  13  and the nylon spacer  16  are inserted through one or all of the holes  37 - 39 . Moreover, the roller or spacer  16  can be formed from other friction reducing materials to permit the cable  11  to slide more easily. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the snow and ice deflecting apparatus is assembled by first attaching the fin  1  to the base angle  2  using stainless steel bolts  6 . Next, the base angle  2  is centered on the roof  4  upstream of the vent pipe  5  so that the opposite end of the fin  1  is in close proximity to the vent pipe  5 . A sealant is then applied to the underside of the base angle  2  and the base angle  2  is attached to the roof  4  using lag screws  7 . If the roof  4  has a rib structure, the base angle  2  can be reversed so that the base angle  2  overlays the peaked surface of the rib structure. 
     The adjustable device  10  is assembled by first inserting the bolt  13  through a washer  15  and then through a hole  37  of the retainer device  12 . The bolt  13  is then inserted through the nylon roller  16 , which is axially aligned between holes  37  and  38 . Next, the bolt  13  is inserted through hole  38 . In order to fasten the fin  1  to the retainer device of the adjustment apparatus  10 , the upper end of the fin  1  is disposed between the first outside surface  31  of the retainer device  12  and the inside surface  33  of the retainer device  12 . The bolt  13  is further inserted through a hole in the fin  1 , which is also axially aligned with the holes  37 - 39 , and then inserted through the hole  39 . After the bolt  13  is completely inserted through holes  37 - 39  of the retainer device  12 , the eye end  21  of the cable  11  is positioned over the end of the bolt  13  that projects from the retainer device  12 . A washer  15  is also positioned over the projecting end of the bolt  13 . A lock nut  14  is then fastened to the bolt  13  to secure the assembled components of the adjustable assembly  10 . 
     Next, the cable  11  is placed over the vent pipe  5 , or alternatively, the free end  22  of the cable  11  is wrapped around the vent pipe  5 . As shown in FIG. 2, the eye end  21  of the cable  11  is secured to the retainer device  12  by the washer  15  and lock nut  14 . The free end  22  of the cable, which has been wrapped around the vent pipe  5 , is inserted through hole  36  of the retainer device  12 , wrapped around the nylon roller  16 , which is disposed between the first outside surface  31  and the inside surface  33  of the retainer device  12 , and then inserted back through the hole  36 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The free end  22  of the cable  11  is pulled using a pair of pliers so that the cable  11  is taut around the vent pipe  5 . The nylon spacer  16  reduces the friction on the cable  11  as it pulled into a taut position. The bolt  13  and lock nut  14  are then tightened to compress the S-shaped retainer device  12 , thereby securing the cable  11  in a fixed position around the nylon spacer and between the first outside surface  31  and the inside surface  33  of the retainer device  12 . In addition, the retainer device  12  is held in a fixed position with respect to the fin  1 , which is secured between the inside surface  33  and the second outside surface  35  of the retainer device  12 . Finally, the eye end  21  of the cable  11  is secured in a fixed position between the second outside surface  35  and the washer  15 . Any excess cable  11  at the free end  22  of the cable  11  can be removed. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the retainer device  12  is U-shaped. For example, the U-shaped retainer device comprises the first outside surface  31  and the inside surface  33 . In this embodiment, the second outside surface  35  is eliminated. The eye end  21  of the cable  11  is then positioned between the fin  1  and the washer  15 . Alternatively, an additional washer, or a plate, can be inserted between the fin  1  and the eye end  21  of the cable  11 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a push retainer for a threaded bolt can be used to secure the eye end  21  of the cable  11  to the retainer device  12 . 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a plate, washer, push retainer, or the like, can be substituted for one or more of the surfaces  31 ,  33 , and  35  of the retainer device. 
     Thus, the snow and ice diverting apparatus having the improved adjustment device  10  according to the present invention solves the aforementioned problems by permitting the application of the snow and ice diverting apparatus to virtually any size of roof stack  5 , or other roof mounted object. In addition, because the improved snow and ice apparatus is quickly and easily attached and adjusted to any size roof stack  5 , installation costs can be greatly reduced. Further, the improved adjustment device  10  comprising the cable  11  permits the application of the snow and ice diverting apparatus to roof stacks, vent pipes, chimneys, and masts of varying shapes and proportions. Further, the improved adjustment device  10  permits adjustment of the apparatus to an infinite number of sizes over the length of the cable  11 . Moreover, the length of the cable  11  of the adjustment device  10  can be varied to provide increased applicability.