Apparatus for removing snow/ice from a roof

An apparatus for removing snow and ice from a roof includes a plurality of heating panels fastened to a rooftop surface. Each heating panel is formed from water-impermeable material and includes top and bottom surfaces formed from heat-resistant material. A plurality of elongated thermal-conductive heating elements are sandwiched medially of the top and bottom surfaces. A control panel is electrically coupled to one of the heating panels and a power cord is electrically coupled to an external power supply source. The present invention further includes a mechanism for electrically coupling the heating panels to each other and a mechanism for removably attaching the heating panels to the roof. A thermal sensor is operably connected to the control panel and the heating panels for monitoring an operating temperature of the heating elements.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to a heating apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for removing snow/ice from a roof.

2. Prior Art

During winter time, a substantial amount of snow may accumulate on the roof of a building. Some of the snow on the roof may melt and then freeze to ice along the gutters, forming “ice dams”. As the ice in the gutters or eaves builds up, any water accumulating at the lower portion of the roof may be forced back and up and may get under the shingles of the roof, thereby leading to leaks if the ice is not removed from the roof. It is known to throw salt pellets onto the roof to assist in melting some of the snow or ice from the roof. However, the salt pellets are small and dissolve after only melting a small area at the upper portion of the snow, and thus are ineffective at melting the ice dams formed at the lower or shingle level of the snow and ice on the roof, since the lower layers of ice may be thick and/or may be beneath a substantial amount of snow.

It is also known to place a number of salt pellets into a mesh netting, such as a nylon stocking or the like, and throw the salt pellets and netting onto the roof. Because there is a substantial amount of salt pellets within the mesh netting, all of the salt pellets do not dissolve before they melt a substantial amount of the snow or ice in the area in which they were placed. However, the mesh netting only melts down to the level of the roof and does not melt any ice along the roof, since the mesh netting does not slide along the incline of the roof. Also, after the salt pellets have dissolved, the mesh netting is left on the roof and may clog the eves or the down spouts if not removed.

In some situations, a person may chisel at the snow or ice and/or shovel the snow or ice off the roof manually, either independent of any other ice removal technique or after placing salt pellets onto the roof to melt at least some of the snow and ice. Such an approach is very difficult and dangerous to accomplish because the person shoveling or chiseling the snow must be at or on the rooftop where they may easily slip and fall.

Accordingly, a need remains for an apparatus for removing snow/ice from a roof in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a roof heating apparatus that is easily installed, convenient and effective, and eliminates the hazardous task of removing the ice or snow manually. Such an apparatus increases the life span of a roof by ensuring the integrity of the roof shingles is not diminished by the extreme temperatures created by the ice. An individual can either install and remove the apparatus once a year or install it once and leave it on the roof permanently.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice from a roof. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a transportable apparatus positionable on a rooftop for dissipating heat along a surface area thereof.

The apparatus includes a plurality of heating panels for being selectively fastened to at least one portion of a rooftop surface. Each heating panel has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and is formed from heat-resistant and water-impermeable material. A plurality of oppositely positioned apertures may be provided for effectively receiving a fastening member therethrough. Such heating panels include top and bottom surfaces formed from flexible, heat-resistant material such that the heating panels can advantageously conform to uneven rooftop surfaces. A plurality of elongated thermal-conductive heating elements are sandwiched medially of the top and bottom surfaces and extend along rectilinear paths disposed substantially parallel to the axis. Each of the heating elements preferably includes a pair of conductive end terminals for being electrically mated to the power cord.

A control panel is electrically coupled to one of the heating panels and includes a power cord electrically coupled to an external power supply source. Such a control panel selectively regulates an operating temperature of the heating elements such that a user may advantageously cause the heating elements to heat the rooftop surface and melt undesirable ice and snow therefrom. The control panel is conveniently mountable to a support surface adjacent to a ground level so that a user can operate the heating panels therefrom. The control panel preferably includes a user interface and a microprocessor electrically coupled thereto.

Such an interface allows a user to input a selected data parameter for operating the heating panels. The microprocessor receives the user input and generates a corresponding output signal such that the heating elements are caused to generate a selected level of heat for effectively elevating a surface temperature of the heating panels respectively. A mechanism for electrically coupling the heating panels to each other is also included such that one heating panel defines a conduit through which power is supplied to other ones of the heating panels.

A mechanism is also included for removably attaching the heating panels such that selected ones of the heating panels can be maintained at a substantially stable position without being directly fastened to the rooftop surface. Such an attaching mechanism preferably includes a plurality of removably engageable male and female adaptors disposed along opposed sides of the heating panels such that adjacently positioned heating panels can be locked together while juxtaposed along the rooftop surface.

A thermal sensor is operably connected to the control panel and the heating panels for monitoring an operating temperature of the heating elements such that a user can identify whether the operating temperature should be adjusted during periodic intervals. The transportable apparatus may further include a portable hand-operable implement for advantageously assisting a user to maneuver the heating panels during installation procedures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally inFIGS. 1–9by the reference numeral10and is intended to provide an apparatus for removing snow/ice from a roof. It should be understood that the apparatus10may be used to remove snow/ice from many different types of surfaces and should not be limited to only roofs.

Referring initially toFIGS. 1,2,4, and6, the apparatus10includes a plurality of heating panels20selectively fastened to at least one portion of a rooftop surface. The heating panels20are preferably formed ABS UV stabilized sheets having a 0.0625 thickness. Each heating panel20has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and is formed from heat-resistant and water-impermeable material. Having a plurality of panels20advantageously allows an individual to cover roofs of varying sizes and thus enables the apparatus10to be applied to many different houses. A plurality of oppositely positioned apertures21is provided for effectively receiving a fastening member (not shown) therethrough if a user wishes to attach the apparatus10as a permanent fixture to the roof. Such heating panels20include top22and bottom23surfaces formed from flexible, heat-resistant material such that the heating panels20can advantageously conform to uneven rooftop surfaces.

A plurality of elongated thermal-conductive heating elements30are sandwiched medially of the top22and bottom23surfaces and extend along rectilinear paths disposed substantially parallel to the axis, as best shown inFIGS. 3 and 5. Each of the heating elements30includes a pair of conductive end terminals31electrically mated to the power cord41(described herein below). Such heating elements30most preferably include the Watlow DD04 custom type heating elements provide energy efficient heat and may also include a safety thermostat for monitoring the heat temperature. Of course, other well known heating elements may be employed by the present invention without departing from the true scope thereof.

Referring toFIG. 9, a control panel40is electrically coupled to one of the heating panels20and includes a power cord41electrically coupled to an external power supply source42. Such a control panel40selectively regulates an operating temperature of the heating elements30such that a user may advantageously cause the heating elements30to heat the rooftop surface and melt undesirable ice and snow therefrom without the need for manual labor. The control panel40is conveniently mountable to a support surface adjacent to a ground level so that a user can easily operate the heating panels20therefrom. A Watlow Series C temperature controller and Series TM temperature indicator are preferably employed by the present invention.

The control panel40includes a user interface43and a microprocessor44electrically coupled thereto. Such an interface43allows a user to input a selected data parameter for operating the heating panels20, conveniently allowing a user to program the apparatus10accordingly to the type of weather they are experiencing. The microprocessor44receives the user input and generates a corresponding output signal such that the heating elements30are caused to generate a selected level of heat for effectively elevating a surface temperature of the heating panels20respectively. A mechanism50for electrically coupling the heating panels20to each other is also included such that one heating panel20defines a conduit51through which power is supplied to other ones of the heating panels20.

Referring toFIG. 7, a mechanism60is also included for removably attaching the heating panels20such that selected ones of the heating panels20can be maintained at a substantially stable position without being directly fastened to the rooftop surface if a home owner does not wish to attach the apparatus10as a permanent fixture. Such an attaching mechanism60includes a plurality of removably engageable male61and female62adaptors disposed along opposed sides of the heating panels20such that adjacently positioned heating panels20can be locked together while juxtaposed along the rooftop surface.

Referring toFIG. 9, a thermal sensor45, such as the Watlow Enviroseal RTD sensor, is operably connected to the control panel40and the heating panels20for monitoring an operating temperature of the heating elements30such that a user can identify whether the operating temperature should be adjusted during periodic intervals. The transportable apparatus10further includes a portable hand-operable implement70for advantageously assisting a user to maneuver the heating panels20during installation procedures, as illustrated inFIG. 8. Such a hand-operable implement allows a user to manipulate heating panels20that may be out of arm's reach, advantageously eliminating the need to climb onto the roof for installing the panels20.