Abstract:
A support device for elevating an object above a surface comprises a base and a strut. The base has a top and a bottom. The bottom is adapted to sit upon the surface and is wider than the top. The strut is affixed to the base and adapted to receive a fastener for affixing the object to the strut. The base may have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The base may comprise a support flange along a perimeter of the bottom of the base. The strut may have a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape with an elongated planar bottom and opposing elongated planar sides joined to opposing edges of the elongated planar bottom. The strut may be affixed to the base via one or more spacers such that the strut is positioned a predefined distance from the top of the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Application No. 61/700,144, filed Sep. 12, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to devices for supporting objects, and more specifically to devices for supporting conduit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many different types of structures and objects are placed on roofs, such as conduits, raceways, ducts, cable trays, and the like. Often these structures sit or lay on the roof surface. While such a placement may be convenient, there is no air circulation around all sides of the structure which may result in undesirably elevated temperatures of the structure. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a support device for elevating an object above a surface comprises a base and a strut. The base has a top and a bottom. The bottom is adapted to sit upon the surface and is wider than the top. The strut is affixed to the base and adapted to receive a fastener for affixing the object to the strut. 
     The base may have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The base may comprise a support flange along a perimeter of the bottom of the base. 
     The strut may have a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape with an elongated planar bottom and opposing elongated planar sides joined to opposing edges of the elongated planar bottom. 
     Corresponding holes may be defined in the top of the base and in the elongated planar bottom of the strut to enable affixation of the strut to the base. The support device may further comprise at least one generally L-shaped attachment bracket having a vertical leg adapted to be affixed to a side wall of the base and a horizontal leg adapted to sit atop an end of the elongated planar bottom of the strut to secure the elongated planar bottom of the strut between the top surface of the base and the horizontal leg of the attachment bracket. 
     The strut may be affixed to the base via one or more spacers such that the strut is positioned a predefined distance from the top of the base. 
     The base may be a first base and the support device may further comprise a second base having a top and a bottom. The bottom of the second base may be adapted to sit upon the surface and may be wider than the top. The strut may be affixed to the first and second bases such that there is a distance between the first base and the second base. 
     In addition to the support device for elevating an object above a surface, as described above, other aspects of the invention are directed to corresponding methods for elevating an object above a surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       Reference is made herein to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a rooftop conduit support, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of a rooftop conduit support, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a rooftop conduit support, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a rooftop conduit support, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the base of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the base of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the base of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the base of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a base of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  is an isometric view of a rooftop conduit support, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded isometric view of a rooftop conduit support, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of a sled member that forms a portion of the rooftop conduit support of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view of the sled member taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is an isometric view of the sled member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention comprise a rooftop support for supporting objects and structures above a surface, such as a roof. Such objects and structures may include conduits, raceways, ducts, cable trays, and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as conduits). The rooftop support of embodiments of the invention provides physical separation between the roof deck and the supported object (conduit, etc.), thereby providing air circulation around the supported object which in turns helps control the temperature of the supported object. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , rooftop support  10  comprises base  12 , strut  14 , attachment brackets  16 , and screws  18 . Base  12  is a rigid, heavy-duty hollow structure having an open bottom. The shape of base  12  (wide lower portion and narrow upper portion) enables base  12  to sit stably on the roof deck without the need to attach base  12  to the roof deck using mechanical fasteners. Base  12  is described in more detail below in relation to  FIGS. 9-13 . 
     Strut  14  sits on and is affixed to the top surface of base  12 . Strut  14  is generally U-shaped when viewed from either end (perhaps best illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 8 ), with an elongated planar bottom (to conform to the planar top surface of base  12 ) and opposing elongated planar sides joined to opposing edges of the elongated planar bottom. The top edge of each elongated planar side is bent inward on itself, thereby forming an elongated lip or channel along the entire length of each elongated planar side. In use, the conduit or other supported structure sits atop strut  14  and is affixed to strut  14  using any suitable mechanical fastener (such as clamps or straps). The lips or channels of strut  14  enable the mechanical fastener(s) that is/are holding the conduit to be securely affixed to strut  14 . 
     Strut  14  may be affixed to base  12  using any suitable means, including but not limited to any suitable mechanical fasteners. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4 , attachment brackets  16  are used to affix strut  14  to base  12 . Attachment brackets  16  are L-shaped brackets having a substantially vertical leg that is affixed to base  12  (such as by use of screws  18 , bolts/nuts, or any other suitable fastening means) and a horizontal leg that sits atop an end of the elongated planar bottom of strut  14 , thereby securing the elongated planar bottom of strut  14  between the top surface of base  12  and the horizontal leg of attachment bracket  16 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate another alternative embodiment of the invention. Rooftop support  50  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  is similar to rooftop support  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, base  52  of rooftop support  50  has a greater height than base  12  of rooftop support  10 , to enable a conduit to be supported at a greater height above the roof deck. The base of the rooftop support may have any desirable height, although a taller base may require a larger bottom portion to ensure stability of the rooftop support. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate embodiments of the invention in which the rooftop support comprises a single base that has a length slightly longer than the length of the strut, such that the strut sits entirely upon one base. In alternative embodiments of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , the rooftop support may comprise two or more bases, each base having a length substantially shorter than the length of the strut, such that separate portions of the strut sit upon each base.  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate rooftop support  60  which comprises two bases  62  supporting strut  14 . As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , opposing ends of strut  14  are supported by each of bases  62 , with the middle portion of strut  14  being unsupported. Such a use of two or more bases generally enables less material to be used to make the bases, as the bases do not need to be as long as the strut. As with base  12  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shape of bases  62  (wide lower portion and narrow upper portion) enables bases  62  to sit stably on the roof deck without the need to attach bases  62  to the roof deck using mechanical fasteners. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate an alternative means of affixing a strut to the bases (or to a single base, as the means illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  could also be used for the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4 ). In the embodiments of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , corresponding holes are defined near in the bottom surface of strut  14  and in the top surfaces of bases  62 . When the holes are lined up, bolt  36  may be passed through the holes and secured with nut  40 . Washer  38  may optionally be used with bolt  36  for additional security. Strut  14  will typically define at least two holes, each hole being adjacent an opposing end of strut  14 , although any suitable number of holes may be defined in strut  14 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate another alternative embodiment of the invention. Rooftop support  70  of  FIGS. 7 and 8  is similar to rooftop support  60  of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . However, bases  72  of rooftop support  70  have a greater height than bases  62  of rooftop support  60  to enable a conduit to be supported at a greater height above the roof deck. The bases of the rooftop support may have any desirable height, although taller bases may require a larger bottom portion to ensure stability of the rooftop support. 
       FIGS. 9-13  illustrate base  12  in more detail. Base  12  comprises top  20 , opposing side walls  24 , opposing end walls  22 , and an open bottom. Support flange  26  extends outward from the perimeter or entire periphery of base  12 , including both the side walls  24  and end walls  22 , thereby surrounding the open bottom to provide additional stability. Interior wall  32  provides additional rigidity and strength. Top  20  defines a plurality of holes  28  (two holes are illustrated in  FIGS. 9-13 , but the number of holes may vary) for receiving a mechanical fastener in order to affix a strut to base  12 . The holes in top  20  may be elongated as illustrated to enable positional adjustment of the strut, the holes may optionally be round, or a combination of round and elongated holes may be used. Holes  30  are defined in the end walls  22  for receiving a mechanical fastener (such as screw  18 ) in order to affix a strut to base  12  using attachment brackets  16  (as described above). Washers  34  abut holes  28  on the underside of top  20  to provide additional rigidity and security. Base  12  may be made of any suitable material having sufficient strength, rigidity, and durability, including but not limited to thermoplastic polyolefin. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 , spacer rods or other spacer means are used to elevate the strut above the base. Rooftop support  80  of  FIG. 14  comprises base  82 , strut  84 , and spacer rods  86 . The height of the spacer rods or other spacer means may be selected to provide the rooftop support with any desired total height, thereby enabling a conduit to be supported at any desired height above the roof deck. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 15-18 , a sled member  90  can be affixed to base  12  of rooftop conduit support in order to provide a larger surface area to the base  12  in order to prevent damage to rubber roofing materials. Rubber roofing materials, such as membranes applied to flat roofs, can become soft on hot summer days, especially in direct sunlight, and sled member  90  distributes the load over a larger area of the roof. Sled  90  includes a flat panel  92  having a bottom side  93  and a top side  94 . A peripheral wall  95  extends from the top side  94  around the entire periphery of the flat panel  92 . A plurality of clamp arms  96  extend from the peripheral wall  95 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , clamp arms  96  include inward extending arms  97  that form a gap  98  between the panel  92  and the arms  97 . Sled  90  is preferably molded of plastic and forms a substantially rigid yet flexible sled member  90 . Clamp arms  96  are flexible and capable of flexing outward from the peripheral wall  95 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , sled  90  may be attached to base  12  by simply aligning the sled  90  with the base and pressing sled  90  against the base  12 . Clamp arms  96  flex outwardly of peripheral wall  95  and snap onto support flange  26  of base member  12  thereby securing the sled  90  to the base. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the strut  14  of the rooftop support is typically constructed of metal, such as galvanized steel. Strut  14  includes a channel bottom  100 , opposing channel sides  102 , a top arm  104  extending inwardly of each of the channel sides  102 , and a lip  106  extending downward into the channel  108  defined by the channel bottom  100  and channel sides  102 . 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.