Abstract:
A multi-purpose universal support is disclosed that can be configured to support multiple pipes, pipe junctions, vertical strut channels, horizontal strut channels, and thread rods. The disclosed support system allows for quicker installation, easy height adjustments, and a fewer supports than previously known supports.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is generally directed toward a system for supporting objects on a roof, or other surface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The roof-tops of commercial and industrial buildings are often used to support items such as pipes, HVAC components, cable trays, electrical conduits, walkways, and drainage systems. The items often need to be elevated above the surface of the roof-top to prevent damage to the roof. 
         [0003]    Most commonly, pipes need to be supported above the roof-top. Some of these are for condensate drains for roof-top HVAC systems. Other pipes are used for roof-top drainage, or for steam and liquids, or even as electrical conduits. Because the roofs often have uneven surfaces, the pipes are raised above the roofs and are supported at regular intervals to prevent them from sagging. The supports are especially important at junctions, couplings, and turns because stress at these junctures is more likely to result in a leak. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Prior to the development of the present invention, roof-top installations required the use of several different types of supports such as boards, strut channel stands, and suspension straps. The present invention provides a support system that is easily adjustable in height and can easily be adapted for many different uses, including supporting pipes, pipe junctions, vertical struts, horizontal struts, and threaded rods. Due to the design, the present invention allows for fast installation, utilizes fewer supports, and reduces the likelihood of roof damage. It can easily be adjusted without tools as part of normal maintenance to accommodate shifts in roofs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Further advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the drawings: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the multi-purpose roof-top support from above. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the multi-purpose roof-top support. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the multi-purpose roof-top support. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is top plan view of the multi-purpose roof-top support. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the base plate  2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of the multi-purpose roof-top support form above. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  depicts a cross-section view along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4  of the multi-purpose roof-top support with a vertical strut channel installed. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  depicts a multi-purpose roof-top support with threaded rods and a horizontal strut channel attached. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  depicts a perspective view from above and below, respectively, of the multi-purpose roof-top support form above. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  depicts a perspective view of the top plate of the multi-purpose roof-top support with pipes and T-straps. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following detailed description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the invention. Descriptions of specific applications are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications, without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0017]    As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the multi-purpose roof-top support is comprised of two main components: a top plate  1  and a rotating base plate  2 . The top plate  1  serves to directly support the objects that are to be raised above the surface of the roof. The top plate  1  includes indentations  7  for pipes or pipe junctions to rest in. Additionally, the top plate  1  includes holes  6  for connecting fasteners and threaded rods  15  and a rectangular opening  8  that allows the support to accept a vertical strut channel  14 , such as those manufactured under the SUPERSTRUT or KINDORF strut brand (THOMAS &amp; BETTS CORPORATION). 
         [0018]    The top plate  1  has outer threads  4  which engage into the base plate&#39;s inner threads  21 . The base plate  2 , preferably, has a generally conical shape, with a flat perforated plate  11  on the side closest to the roof. The perforations  20  allow rain water to pass through the base plate  2  and also allow small roof-top aggregate to enter the base plate  2 , rather than being pushed into the roof and causing damage to the roof membrane. 
         [0019]    Preferably, base plate  2  rests upon a mat  3 . The mat  3  can be made of any soft material, including an elastomeric material. The mat  3  serves to prevent the base plate  2  from sliding and further helps prevent aggregate from being pushed through the roof. Mat  3  also serves to distribute the vertical load across the bottom of base plate  2 . 
         [0020]    Installation of this roof-top support is simple. The installer first places the mat  3  directly on the roof, with as little aggregate below it as possible. Base plate  2  will be placed directly on the mat  3 . The installer can then place the top plate  1  against the bottom of the object to be supported and lower the top plate  1  onto base plate  2 . Base plate  2  is then rotated such that outer threads  4  of top plate  1  engage with inner threads  21  of base plate  2 . As the installer continues to rotate base plate  2 , the overall height of the support decreases, and the object to be supported is lowered. The installer stops rotating base plate  2  when the desired height is reached. 
         [0021]    As mentioned previously, top plate  1  is adaptable to support various objects. Top plate  1  includes wide indentations  7  to support pipes of larger diameter. It also can include narrow indentations  10  to support multiple pipes with narrower diameters. This is advantageous over prior art roof-top supports which can only support a single pipe per support. As will be appreciated from  FIG. 10 , recessed area  9  allows pipe junctions to easily be supported with a single support device. This, too, is advantageous over prior art support devices that require supports on either side of the junction to protect this most vulnerable part of the pipe. The unique arrangement of the indentations  7  on top plate  1  allows the claimed device to support a 90-degree elbow junction or T-junction with just a single support. 
         [0022]    The pipes  18 , may be secured with flexible T-straps  17 , which can be included as part of a kit. The T-straps  17  are narrow strips of flexible, but resilient, material with locking ends such that they will slide into T-slot  5  and spring open, causing their locking ends to be secured in the narrow sections of T-slot  5 . The T-straps  17  are removable by squeezing both ends of the T-strap  17  toward the pipe  18  such that they disengage from T-slot  5 . In a preferred embodiment, T-strap  17  is made of stainless steel, but any flexible material that will spring back to shape can be used. Alternatively, the pipes  18  may be secured through the use of twisted wire, metal ties, or plastic cable ties (such as those manufactured under the TY-RAP brand) passed through T-slot  5 . 
         [0023]    If the support is not tall enough, threaded rods  15  may be attached to top plate  1 , as depicted in  FIG. 8 . The threaded rods  15  pass through holes  6  and can be secured at the bottom of top plate  1  with lock nuts. The threaded rods  15  may be directly attached to the object to be supported, or the object can be connected to horizontal strut channel  16 . Holes  6  may also be used directly with nuts and bolts to secure an object directly to top plate  1 . 
         [0024]    As will be appreciated from  FIG. 7 , a vertical strut channel  14  can be inserted through rectangular opening  8  in top plate  1 . The vertical strut channel  14  can support more weight than threaded rods  15  and allows the roof-top support to be used for supporting heavy objects. The vertical strut channel  14  is received through a central opening in base plate  2  and rests upon a metal washer  13  and metal slug  12 . Metal washer  13  allows the downward force of the vertical strut channel  14  and its load to be distributed through the base plate  2 . 
         [0025]    By simultaneously utilizing the various configurations available on the support system, multiple items can be supported at different heights. For example, a pipe can be supported by the indentations  7 , while a strut channel  16  can be supported at a greater height by threaded rods  15  attached to holes  6  in top plate  1 . The vertical strut channel  14  can even be used if rectangular opening  8  is not obstructed. 
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment, the support system is constructed of carbon-loaded polyethylene. This material is strong and withstands extreme hot and cold temperatures and is also UV resistant, a quality not seen in previous supports. Furthermore, base plate  2  has indentations  7  and perforations  20  to allow rainwater to escape, thus preventing damage due to ice. The perforations  20  also allow small aggregate to enter into the base plate  2 . This advantage is not appreciated in the prior art supports where aggregate was pushed into the roof, causing damage. 
         [0027]    The presently disclosed device allows for fast and simple setup and a larger variety of configuration options that minimize the number of supports required, all while ensuring against roof damage. Because of the versatility, installers do not need to bring a variety of supports to the roof. Once the roof-top support has been installed, maintenance is simple. The base plate  2  is simply rotated to increase or decrease the height of the support. A particularly advantageous feature of the claimed design is that the rotation is accomplished without having to disengage the supported objects from the top plate  1  or the mat  3 . Because the base plate  2  pivots upon metal slug  12 , base plate  2  can be turned without disturbing the mat  3  or the objects on the top plate  1 . As a result, damage to fragile objects that are being supported, such as older pipes, is less likely to occur. 
         [0028]    The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used in the claims and specification herein, shall be considered as indicating an open group that may include other elements not specified. The terms “a,” “an,” and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The term “one” or “single” may be used to indicate that one and only one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as “two,” may be used when a specific number of things is intended. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention. 
         [0029]    The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures and techniques, other than those specifically described herein, can be applied to the practice of the invention as broadly disclosed herein without resorting to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents of methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures and techniques described herein are intended to be encompassed by this invention. 
         [0030]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.