Patent Publication Number: US-2023160209-A1

Title: Snowguard

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/281,569, filed Nov. 19, 2021 and entitled Snow Catcher Snowguard, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference for any purpose. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to ice and/or snow retention system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to ice and/or snow retention systems for sloped roofs. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Snow management of the roofs of buildings and homes allows snow to melt and run off a roof as water. Moreover, there is a need for snow management systems that are suitably strong, early to install, capable of being installed in a watertight fashion, and visually appealing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In various embodiments, a snowguard comprises a shaft, an attachment point, a support member, and a snow catcher. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The shaft has a first body disposed between the first end and the second end. The attachment point is disposed at the first end of the shaft. The attachment point defines a first aperture. The attachment point can be a ring or loop. The support member has a third end and a fourth end. The support member has a second body defined between the third end and the fourth end. The third end of the support member is operatively coupled to the second end of the shaft. The support member extends away from the shaft at a first angle. The snow catcher is operatively coupled to the fourth end of the support member and the first body at a point between the first end and the second end. 
     In various embodiments, a snow management system that is installed on a roof having roof shingles comprises a snow guard, a seal, a fastener, and a flashing. The snowguard comprises a shaft, an attachment point, a support member, and a snow catcher. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The shaft has a first body disposed between the first end and the second end. The attachment point is formed at the first end of the shaft. The attachment point defines a first aperture. The support member is formed at the second end of the shaft. The support member extends away from the shaft at a first angle. The support member has a third end and a fourth end. The support member has a second body defined between the third end and the fourth end. The snow catcher is operatively formed at the fourth end of the support member. The snow catcher comprises an outer surface. The outer surface of the snow catcher is bonded to the first body at a point between the first end and the second end. The seal has a shaft potion and a base portion. The shaft portion is installable through the first aperture of the attachment point. The fastener is installable through the shaft portion. The attachment point and configured to attach the snowguard to the roof. The flashing is installed between the fastener and the attachment point. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
         FIG.  1 A  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a snow management system with a first flashing system, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 B  illustrates a perspective view of a snow management system installed on a roof surface, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  1 C  illustrates a perspective view of a snow management system installed on a roof surface with the first flashing system, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of a snow management system installed on a roof surface with a second flashing system, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  3 A  -  FIG.  3 C  illustrate perspective views of a snow management system with various exemplary attachment straps, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a perspective view of a snow management system including a nail shaft attachment, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  5 A  -  FIG.  5 D  illustrate perspective views of a snow management system with various snow retention shapes, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a top view of a snow management system installed on a roof surface, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a top perspective view of flashing/bracket with a seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 D  illustrate a front view and a cross-sectional view of a first seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  illustrate a front perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a second seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  illustrate a front perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a third seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  11 A and  11 B  illustrate a front perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a fourth seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  12 A,  12 B and  12 C  illustrate a front perspective view, a cross-sectional view, and a bottom view of a fifth seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  13 A and  13 B  illustrate a front perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a sixth seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  14 A and  14 B  illustrate a front perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a seventh seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIGS.  15 A and  15 B  illustrate a front perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an eighth seal, in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventions, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. 
     In various embodiments, the snow management systems disclosed herein may be configured to retain, manage, and/or otherwise hold snow and ice in place. More specifically, the systems may be configured to retain snow and ice from sliding, falling or blowing off the roof, facade or ledges of buildings and residential homes. The systems may be configured to manage snow and ice on buildings to encourage melting and/or “slow” disposition of snow and ice in small or liquid pieces. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  1 A - 1 C  , snow management system may comprise a snow retention bracket  100  comprising a shaft  104 , an attachment point  102 , a support member  106 , and a snow catcher  108 . Shaft  104  may be an elongate member. Shaft  104  may have a first end and a second end. Shaft  104  may comprise a shaft body defined between the first end and the second end. Attachment point  102  may be disposed at the first end of shaft  104 . Attachment point  102  may be operatively coupled to the first end or may be integrally formed with the first end. Attachment point  102  may define a hole or aperture. Support member  106  may be an elongate member. Support member  106  may have a third end and a fourth end. Support member  106  may comprise a support member body defined between the third end and the fourth end. Support member  106  may be operatively coupled to shaft  104 . In this regard, the third end of Support member  106  may be operatively coupled to or integrally formed with the second end of shaft  104 . Snow catcher  108  may be operatively coupled to or integrally formed with the fourth end of support member  106 . Snow catcher  108  is also coupled to the body of shaft  104  at a point between the first end and the second end. In this regard, snow catcher  108  may be rigidly coupled or bonded to the body of shaft  104 . 
     Support member  106  may be disposed at an angle relative to shaft  104 . In this regard, Support member  106  may extend away from shaft  104  at an angle. The angle may be between 15 degrees and 75 degrees. In one embodiment, the angle is 45 degrees. 
     In various embodiments, snow catcher  108  may be made to be a closed structure. In this regard the loop or other shape formed by snow catcher  108  may be shaped or formed from a rod or similar material and then bonded, brazed, welded, glued or otherwise attached to itself. Snow catcher  108  may also be welded, brazed, bonded, glued or other attached to the body of shaft  104  as discussed herein. The closing of snow catcher  108  and the attachment of snow catcher  108  to the body of shaft  104  increase the rigidity of snow retention bracket  100 . These attachments also dramatically increase the snow load capabilities of snow retention bracket  100 . 
     In various embodiments, snow retention bracket  100  may be made of steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, a composite metal, a plastic material, a fiber reinforced plastic material, a polymer material and/or the like. 
     In various embodiments, snow retention bracket  100  may be homogenous. Snow retention bracket may be a continuous structure. In this regard, snow retention bracket  100  may be formed from single piece of material. In other embodiments, snow retention bracket, may be an assembly. 
     When installed on a roof, the body of shaft  104  may rest in or be capture in the keyway  18  of one or more roof shingle  12 , roof shingle  14 , roof shingle  16 , and/or the like. While in keyway  18 , the angular movement of snow management bracket  100  may be reduced or eliminated. In this regard, snow management bracket  100  may have reduced friction with the roof surface. Snow management bracket  100  may also be retained in a position normal to the lateral snow load on the roof. The roof shingles may be any suitable shingle, or tile, such as, for example, asphalt shingles, slate shingles, synthetic slate shingles, solar shingles, concrete tiles and/or the like. 
     In various embodiments, the snow management system may comprise an assembly for securing snow retention bracket  100  a roof surface. Generally, to secure a structure to a roof, a user must penetrate the roofs otherwise watertight surface. The securing assembly provides for a watertight penetration. The securing assembly may comprise a seal  120 , a washer  130 , a fastener  140 , and/or a flashing or cover  150 . Seal  120  may be any suitable structure as defined more specifically herein. Seal  120  may be disposed beneath and/or through the aperture defined by attachment point  102 . Washer  130  may be disposed or installed on attachment point  102  and/or seal  120 . Flashing  150  may be installed on washer  130 . Flashing  150  may comprise a pair of flashing tabs defined on a downslope side of flashing  150 . Moreover, the flashing tabs may define a fastener channel that is adjacent and connected to a fastener aperture. Fastener  140  may be installed through flashing  150 , washer  130 , attachment point  102 , and seal  120  to engage a roof surface. In this regard, fastener  150  is configured to attach snow management bracket  100  to a roof or building surface. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIG.  2   , flashing  250  may be configured protrude from one or more upper courses of roofing and cover the attachment assembly hardware, including attachment point  102 . In this regard, attachment point  102  and the associated attachment assembly hardware, seal, and roof penetration would be beneath and covered by flashing  250 . 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  3 A -  3 C , snow management bracket  300  may be attached to a roof surface or roofing material (i.e., a shingle or tile) with a strap  360 . Strap  360  may have a downslope end and an upslope end. The down slope end may define an attachment structure  362  that is configured to receive and retain a portion of snow management bracket  300 . The upslope end of strap  360  may define an attachment mechanism, such as, for example, a fastener or nail hole  364 , an attachment tab and/or hole system  366 , and or a tile hook  368 . 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIG.  4   , snow management bracket  400  may comprise in integral fastener or nail shaft  440  in lieu of the attachment point described herein. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  5 A -  5 D , snow catcher  508  may be any suitable shape, including for example, a triangular shape, a circular or half circle shape, a square or rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape, a uniform shape, a non-uniform shape, and/or the like. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIG.  6   , the shaft of snow management bracket  600  may be disposed below the snow catcher in in keyway  18  between roof shingles  12  and  14 . Similarly, the snow catcher may be adjacent to the shaft of snow management bracket  600 . The shaft of snow management bracket  600  may be captured in keyway  18  to limited radial movement, reduce friction and engage lateral snow loads. 
     With reference to  FIG.  7   , a bracket  700  or a flashing  750  may be configured to engage, load, and otherwise cover a seal  720 . Seal  720  may comprise a through hole. The through hole may be sized to receive a fastener, which may compress seal  720  against a mounting surface and the body of the fastener. In this regard, seal  720  may be configured to create a watertight attachment point with the fastener. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  8 A -  8 D , seal  820  may comprise a shaft  822  and a seal body  824 . Shaft  822  may be integrally formed with seal body  824 . Shaft  822  may also be assembled through or on seal body  824 . Moreover, shaft  822  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  824 . Shaft  822  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  822  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure. Seal  820  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  9 A and  9 B , seal  920  may comprise a shaft  922 , a seal body  924 , and a seal top disc  926 . Shaft  922  may be integrally formed with seal body  924  and seal top disc  926 . Shaft  922  may also be assembled through or on seal body  924 . Similarly, seal top disc  926  may be installed on an end of shaft  922  opposite seal body  924 . Moreover, shaft  922  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  924  and/or seal top disc  926 . Seal body  924  and seal top disc  926  may be substantially parallel to one another. Shaft  922  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  922  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure such as a bracket. Seal top disc  926  may similarly be configured to load a fastener head a bracket portion. Seal  920  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  10 A -  10 B , seal  1020  may comprise a shaft  1022  and a seal body  1024 . Shaft  1022  may be integrally formed with seal body  1024 . Shaft  1022  may also be assembled through or on seal body  1024 . Moreover, shaft  1022  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  1024 . Shaft  1022  and/or seal body  1024  may include an angled portion  1026 , which can have a frustoconical shape, defined along a length of shaft  1022 . In this regard, a portion of shaft  1022  may protrude beyond angled portion  1026 . Shaft  1022  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  1022  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure. Seal  1020  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  11 A -  11 B , see  1120  may comprise a shaft  1122 , a seal body  1124 , and a seal top disc  1128 . Shaft  1122  may be integrally formed with seal body  1124 . Shaft  1122  may also be assembled through or on seal body  1124 . Similarly, seal top disc  1128  may be installed on an end of shaft  1122  opposite seal body  1124 . Moreover, shaft  1122  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  1124  and/or seal top disc  1128 . Seal body  1124  and seal top disc  1128  may be substantially parallel to one another. Shaft  1122  and/or seal body  1124  may include an angled portion  1126 , which can have a frustoconical shape, defined along a length of shaft  1122 . In this regard, a portion of shaft  1122  may protrude beyond angled portion  1126 . Shaft  1122  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  1122  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure. Seal top disc  1128  may similarly be configured to load a fastener head a bracket portion. Seal  1120  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  12 A -  12 C , seal  1220  may comprise a shaft  1222  and a seal body  1224 . Shaft  1222  may be integrally formed with seal body  1224 . Shaft  1222  may also be assembled through or on seal body  1224 . Moreover, shaft  1222  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  1224 . Shaft  1222  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  1222  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure. Seal body  1224  may comprise a one or more concentric seal fingers. For example, seal body  1224  may comprise a seal finger  1221 , a seal finger  1223 , and/or a seal finger  1225 . Each seal finger may be the same shape as seal body  1224 . Each seal finger may be concentric with shaft  1222  and/or the channel defined by shaft  1222 . One or more seal fingers may define a channel disposed between the fingers. For example, seal finger  1223  may be disposed interior to seal finger  1221 , defining a channel between the respective seal fingers. When compressed with a fastener or other structure seal finger  1221 , seal finger  1223 , and/or seal finger  1225  may create a plurality of sealing diameters. The sealing diameters may create a sealing gradient. In this regard, seal finger  1221 , seal finger  1223 , and/or seal finger  1225  may create increasing sealing pressure and seal engagement along an axis normal to shaft  1222  and may increase from the outer diameter of seal body  1224  to the center of sealing body  1224 . Seal  1220  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  13 A -  13 C , seal  1320  may comprise a shaft  1322 , a seal body  1324  and a sealing top disc  1328 . Shaft  1322  may be integrally formed with seal body  1324  and sealing top disc  1328  as discussed herein. Shaft  1322  may also be assembled through or on seal body  1324 . Moreover, shaft  1322  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  1324 . Seal body  1324  and seal top disc  1328  may be substantially parallel to one another. Shaft  1322  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  1322  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure. Seal body  1324  may comprise a one or more concentric seal fingers. For example, seal body  1324  may comprise a seal finger  1321 , a seal finger  1323 , and/or a seal finger  1325 . Each seal finger may be the same shape as seal body  1324 . Each seal finger may be concentric with shaft  1322  and/or the channel defined by shaft  1322 . One or more seal fingers may define a channel disposed between the fingers. For example, seal finger  1323  may be disposed interior to seal finger  1321 , defining a channel between the respective seal fingers. When compressed with a fastener or other structure seal finger  1321 , seal finger  1323 , and/or seal finger  1325  may create a plurality of sealing diameters. The sealing diameters may create a sealing gradient. In this regard, seal finger  1321 , seal finger  1323 , and/or seal finger  1325  may create increasing sealing pressure and seal engagement along an axis normal to shaft  1322  and may increase from the outer diameter of seal body  1324  to the center of sealing body  1324 . Seal  1320  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  14 A and  14 B , seal  1420  may comprise a shaft  1422  and a seal body  1424 . Shaft  1422  may be integrally formed with seal body  1424 . Shaft  1422  may also be assembled through or on seal body  1424 . Moreover, shaft  1422  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  1424 . Shaft  1422  and/or seal body  1424  may include a stepped portion  1426 , defined along a length of shaft  1422 . In this regard, a portion of shaft  1422  may protrude beyond stepped portion  1426 . Stepped portion  1426  may have a diameter that is less than the outer diameter of seal body  1424 . Shaft  1422  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  1422  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure. Seal  1420  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS.  15 A and  15 B , seal  1520  may comprise a shaft  1522 , a seal body  1524 , and a seal top disc  1528  as discussed herein. Shaft  1522   may be integrally formed with seal body  1524 . Shaft  1522  may also be assembled through or on seal body  1524 . Moreover, shaft  1522  may be substantially perpendicular to seal body  1524  seal top disc  1528 . Shaft  1522  and/or seal body  1524  may include a stepped portion  1526 , defined along a length of shaft  1522 . In this regard, a portion of shaft  1522  may protrude beyond stepped portion  1526 . Stepped portion  1526  may have a diameter that is less than the outer diameter of seal body  1524 . Stepped portion  1526  may have a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of seal top disc  1528 . Shaft  1522  may define a channel that is sized to receive a fastener or other structure. Shaft  1522  may be sized to compress or load the shaft of a fastener or other suitable structure. Seal  1520  may be made of an elastically resilient material that is deformable under load, such as a rubber material, like ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. 
     After reading the present disclosure, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that the various seal features described herein may be combined in various way without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. 
     Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments. 
     Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.