Abstract:
A protective roof cover which protects roof tiles and shingles from being torn from a roof during severe weather, such as a hurricane. The roof cover is aesthetically pleasing, durable, waterproof, and within code guidelines. The roof cover can be a variety of colors. The roof cover may be composed of a plurality of sheets of high strength material, wherein one sheet of high strength material is of sufficient length to cover a section said roof, at least one roll bar secured to a building below an overhang and attachable to the high strength material, and at least one wall channel secured to a building below an overhang for receiving the high strength material. Optionally, the roof cover can be a unitary sheet of durable, water proof material. The protective roof cover protects the roof against wind, rain and wind borne debris and other elements associated with storms.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to a protective roof cover which protects roof tiles and shingles from being torn from a roof during severe weather, such as a hurricane. The roof cover is aesthetically pleasing, durable, waterproof, and within code guidelines. The roof cover can be made in a wide variety of colors to match existing building and roofing materials. The invention also provides season-long protection to roofs, is easy to install, and affordable and focuses upon prevention of hurricane-inflicted wind damage. The invention can be prefabricated during home construction or can be retrofitted onto existing structures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Hurricanes are predicted to increase in number over the next twenty years. Many coastal areas have been hit with hurricanes in recent years, resulting in extraordinary and devastating damage. Many of the homes and buildings in the costal areas are not adequately prepared for hurricanes. One serious effect of a hurricane is roof damage. Roof damage can be minor, yet allow rain water to leak into the building and cause serious damage to the building. 
         [0003]    In order to mitigate additional damage that could result from rain, many homeowners&#39; cover roof damage with a temporary tarp until the roof can be repaired. Temporary tarps are very difficult to obtain after a storm when they are needed most. During the hurricane season of 2005, FEMA ran out of tarps in South Florida following hurricane Wilma.  Palm Beach Post  article at www.palmbeachpost.com, Oct. 27, 2005 titled “FEMA Launches Tarp Plan But Distribution Uncertain”. With many homes in a particular city damaged, roof repair can take months or years to schedule and is relatively expensive. The temporary tarp is typically blue and is a plastic material. The temporary tarp is secured to the roof with nails and/or wood planks which are nailed into the roof and secure the tarp into place. The temporary tarp is not capable of withstanding severe rain or storms and will often fail after extended use and allow water into the building. Such failure is typical after the tarp has been on the roof for a long period. The temporary blue tarp is also very unappealing in appearance. It distracts from the appearance of the house. 
         [0004]    Previous attempts have been made to improve roof protection from severe weather, certain features of which are generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,147 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,392 to Platts; U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,455 to Gunn; U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,289 to Karpinia; U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,327 to Merser et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,545 to Adams; U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,896 to Winger; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0182875 to Hill, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,147 to Smith (the &#39;147 patent) describes a tile roof ridge row vent and method of its use. One of the embodiments of this invention is for use in high wind and hurricane prone areas with an angled roof and includes external baffles added to the ridge row vent. The tile roof ridge row vent includes an elongated member having a vertical section and a side section connected to allow air flow there between. The vertical section has a lower sealing skirt that extends under the top row of roof tiles and the side section includes a plurality of ventilation openings angled downwardly and outwardly to allow air to exit the vent while preventing rain or other inclement weather from entering the vent. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,392 to Platts (the &#39;392 patent) describes a method of roof reinforcement against hurricanes. Anchors are inserted into suitably located wall cavities, each anchor being suspended by cables extending up through the wall top and into the roof space. Each anchor is fastened by injection into the cavity above the anchor of a hardening, adhering liquid plug of sufficient size and strength. Where there are no wall cavities, the roof is anchored to or through the exterior surfaces of suitably located walls by means of long vertical straps. The straps extend up through the ceiling sufficiently into the roof space, taking the place of the cavity anchors and cables. Beams are used in the roof space so that each anchor can hold down a large area of roof. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,455 to Gunn (the &#39;455 patent) describes a protective cover assembly used to cover and protect widows, doors or other wall openings for homes, office buildings, hotels, and other walled structures from the destructive forces of a high windstorm, such as a hurricane. The &#39;455 patent describes a high strength fabric covering an opening, such as a window and being supported by brackets, a rod and a bar. Once installed, the high strength fabric is stretched over the opening, through the use of a gears and ratchet assembly. The high strength fabric once stretched will provide protection from high winds and wind borne debris common in storms such as hurricanes. The high strength fabric is securely supported to the rod and steel bar that are firmly attached to the wall structure near the wall opening. The high strength fabric can be polyolefin fabrics, polypropylene geomembranes, hypalon, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, or high density polyethylene. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,289 to Karpinia (the &#39;289 patent) describes a plurality of shingles and straps which are installed in a manner effective for reinforcing and securing a roof to provide controlled separation of parts of the shingles while maintaining an intact roof surface covering. The lower most portion of the roof structure has an initial course with tabs removed and reinforcing shingle straps are applied on the leading edge. The straps span the shingle width and are about 36″ long and a 1″ width. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,327 to Merser et al. (the &#39;327 patent) describes a method of reinforcing or retrofitting building roof structures against hurricane-force winds which does not require removal of part or all of the roof. The improved method includes directing a thin stream of a liquid polymer foam adhesive under pressure upwardly along the intersections of the rafters or support members and the roof panels, preferably on both sides of the support members. The foam adhesive then creams and foams, forming polymer foam adhesive gussets which firmly adhere to the adjacent surfaces of the support members and roof panels. This method increases the pull-off strength of a roof about seven fold and is able to withstand hurricane-force winds. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,477 to Gaffney (the &#39;477 patent) discloses an apparatus and method for securing a building. The apparatus can secure a building having a roof, with a plurality of lines and a plurality of ground anchors which are planted around the building. Netting material spans the lines at the roof. The apparatus has at least one cinch transversely spanning the lines at the roof of the building. At least one lashing may be directed transversely to the predetermined direction and may be connected between one of the lines and one of the anchors. A plurality of tubular boots may separately encircle corresponding ones of the anchors for providing peripheral clearance around the anchors. This invention is designed to hold the roof on the structure. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,545 to Adams (the &#39;545 patent) describes an apparatus for holding the roof on the side walls both vertically and horizontally during high side wind forces. There is a plurality of attachment fixtures carried by respective ones of opposite ends of adjacent rafters along a length of the roof. A plurality of ground anchors is disposed at respective ones of ends of the rafters opposite the opposite ends carrying the plurality of attachment fixtures. A plurality of straps is connected between respective ones of the plurality of attachment fixtures and the plurality of ground anchors. The straps are releasably attached so that they can be stored and only attached when a hurricane or the like is present. The attachment fixtures distribute forces to the whole rafter end and avoid rafter-splitting forces. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,896 to Winger (the &#39;896 patent) describes a method for securing residential and low rise commercial structures during periods of high wind employing mooring apparatus having a mooring cable, a ground anchor, and a tightening means. One end of the mooring cable is permanently attached to a structural roof member, the remainder being stowed with the tightening means in a roof housing. The ground anchor is strategically installed exterior to the structure. Prior to the onset of a hurricane or other high wind condition, the mooring cable is released from its roof housing, detachably fastened to the ground anchor, and made taut using the tightening means. A number of mooring apparatus are used to secure a given structure. 
         [0013]    United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0182875 to Hill (the &#39;875 publication) describes a high wind roof securement device. The securement device reduces the risk of the roof being blown off during inclement weather. The device includes at least one elongated rod having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is externally threaded. The upper end extends through an aperature in an upper support of a roof of a structure. The lower end of the rod is formed with a receiving sleeve. The receiving sleeve has internal threads disposed therein. The receiving sleeve is secured to a concrete bolt extending outwardly of a foundation of the structure. 
         [0014]    None of the methods and apparatus mentioned above describe an aesthetically pleasing roof cover that is capable of covering a roof during a high wind storm and preventing damage to the roof tiles or shingles. There is no known method for protecting a roof during a hurricane or high wind with a roof cover that is composed of a durable, water proof, material securely attached to the roof by a roll bar and wall channels or removable straps. Moreover, there is a need to protect roof tiles and shingles during hurricane strength wind from being torn off the roof or dislodged. There is also a need for such a roof cover to be durable enough to last all season and water proof to prevent rain water from seeping into the building from any structural damage incurred on the roof. There is also a need for the roof cover to be aesthetically pleasing and available in a wide variety of colors to match various color buildings and roofs. There is also a need for a roof cover that is able to be put on the roof at the beginning of the season and remain on the roof all season. There is also a need for an alternative to the temporary blue tarp to solve functionality issues and appearance issues. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a roof cover comprising a plurality of sheets of high strength material, wherein one sheet of high strength material is of sufficient length to cover a section the roof, at least one roll bar secured to a building below an overhang and attachable to the high strength material, and at least one wall channel secured to a building below an overhang for receiving the high strength material. There is also a need for a protective roof cover for protecting a roof during hurricane conditions, comprising a high strength material of sufficient size to cover the roof and a plurality of removable straps attachable on one end of the strap to the roof cover and attachable on the other end of the strap to a secure structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The current invention satisfies the above needs by providing an aesthetically pleasing, durable, waterproof, code-adhering roof cover. The roof cover provides protection to residential or commercial roofs during hurricanes. The invention also provides season-long protection to roofs, is easy to install, affordable and focuses upon prevention of hurricane-inflicted wind damage. The invention can be prefabricated during home construction or can be retrofitted onto existing structures. 
         [0016]    The invention provides a protective roof cover for protecting a roof during hurricane conditions, comprising a plurality of sheets of high strength material, wherein one sheet of high strength material is of sufficient length to cover a section the roof, at least one roll bar secured to a building below an overhang and attachable to the high strength material, and at least one wall channel secured to a building below an overhang for receiving the high strength material. The protective roof cover covers the roof and protects against wind, rain and wind borne debris and other elements associated with storms. The roof cover is aesthetically pleasing and available in a wide variety of colors to match various color buildings and roof shingles or tiles. 
         [0017]    The current invention also provides a roof cover comprising at least one sheet of durable, water-proof material, at least one roll bar attached to a first wall of a building under a overhang of a roof, at least one wall channel attached to a second wall of the building under the overhang of the roof, wherein the durable, water-proof material is attachable to the roll bar and is pulled taut across a section of the roof and terminates under an overhang of the roof where the material is secured to the wall channel. 
         [0018]    The current invention further provides a roof cover comprising at least one sheet of durable, water-proof vinyl material wherein the material is pulled taut across the roof. At least one roll bar is attached to a first wall of a building under a overhang of a roof. At least one wall channel is attached to a second wall of a building under the overhang of the roof. At least one clamp bar secures the sheet of durable, water-proof material to the wall channel. The durable, water-proof material is attachable to the roll bar and is pulled taut across a section of the roof and terminates under the overhang of the roof where the material is secured to the wall channel by the clamp bar. 
         [0019]    The current invention also provides for a roof cover comprising a sheet of durable, water-proof material cut slightly larger than a roof wherein the material is pulled taut across the roof and terminates under an overhang of the roof. A plurality of removable straps is attachable on one end of the strap to the roof cover and attachable on the other end of the strap to a building. 
         [0020]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an elevational cross-sectional partial view of a roof cover on a building. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an cross-sectional view of the roll bar. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an elevational cross-sectional partial view of a roof cover on a building. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a roof cover on a building. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional partial view of a roof cover on a building. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the wall channel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the wall channel and the clamping bar independent of each other. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the wall channel with the clamping bar instered therein. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the wall channel. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the clamping bar. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of the wall channel, clamping bar and attachment means. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of a roof cover on a building. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    The high-strength material protective roof cover  1  can be employed on top of an existing roof  3  or used in new construction underneath roof tiles  2  or shingles. In either position, the roof cover  1  provides protection from water seeping through the roof  3 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4  when the roof cover is used over the roof tiles  2  or shingles, the roof cover  1  prevents wind from getting underneath the tiles  2  or shingles and prying the tiles  2  or shingles off of the roof  3 . 
         [0034]    The roof cover  1  can be made of different materials. Preferably, the roof cover  1  is composed of a durable, water proof vinyl that is pulled taut across the roof  3 . The roof cover  1  can also be made of canvas, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EDPM), high density polyethylene (HDPE), chorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber, nylon, urethane, and other similar materials. The roof cover  1  is preferably composed of a breathable material, which prevents the growth of mold or mildew under the roof cover  1 . For ease of use, the roof cover  1  can be made in sections about five feet in width and the sections are individually rolled into place over the roof  3  and joined together with known means, such as snaps. The roof cover  1  can be colored to match the exterior of the building  5  or the existing shingles or tiles  2 . The roof cover  1  can be a natural color, white, or a wide variety of colors similar to those used on barrel tiles, which are commonly used on roofs  3  in tropical climates. Accordingly, the roof cover  1  will be aesthetically pleasing. This is a significant improvement over the appearance of the plastic blue tarps currently being used on homes to temporarily fix the roof  3  damage until the roof  3  can be properly fixed. The use of the roof cover  1  as a cover applied to the roof  3  during the hurricane season will provide aesthetically pleasing protection during the entire season. The use of the roof cover  1  will also help to reduce the shortage of emergency/temporary tarps supplied by FEMA to persons who have suffered roof damage during a hurricane. The shortage of the temporary tarps during the 2005 hurricane season was a big problem and left hundreds of homes unprotected from the elements. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , when not in use the roof cover  1  is wrapped around a roll bar  4  which is securely attached on the wall of the building  5  under the overhang of the roof  3 . The roll bar  4  is placed on the wall  5  slightly underneath the lowest point of the overhang. The number of roll bars  4  used will depend upon the number of sheets of material used to make the roof cover  1 . There should be one roll bar  4  for each sheet or section of roof cover  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the roof cover  1  is extended from the roll bar  4  out and over the overhang and across the roof  3 . For ease of handling, the roof cover  1  is preferrably constructed in sections of approximately five feet in width. The roof cover  1  has ⅜ inch brass snaps and grommets along the selvedged edge for securing the sections of the roof cover  1  together. The length of the roof cover  1  is determined by the width across the roof  3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the sections of the roof cover  1  must be long enough to extend from the roll bar  4  across the roof  3  and be clampled into a receiving wall channel  8  on the building wall  5  opposite of the roll bar  4 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the roll bar  4 . The roll bar  4  includes a roller drum  13  with a continuous slotted hole for threading the roof cover  1  on the roller drum  13 . The roller drum  13  is equipped with a pressure clamp for securing the roof cover  1  to the roller drum  13 . Attached to the roller drum  13  is an uptake wench handle  6  with a sproketed end and cam lock at the sproket. The roll bar  4  is securely attached to the building wall  5 . The uptake wench  6  is used to tighten the roof cover  1  after the roof cover  1  has been secured to the other side of the building. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the roof cover  1  extends from the roll bar  4  across the roof  3  and is secured to the building by a wall channel  8  and clamping bar  9 .  FIGS. 6 and 9  are views of the wall channel  8 . The wall channel  8  is a “c” channel bar that is securely attached to the building wall  5 . In the preferred embodiment, the wall channel  8  is aluminum and is five inches high, 4 inches wide and ½ inch thick. The wall channel  8  is preferrably attached to the building wall  5  with ½ inch diameter by 3 inch long lag bolts at intervals of 12 to 24 inches.  FIG. 10  shows the clamping bar  9 . The clamping bar  9  is constructed to be received within the wall channel  8 .  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  11  show the clamping bar  9  seated in the wall channel  8 . Both the wall channel  8  and clamping bar  9  will be a certain length, typically a maximum of eight foot sections. The wall channel  8  and the clamping bar  9  can be installed in continuous lengths along the building or sporadically, as needed, to secure the roof cover  1 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the clamping bar  9  and wall channel  8  are secured together by a ½ inch diameter by 3 inch long hex bolt  10  with a lock washer  11  and wing nut  12 . The end of the roof cover  1  is inserted between the wall channel  8  and the clamping bar  9  and securely held in place when the hex bolt  10  is tightened. Preferrably, the end of the roof cover  1  will contain grommets in the selvedged edge through which the hex bolt  10  will be inserted. As shown in  FIG. 8 , every 12 inches a bolt is inserted through the wall channel  8  and clamping bar  9  to secure them to the building wall  5  and to secure the roof cover  1  to the roof  3 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , to further protect the roof  3  and building, a continuous pre-moulded hardened rubber ridge support  7  is attached to the peak of the roof ridge with rubberized removable clear mastic. In a multiple tiered roof  3 , each tier would have its own roof cover  1  composed of sections of roof cover  1  installed to create the roof cover  1 . 
         [0040]    The roof cover  1  can be put on the roof  3  just prior to hurricane season and left on the roof  3  during the entire season. The roof cover  1  will prevent wind from damaging the roof  3  and will also prevent water from penetrating the roof  3 , if any damage is sustained by the roof  3  during a storm. In new construction, the roof cover  1  could be installed underneath the tiles  2  or shingles. In such a fashion, the roof cover  1  would add additional strength to the roof  3  and prevent water from leaking into the building through any roof  3  damage. 
         [0041]    The roof cover  1  typically lays on top of the roof  3 . To put the roof cover  1  on the roof  3 , the user will simply roll the sections of the roof cover  1  from the roll bar  4  and over the roof  3 . When the section of roof cover  1  is reaches to other side of the roof  3 , it is attached to the wall channel  8  and clamping bar  9 . The roof cover  1  is secured to the wall channel  8  and clamping bar  9  by inserting the bolt  10  through grommets in the end of the roof cover  1 . The hex bolt  10  is tightened to firmly secure the roof cover  1 . Once in place, the roof cover  1  is further tightened by cranking the uptake wench handle  6 . The uptake wench handle  6  will also serve to loosen the roof cover  1  for removing the cover  1 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 12  shows an alternate embodiment of the roof cover  1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 , the roof cover  1  is secured in place with a plurality of removable straps  13 . The removable straps  13  are attached near the outer edges or perimeter of the roof cover  1 . The removable straps  13  can be attached to the roof cover  1  in a variety of known ways. The removable straps  13  may be permanently attached to the roof cover  1  either by being a continuous portion of the roof cover  1  or by being permanently stitched to the roof cover  1 . The other end of the removable straps  13  can be removably attached to the outer wall  5  of the building, underneath the overhang of the roof  3 . To ensure the straps  13  hold the roof cover  1  taut, the attaching mechanism on the building can be an anchor bolt or screw  14  that penetrates the outer wall  5  of the building two to four inches. The end of the removable strap  13  that is not attached to the roof cover  1  is removably attached to the anchor bolt or screw  14  in the outer wall  5  of the building. A variety of available attachment means may be used and are widely known for use with hurricane shutters. For example, a grommet can be placed on the end the strap  13  which is slipped onto the anchor bolt or screw  14  after which the anchor bolt or screw  14  is tightened. Alternatively, the removable straps  13  can be attached to a secure structure on the ground. The secure structure may include a spike that is driven into the earth to a sufficient depth and to which the removable straps  13  attach. The secure structure may also be cement foundations which include an attachment means for securing the removable straps  13 . 
         [0043]    The roof cover  1  embodiment shown in  FIG. 12  may also include an elastic band  15  around the outermost edge or perimeter, which serves to retain the roof cover  1  tight against the roof  3  and overhang. The elastic band  15  will also assist in holding the roof cover  1  in place while it is being put on the roof  3 . The elastic band  15  also prevents wind from getting underneath the roof cover  1 . 
         [0044]    The embodiment of the roof cover  1  shown in  FIG. 12  lays on top of the roof  3 . This embodiment can include panels or sections of material or can be one large piece of material cut slightly larger than the entire roof  3 . To put the roof cover  1  on the roof  3  when the roof cover  1  is one piece of material, the user will simply unfold the cover  1  and roll it out over the entire roof  3 . If the removable straps  13  are not permanently attached to the roof cover  1 , the removable straps  13  will then be attached to the roof cover  1 . When the roof cover  1  includes an elastic band around the perimeter of the roof cover  1 , the user will ensure the elastic band lies just underneath the overhang of the roof. This will hold the roof cover  1  in place while the user secures the roof cover  1  by attaching the removable straps  13  to the outer wall  5  of the building or the ground. If the removable straps  13  are to be attached to the building, the user will most likely attach those straps while standing on a ladder placed just underneath the overhang. If the removable straps  13  are to be attached to the ground, the user will secure the removable straps  13  to a secure structure in the ground. The user must be sure that the removable straps  13  are attached such that they pull the roof cover  1  taut and that the roof cover  1  wraps sufficiently around the overhang to prevent wind from blowing under the roof cover  1 . 
         [0045]    Accordingly, it will be understood that the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and that other modifications and alterations may occur to those skilled in the art. For instance, a variety of available attachment means may be used for attaching the roof cover to a building and are widely known for use with hurricane shutters.