Patent ID: 7712278

Claim:
A roofing assembly comprising: a plurality of modular sheet panels each having a substantially flat central portion and first and second side edge portions, the plurality of sheet panels being configured to be reciprocally coupled in side-by-side positions by placing said first side edge portion of a first sheet panel of said sheet panels in an at least partially overlapping relationship with said second side edge portion of a second sheet panel of the sheet panels; and a plurality of brackets configured to be anchored to a roof for securing said sheet panels at the side edge portions thereof, each of said brackets having a base body with a lower surface designed to engage the roof to which it is anchored; wherein each of the first side edge portions is shaped to define a first longitudinal projection extending outwardly in a direction substantially parallel to one flat central portion of said flat central portions of said sheet panels, and each of said second side edge portions is shaped to define a second longitudinal projection extending outwardly in a direction substantially parallel to one flat central portion of said flat central portions of said sheet panels, wherein each of the brackets includes a first longitudinal groove and a second longitudinal groove each shaped for housing and snap-fit engaging respectively the first longitudinal projections and the second longitudinal projections of the sheet panels in an engaging position therewith, wherein said first and said second longitudinal projections and said first and second longitudinal grooves each have upper surfaces that are at least partially flat and substantially parallel or slightly inclined with respect to said central portions of said sheet panels, such that when the first and the second longitudinal projections and the first and the second longitudinal grooves are placed in the engaging position, a retaining action of said brackets in a direction substantially perpendicular to said central portions of said sheet panels is enhanced, and a separation load causes the separation of said sheet panels from said brackets, and wherein each of said brackets has two first longitudinal extensions, which extend from said base body of each of said brackets, said first longitudinal extensions being substantially symmetrical with respect to a central plane that is substantially perpendicular to said central portions of said sheet panels and substantially parallel to said edge portions of said sheet panels, each of said two first extensions having an inner surface and an outer surface.