EP1875010A1

EP1875010A1 - Bracket for roof equipment and system for protection against sliding snow

Info

Publication number: EP1875010A1
Application number: EP06716968A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rolf Hedlund
Original assignee: CW Lundberg Industri AB
Current assignee: CW Lundberg Industri AB
Priority date: 2005-04-25
Filing date: 2006-03-16
Publication date: 2008-01-09
Also published as: SE528510C2; SE0500921L; WO2006115443A1

Abstract

A fastening bracket (1) for fastening an equipment detail to a roof including a mounting portion (2) for fastening to the roof, an attachment portion (3) for co-operation with the equipment detail and a deformation portion (4) for receiving, under deformation, loading forces above a certain level. The, mounting portion (2) as well as both the attachment portion (3) and the deformation portion (4) is included in one and the same elongated profile body, with the attachment portion (3) in use standing up forming an angle with the mounting portion (2) and the deformation portion (4) between these parts having a curved extension. The invention also concerns a snow-slide protection system.

Description

BRACKET FOR ROOF EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEM FOR PROTECTION AGAINST SLIDING

SNOW

Field of the invention The invention concerns a fastening bracket for roof equipment according to the preamble of claim 1 and a system for snow- slide protection including such fastening brackets.

Background of the invention Fastening brackets of this kind are used for fastening different kinds of equipment details to the roof of buildings. A previously known fastening bracket is comprised of metal plate detail which is bent in 90°, and having a mounting portion which is adapted to be parallel with the roof and to be fastened by screwing thereto. From the mounting portion extends, from one side of the mounting portion, essentially at a right angle to the roof, the attachment portion in the form of an extended plate metal part wherein are arranged holes for co-operation with equipment, rail tubes, screw holes or the like. In the previously known fastening bracket, the root part of the mounting portion forms a deformation portion which possibly can be weakened through the application of holes. Excessive loading forces acting on the equipment detail are taken up through deformation by the fastening bracket and levelled out, in particular in the deformation portion.

This previously known fastening bracket functions well for many kinds of roof equipment details, but this presupposes a relatively large distance between the roof and the fastening in the attachment portion of the equipment detail in order for the desired deformation and force equalization to occur. Aim and most important features of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a fastening bracket as initially mentioned, wherein the above problems are obviated, and wherein the deformation can be controlled and the bracket form can be shaped in practice for co-operation with different types of roof equipment details.

This aim is obtained in a fastening bracket according to the above through the features of the characterising portion of claim 1. Hereby is made possible that excessive loading forces, for example because of a falling roof worker, are received softly, and under a relatively long period of time. Hereby the forces that are transmitted by the bracket to the fastening means, that fix the bracket to the substrate, will be levelled out oveif time and with a relatively low amplitude, which in turn results in that the fastening arrangements can withstand high loads without being pulled or drawn out from the substrate, or risk to destroy the substrate.

Besides, for example a falling roof worker is subjected to a softer force which is more levelled out over time, which is very essential in order to avoid serious damage in connection with a fall. The fact that the bracket after the fall remains being fixed to the substrate is of course a condition for the roof worker not to be subjected to serious fall injuries, which could occur with respect of more rigid brackets that can risk to be torn away from the roof.

Through the described construction it is also obtained that equipment details such as snow-slide protection can be positioned very low and very close to the roof. In particular a snow-slide protection can even be mounted on a profiled metal plate roof in such a way that a slide-preventing rail can be adjusted so far down in height that it will be positioned in level with or even below the profile groves. This effectively prevents ice from leaving the roof in these groves with great speed and injure people or property below the roof.

In particular it is preferred that the profile body has a U-shaped profile and that the web of the U-profile in use is directed against the roof and against the equipment detail to be fastened, respectively. Through adapting the profile dimensions and/or material thicknesses and/or material properties of the deformation portion, control of the deformation when the bracket is loaded can be obtained.

Thus, depending on field of use and closeness between brackets that are used for fastening an equipment detail, the height, width and plate metal thickness and material, respectively, of the profile can be chosen in order to achieve desired deformation properties.

Particularly preferred is that the deformation portion has varying curves running along its extension, wherein the deformation can be controlled in an advantageous manner so that an initial deformation is achieved in respect of relatively low load and that the loading process is directed to different parts of the extension of the deformation portion during the progress of deformation thereof. In particular it is preferred that the curved extension includes two inward facing bends and an outward facing bend which gives the possibility of optimising the resulting lever, which acts on the deformation portion during the deformation process. This construction gives a particularly good utilisation of the properties of the material and makes possible a lengthy and tenacious, extended deformation process, which makes it possible to control the load under the entire loading process.

By providing the deformation portion with cut-outs and, particularly preferred, with one or several holes in the profile web of the deformation portion, the deformation control can be further optimised. Preferably said holes in the profile web coincides with the lowest point of the bracket, when it is mounted on the roof, which in a U-profile results in that rain-water being present on the bracket has the possibility to pour away and that thereby the problem with rust etc. is minimised.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will now be described by way of embodiments and with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figs Ia and b shows different perspective views of a fastening bracket according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 shows a system for snow-slide protection including two fastening brackets and a snow-slide protection profile.

Description of embodiment

In figs Ia and Ib reference numeral 1 indicates a fastening bracket having a mounting portion 2 for engagement with a roof in such a way that it is intended to be screw-fastened over a number of fastening holes 7. The fastening bracket 1 can be mounted on different types of trapeze-profiled and curve- profiled, such as sine-profiled and pan tile-profiled, metal plate roof, and covered metal plate roofs, paper or sheet covered roofs. The mounting of the brackets is carried out with plate screws directly in a roof plate or in the roof substrate, for example with a screw and nut etc. It could also be fastened otherwise, for example with previously mounted fastening elements. The fastening bracket further comprises an attachment portion 3 for co-operation with a roof equipment element such as a snow-slide protection profile. It is, however, not excluded that the fastening bracket according to the invention is used for holding other kinds of roof equipment.

Between the mounting portion 2 and the attachment portion 3 extends a deformation portion 4, which in the shown, preferred embodiment has a curved extension with varying curvature along its extension. Thus, the deformation portion 4 comprises two inwardly directed bends 9 and 10 as seen in relation to the smallest angle that the mounting portion and the attachment portion form with each other. Between these inwardly directed bends 9 and 10 is positioned an outwardly- directed bend 11. This arrangement with varying curve extension contributes to an extended deformation process during possible excessive load of the fastening bracket 1. The progress of the force reception of the fastening bracket 1 is controlled, as is indicated above, by how the curvature extends in the deformation portion 4. Besides, according to the invention, it is made possible to optimise force reception through the profile dimensions and/or the material thickness of the fastening bracket. Further, the properties of the used material, popular its ductility, hardness, is adapted for controlling the deformation of the fastening bracket.

Further, in order to optimise the properties of the fastening bracket 1, different parts of the deformation portion can comprise one or more cut-outs along its extension, whereby thus the deformation portion 4 is given other properties than what is inherent in the mounting portion 2 and the attachment portion 3, respectively. These two last mentioned portions can be complete profile bodies whereas the deformation portion 4, by providing deformation controlling holes 12 on the entire or part of its extension, optimises the force equalizing properties of the deformation portion. In Fig. 2 there are shown two fastening brackets 1 in cooperation with a snow-slide protection profile 14 for forming a snow-slide protection system. It should be noted that Fig. 2 shows a part of such a system, which in practice can extend over very long distances and have even more fastening brackets 1 distributed along its length. The snow-slide protection profile 14 is fastened to the fastening bracket 1 by means of fastening screws 13 which engage in engagement holes 19 distributed in height as well as sideways, on a central portion 17 of the snow-slide profile 14. This central portion 17 also comprises cut-outs 18 forming weakenings for the snow- slide protection profile so that it can form part of a unit that when loaded deforms and equalizes force together with a plurality of fastening brackets 1. Further, the snow-slide protection profile 14 comprises a side portion 15 at one side of said central portion 17 and a side portion 16 at the other side thereof. These are in the shown embodiment comprised of plate portions that are abruptly bent upwards and softly, rounded bent back so that the respective side portion 15, 16 has at least partly an essentially circular cylindrical section. This construction results in that these side portions form seats for rotational snow stoppers that can be attached to the snow-slide protection profile. On the side portions 15 and 16 are further distributed fastening holes 20, which can be used for fastening other equipment details. Through the rounded shape of the side portions 15 and 16 and the shape of the weakening cut-outs 18 with inwardly collared edges, are achieved evenly rounded attachment positions for a safety line for a roof worker.

The invention can be modified within the scope of the following claims . The fastening bracket can thus be constructed with different profile and different dimensions from what is shown on the figures. The curvature can also have another extension, for example so that the inward bending is replaced with a linear portion. It is not excluded that it is an evenly extending long curve, preferably with relatively large radius. In order to give a possibility to conceive the dimensions that can be present, it could be mentioned that the bracket shown on the figures has a largest length of, only as an example, 35-55 cm.

As alternatives to the cut-out 12, the heights of the shanks at the deformation portion can be reduced over some part in respect of what is present for other parts of the fastening bracket. Another profile shape than U-shape can exist for the bracket, for example L- or T-shape even if a U- shape is highly preferred. The snow-slide protection profile can of course be constructed otherwise and for example be higher or lower. In the shown embodiment, the snow-slide protection profile 14 is, however, measured in its dimension that it can be positioned with its lower side portion 16 below the mounting level for the fastening brackets 1. This results in that it can be mounted below a roof plate cover, under the lower profile level. Ice pieces are thereby prevented from sliding from the profile grooves of the roof passed the snow-slide protection and damage people and equipment below the roof.

Claims

1. Fastening bracket (1) for fastening an equipment detail to a roof including a mounting portion (2) for fastening to the roof, an attachment portion (3) for co-operation with the equipment detail and a deformation portion (4) for receiving, under deformation, loading forces above a certain level, characterised in that the mounting portion (2) as well as both the attachment portion (3) and the deformation portion (4) is included in one and the same elongated profile body, with the attachment portion (3) in use standing up forming an angle with the mounting portion (2) and the deformation portion (4) between these parts has a curved extension.

2. Bracket according to claim 1, characterised in that the profile body has a ϋ-shaped profile as seen in a transversal section.

3. Bracket according to claim 2, characterised in that the web (5) of the U-profile is directed outwardly as seen in relation to a smallest angle between the general extensions of the attachment portion (3) and the mounting portion (2) .

4. Bracket according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the deformation portion (4) has a varying curve extension along its length.

5. Bracket according to claim 4, characterised in that the curved extension includes two inward bends (9,10) and an outward bend (11) as seen in relation to a smallest angle between the general extension of the attachment portion (3) and the mounting portion (2) .

6. Bracket according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the angle between a general part of the attachment portion (3) and a general part of the mounting portion (2) is between about 75° and 100°.

7. Bracket according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one of the attachment portion (3) and the mounting portion (2) has linear extension.

8. Bracket according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it is produced from a plate metal material .

9. Bracket according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the deformation portion (4) has at least one deformation controlling cut-out (12) .

10. Bracket according to claim 9, characterised in that said cut-out is a hole (12) in the profile web of the deformation portion.

11. Bracket according to claim 9, characterised in that said cut-out is a height reduction of a part of one of the profile shanks (6) of the deformation portion (4) .

12. Bracket according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the profile dimensions and/or the material thicknesses and/or the material properties of the deformation portion are adapted for deformation control at loading of the bracket.

13. System for snow-slide protection including a plurality of brackets (1) according to any of the claims 1-12, and an elongated profile (14) to be supported by the brackets.

14. System according to claim 13, characterised in that the snow-slide protection profile has, as seen in cross section, side portions (15,16) and a central portion (17) with engagement holes (19) , by which it is fastened to the brackets

(D -

15. System according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the snow-slide protection profile (14) has along its length distributed weakening cut-outs (18) and comprises a load receiving element at deformation.