GB2332219A

GB2332219A - A roof attachment for a snowboard or similar structure

Info

Publication number: GB2332219A
Application number: GB9823958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Allen
Original assignee: ROOF EDGE FABRICATIONS Ltd
Current assignee: ROOF EDGE FABRICATIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1997-12-11
Filing date: 1998-11-03
Publication date: 1999-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-03
Also published as: GB9726210D0; GB9823958D0; GB2332219B

Abstract

A device (1) to enable a snowboard or similar structure to be attached to a sloping roof (2) comprises, a clamp (3) which surrounds and is clamped to a beam (4) of the roof structure, a support shaft (9) attached to the clamp and passing through an aperture (13) in the roof covering to extend externally of the roof, and a substantially flat surface (5a,5b) at the external end of the support shaft (9) for supporting the snowboard or like structure.

Description

2332219 1 1 2 3 4 Fixinq Device This invention relates to a fixing device

and more specifically to a device for fixing a snowboard or the like to a roof.

6 7 8 9 10 Snowboards are mounted on a roof, particularly a sloping roof, to prevent collected snow from sliding off the roof under gravity and causing disruption or injury.

12 13 14 Conventionally, snowboards may be fixed to a roof using standard nut and bolt arrangements which attach to the upper surface of the roof, for example to the roof tiles. Such fixings are weak, however, and the snowboards and fixings can easily become detached from the roof under the weight of collected snow and may then also slide off the roof. It would be desirable to have a fixing device for fixing and supporting a snowboard which can be simply but securely attached to an inclined portion of a roof.

is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for fixing a snowboard or 2 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 the like to a sloping roof having a plurality of beams and protected by an external roof covering, the device comprising clamp means adapted for fitment in use to a beam and support means connected in use to the clamp means and extending in use from the clamp means through an aperture provided in the roof covering, such that in use an end of the support means external of the roof covering has a substantially flat surface for supporting the snowboard.

Preferably the flat surface of the support means is provided with means for anchoring the snowboard to the device.

Preferably the support means is adjustably connected to the clamp means. For example, the support means may have a shaft at one end which passes through an aperture provided in the clamp means.

Preferably the clamp means includes at least two components co-operating generally, in use, to surround and be clamped to the beam. The components may each be generally "LII-shaped in cross section. In a typical embodiment, the two 11L11-shaped components are interconnected by way of a threaded shaft passing through them and being screwed into a lock nut for tightening the clamp means, so that once tightened the support means is in the desired location with respect to the roof. In this way, the height of the flat surface for supporting the snowboard may easily be adjusted to accommodate a range of thicknesses of roof coverings.

Preferably the two components of the clamp means overlap and are attached to each other by a tightenable nut and bolt arrangement.

3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Preferably in use the aperture in the covering through which the support means passes is sealed to render it substantially leak-free.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a support system comprising a plurality of devices in accordance with the first aspect of the invention being distributed across the surface of a roof.

Although the device of the invention is particularly suitable for fixing or supporting a snowboard on a roof, it may also be used for fixing other plank-like members, such as guard rails, components of a set of steps, and the like to a root.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, entitled Fig 1, which is a front view in part-section of a device according to the present invention attached to a roof.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a device for supporting a snowboard on a sloping roof 2 to help prevent collected snow from sliding off of the roof 2. The device may be located on any part of the roof 2 where it is desirable to have a snowboard.

The device comprises clamp means 3, which is shown attached to an underlying beam 4 of the roof 2, and support means 5 connected to the clamp means 3.

The clamp means 3 in this embodiment is in the form of a two piece bracket which consists of first and second 11L11-shaped components 6, 7 which surround the beam 4 as shown. Slots (not shown) are provided in the first 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 component 6 to accommodate a nut and bolt arrangement 8 for adjustably attaching the two components 6, 7 together.

The support means 5 includes a shaft 9 which is provided with a screw thread 10 at its lower end as viewed in Fig 1. The other end of the shaft 9 has two flat plates 5a and 5b welded thereto. The plates 5a and 5b are mounted onto the shaft 9 so as to present a substantially flat surface for attachment of the snowboard to the device 1. To facilitate attachment of the snowboard, holes 12 are provided in each of the plates 5a and 5b. In use, screws pass through these holes and into the snowboard, thereby securing it to the roof 2.

The support means 5 is connected to the clamp means 3 by passage of the threaded end of the shaft 9 through, firstly, an aperture 13 in a covering 14 provided on the roof 2 (such as tiles or sarking), then through apertures 15, 16 provided in the first and second components 6, 7 of the clamp means respectively. If required, a bush (not shown) is provided on the shaft above the aperture 15 in the first component 6. The bush may be of any length, depending on the thickness of the roof covering 14. The shaft 9 is tightened and held in position connected to the clamp means 3 by a lock nut 22. Further nuts 18, 19 are also provided to secure the shaft 9 in position. A ferrule 20 spaces the top nut 18 from the surface of the first component 6. When the support means 5 is in position, the flat surface having the plates 5a and 5b thereon protrudes from the top surface of the roof 2 at a convenient angle to the incline of the roof 2 for positioning the snowboard.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 In order to attach the device 1 to the roof 2, the two components 6, 7 are slipped into position around the beam 4 and the nut and bolt arrangement 8 is tightened to secure the components 6, 7 in place. An aperture 13 is drilled in the roof covering 14 in line with the apertures 15, 16 in the components 6, 7 and the shaft 9 is inserted. The shaft 9 interconnects with the bush 17, the first component 6, the ferrule 20, the nuts 18, 19, the second component 7, and finally the lock nut 22. The nuts 18, 19, 22 are subsequently tightened to ensure a secure anchor for the snowboard.

Any gaps in the roof covering 14 after insertion and tightening of the device 1 are then sealed, either by injecting a sealant into aperture 15 around the shaft 9, or by providing a long life rubber weather seal 30 around the shaft 9 at aperture 15. Typically the device 1 is made substantially from steel or other hard wearing materials.

The device described has the advantage of being simple to attach to a roof, can be located in a number of different positions, and importantly the device provides a strong support bracket for secure attachment of a snowboard to the roof.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention.

6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Claims

1. A device for fixing a snowboard or the like to a sloping roof having a plurality of beams and protected by an external roof covering, the device comprising clamp means adapted for fitment in use to a beam and support means connected in use to the clamp means and extending in use from the clamp means through an aperture provided in the roof covering, such that in use an end of the support means external of the roof covering has a substantially flat surface for supporting the snowboard.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the flat surface of the support means is provided with means for anchoring the snowboard to the device.

3. A device as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the support means is adjustably connected to the clamp means.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support means has a shaft at one end which passes through an aperture provided in the clamp means.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clamp means includes at least two components co-operating generally, in use, to surround and be clamped to the beam.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the components are generally Lshaped in cross section.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the L-shaped components are interconnected by way of a threaded shaft passing through the components, the 7 1 2 3 4 threaded shaft being screwed into a lock nut for tightening the clamp means.

8. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the components of the clamp means overlap and are attached by a tightenable nut and bolt arrangement.

6 7 8 9 10

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the aperture in the covering through which the support means passes is sealed to render it substantially leak-free.

12 13 14

10. A support system comprising a plurality of device in accordance with any preceding claim the devices being distributed across the surface of a roof.