US3074676A - Clip for installing heating element - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1963 L. M. WATSON 3,074,676

cup FOR INSTALLING HEATING ELEMENT Filed Oct. 3, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 1 F l G 2 INVENTOR.

LEE N. WATSON ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 M. WATSON 3,074,676

' CLIP FOR INSTALLING HEATING ELEMENT Filed on. :5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LEE M. WATSON ATTORNEY" Jan; 22, 1963 Filed Oct. 3, 1960 M. WATSON 3,074,676

CLIP FOR INSTALLING HEATING ELEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. l2

INVHVTOR.

LEE M. WATSON ATTORNEY 3,074,676 CLIP FUR INSiTALLING HEATING ELEMENT Lee M. Watson, Lakeville, Ind., assignor to Easy-Heat, Inc, New (Iariisle, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 60,040 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-71) The present invention relates to clips and more particularly to clips for installing heating elements on and along the edge of roots and along building eaves and eaves troughs.

In the past various types of heating devices have been used to prevent the accumulation of ice and snow in and over eaves troughs and on the adjacent part of the roof, to minimize the damage to these structures by the excessive weight and contraction and expansion of the ice and snow over an extended period of time during the winter months. This condition is particularly serious in areas of the country in which the snowfall is heavy and accompanied by partial thawing and freezing. The devices used in the past have been primarily limited to the eaves troughs and to the immediate surrounding areas and consequently have not resulted in complete elimination of the snow and ice causing the damage to the troughs and the adjacent building structures. Attempts have been made to string heating wire along the lower portion of the roof, but difliculty has been encountered in retaining the wire in place against the movement of the snow and ice downwardly toward the edge of the roof and/or in avoiding damage to the roof by the fixtures, nails or the like employed to secure the wire in place. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a clip or fixture which can be readily installed on a roof at any desired location without creating leaks or points of potential leaks and which will retain the wire firmly in place against the action of the snow and ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip of the aforesaid type which can easily be secured to the roof without the use of any special tools and with unskilled labor, and which remains permanently in place without causing any consequential damage to the roof, either during the securing operation or during the life of the installation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a versatile clip or fixture for retaining heating wire and the like in place on a shingle roof, which can be placed in a number of different positions, either parallel or transverse with the position of the shingles, and which permits the wire to be laid in any desired arrangement on the roof, in and over the eaves trough and in channels and gutters, without the use of nails, staples or other separate securing or fastening means.

A further object is to provide a clip or fixture of the aforesaid type which can be easily fabricated from strip or sheet metal such as steel, aluminum or copper, and which after installation firmly and permanently grips or holds the heating wire.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a house showing two sides and the roof thereof, and my heating element installed along the lower edge of the roof;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the roof shown in FIGURE 1, showing one of the present clips installed thereon and supporting a section of heating wire;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the roof portion shown in FIGURE 2 taken on line 33 3,074,676 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 ine it of the latter figure, showing the manner in which the present clip is installed on the roof;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the pres ent clip;

FI rURE 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a clip of standard size showing the manner in which the heating Wire is held firmly by the clip;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a strip of metal stock from which the present clip is stamped, showing in broken lines the points at which the strip is severed in producing a series of clips;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a blank severed from the strip shown in FIGURE 8 before the blank is formed into the finished clip;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of the present clip;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is an end elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURES 10 and 11.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 20 designates a building structure having side walls 22 and 24, roof 2 6, and eaves trough 28 secured to the cave 30 of roof 26 by any suitable means (not shown), and numeral 32 designates a heating wire arranged in a zig-zag configuration along the edge of the roof and above the eaves trough and secured in place by a plurality of the clips 34 forming the subject matter of the present invention. The roof consists of sheeting 36 of suitable continuous mate rial and shingles 38, the shingles being constructed of composition material, such as layers of fibrous sheets treated and secured together in a laminated structure by asphalt or other suitable material, and being sufiiciently flexible and tenacious to permit puncturing without splitting, cracking or tearing at any place except at the point where the perforations are made. The shingles are laid in the conventional manner, each successively higher row of shingles overlapping the one immediately below approximately to the extent shown in FIGURE 3. This type of roof is extensively used. in homes and small building construction, and the shingles which may be of the interlocking type are manufactured by a number of well known firms.

The heating element 32 shown in the drawing may be of a single or multiple insulated wire construction connected at one end by a cold lead (not shown) to an electrical supply circuit and may be controlled by a thermostat, either incorporated in the element on the roof or in a separate control box located in such a place that it will be responsive to atmospheric temperatures. The Wire is electrically insulated and preferably coated with a water and weather proof and abrasive-resistant plastic material of well known composition.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 2 through 7 consists of a body portion 40 of flat metal strip material with longitudinal edges 41 and 41', a sharply pointed spur 42 at one end and a similar sharply pointed spur 44 at an intermediate point along portion 40, the two spurs preferably formed integrally with portion 40 and being sufiiciently pointed to readily penetrate and perforate the shingle structure when the clip is being installed. The two spurs 42 and 44 are triangular in shape with a base portion joined to body portion 40 and being transversely positioned at right angles with respect to longitudinal edges 41 and 41 of the body portion. The end of portion 40 opposite spur 42 contains a hook-like member 46 formed integrally with portion 40 and having a base 48 and two prongs 50 and 52 extending laterally at a slight angle throughout their length and being adapted to bend inwardly toward portion 40 after the heating element wire has been placed between th: prongs and the adjacent part of portion 40 and against base 48. Since the heating element Wire in most installations is bent away from the clip in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7, base 5% is preferably curved at a substantial are from one side to the other to eliminate any possibility of the wire insulation or coating being cut or torn by the edges of the base. The angular position of prongs 5t and 52 facilitates anchoring or gripping of the wire by the prongs when they are bent inwardly after the wire has been inserted in place against base 4-8, as well as preventing any appreciable distortion of the base and portion 40 during the bending operation. While two spurs are shown in the embodiment just described, only one, either spur 42 or 44, or three or more may be employed if desired or necessary to meet any particular installation requirements. The clips are usually made of metal; however, they may be made of plastic or other suitable material.

One of the advantages of the present clip is the ease with which it can be fabricated, as is illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 wherein it is seen that the entire clip blank 60 is stamped in a single operation from a long strip 62 of metal, such as steel, aluminum or copper, with prongs St) and 52 being formed by the removal of spur 42 of the adjacent blank from therebetween. Spur 44 is stamped directly from body portion 4%? and bent laterally at the point of juncture 64, and spur 42 is bent laterally at the point of juncture 66 at the upper end of portion 40. The two spurs may be bent to their laterally extending position at the time blank 60 is stamped from strip 62, Whereas the hook member would normally be formed in a separate operation in which the curvature is stamped into the base and prongs Stl and 52 bent laterally to the angular position clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 5. If desired, the finished clip may be plated or coated with a suitable protective film such as neoprene.

In using the present clip, portion 4! with the spurs extending at right angles thereto is slipped beneath the lower half of a shingle overlying the upper half of the shingle immediately below, and is preferably so positioned with respect to the lower edge of the upper shingle that the part of portion 40 directly beneath prongs Sit and 52 is fully exposed. With the clip in this position, the upper shingle is pressed firmly downwardly onto spurs 42 and 44, causing the spurs to puncture the shingle and in most instances extend completely therethrough. The ends of the spurs projecting through the shingle are bent downwardly, i.e. toward hook member 46, clinching the spurs and retaining the clip firmly in place on the roof. The heating element wire is then placed within the hook member against base 48 and one or both of the two prongs are bent inwardly and downwardly over the wire to clamp it securely in place in the clip. It is seen that while spurs 42 and 44 may puncture the upper shingle, no leak condition is created in that the upper half of the shingle below extends well above the upper end of the clip so that any water which might drip through the perforations in the upper shingle will drain again onto the exposed surfaces of the shingles. One method of laying the heating wire is illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the wire is shown in a zig-zag arrangement along the edge of the roof extending into the eaves trough. This arrangement prevents clogging of the trough with snow and ice and the accumulation on the caves of sufi'icient snow to cause damage to the trough and adjacent structure.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12 is similar to the one previously described, consisting of a body portion 70 of flat metal strip material, end and intermediate spurs i2 and 74, respectively, and hook-like member 76. 1e principal difference between the present embodiment and the one described is the shape of the hook member which in the modified form is a single member rather than bifurcated, and does not extend laterally beyond the plane of the two edges of portion 70. Member 76 consists of an arcuate base 78 to which is attached a tongue 88 extending parallel with portion 7%) and being straight across the free end. This embodiment of the present clip is secured to the shingles in the same manner as the first embodiment described herein, with spurs '72 and 7d extending upwardly through the lower half of a particular shingle and with the hook member 76 fully exposed beneath the lower edge of the shingle. The heating element Wire is placed in the hook member with the Wire against the arcuate surface of base 73 and tongue $6 is bent downwardly, clamping or retaining the wire in place in member 76.

While the drawings have been principally directed to the use of the present clip in the vertical direction with the hook member extending beneath the lower edge of the shingle to which the clip is secured, the clip can be placed in other positions such as horizontally or at some angle between vertical and horizontal with the clip from the side of the shingle or from the lower edge perpendicular to the angular sections of heating wire as shown at numerals 82 and 84 in FIGURE 1.

While only two embodiments o fthe clip have been described in detail herein, various other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A clip for attaching a heating element wire to shingle roofs and similar structures, comprising a sheet metal elongated body having opposite broad sides and longitudinal edges, a triangularly-shaped sharp-pointed spur having a base portion integrally attached to one end of said body and projecting laterally from one of said broad sides, a hook-like member at the other end of said body, said member consisting of an arcuate base integrally joined to said body and projecting laterally in the same direction as said spur and two angularly and laterally extending prongs joined to said base and overlying said body, and a triangularly-shaped sharppointed spur having a base portion integrally attached to said body and disposed between and spaced longitudinally along said body from said first mentioned spur and hook member and projecting laterally from said body in the same direction as said first mentioned spur, said base portions of the triangularly-shaped spurs being transversely positioned at right angles with respect to said longitudinal edges of the elongated body.

2. A clip for attaching a heating element wire to shingle roofs and similar structures, comprising an elongated body having opposite broad sides and longitudinal edges, a triangularly-shaped sharp-pointed spur having a base portion secured to said body and projecting laterally from one of said broad sides, a hook-like member with an arcuate bottom portion at one end of said body, said member consisting of a base integrally joined to said body and projecting laterally in the same direction as said spur and two angularly and laterally extending prongs joined to said base and overlying said body, and a triangularly-shaped sharp-pointed spur having a base portion secured to said body and disposed between and spaced longitudinally along said body from said first mentioned spur and hook member and projecting laterally from said body in the same direction as said first mentioned spur, said base portions of the triangularly-shaped spurs being transversely positioned at right angles with respect to said longitudinal edges of the elognated body.

3. A clip for attaching a heating element wire to shingle roofs and similar structures, comprising an elongated body having opposite broad sides and longitudinal edges, a triangularly-shaped sharp-pointed spur having a base portion secured to said body and projecting laterally therefrom, an arcuate shaped hook-like member at one end of said body, and a triangularly-shaped sharppointed spur having a base portion secured to said body and disposed between and spaced longitudinally along said body from said first mentioned spur and hook member and projecting laterally from said body in the same direction as said first mentioned spur, said base portions of the triangularly-shaped spurs being transversely positioned at right angles with respect to said longitudinal edges of the elongated body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,498,947 Bewan June 24, 1924 2,672,314 Mitchell Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,729 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1911

Claims (1)

1. A CLIP FOR ATTACHING A HEATING ELEMENT WIRE TO SHINGLE ROOFS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES, COMPRISING A SHEET METAL ELONGATED BODY HAVING OPPOSITE BROAD SIDES AND LONGITUDINAL EDGES, A TRIANGULARLY-SHAPED SHARP-POINTED SPUR HAVING A BASE PORTION INTEGRALLY ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID BODY AND PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM ONE OF SAID BROAD SIDES, A HOOK-LIKE MEMBER AT THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY, SAID MEMBER CONSISTING OF AN ARCUATE BASE INTEGRALLY JOINED TO SAID BODY AND PROJECTING LATERALLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID SPUR AND TWO ANGULARLY AND LATERALLY EXTENDING PRONGS JOINED TO SAID BASE AND OVERLYING SAID BODY, AND A TRIANGULARLY-SHAPED SHARP-

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