Support structures and methods of mounting loads on roofs

Abstract

The invention provides a system for installing a roof penetrating structure to a metal roof, the system comprising: a) a rail and closure structure adapted to be supported by adjacent rib elevations of said roof; b) a skylight adapted to be supported on the rail and closure structure; and c) a support member for sealing a cut away portion of the rib structure to divert water away from the rail and closure structure.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A metal roof, such metal roof comprising
 (a) a plurality of metal roof panels, arranged side by side, edges of adjacent such roof panels meeting each other to define elevated roof panel ribs, panel flats being disposed between such elevated roof panel ribs, each such elevated roof panel rib extending in a first direction and comprising a rib shoulder, and a standing seam extending up from such rib shoulder; and   (b) a load support structure supported by ones of said elevated roof panel ribs, and comprising first and second rails mounted to first and second ones of said elevated roof panel ribs at respective said first and second rib shoulders, and extending upwardly from said first and second rib shoulders and above the respective said first and second standing seams.   
     
     
         27 . A metal roof as in  claim 26 , further comprising a diversion slot extending across one of said elevated roof panel ribs adjacent said panel flat at, and extending away from, an end of said load support structure, and at an elevation of the respective panel flat. 
     
     
         28 . A metal roof as in  claim 26 , further comprising an upper diverter extending across the respective said panel flat from said first rail to said second rail and closing off said load support structure above the respective said panel flat, between the respective said elevated roof panel ribs, and extending from said panel flat upwardly to an upper opening in said load support structure. 
     
     
         29 . A metal roof as in  claim 28 , said upper diverter comprising an upstanding end panel, a lower flange, and a diversion surface between said upstanding end panel and said lower flange, said diversion surface having an upper edge and a lower edge, and a relatively greater width, between the upper and lower edges, on a first side of said load support structure, graduated to a relatively lesser width on a second opposing side of said load support structure. 
     
     
         30 . A metal roof as in  claim 29 , further comprising a diversion slot through, and extending across, a said elevated roof panel rib adjacent a respective said panel flat, said upper diverter extending through the diversion slot, thereby directing water laterally away from the upper end of said load support structure and onto the adjacent said roof panel. 
     
     
         31 . A load support structure defining an upstanding enclosing wall extending about an aperture, which aperture extends through a roof of a building, such enclosing wall closing off access to such aperture from any side of such aperture, said load support structure comprising first and second side rails,
 such roof comprising a plurality of elongate metal roof panels which collectively define a plurality of elongate upstanding elevated roof panel ribs, edges of adjacent such roof panels meeting to define first and second ones of said elevated roof panel ribs, a single panel flat extending from the first said elevated roof panel rib to the second said elevated roof panel rib, full lengths of said first and second side rails being mounted on adjacent said first and second elevated roof panel ribs on opposing sides of such single panel flat such that the full lengths of said first and second side rails are being supported by said elevated first and second ribs.   
     
     
         32 . A metal panel roofing system, comprising:
 roofing panels, arranged in side-by-side relationship to each other and thereby forming rib elevations extending in first and second directions, and panel flats between said rib elevations,   a roof penetration in at least one such panel flat, between first and second ones of said rib elevations, which first and second rib elevations are proximate the roof penetration,   side rails, having lengths extending in the directions of respective ones of said rib elevations, said respective rib elevations supporting said side rails over substantially the entireties of the lengths of said side rails,   a skylight or other structure mounted to said side rails and extending over the roof penetration,   each said side rail having an upstanding riser, a respective said upstanding riser extending upwardly from a respective said rib elevation over the full length of the respective said side rail.   
     
     
         33 . A metal panel roof system as in  claim 32  wherein a said side rail includes an upstanding riser, said upstanding riser having a top end and a bottom end, and wherein a bottom shoulder structure extends from the bottom end of said upstanding riser. 
     
     
         34 . A metal panel roof system as in  claim 33  wherein an upper flange extends laterally from the top end of said upstanding riser. 
     
     
         35 . A metal panel roof system as in  claim 32 , said side rails being mounted to, and extending alongside, respective said rib elevations which extend alongside such roof penetration. 
     
     
         36 . A metal panel roof system as in  claim 35  wherein such roof penetration is confined to a single roof panel. 
     
     
         37 . A rail mounting system for mounting a load on a metal panel roof having panel flats, and rib elevations extending upwardly from such panel flats, said rail mounting system comprising first and second side rails, said first side rail having a length, and comprising:
 an elongate upstanding riser; and   (b) a bottom shoulder extending from said upstanding riser, said bottom shoulder comprising
 (i) a first shoulder element attached directly to said upstanding riser, said first shoulder element extending along the length of said first side rail, and laterally away from said upstanding riser, said first shoulder element having a first surface facing in a first direction having a downwardly-directed component, and 
 (ii) a second shoulder element attached directly to said first shoulder element, said second shoulder element extending in a second direction, different from the first direction; 
   said rail mounting system further comprising upper and lower end elements connected to said first side rail and extending across and above a respective said panel flat, and being connected to said second side rail.   
     
     
         38 . A rail mounting system as in  claim 37  wherein said first shoulder element extends, from said upstanding riser, at a generally perpendicular angle with said upstanding riser. 
     
     
         39 . A rail mounting system as in  claim 37  wherein said upstanding riser has a top and a bottom and wherein an upper flange extends laterally from the top of said upstanding riser. 
     
     
         40 . A rail mounting system as in  claim 37 , said rail mounting system further comprising upper and lower end closures extending upwardly from the panel flat and connecting to first and second next adjacent ones of said side rails. 
     
     
         41 . A rail mounting system as in  claim 40 , said rail mounting system enclosing an area of a roof and being adapted to support an overlying load mounted on said rail mounting system while closing off access to the area underneath such load. 
     
     
         42 . A method of mounting a load to a metal panel roof of a building, the method comprising mounting a load support structure to such metal panel roof at a target location on such metal panel roof, and mounting an overlying load to the load support structure, the metal panel roof defining upstanding elevated roof panel ribs at joints defined by edges of adjacent respective metal roof panels, and panel flats being disposed between the upstanding ribs, the method comprising:
 (a) mounting first and second side rails to adjacent first and second ones of the upstanding ribs, and at the target roof location, a single panel flat extending from the first such upstanding rib to the second such upstanding rib; and   (b) mounting an overlying load to the first and second side rails and over the target location.   
     
     
         43 . A method as in  claim 42 , further comprising mounting an upper diverter to the first and second side rails at up-slope ends of the side rails. 
     
     
         44 . A method as in  claim 43 , further comprising mounting a lower closure to the first and second side rails at down-slope ends of the side rails, thus defining a such load support structure comprising the first and second side rails, the upper diverter, and the lower closure. 
     
     
         45 . A method as in  claim 44 , the load support structure extending about such target roof location and closing off routine access to the target roof location from any side of such target roof location, including the side rails closing off access to the target roof location from locations adjacent the respective elevated roof panel ribs. 
     
     
         46 . A method as in  claim 45 , the method further comprising mounting the upper diverter between the first and second side rails, across the single panel flat and thereby closing off access to the target location from lateral directions at the up-slope end of the target location. 
     
     
         47 . A method as in  claim 46 , the method further comprising mounting the overlying load to the load support structure such that the load, in combination with the overlying load closes off the target roof location from routine access from above the roof.