Roof mounting bracket

Abstract

A roof mounting bracket is disclosed which creates a deformation in a roof panel seam using opposing set points. In a preferred embodiment, a generally U-shaped bracket includes two or more threaded fasteners in a first arm of the bracket and one or more opposing threaded fasteners in the second arm. Void in bracket is placed over the panel seam, with the first arm on a first side of the seam and the second arm on the opposite side of the seam. First screws inserted into the fasteners in first arm pass through the first arm and the first screw heads contact the first side of the seam, slightly engaging the seam and creating first deformations in the seam as the set screws are tightened. Second screws inserted into the fasteners in the second arm pass through the second arm and the second screw heads contact the second side of the seam in the spaces between the first deformations on the opposite side of the seam, engaging the seam and creating second deformations in the seam as the second screws are tightened. The opposing contact points create a “wave” deformation in the seam, securing the bracket to the seam. The opposing set points of the present invention allow secure attachment of the bracket to the seam without having to “dimple” or dent the panel seam using a single set screw, requiring less force by the user. Bracket can include varying numbers of opposing fasteners in first and second arms for varying numbers of opposing set points. In an alternative embodiment, bracket can further comprise divots into which first deformations are recesses to create a deeper “wave” the seam for stronger attachment to seam.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roof mounting bracket for securing accessories to seamed panel roof systems, the roof mounting bracket being mounted on a roof panel seam having a generally planar first side and a generally planar second side opposite and parallel to the first side prior to attachment of the roof mounting bracket, in a manner that creates a generally wave-shaped distortion of the roof panel seam with parallel first and second sides of the wave-shaped distortion, the roof mounting bracket comprising:
 a first member, the first member having threadably coupled thereto two or more first projections disposed on a first side of the roof panel seam, each of the first projections having a head, wherein the two or more first projections define a space between each of the two or more first projections;   a second member disposed opposite the first member on an opposite side of the roof panel seam, the second member having threadably coupled thereto one or more second projections, each of the second projections having a head, wherein the one or more second projections are positioned opposite the space defined between the two or more first projections;   wherein the two or more first projections are movable relative to the first member to engage the first side of the roof panel seam to create two or more first deformations in the roof panel seam; and,   wherein the one or more second projections are movable relative to the second member to engage the second side of the roof panel seam to create one or more second deformations in the roof panel seam in the spaces defined between the two or more first deformations, thereby creating the generally wave-shaped distortion of the roof panel seam such that the first and second sides of the roof panel seam remain generally parallel.   
     
     
         2 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the roof panel seam comprises a first wall and the second side of the roof panel seam comprises a second wall, the first and second walls are directly adjacent one another. 
     
     
         3 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 1  further comprising a third member connecting the first and second members. 
     
     
         4 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the heads of the first and second projections are ellipsoid shaped. 
     
     
         5 . A roof mounting bracket for securing accessories to seamed panel roof systems, the roof mounting bracket being mounted on a roof panel seam having a generally planar first side and a generally planar second side opposite and parallel to the first side prior to attachment of the roof mounting bracket, in a manner that creates a generally wave-shaped distortion of the roof panel seam with parallel first and second sides of the wave shaped distortion, the roof mounting bracket comprising:
 a first member, the first member having threadably coupled thereto two first projections disposed on a first side of the roof panel seam, each of the first projections having a head, wherein the two first projections define a space between therebetween;   a second member disposed opposite the first member on an opposite side of the roof panel seam, the second member having threadably coupled thereto a second projection, the second projection having a head, wherein the second projection is positioned opposite the space defined between the two first projections;   wherein the first projections are movable relative to the first member such that the head of the first projections engage the first side of the roof panel seam to create two first deformations in the roof panel seam; and,   wherein the second projection is movable relative to the second member to engage the second side of the roof panel seam to create a second deformation in the roof panel seam in the space defined between the two first deformations, thereby creating the generally wave-shaped distortion of the roof panel seam such that the first and second sides of the roof panel seam remain generally parallel.   
     
     
         6 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 5  further comprising a third member connecting the first and second members. 
     
     
         7 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the roof mounting bracket is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the heads of the first and second projections are ellipsoid shaped. 
     
     
         9 . A roof mounting bracket for securing accessories to seamed panel roof systems, the roof mounting bracket being mounted on a roof panel seam having a generally planar first side and a generally planar second side opposite and parallel to the first side prior to attachment of the roof mounting bracket, in a manner that creates a generally wave-shaped distortion of the roof panel seam with parallel first and second sides of the wave-shaped distortion, the roof mounting bracket comprising:
 a first member, the first member having threadably coupled thereto two or more first projections disposed on a first side of the roof panel seam, each of the first projections having a head, wherein the two or more first projections define a space between each of the two or more first projections;   a second member disposed opposite the first member on an opposite side of the roof panel seam, the second member having threadably coupled thereto one or more second projections, each of the second projections having a head, wherein the one or more second projections are positioned opposite the space defined between the two or more first projections;   wherein the two or more first projections are movable relative to the first member to engage the first side of the roof panel seam to create two or more first deformations in both the first and second sides of the roof panel seam; and,   wherein the one or more second projections are movable relative to the second member to engage the second side of the roof panel seam to create one or more second deformations in both the first and second sides of the roof panel seam in the spaces defined between the two or more first deformations, thereby creating the generally wave-shaped distortion of the roof panel seam such that the first and second sides of the roof panel seam remain generally parallel.   
     
     
         10 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 9  further comprising a third member connecting the first and second members. 
     
     
         11 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the roof mounting bracket is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The roof mounting bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the heads of the first and second projections are ellipsoid shaped.