Method and apparatus for coupling structures to roofing

Abstract

An apparatus and method of coupling structures to a roof is made up of a multi-layered roofing assembly having a structure with a first portion disposed between the layers and a second portion disposed outside the layers. The structure may be embodied as a snow guard to help maintain snow on a roof, as a cable holder to help space a cable from a roof surface, or a pocket to hold staging.

1 . A snow guard assembly, comprising: 
 a first membrane having an opening extending from a first surface of the first membrane to a second surface of the first membrane;    a second membrane bonded to the second surface of the first membrane along a perimeter of the first membrane;    a reinforcement member having an opening extending from a first surface of the reinforcement member to a second surface of the reinforcement member, the reinforcement member being disposed between the first membrane and the second membrane; and    a snow guard having a pocket coupled to at least one tab, the pocket disposed adjacent the first surface of the first membrane and the tab disposed adjacent the second surface of the reinforcement member.    
   
   
       2 . The snow guard of  claim 1 , wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are selected from the group consisting of EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and TPO (thermoplastic olefin rubber).  
   
   
       3 . The snow guard of  claim 1 , wherein the bond is watertight.  
   
   
       4 . The snow guard of  claim 1 , wherein the snow guard is selected from the group consisting of copper, galvanized steel, aluminum, and a metal coated with a polymeric cover.  
   
   
       5 . The snow guard of  claim 1 , wherein an edge of the tab is disposed at angle to a horizontal axis, the angle being greater than 15° and less than 75°.  
   
   
       6 . The snow guard of  claim 1 , wherein the edge of the tab is disposed at angle to a horizontal axis, the angle being greater than 30° and less than 60°.  
   
   
       7 . The snow guard of  claim 1 , wherein an edge of the pocket is disposed at angle to a horizontal axis, the angle being greater than 45° and less than 80°.  
   
   
       8 . A cable holder assembly, comprising: 
 a first membrane having an opening extending from a first surface of the first membrane to a second surface of the first membrane;    a second membrane bonded to the second surface of the first membrane along a perimeter of the first membrane;    a reinforcement member having an opening extending from a first surface of the reinforcement member to a second surface of the reinforcement member, the reinforcement member being disposed between the first membrane and the second membrane; and    a cable holder having a foot portion, a spacer portion, a cable holding portion, and a coupling portion, wherein the foot portion is disposed between the second surface of the reinforcement member and the second membrane.    
   
   
       9 . The snow guard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first membrane, the second membrane, the reinforcing member, and the snow guard are made from metal.  
   
   
       10 . The snow guard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first membrane is soldered to the second membrane and the tab is soldered to the second membrane.  
   
   
       11 . The snow guard assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second membrane has one or more perimeter openings extending from a first surface of the second membrane to a second surface of the second membrane for securing the snow guard assembly to a roof surface.  
   
   
       12 . The snow guard of the  claim 8 , wherein a stage coupler fastened to a stage fits within the pocket of the snow guard.  
   
   
       13 . A snow guard assembly, comprising: 
 means for a first membrane having an opening extending from a first surface of the first membrane means to a second surface of the first membrane means;    means for a second membrane bonded to the second surface of the first membrane means along a perimeter of the first membrane means; and    means for holding snow having coupled to at least one means for support, a pocket disposed adjacent the first surface of the first membrane means and the support means disposed adjacent the second surface of the first membrane means.    
   
   
       14 . The snow guard of  claim 13 , wherein the first membrane means and the second membrane means are selected from the group consisting of EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and TPO (thermoplastic olefin rubber).  
   
   
       15 . The snow guard of  claim 13 , wherein the bond is watertight.  
   
   
       16 . The snow guard of  claim 13 , wherein an edge of the support means is disposed at angle to a horizontal axis, the angle being greater than 15° and less than 75°.  
   
   
       17 . The snow guard of  claim 13 , wherein an edge of the pocket is disposed at angle to a horizontal axis, the angle being greater than 45° and less than 80°.  
   
   
       18 . The snow guard assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first membrane means, the second membrane means, and the snow guard means are made from metal.  
   
   
       19 . The snow guard assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first membrane means is soldered to the second membrane means and the support means is soldered to the second membrane means.  
   
   
       20 . The snow guard assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second membrane means has one or more perimeter openings extending from a first surface of the second membrane means to a second surface of the second membrane means for securing the snow guard assembly to a roof surface.  
   
   
       21 . The snow guard of the  claim 13 , wherein means for coupling a means for staging fastened to the staging means fits within the pocket of the snow holding means.  
   
   
       22 . A removable stage assembly, comprising: 
 a stage spanning between two or more snow guards; and    two or more stage couplers wherein each stage coupler fastens to the stage and each of the stage couplers has an insert portion the fits within a pocket of each of the snow guards.    
   
   
       23 . A method of making a snow guard assembly, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a snow guard having a pocket coupled to at least one tab;    providing a first membrane having an opening extending from a first surface of the first membrane to a second surface of the first membrane;    inserting at least one tab through the opening in the first membrane;    positioning at least one tab adjacent the second surface of the first member; and    bonding a second membrane to the second surface of the first membrane along a perimeter of the first membrane.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a reinforcement member having an opening extending from a first surface of the reinforcement member to a second surface of the reinforcement member, the reinforcement member being disposed between the first membrane and the second membrane;    inserting at least one tab through the opening in the first membrane and through the opening in the reinforcement member; and    positioning at least one tab adjacent the second surface of the reinforcement member.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said step of providing a snow guard having a pocket coupled to at least one tab further comprises the step of forming sheet metal in a shape of the pocket and at least one tab.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said step of providing a snow guard having a pocket coupled to at least one tab further comprises the step of molding material in a shape of the pocket and at least one tab.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of coupling the snow guard assembly to a roof with mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of coupling the snow guard assembly to a roof with an adhesive.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said step of providing a snow guard having a pocket coupled to at least one tab further comprises the step of coating the snow guard with a weather resistant material.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of providing one or more openings around the perimeter of the second membrane for installation of mechanical fasteners.