Mounting bracket for roof-top structures

Abstract

A one-piece mounting bracket for securing a roof-top structure to the roof top of a building. In one embodiment, the one piece mounting bracket includes a first substantially L-shaped portion for engaging the roof top of a building, a second substantially L-shaped portion for engaging the roof top of a building, and a substantially flat base portion integrally connecting the first substantially L-shaped portion and the second substantially L-shaped portion such that the first substantially L-shaped portion and the second substantially L-shaped portion are aligned substantially in one direction.

1 . A mounting bracket for securing a roof-top structure to the roof top of a building, comprising: 
 a. a base portion having a first end and an opposite, second end defining a base body having a base width, W 0 , therebetween;    b. a first leg portion extending from the first end of the base portion;    c. a second leg portion extending from the second end of the base portion;    d. a first foot portion having a width, W 1 , and extending from the first leg portion to form a first substantially L-shaped portion with the first leg portion; and    e. a second foot portion having a width, W 2 , and extending from the second leg portion to form a second substantially L-shaped portion with the second leg portion,    wherein the first foot portion and the second foot portion are substantially parallel to each other, the first substantially L-shaped portion and the second substantially L-shaped portion are aligned substantially in one direction, and the base portion is elevated by the first leg portion and the second leg portion with respect to the first foot portion and the second foot portion.    
   
   
       2 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg portion has a height, H 1 , defined between the base portion and the first foot portion, and the second leg portion has a height, H 2 , defined between the base portion and the second foot portion such that H 2 ≧H 1 .  
   
   
       3 . The mounting bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the base portion has an angle, α, relative to the first foot portion and the second foot portion, and wherein 0<α<π/2.  
   
   
       4 . The mounting bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the base portion is substantially parallel to the first foot portion and the second foot portion.  
   
   
       5 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the width W 0  of the base portion is narrower than each of the width W 1  of the first foot portion and the width W 2  of the second foot portion.  
   
   
       6 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the width W 1  of the first foot portion and the width W 2  of the second foot portion are different or substantially same.  
   
   
       7 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the first leg portion has a width WL 1  that is gradually changed from the width W 0  of the base portion to the width W 1  of the first foot portion.  
   
   
       8 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the second leg portion has a width WL 2  that is gradually changed from the width W 0  of the base portion to the width W 2  of the second foot portion.  
   
   
       9 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein each of the base portion, the first leg portion, the second leg portion, the first foot portion and the second foot portion is substantially flat.  
   
   
       10 . The mounting bracket of  claim 9 , wherein each of the base portion, the first foot portion and the second foot portion is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       11 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising means for securing the mounting bracket to the roof top of a building and a roof-top structure to the mounting bracket, respectively.  
   
   
       12 . The mounting bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the securing means comprises a plurality of screws.  
   
   
       13 . The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the base portion has a plurality of spaced holes formed in the base body, each of the spaced holes capable of receiving a corresponding screw to secure the roof-top structure to the mounting bracket.  
   
   
       14 . The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first foot portion and second foot portion has a plurality of spaced holes formed therein, each of the spaced holes capable of receiving a corresponding screw to secure the mounting bracket to the roof-top of a building.  
   
   
       15 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket is formed of a one piece rigid material.  
   
   
       16 . The mounting bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the one piece rigid material comprises metal, fiber glass or plastic.  
   
   
       17 . A one piece mounting bracket for securing a roof-top structure to the roof top of a building, comprising: 
 a. a first substantially L-shaped portion for engaging the roof top of a building;    b. a second substantially L-shaped portion for engaging the roof top of a building; and    c. a substantially flat base portion integrally connecting the first substantially L-shaped portion and the second substantially L-shaped portion such that the first substantially L-shaped portion and the second substantially L-shaped portion are aligned substantially in one direction.    
   
   
       18 . A method for securing a roof-top structure to the roof top of a building, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a mounting bracket comprising: 
 (i). a base portion having a first end and an opposite, second end and a plurality of spaced holes formed therein;  
 (ii). a first leg portion extending from the first end of the base portion;  
 (iii). a second leg portion extending from the second end of the base portion;  
 (iv). a first foot portion having a plurality of spaced holes formed therein and extending from the first leg portion to form a first substantially L-shaped portion with the first leg portion; and  
 (v). a second foot portion having a plurality of spaced holes formed therein and extending from the second leg portion to form a second substantially L-shaped portion with the second leg portion,  
 wherein the first foot portion and the second foot portion are substantially parallel to each other, the first substantially L-shaped portion and the second substantially L-shaped portion are aligned substantially in one direction, and the base portion is elevated by the first leg portion and the second leg portion with respect to the first foot portion and the second foot portion;  
   b. positioning the mounting bracket onto a location of the roof top of the building;    c. securing the mounting bracket to the location of the roof top by screwing a set of screws through the pluralities of spaced holes of the first and second foot portions into the roof structural material of the building therein, respectively; and    d. securing the roof-top structure to the mounting bracket by screwing a set of screws through the plurality of spaced holes of the base portion.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting bracket is formed of a one piece rigid material.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the one piece rigid material comprises metal or plastic.