Method and assembly for preventing the production of windborne debris

Abstract

A method and assembly for preventing the production of windborne debris from a surface of an object, particularly a roof surface, having roof gravel, under the influence of gale-force winds; and to a method of making the assembly. The method comprises locating a wind-permeable perforate sheet adjacent on or above the particulate material on the surface as to prevent the production of the flying debris.

1 . A method for preventing the production of flying debris comprising particulate material from a surface of a structure having said particular material under the influence of gale-force winds, said method comprising locating a wind permeable perforate sheet adjacent on or above said particulate material on said surface as to prevent the production of said flying debris. 
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said surface comprises a roof surface of a building. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said roof surface comprises at least a portion that is substantially flat. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said particulate material comprises roof gravel. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said roof gravel has an average weight selected from 0.5 g. to 5 g. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said perforate sheet comprises netting. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said netting is flexible, webbed netting. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said perforate sheet is located adjacent at a distance above said surface as to not hinder or interfere with water run-off from said roof. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said perforate sheet is located adjacent at a distance above said surface as to allow said perforate sheet and said surface to be traversed by a person without damage to said perforate sheet. 
   
   
       10 . An assembly comprising
 (a) an object having an upper surface;   (b) perforate sheet means located on or adjacent above said upper surface;   (c) perforate sheet attachment means for securing said perforate sheet adjacent on or above said upper surface and attached to said perforate sheet means at least along a periphery thereof and for securing said perforate sheet means to said object and   (d) particulate material on said surface and below said perforate sheet and wherein said perforate sheet having perforations of such dimensions as to operably prevent passage, therethrough, of said particulate material under the influence of gale force winds.   
   
   
       11 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said object is a roof of a building. 
   
   
       12 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said roof comprises a surface that is essentially flat. 
   
   
       13 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said particulate material comprises roof gravel. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said roof gravel has an average weight selected from 0.5 g. to 5 g. 
   
   
       15 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said perforate sheet comprises netting. 
   
   
       16 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said netting is flexible webbed netting. 
   
   
       17 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said perforate sheet is located adjacent at a distance above said surface as to not hinder or interfere with water run-off from said roof. 
   
   
       18 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said perforate sheet is located on or at a distance above said surface as to allow said perforate sheet to be traversed by a person without damage to said perforate sheet. 
   
   
       19 . A method of joining at least two perforate sheets, one to another to produce an enlarged perforate sheet, said method comprising ultrasound bonding with at least two sheets one to another. 
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said perforate sheet is netting or in the form of a mesh. 
   
   
       21 . An enlarged perforate sheet comprising at least two perforate sheets ultrasonically bonded one sheet to another sheet. 
   
   
       22 . An enlarged perforate sheet as claimed in  claim 21  in the form of a netting or mesh. 
   
   
       23 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said perforate sheet means comprises an enlarged perforate sheet comprising at least two perforate sheets ultrasonically bonded one sheet to another sheet. 
   
   
       24 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said enlarged perforate sheet is in the form of a netting.