Snow-retaining roof bracket

Abstract

The invention provides a snow-retaining roof bracket in which the bracket is secured by a hooked end in which the element which hooks over the batten is also provided with two sharp spikes to anchor the bracket if the batten is thicker than the hook's opening. The snow-retaining element is configured with peripheral flanges to strengthen the bracket and grip the snow.

1 . A snow-retaining roof bracket for attachment to roofs, each roof having roof battens and differing roofs having roof battens of differing thicknesses, said snow-retaining roof bracket being formed from a strip of metal plate comprising a generally flat elongated central element, a generally triangular snow-retaining element extending upwardly relative to said elongated element adjacent a first end thereof, and a roof batten engaging element adjacent the other end thereof; said the snow-retaining element being formed by bending said metal strip in three locations thereby forming three sides of a triangle comprising interior angles totaling 180 degrees, the first side being generally upstanding relative to said elongated central element, the second side joining the first and third sides and the third side parallel to said elongated central element wherein a substantial portion of each edge of said second side of said triangle is bent towards the interior of said triangle forming elongated downward flanges; said roof batten engaging element being formed by bending said metal strip approximately 90 degrees in two locations thereby forming a U-shaped opening on the opposite side of said flat elongated central element from said snow-retaining element, said U-shaped opening being sized to receive a roof batten, the free end of said roof batten engaging element having a V-shaped cut-out therein to thereby form two pointed projections extending parallel to said flat elongated element in the direction of said snow-retaining element. 
   
   
       2 . The snow-retaining roof bracket of  claim 1  wherein said U-shaped opening is further sized such that said two pointed projections engage said roof batten when said roof batten is thicker than the opening formed by said U-shaped element. 
   
   
       3 . A method of manufacturing a snow-retaining roof bracket from a strip of metal plate comprising:
 a) forming a generally triangular snow-retaining element extending upwardly relative to said elongated element adjacent a first end thereof by bending said metal strip in three locations thereby forming three sides of a triangle comprising interior angles totaling 180 degrees, the first side being generally upstanding relative to said elongated central element, the second side joining the first and third sides and the third side being parallel to said elongated central element and bending a substantial portion of each edge of the second side of said triangle towards the interior of said triangle forming elongated downward flanges;   b) securing said first end to said metal strip;   c) forming a V-shaped cut-out in the second end to thereby form two pointed projections extending parallel to said flat elongated element in the direction of said snow-retaining element; and   d) forming a roof batten engaging element adjacent the other end thereof by bending said metal strip approximately 90 degrees in two locations thereby forming a U-shaped opening on the opposite side of said flat elongated central element from said snow-retaining element.