System and Method For Modular Roof Apparatus

Abstract

A rooftop system having modular basins that includes a system of trusses that may form one or more receptacles suited to receive one of several different kinds of modular basins. Such a system may be deployed on a rooftop of a building having a substantially flat roof or a roof with a low slope such that the entire exposed top side of the roof may be covered by the system. Then, each receptacle may have a modular basin suited to provide some functionality to the system.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of trusses interconnected to form a plurality of receptacles, the trusses suited to be disposed on a rooftop of a building; and   at least one basin having at least one functional unit operable to engage at least one receptacle, the basin supported by one or more trusses such that the basin is disposed above and separate from the rooftop.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of trusses comprise steel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of trusses comprise plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each receptacle comprises a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each receptacle comprises a polygon having at least one curved side. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one functional unit comprises a vegetation unit. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one functional unit comprises a solar energy generation unit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one functional unit comprises a wind energy generation unit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one functional unit comprises a heating/air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cavity disposed between the rooftop and the basin, such that the cavity comprises an air gap suited to provide an insulating layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a water collection system formed from the trusses, the water collection system providing irrigation to at least one basin. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 a building having a low-slop rooftop;   a plurality of trusses interconnected to form a plurality of receptacles, the trusses disposed on a rooftop of a building; and   at least one basin having at least one functional unit operable to engage at least one receptacle, the basin supported by one or more trusses such that the basin is disposed above and separate from the rooftop.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein each receptacle is engaged with a basin such that no portion of the rooftop is exposed to sunlight. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the functional unit comprises an energy generation functional unit that provides energy to the building. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the functional unit comprises an HVAC functional unit that provides heating, air-conditioning and ventilation to the building. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the functional unit comprises a water collection functional unit suited to provide water to the building that is collected from precipitation. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  further comprises an air cavity disposed between the rooftop and the basin and suited to provide an insulating function to the building. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 protecting a building having a substantially flat rooftop from elements incident upon the rooftop, the protection provided by a system of trusses having receptacles wherein each receptacle contains one of a plurality of basins having a functional units, the plurality of basins forming a cavity between a bottom side of the basins and the rooftop.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising generating energy from at least one functional unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising collecting precipitation with at least one functional unit.