Cable clip system for use on standing seam metal roofs

Abstract

A clip may include a first vertical wall having a first lower edge. A clip may include a second vertical wall having a second lower edge. A clip may include a top wall joining the first and second vertical walls and creating a gap therebetween. A clip may include a routing clamp extending outwardly from each of the first and second lower edges, the routing clamp including: a lower guide, an upper guide, a bendable member joining the lower and upper guides and can be bent over a heating cable such that the heating cable is trapped between the upper guide, the lower guide, the bendable member and one of the first and second vertical walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clip for use in securing a heating cable to a metal roof seam comprising:
 a first vertical wall having a first lower edge;   a second vertical wall having a second lower edge;   a top wall joining the first and second vertical walls and creating a gap therebetween; and   a routing clamp extending outwardly from each of the first and second lower edges, the routing clamp including:
 a lower guide; 
 an upper guide; and 
 a bendable member joining the lower and upper guides and can be bent over a heating cable such that the heating cable is trapped between the upper guide, the lower guide, the bendable member and one of the first and second vertical walls. 
   
     
     
         2 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein the lower guide is curved. 
     
     
         3 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein the upper guide is curved. 
     
     
         4 . The clip of  claim 2  wherein the lower guide has a radius. 
     
     
         5 . The clip of  claim 4  wherein the upper guide has a radius equal to the radius of the lower guide. 
     
     
         6 . A system for preventing a buildup of ice on a metal roof with a plurality of parallel seams forming channels between the seams, the system comprising:
 a plurality of clips fastenable to seams on a metal roof;   a heating cable routable through the plurality of clips; and   a routing pattern for the heating cable in which:
 the cable passes through a first routing clamp of a first clip of the plurality of clips, the first clip positioned on a first seam of the plurality of seams at a lower location; 
 the cable continues upward along one side of the first seam through a first routing clamp of a second clip of the plurality of clips, the second clip positioned on the first seam at an upper location; 
 the cable passes over the seam to a second side of the first seam; 
 the cable passes through a second routing clamp of the second clip; 
 the cable continues downward along the second side of the first seam through a second routing clamp of the first clip; 
 the cable is routed below an upper surface of the roof to a second seam of the plurality of seams; and 
   wherein the routing pattern is repeated for a desired number of seams of the plurality of seams;   wherein the channels between the seams remain clear of horizontally-oriented lengths of heating cables.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the plurality of clips comprises:
 a first vertical wall having a first lower edge; 
 a second vertical wall having a second lower edge; 
 a top wall joining the first and second vertical walls and creating a gap therebetween; and 
 wherein the first routing clamp extends outwardly from the first lower edge and the second routing clamp extends outwardly from the second lower edge; 
 wherein each of the first and second routing clamp comprises:
 a lower guide; 
 an upper guide; and 
 a bendable member joining the lower and upper guides and can be bent over a heating cable such that the heating cable is trapped between the upper guide, the lower guide, the bendable member and one of the first and second vertical walls. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a butyl pad placed between clip and the seam of at least one of the plurality of clips. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising screws used to fasten at least one clip of the plurality of clips to the seam on which the at least one clip is placed. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a surface clip placed on a vertical surface below a lower edge of the channel and through which the cable is routed. 
     
     
         11 . The clip of  claim 7  wherein the lower guide is curved. 
     
     
         12 . The clip of  claim 7  wherein the upper guide is curved. 
     
     
         13 . The clip of  claim 11  wherein the lower guide has a radius. 
     
     
         14 . The clip of  claim 13  wherein the upper guide has a radius equal to the radius of the lower guide. 
     
     
         15 . A method of preventing a buildup of ice on a metal roof with a plurality of parallel seams forming channels between the seams, the method comprising:
 fastening a plurality of clips to upper and lower locations on each of a plurality of seams; and   routing a heating cable through the plurality of clips such that the channels formed between adjacent seams of the plurality of seams remain free of horizontal lengths of the heating cable.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein fastening the plurality of clips to upper and lower locations on each of the plurality of seams comprises, for each of the plurality of clips:
 installing a butyl pad over the seam; 
 sliding the clip over the butyl pad; and 
 using a fastener to fasten the clip to the seam. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein fastening the plurality of clips to upper and lower locations on each of the plurality of seams comprises fastening at least one clip that includes:
 a first vertical wall having a first lower edge; 
 a second vertical wall having a second lower edge; 
 a top wall joining the first and second vertical walls and creating a gap therebetween; and 
 a routing clamp extending outwardly from each of the first and second lower edges, the routing clamp including:
 a lower guide; 
 an upper guide; and 
 
 a bendable member joining the lower and upper guides and can be bent over a heating cable such that the heating cable is trapped between the upper guide, the lower guide, the bendable member and one of the first and second vertical walls. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein routing the heating cable through each of the plurality of clips comprises:
 placing the cable over the lower guide; and 
 bending the upper guide over the cable, thereby locking the cable into the roof clip. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein bending the upper guide comprises bending the upper guide by hand. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein bending the upper guide comprises using a pliers.