Not Applicable.
This invention relates to a heat producing panel for placement on an interior surface so as to prevent the accumulation of any of the winter mix precipitation on an exterior surface of the a structure where the panel is placed. While the invention is described with particular reference to roofs for boat docks, those skilled in the art will recognize the wider applicability of the inventive principles disclosed herein after.
Boat dock structures commonly found in marinas and individual homes located on lakes and rivers typically have a boat slip covered by a roof. The roof commonly is constructed from corrugated metal material, is relatively inexpensive and generally light weight. Often an individual boat slip will include a hydraulic lift for raising and associated pleasure craft from the water during periods of non-use. It is now generally a common to store pleasure craft in the boat dock even during winter months, especially where winters normally are not very severe.
Unfortunately, even areas associated with the relatively mild winters often have a freak storms which can and often do deposit significant amounts of a winter mix in the form of sleet or snow or ice and/or combinations thereof which causes the boat dock and supporting structure to collapse, causing significant damage both to the roof, dock and any pleasure craft being housed in the dock. For example,
The prior art is replete with examples of constructions and designs for heaters directed toward solving the problem of excessive snow accumulation or the accumulation of any other winter mix precipitation. While these prior art devices works well for their intended purposes, they do not address nor are the adaptable to problems associated with boat dock roofs. Roofs for boat docks conventionally are constructed from a corrugated metal material. As indicated above, they are relatively thin, do not support a great deal of weight, and are relatively inexpensive. Consequently, merely adopting solutions provided by the prior art alone or in combination to boat dock applications, for example, do not solve the problems associated with protecting such roofs. These problems include providing a low-cost structure of for protecting the roof during winter storms, providing an easy to install and easy to remove a structure for accomplishing the protection, and providing an aesthetically pleasing solution to the protection problem.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a heating system for a roof having a first side exposed to weather and a second side physically accessible and generally visible to an observer. In one preferred embodiment, the system is designed to protect a boat dock roof and includes a panel configured to mate with the second side of the roof at one or more locations along the roof structure. The panel has a heating device associated with it. Preferably, simplified controls are operatively connected to the heating device. An attachment mechanism is provided for mounting the panel in heat transfer relationship to the boat dock roof.
A method for preventing damage to corrugated boat dock roofs caused by the accumulation of winter mix precipitation also is provided.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.
Referring now to
One illustrative embodiment of heating system 6 of the present invention is shown in
The panel 7, in the embodiment illustrated, generally is rectangular in shape, having a length dimension 10 and a width dimension 11. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art the shape of the panel 7 may very and other embodiments of this invention.
The roof 1 facing side 9 of the panel 7 has at least one and preferably has a plurality of projections 12 associated with it. The projections 12 are intended to mate with the roof 1 between adjacent lands 2 and groves 3 of the roof 1, permitting the side 9 of the panel 7 to abut the grooves 3 side of the roof 1 in application use. The number and spacing of the projections 12 are a matter of design choice. In general, I have found that both the number and spacing depend upon the size of the individual panels 7, the size of the roof 1 and the number of panels 7 the employed for protecting the roof 1.
In the panel 7 embodiment shown in
Referring now to
In application will use, the panel 7 may be attached to the roof one by any convenient method. Conventional mechanical fastening devices may be used, if desired, where those devices do not interfere with the operation of the heating element 15 in use. Alternatively, the panel 7 may be bonded to the roof 1 by a suitable epoxy or other acceptable material.
One of the features of the panel 7 and the construction technique used to make it is that the material used to mold the panel 7 may be pigmented, if desired. Consequently, the use of the panel 7 tends to blend with the color of the side 5 of the roof 1 in application will use.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. While the invention has been described in particular detail with respect to boat dock applications, it easily finds use with corrugated roofs in particular, and any heat conductive roof in general.
Priority is claimed under provisional application 60/903,992, filed Mar. 1, 2007, incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60903992 | Mar 2007 | US |