Attachment device for securing flexible sheets

Claim 1

An attachment device for mechanically securing at least one flexible elastomeric sheet to the upper surface of a roof, said attachment device comprising: (a) a substantially rigid channel member having a generally rectangular cross-section and a continuous, central longitudinal slot opening into said channel member, a bottom wall, an upper wall, and generally opposed sidewalls, said channel member having a width which is defined by said opposed sidewalls; and (b) an insert member comprising means for maintaining said at least one flexible elastomeric sheet within said channel member, said insert member being formed from a ductile and rigid material and having an integral central longitudinal portion of reduced rigidity and two adjacent wing portions located on opposed edges of said central longitudinal portions, said central longitudinal portion defining said two adjacent wing portions and comprising means for facilitating the plastic deformation of said insert member from a first position to a second position, said insert member having a generally inverted V-configuration in said first position with said central longitudinal portion being located at the apex of said inverted V, and occupying said second position after undergoing a plastic deformation during insertion of said insert member together with said at least one flexible sheet into said channel member, said insert member being either substantially flat or slightly concave in said second position and comprising means for frictionally and non-bindingly maintaining said at least one elastomeric sheet against one wall of said channel member, thereby permitting lateral and vertical shifting of said insert member, and said at least one flexible sheet within said channel member, said insert member having a width when in said second position which is less than said channel member width.

Claim 21

A method for mechanically securing at least one flexible sheet to the upper surface of a roof by an attachment device which includes a channel member and an insert member, said channel member having a substantially rectangular cross-section, an upper wall, a bottom wall, generally opposed sidewalls, and a continuous central longitudinal slot in said upper wall, and means for receiving a fastening element to attach said device to said upper roof surface, wherein said channel member is substantially rigid and has a width which is defined by said opposed sidewalls, said insert member being formed from a ductile and rigid insert member having a generally inverted V-configuration, as viewed in transverse cross-section, said insert member being adapted to be plastically deformed into a second position in which said insert member retains said at least one flexible sheet within said channel member, said channel width being greater than the width of said insert member when in said second position, said method comprising: (a) positioning said at least one flexible sheet over the top surface of said channel member; (b) inserting said generally inverted V-shaped insert member, together with said at least one flexible sheet, through said slot and at least partially into said channel member; and (c) plastically deforming said insert member within said channel member to either a substantially flat or a slightly concave shape so that said insert member will occupy a second position in which it frictionally and non-bindingly retains said sheet within said channel member, thereby permitting lateral and vertical shifting of said insert member and said at least one flexible sheet within said channel member, said insert member, when placed in said second position, having a width less than the width of said channel member.

Claim 22

A method for mechanically securing at least one flexible sheet to the upper surface of a roof by an attachment device which includes a channel member and an insert member, said channel member having a substantially rectangular cross-section, an upper wall, a bottom wall, generally opposed sidewalls, and a continuous central longitudinal slot in said upper wall, and means for receiving a fastening element to attach said device to said upper roof surface, wherein said channel member is substantially rigid and has a width which is defined by said opposed sidewalls, said insert member being formed from a ductile and rigid insert member having a generally inverted V-configuration, as viewed in transverse cross-section, said insert member being adapted to be plastically deformed into a second position in which said insert member retains said at least one flexible sheet within said channel member, said channel width being greater than the width of said insert member when in said second position, said method comprising: (a) positioning said at least one flexible sheet over the top surface of said channel member; (b) inserting said generally inverted V-shaped insert member, together with said at least one flexible sheet, through said slot and at least partially into said channel member; and (c) plastically deforming said insert member within said channel member to either a substantially flat or a slightly concave shape so that said insert member will occupy a second position in which it frictionally and non-bindingly retains said sheet within said channel member, thereby permitting lateral and vertical shifting of said insert member and said at least one flexible sheet within said channel member, said insert member, when placed in said second position, having a width less than the width of said channel member.