Mechanical fastener for roofing membrane and method of applying same

Claim 1

A mechanical fastener securing a flexible elastomeric sheet to the upper surface of a roof, said fastener including: (a) a rigid housing secured to the upper surface of the roof and underlying the elastomeric sheet, said housing having an upstanding annular-shaped boss with an annular-shaped ledge formed integrally with and extending radially inwardly from said boss to form an undercut circular recess; (b) fastening means securing the housing to the upper surface of the roof; (c) a separate elastic ring split at one location on its circumference mounted within the annular-shaped boss of the housing clamping the elastomeric sheet against the housing in the undercut circular recess between the elastic ring and ledge; and (d) a locking cap mounted on the housing by a snap-fit engagement, said cap having an annular-shaped side wall, with an undercut recess formed in an outer surface of said wall, said recess having a diameter at least equal to or greater than the unstressed diameter of the elastic ring, said cap side wall being inserted within the annular-shaped wall of the housing and engaging the elastic ring within the undercut recess of the cap, thus maintaining said ring in clamping engagement with the elastomeric sheet and within the undercut circular recess of the housing.

Claim 13

A method for mechanically securing a flexible elastomeric sheet to the upper surface of a roof via the use of a plurality of spaced non-penetrating fastening devices, each of said fastening devices includes upper and lower members with said lower member having an upstanding annular boss with an annular-shaped ledge formed integrally with and extending radially inwardly from said boss forming an undercut circular recess and with said upper member including an elastic ring split at one location on its circumference and a locking cap having an annular-shaped side wall with an undercut recess, and anchoring means for securing said lower member to said roof upper surface, said method comprising the steps of: (a) anchoring a plurality of the lower members at spaced locations to the upper surface of the roof; (b) spreading the flexible elastomeric sheet over the roof surface and anchored lower members; (c) placing the elastic ring in a stressed condition by reducing the size of the split and correspondingly the diameter of the ring; (d) installing the ring in the undercut circular recess formed in the annular boss of the lower member clamping and securing the elastomeric sheet therebetween as the ring attempts to expand outwardly to its unstressed state with said sheet being free of any penetration therethrough by the ring; and (e) engaging the locking cap with the elastic ring by a snap-fit engagement with the elastic ring entering the undercut recess in the side wall of the locking cap to retain the ring in clamping engagement with the elastomeric sheet.

Claim 14

A method for mechanically securing a flexible elastomeric sheet to the upper surface of a roof via the use of a plurality of spaced non-penetrating fastening devices, each of said fastening devices includes upper and lower members with said lower member having an upstanding annular boss with an annular-shaped ledge formed integrally with and extending radially inwardly from said boss forming an undercut circular recess and with said upper member including an elastic ring split at one location on its circumference and a locking cap having an annular-shaped side wall with an undercut recess, and anchoring means for securing said lower member to said roof upper surface, said method comprising the steps of: (a) anchoring a plurality of the lower members at spaced locations to the upper surface of the roof; (b) spreading the flexible elastomeric sheet over the roof surface and anchored lower members; (c) placing the elastic ring in a stressed condition by reducing the size of the split and correspondingly the diameter of the ring; (d) installing the ring in the undercut circular recess formed in the annular boss of the lower member clamping and securing the elastomeric sheet therebetween as the ring attempts to expand outwardly to its unstressed state with said sheet being free of any penetration therethrough by the ring; and (e) engaging the locking cap with the elastic ring by a snap-fit engagement with the elastic ring entering the undercut recess in the side wall of the locking cap to retain the ring in clamping engagement with the elastomeric sheet.