US4987714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for installing a roof fastener
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-07-25
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Granted: 1991-01-29
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Expires: 2009-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of installing a roofing fastener including a screw and a stress plate into a multilayered roofing structure involves bonding the outer surface of the screw to the inner surface of the plate. Such a bond may be formed by spin welding as the screw is installed in the roofing structure. The fastener is thereby installed and bonded in the same operation. A fastener assembly useful in the foregoing method includes a screw and plate having welding surfaces made of a thermoplastic resin.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart H. Lemke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:16
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B19/00; F16B19/04; F16B19/08; F16B19/10; F16B19/1027; F16B19/1036; F16B19/1081; E; E04; E04D; E04D3/00; E04D3/36; E04D3/3601; E04D3/3603; F16B13/00; F16B13/12; E04D15/00; E04D15/04; E04D2015/042; E04D2015/047; F16B13/124; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/90; Y10S411/901; Y10S411/902; Y10S411/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of installing a roofing structure on a roof, said method employing a roofing fastener including a plate and a screw having a threaded body and an enlarged diameter flanged head, said screw being received through a stepped hole in said plate, comprising: rotating said screw to effect engagement with said roof so that said plate is tightened down against said roofing structure, and said threaded body passes through said roofing structure and engages said roof; by frictional interaction of said screw and plate during a final segment of said rotating step, spin-welding a surface of said screw with a surface of said plate to secure said screw and said plate against said roofing structure; and abruptly stopping rotation of said screw, whereupon said flanged head of said screw engages said step of said hole.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of installing a roofing structure on a roof, said method employing a roofing fastener including a plate and a screw having a threaded body and an enlarged diameter flanged head, said screw being received through a stepped hole in said plate, comprising: rotating said screw to effect engagement with said roof so that said plate is tightened down against said roofing structure, and said threaded body passes through said roofing structure and engages said roof; by frictional interaction of said screw and plate during a final segment of said rotating step, spin-welding a surface of said screw with a surface of said plate to secure said screw and said plate against said roofing structure; and abruptly stopping rotation of said screw, whereupon said flanged head of said screw engages said step of said hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said plate has means for restricting rotation of said plate relative to said screw during spin-welding for at least about one complete revolution of said screw.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said restricting means comprises a plurality of spikes extending from the underside of said plate having lengths in the range from about 1/8 to 1/2 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said surfaces of said screw and said plate which undergo spin-welding are made of a thermoplastic resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyphenylene oxide, polethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and blends thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said screw and said plate are made of said thermoplastic resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said screw comprises a metal screw partially coated with a sheath of said thermoplastic resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said welding surface of said plate includes a reduced diameter portion of said hole adjacent said step, and said welding surface of said screw includes a portion of said screw adjacent said flange which has a slightly greater diameter than said reduced diameter portion of said hole.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said roof comprises a generally flat roof deck.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said roofing structure comprises a waterproof membrane covering said roof deck, such that, in said rotating step, said screw penetrates said deck and said plate is tightened down against said membrane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said deck is made of gypsum, tectum, or wood.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said membrane is made of a waterproof rubberized fabric.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said roofing structure further comprises a layer of thermal insulation interposed between said roof deck and said membrane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said roof is a metal roof deck, and said screw comprises a metal screw at least partially coated with a thermoplastic resin proximate said flanged head and having a point configured to drill through said metal deck, and wherein said surface of said screw which undergoes spin-welding is the exterior surface of said thermoplastic resin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A roof installation comprising a roofing structure secured to a roof by the method of claim 1.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of fastening a roofing membrane to an underlying roof, comprising the steps of: disposing a fastener through an aperture in a stress reliever; rotating at least a portion of said fastener to cause said fastener to penetrate the roofing membrane, engage said roof, and bias said stress reliever against said membrane; and bonding a surface of said fastener to a surface of said stress reliever by bringing said fastener surface into frictional contact with said stress reliever surface during said rotating step to generate sufficient heat to cause at least one of said fastener and stress reliever surfaces to at least partially melt.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of fastening a roofing membrane to an underlying roof, comprising the steps of: disposing a fastener through an aperture in a stress reliever; rotating at least a portion of said fastener to cause said fastener to penetrate the roofing membrane, engage said roof, and bias said stress reliever against said membrane; and bonding a surface of said fastener to a surface of said stress reliever by bringing said fastener surface into frictional contact with said stress reliever surface during said rotating step to generate sufficient heat to cause at least one of said fastener and stress reliever surfaces to at least partially melt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said bonding step comprises frictionally welding said fastener surface to said stress reliever surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said fastener surface and said stress reliever surface are disposed to come into frictional contact at a predetermined position prior to complete engagement between said fastener and said roof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said surface of said stress reliever is an interior surface of said aperture and said surface of said fastener is an exterior surface of a body portion of said fastener, which body portion extends through said aperture, and said bonding step further comprises bringing said exterior fastener surface received within said stress reliever aperture into frictional contact with said interior surface of said aperture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said bonding step includes the step of applying a minimum pressure biasing said exterior fastener surface and said interior surface of said aperture against each other during said rotating step.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said aperture is of predetermined dimensions and said exterior fastener surface is of slightly greater dimensions than said aperture, and said pressure applying step further comprises inserting said exterior fastener surface of greater dimensions into said aperture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said exterior fastener surface and said interior surface of said aperture are frustoconical.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said exterior fastener surface and said interior surface of said aperture are cylindrical.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A roof installation comprising a roofing membrane secured to an underlying roof by the method of claim 16.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said roof is a generally flat roof deck.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said roof deck is made of gypsum, tectum, or wood.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said roof deck is made of metal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said membrane is made of a waterproof rubberized fabric.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said membrane is made of a waterproof rubberized fabric.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said stress reliever is a plate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said plate includes protrusions on the underside thereof to facilitate engagement with said membrane.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said fastener is a screw, and said rotating step comprises rotating said screw to threadedly engage said roof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said fastener includes a screw and a nut, said nut being disposed to engage said roof and said rotating step comprises rotating said screw to advance said screw relative to said nut.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-28 | 1994-07-30 | 1995-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-28 | 1998-07-30 | 1999-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-28 | 2002-07-30 | 2003-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |