# US 2013/0239489 A1 · Support structures on roofs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0239489 A1 - Document ID: US20130239489A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/894,092 - Filed: 2013-05-14 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-02 - Assignees: T&M Inventions, LLC - Inventors: Timothy Pendley; Michael J. McLain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239489A1 ## CPC - E04D 3/364: {by folding of the edges} - E04D 13/031: {characterised by a frame for connection to an inclined roof} - E04D 3/365: by simple overlapping of the marginal portions with use of separate connecting elements, e.g. hooks or bolts for corrugated sheets - E04D 13/03: Sky-lights; Domes; Ventilating sky-lights (E04D13/14 takes precedence; structures therefor, {e.g. dormer windows} E04B7/18; {saw-tooth roofs with light-transmission E04B7/12}) - E04D 13/0315: {characterised by a curb frame} - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) ## Abstract This invention provides upper diverters which are used on support structures on roofs, Such upper diverter has a lower flange which interfaces with the respective roof panel, and an upstanding wall which extends up from the lower flange. The upper diverter diverts water, flowing down the roof, laterally away from the respective roof panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An upper diverter, configured to be mounted on a sloping roof of a building, said upper diverter having a first length and comprising: (a) a lower flange (410), said lower flange having a second length extending along a substantial portion of the first length of said upper diverter, and (b) an upstanding wall forming a joint with said lower flange at a lower edge of said upstanding wall, the joint extending generally along the second length of said lower flange, said upstanding wall extending upwardly from the joint to an upper edge of said upstanding wall, and wherein, in a view of said upper diverter taken from an angle perpendicular to said lower flange, lines representing the upper and lower edges of said upstanding wall converge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An upper diverter as in claim 1, the upper edge of said upstanding wall having first and second ends, said lower flange (410) extending beyond at least one of the ends of said upstanding wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An upper diverter as in claim 1, said upstanding wall comprising an upper web (415) defining a first projected angle, having a first magnitude relative to said lower flange, and a diversion web (420) defining a second included angle, greater than the first angle, relative to said lower flange. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An upper diverter as in claim 3 wherein said diversion web is located between said upper web (415) and said lower flange (410). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An upper diverter as in claim 4 wherein a width of said diversion web changes progressively along the first length of said upper diverter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Apparatus configured to form a support structure, said apparatus comprising a plurality of closures which, when assembled to such roof in cooperation with each other, define such support structure, and extend up from such roof, and wherein a said closure member comprises an upper diverter as in claim 1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Apparatus as in claim 6, configured to be mounted to a metal roof of a building, wherein such roof comprises a plurality of metal roof panels, such metal roof panels having roof panel lengths and roof panel widths, and panel flats extending across such panel widths, such metal roof panels being arranged side by side, edges of adjacent such metal roof panels meeting at ribs defined by elevated rib structure portions thereof, said upper diverter being configured to extend across the width of at least one of such metal roof panels, said support structure further comprising first and second rail structures configured to be mounted on such ribs of such metal roof panels such that such ribs provide primary vertical support for said support structure, with said first and second rail structures forming joints with said upper diverter, said support structure further comprising a lower closure configured to extend between respective ones of the rail structures across the width of the respective such metal roof panel at a lower end of said support structure, ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) In combination, (i) a sloping roof system comprising a plurality of metal roof panels, each having a width, and opposing sides, and a roof panel length, and a panel flat extending across the roof panel width, between the opposing sides and defining a panel flat area, a given panel flat having a width, said metal roof panels being arranged side by side, adjacent each other, edge portions of adjacent ones of said metal roof panels defining elevated ribs on opposing sides of the respective said metal roof panels, and (ii) a support structure configured to support a load from said sloping roof system, said support structure having a support structure width extending across the panel flat area of a single one of the widths of a said metal roof panel, and a support structure length extending along the length of such metal roof panel, said support structure extending about at least a portion of the panel flat of the respective said metal roof panel, said support structure comprising an upper diverter as in claim 1, said upper diverter being configured to extend across the width of the respective metal roof panel, said support structure further comprising a first rail structure comprising one or more first rails arranged end to end with respect to each other, and mounted to a first said rib on a first side of the respective single one of said metal roof panels, and a second rail structure comprising one or more second rails arranged end to end with respect to each other, and mounted to a second said rib on a second opposing side of the respective single one of said metal roof panels, said first and second rail structures extending from a relatively upper portion of said support structure, at a relatively upper portion of said roof, toward a lower portion of said support structure at a relatively lower portion of said roof, said rail structures on the first and second sides of said metal roof panel forming first and second joints with said upper diverter at the upper portion of said support structure, and a lower closure closing said support structure at the lower portion of said support structure, the lower edge of said upstanding wall of said upper diverter defining a downwardly-directed slope extending across the width of the respective said metal roof panel strip, thereby to direct water, flowing by gravity, laterally across the respective said metal roof panel at said upper diverter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A combination as in claim 8, said upstanding wall comprising an upper web (415) defining a first angle, having a first magnitude relative to said lower flange, and a diversion web (420) defining a second included angle, greater than the first angle, relative to said lower flange, a lower edge of said diversion web defining a downwardly-directed slope extending across the width of the respective said metal roof panel strip, thereby to direct water, flowing by gravity, laterally across the respective said metal roof panel strip at said upper diverter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A combination as in claim 9, further comprising a gap defining a path through a said rib at a said side of the respective single one of said metal roof panels, at an elevation of the respective said panel flat, said lower flange of said upper diverter and a portion of said upstanding wall extending along the path through the opening in the respective said rib and to the panel flat of the adjacent said metal roof panel, whereby water encountering said support structure at said upper diverter flows laterally across said panel flat, along the path through the respective said rib gap and onto the panel flat of the adjacent said metal roof panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A combination as in claim 8, said rail structures being mounted to said ribs on opposing sides of the portion of the panel flat of the respective said metal roof panel which said support structure extends about, such that said ribs are between lower edges of said rail structures and a portion of the panel flat which said support structure extends about. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) A budding, comprising: (a) a building structural support system; (b) building side walls; (c) in combination, a sloping building roof overlying an area enclosed by said building side walls, said sloping roof having one of a high side and a ridge, and a plurality of roof apertures corresponding to passages extending from inside said building through said roof and wherein such passages extend, from a space inside said building, upwardly through the roof apertures; (d) support structures as in claim 6 extending about the apertures, said support structures extending up from said roof of said building and closing off access to the apertures from outside the building, from any side of a given such aperture; and (e) skylight lenses overlying the support structures and closing off the apertures from access to the space inside said building, said skylight lenses, and correspondingly said support structures, being disposed at locations selected for desired distribution of daylighting inside said building, while occupying no more than 5 percent of an area of said roof overlying an area enclosed by said building. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A building as in claim 12 wherein ones of said support structures are disposed at locations spaced from such high side or ridge such that the respective said upper diverters are spaced from such high side or ridge, with panel flat portions between such high side or ridge and the respective ones of said upper diverters. ### Claim 14 An upper diverter configured to be mounted on a sloping roof of a building, said upper diverter having a first length and comprising: (a) a lower flange (410), said lower flange having a second length extending along a substantial portion of the first length of said upper diverter, and (b) an upstanding wall forming a joint with said lower flange at a lower edge of said upstanding wall, the joint extending generally along the second length of said lower flange, said upstanding wall comprising an upper web (415) defining a first projected angle, having a first magnitude relative to said lower flange, and a diversion web (420) defining a second included angle, greater than the first angle, relative to said lower flange. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An upper diverter as in claim 14 wherein said diversion web is located between said, upper web (415) and said lower flange (410). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) In combination, (i) a sloping roof system comprising a plurality of metal roof panel strips, each having a width, and opposing sides, and a roof panel length aligned with a such strip length, and a panel flat extending across the roof panel width, between the opposing sides and defining a panel flat area, a given panel flat having a width, said metal roof panel strips being arranged side by side, adjacent each other, edge portions of adjacent ones of said metal roof panels defining elevated ribs on opposing sides of the respective said metal roof panels, and (ii) a support structure configured to support a load from said sloping roof, said support structure having a support structure width extending across the panel flat area of a single one of the widths of a said metal roof panel strip, and a support structure length extending along the length of such metal roof panel strip, said support structure extending about at least a portion of the panel flat of the respective said metal roof panel strip, said support structure comprising an upper diverter as in claim 15, said upper diverter being configured to extend across the width of the respective metal roof panel strip, said support structure further comprising a first rail structure mounted to a first said rib on a first side of the respective single one of said metal roof panel strips, and a second rail structure mounted to a second said rib on a second opposing side of the respective single one of said metal roof panel strips, said first and second rail structures extending from a relatively upper portion of said support structure, at a relatively upper portion of said roof, toward a lower portion of said support structure at a relatively lower portion of said roof, and a lower closure closing said support structure at the lower portion of said support structure, the lower edge of said upstanding wall of said upper diverter defining a downwardly-directed slope extending across the width of the respective said metal roof panel strip, thereby to direct water, flowing by gravity, laterally across the respective said metal roof panel strip at said upper diverter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A combination as in claim 16, further comprising an gap defining a path through a said rib at a said side of the respective single one of said metal roof panel strips, at a elevation of the respective said panel flat, said lower flange of said upper diverter, and a portion of said upstanding wall, extending along the path through the opening in the respective said rib and to the panel flat of the adjacent said metal roof panel strip, whereby water encountering said support structure at said upper diverter flows laterally across said panel flat, along the path through the respective said rib gap and onto the panel flat of the adjacent said metal roof panel strip. ### Claim 18 An upper diverter, configured to be mounted on a sloping roof of a building, said upper diverter having a first length and opposing first and second ends and comprising: (a) a lower flange (410) extending along a substantial portion of the first length; and (b) an upstanding wall forming a joint with said lower flange at a lower edge of said upstanding wall, the joint extending generally along the second length of said lower flange, said upstanding wall having opposing first and second sides and extending upwardly from the joint to an upper edge of said upstanding wall, the upper edge of said upstanding wall having a third end corresponding to the first end of said upper diverter and a fourth end corresponding to the second end of said upper diverter, said lower flange being disposed on the first side of said upstanding wall, at least a portion of said upstanding wall, at the first end of said upper diverter, extending beyond the third end of the upper edge of said upstanding wall, a rib closure wall (440) being disposed on the first side of said upstanding wall and extending from a location at the fourth end of said upstanding wall, away from said upstanding wall, and upwardly above said lower flange, said rib closure wall having at least one panel thereof which is perpendicular to the upper edge of said upstanding wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An upper diverter as in claim 18, said upstanding wall comprising an upper web (415) defining a first angle, having a first magnitude relative to said lower flange, and a diversion web (420) defining a second included angle, greater than the first angle, relative to said lower flange. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) In combination, (i) a sloping roof system comprising a plurality of metal roof panel strips, each having a width, and opposing sides, and a roof panel length aligned with a such strip length, and a panel flat extending across the roof panel width, between the opposing sides and defining a panel flat area, a given panel flat having a width, said metal roof panel strips being arranged side by side, adjacent each other, edge portions of adjacent ones of said metal roof panels defining elevated ribs on opposing sides of the respective said metal roof panels, and (ii) a support structure configured to support a load from said sloping roof, said support structure having a support structure width extending across the panel flat area of a single one of the widths of a said metal roof panel strip, and a support structure length extending along the length of such metal roof panel strip, said support structure extending about at least a portion of the panel flat of the respective said metal roof panel strip, said support structure comprising an upper diverter as in claim 19, said upper diverter being configured to extend across the width of the respective metal roof panel strip, said support structure further comprising a first rail structure mounted to a first said rib on a first side of h respective single one of said metal roof panel strips, and a second rail structure mounted to a second said rib on a second opposing side of the respective single one of said metal roof panel strips, said first and second rail structures extending from a relatively upper portion of said support structure, at a relatively upper portion of said roof, toward a lower portion of said support structure at a relatively lower portion of said roof, and a lower closure closing said support structure at the lower portion of said support structure, the lower edge of said upstanding wall of said upper diverter defining a downwardly-directed slope extending across the width of the respective said metal roof panel strip, thereby to direct water, flowing by gravity, laterally across the respective said metal roof panel strip at said upper diverter. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A combination as in claim 19, further comprising an gap defining a path through a said rib at a said side of the respective single one of said metal roof panel strips, at an elevation of the respective said panel flat, said lower flange of said upper diverter, and a portion of said upstanding wall, extending along the path through the opening in the respective said rib and to the panel flat of the adjacent said metal roof panel strip, whereby water encountering said support structure at said upper diverter flows laterally across said panel flat, along the path through the respective said rib gap and onto the panel flat of the adjacent said metal roof panel strip.