Device for removing ice from roofs

An apparatus for removing ice and snow from roofs comprising

• a flexible cover (121) having a top end, a bottom end (122a) opposite said top end, a top side, and a bottom side opposite said top side, said top edge secured to a roof (10);
• and
• a bungee cord arrangement comprising a flexible material folded and secured to the bottom side of the cover (121) substantially parallel to and between the top end and the bottom end (122a) to form a compartment, said compartment having a plurality of openings through which loops from a continuous length of bungee cord (21) can pass through and is suitably adapted to receive a fastener (23) to secure the cover (121) to an eave (113) to prevent the cover from being dislocated by windy weather and to provide lateral tension to the bottom end of the cover.

An apparatus for removing ice and snow from valley sections between two sections of roof (10) comprising

• two inflatable sleeves (19R) and (19L) secured substantially parallel to the roof line of two respective roof sections each having a connection (180) at a side nearest a valley between two roof sections, said connection comprising a hook component of a hook and loop fastener, and
• a flexible cover (121) disposed on the roof (10) substantially between the inflatable sleeves (19R) and (19L) and underneath a lower valley flashing (208) on the roof (10), said cover (121) having a corresponding loop component of a hook and loop fastener to complete connection (180), such that ice and snow are directed over the lower flashing and cover (121) and thus forming a modular ice and snow removal system.

An apparatus for removing ice and snow from panel roofs comprising

• a substantially rigid insert (173) secured to a roof (10), and
• an inflatable sleeve (19) having a top end and a bottom end, said top end secured to the insert, and said bottom end secured below a bottom edge of the roof, such that ice and snow built adhering to the lowest portion of the roof is fractured by the inflation of the inflatable sleeve and falls away from the roof in a controlled manner.

A method of modifying a panel roof (10) to remove ice and snow in a controlled manner comprising the steps of removing a lower panel portion of a roof (56a), securing an edge of an inflatable sleeve (19) near the end of the panel roof, and securing an opposite edge of the inflatable sleeve to a building such that ice and snow built up over the inflatable sleeve breaks up and falls in a controlled manner when the sleeve is inflated, said sleeve then returning to its original location.

An apparatus for removing ice and snow surrounding a drain cage (194) comprising an inflatable ring (19r) secured at an edge adjacent to the drain cage (194), and a clamp ring (195) securing the inflatable ring (19r) at an edge opposite the drain cage (194).

A method of removing ice and snow from roofs comprising the steps of securing a flexible cover (121), having a top edge and a bottom edge, by its top edge along a lower portion of a roof (10), securing a pull cord assembly (204) near the bottom edge of the flexible cover (121), engaging the pull cord assembly (204) with an extension pole (205), and agitating the cover (121) with the extension pole (205) to break loose ice and snow disposed upon a top surface of the cover.

A method of securing a device for removing ice and snow from shingled roofs to a roof comprising providing at least one end tab (121x) on a flexible cover (121) and securing said end tab (121x) under a shingle to prevent edges of said cover from becoming dislocated.

A method for securing a device for removing ice and snow from shingled roofs to a roof comprising providing at least one end tab (121x) on an inflatable sleeve (19) and securing said end tab (121x) under a shingle to prevent edges of said sleeve from becoming dislocated.

A method for securing a device for removing ice and snow from a roof to a roof comprising the steps of providing a bungee loop assembly (124) secured to an inflatable sleeve (19), said bungee loop assembly comprising an opening (210) near an edge of said bungee loop assembly (124) and a bungee cord (21) running the length of said bungee loop assembly (124), forming a loop with an end of said bungee cord (21) running through said opening (210), and securing said loop to a fastening means onto a roof to provide lateral tension for the inflatable sleeve (19).

A method for securing a device for removing ice and snow from a roof to a roof comprising the steps of providing a bungee loop assembly (124) secured to a flexible cover (121), said bungee loop assembly comprising an opening (210) near an edge of said bungee loop assembly (124) and a bungee cord (21) running the length of said bungee loop assembly (124), forming a loop with an end of said bungee cord (21) running through said opening (210), and securing said loop to a fastening means onto a roof to provide lateral tension for the flexible cover (121).

The method of claim (20) further comprising the step of providing at least one end flap (121a) at an edge of the flexible cover (121) to prevent wind from blowing underneath the cover and causing damage to the roof (10).

An apparatus for removing ice and snow from roofs comprising a flexible cover (121) having a top end and a bottom end, said top end secured to a roof (10), and said bottom end secured below a bottom edge of the roof to provide a slippery surface for facilitating the removal of ice and snow disposed thereon.

A apparatus for removing ice and snow from roofs comprising a flexible cover (121) having a top edge and a bottom edge, said top edge secured to a roof (10) having an eave (113) with a fastening means (16) and said bottom edge hanging over an end of said roof (10) to protect the eave (113) from damage from ice and snow.

A flexible gutter apparatus (223) comprising two substantially linear edges secured in a spaced relationship to each other to maintain the gutter shape and flexible gutter material substantially secured to the linear edges and defining an interior space and suitably adapted to become substantially convex shape when pushed upward from below, thereby emptying any ice, snow and debris that may have accumulated within the gutter.

A flexible gutter apparatus (223) comprising two substantially linear edges secured in a spaced relationship to each other to maintain the gutter shape and flexible gutter material substantially secured to the linear edges and defining an interior space and an inflatable compartment (238) disposed within the interior space that is suitably adapted to push out when inflated any ice, snow and debris that may have accumulated within the gutter.

An apparatus for removing ice and snow from roofs comprising

• an inflatable sleeve (19) having a top edge and a bottom edge, said top edge secured to a roof (10), and
• a fence (242) secured near a bottom section of the roof (10), thereby forming a trough (243) when the sleeve (19) is not inflated for preventing snow and ice from sliding off uncontrolled.