# US 8,739,497 B2 · Roofing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,497 B2 - Document ID: US8739497B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/602,132 - Filed: 2012-09-01 - Published: 2013-03-07 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-02 - Applicants: Paul Duggan Meuser - Inventors: Paul Duggan Meuser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739497B2 ## CPC - E04D 11/002: {consisting of two or more layers, at least one of the layers permitting turfing of the roof} - A01G 9/033: Flat containers for turf, lawn or the like, e.g. for covering roofs - E04D 1/30: Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles (E04D3/40 takes precedence) - E04D 2001/308: {for special purposes not otherwise provided for, e.g. turfing tiles, step tiles} - Y02A 30/254: Roof garden systems; Roof coverings with high solar reflectance - Y02B 80/32: Roof garden systems - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A roofing apparatus including an enclosure for containing roofing materials is provided. The enclosure is defined by a front panel, a rear panel assembly positioned at a predetermined distance from the front panel, side panels positioned at opposing ends of the front panel, and a base panel having a tail area. The front panel, the rear panel assembly, and the side panels extend upwardly from the base panel. The tail area extends beyond the rear panel assembly for receiving runoff. The rear panel assembly directs the runoff from the tail area of the base panel into the enclosure. The front panel includes orifices for releasing the runoff to a downslope roofing apparatus or for draining the runoff from the roof. The roofing apparatus precludes slippage of the roofing materials contained within the enclosure, and uplift of the roofing materials from the enclosure due to environmental conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roofing apparatus comprising: an enclosure configured to contain roofing materials, said enclosure defined by a front panel, a rear panel assembly, side panels, and a base panel having a tail area, wherein said front panel, said rear panel assembly, and said side panels extend upwardly from said base panel; said front panel positioned along a length of said base panel; said side panels positioned at opposing ends of said front panel, wherein each of said side panels extends taperedly to said tail area of said base panel; said tail area of said base panel extending beyond said rear panel assembly, said tail area of a first said roofing apparatus configured to receive runoff from a second said roofing apparatus connected upslope from said first said roofing apparatus on a roof; and said rear panel assembly positioned parallel and opposite to said front assembly of said first said roofing apparatus configured to direct said received runoff from said tail area of said base panel of said first said roofing apparatus into said enclosure of said first said roofing apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said side panels comprises: a first side section defining a nested area with said front panel and said base panel; and a second side section outwardly offset from said first side section, wherein said second side section in conjunction with said tail area of said base panel defines a nesting area, wherein said nesting area of said first said roofing apparatus is configured to support said nested area of said second said roofing apparatus connected upslope from said first said roofing apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The roofing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first side section of said each of said side panels is proximal to said front panel, and wherein said second side section of said each of said side panels is proximal to said rear panel assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear panel assembly comprises a plurality of rear segments separated by a predetermined distance from each other, wherein said rear segments define slots therebetween configured to direct said received runoff from said tail area of said base panel of said first said roofing apparatus into said enclosure of said first said roofing apparatus through said slots. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear panel assembly comprises a slope member inclined from a top edge of said rear panel assembly towards said tail area of said base panel, wherein said slope member is configured to control flow of said received runoff from said tail area of said base panel of said first said roofing apparatus into said enclosure of said first said roofing apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of orifices positioned on said front panel, wherein said orifices are configured to one of release said received runoff from said second said roofing apparatus to said first said roofing apparatus connected downslope from said second said roofing apparatus, and drain said received runoff from said roof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The roofing apparatus of claim 6, wherein said orifices positioned on said front panel comprise: a plurality of low flow orifices positioned proximal to a bottom edge of said front panel; and a plurality of high flow orifices positioned above said low flow orifices and proximal to a top edge of said front panel, wherein said high flow orifices are configured to one of release said received runoff from said second said roofing apparatus to said first said roofing apparatus connected downslope from said second said roofing apparatus, and drain said received runoff from said roof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a weir positioned on said front panel, wherein said weir extends horizontally along a length of said front panel, and wherein said weir is configured to release said runoff received from less frequent, high intensity rainfall from said enclosure of said second said roofing apparatus to said tail area of said first said roofing apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a top edge of said front panel is defined at a predetermined distance below a top edge of each of said side panels, wherein said top edge of said front panel is configured to drain excess said runoff from said enclosure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pooling area defined in said tail area proximal to said rear panel assembly, wherein said pooling area is configured to temporarily hold said received runoff from flowing into said enclosure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a side notch extending along a length of one of said side panels, and a side key extending outwardly along a length of another one of said side panels, wherein said side notch of said roofing apparatus is configured to engage with said side key of an adjacent said roofing apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a key notch extending outwardly along a length of one of said side panels, wherein said key notch is configured to facilitate flow of said runoff along an interface defined between adjacent roofing apparatuses. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of anchor ridges positioned at a predetermined distance from each other and parallel to said front panel within said enclosure, wherein said anchor ridges are configured to preclude slippage of said roofing materials contained within said enclosure and uplift of said roofing materials from said enclosure due to environmental conditions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The roofing apparatus of claim 13, wherein said anchor ridges are configured to form one or more dams to trap said runoff for use by said roofing materials contained within said enclosure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more elongate fasteners connected from said front panel to said rear panel assembly and from one of said side panels to another of said side panels within said enclosure, wherein said elongate fasteners are configured to preclude uplift of said roofing materials from said enclosure due to environmental conditions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a nesting groove positioned on an inner surface of each of said side panels and extending rearward from said rear panel assembly; and a nested ridge positioned on an outer surface of said each of said side panels, wherein said nested ridge on said outer surface of said each of said side panels of said second said roofing apparatus is configured to slide into and engage with said nesting groove on said inner surface of said each of said side panels of said first said roofing apparatus, wherein said engagement between said first said roofing apparatus and said second said roofing apparatus precludes uplift of said first said roofing apparatus and said second said roofing apparatus due to environmental conditions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base panel is configured as an assembly comprising a first base section having said tail area, and a second base section inclined from said first base section, wherein said front panel, said rear panel assembly, and said side panels extend upwardly from said second base section to define said enclosure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a batten anchor positioned on an underside surface of said base panel, wherein said batten anchor is configured to interface said roofing apparatus with a roofing batten on said roof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The roofing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising pre-drilled nail holes in said base panel, wherein said pre-drilled nail holes are configured to allow a fastener to attach said roofing apparatus to a roofing batten on said roof. ### Claim 20 A method for roofing and managing precipitation and runoff on a roof, comprising: providing a plurality of roofing apparatuses, each of said roofing apparatuses comprising: an enclosure configured to contain roofing materials, said enclosure defined by a front panel, a rear panel assembly, side panels, and a base panel having a tail area, wherein said front panel, said rear panel assembly, and said side panels extend upwardly from said base panel; said front panel positioned along a length of said base panel; said side panels positioned at opposing ends of said front panel; said tail area of said base panel extending beyond said rear panel assembly; and said rear panel assembly positioned parallel and opposite to said front panel at a predetermined distance from said front panel; positioning a set of said roofing apparatuses on said roof in a predefined configuration with respect to another set of said roofing apparatuses; receiving said runoff on said tail area of said base panel of a first of said roofing apparatuses from a second of said roofing apparatuses connected upslope from said first of said roofing apparatuses on said roof; directing said received runoff from said tail area of said base panel of said first of said roofing apparatuses into said enclosure of said first of said roofing apparatuses by said rear panel assembly of said first of said roofing apparatuses; draining said received runoff from said enclosure through said front panel of said first of said roofing apparatuses; and draining excess said received runoff from said enclosure by a top edge of said front panel defined at a predetermined distance below a top edge of each of said side panels. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said predefined configuration for positioning said roofing apparatuses on said roof is one of an upslope configuration, a downslope configuration, an adjacent configuration, a row configuration, a column configuration, and any geometrical configuration. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein each of said side panels comprises: a first side section defining a nested area with said front panel and said base panel; and a second side section outwardly offset from said first side section, wherein said second side section in conjunction with said tail area of said base panel defines a nesting area, wherein said nesting area of said first of said roofing apparatuses is configured to support said nested area of said second of said roofing apparatuses connected upslope from said first of said roofing apparatuses. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said rear panel assembly comprises a plurality of rear segments separated by a predetermined distance from each other, wherein said rear segments define slots therebetween configured to direct said received runoff from said tail area of said base panel of said first of said roofing apparatuses into said enclosure of said first of said roofing apparatuses through said slots. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein each of one or more of said roofing apparatuses further comprises a plurality of orifices positioned on said front panel, wherein said orifices are configured to one of release said received runoff from said second of said roofing apparatuses to said first of said roofing apparatuses connected downslope from said second of said roofing apparatuses, and drain said received runoff from said roof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said set of said roofing apparatuses is positioned in an adjacent configuration with respect to said another set of said roofing apparatuses by engaging a side notch extending along a length of one of said side panels of each of said set of said roofing apparatuses with a side key extending outwardly along a length of another one of said side panels of each of said another set of said roofing apparatuses. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising temporarily holding said received runoff from flowing into said enclosure by a pooling area defined in said tail area proximal to said rear panel assembly of said roofing apparatus. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising facilitating flow of said runoff along an interface defined between adjacent said roofing apparatuses by a key notch extending outwardly along a length of one of said side panels of each of said adjacent said roofing apparatuses. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising precluding one or more of slippage of said roofing materials contained within said enclosure and uplift of said roofing materials from said enclosure due to environmental conditions, by one or more of: a plurality of anchor ridges positioned at a predetermined distance from each other and parallel to said front panel within said enclosure; and one or more elongate fasteners connected from said front panel to said rear panel assembly and from one of said side panels to another of said side panels within said enclosure. ### Claim 29 A roofing apparatus comprising: an enclosure configured to contain roofing materials, said enclosure defined by a front panel, a rear panel assembly, side panels, and a base panel having a tail area, wherein said front panel, said rear panel assembly, and said side panels extend upwardly from said base panel; said front panel positioned along a length of said base panel; said side panels positioned at opposing ends of said front panel; said tail area of said base panel extending beyond said rear panel assembly, said tail area of a first said roofing apparatus configured to receive runoff from a second said roofing apparatus connected upslope from said first said roofing apparatus on a roof; said rear panel assembly positioned parallel and opposite to said front panel at a predetermined distance from said front panel, said rear panel assembly of said first said roofing apparatus configured to direct said received runoff from said tail area of said base panel of said first said roofing apparatus into said enclosure of said first said roofing apparatus; and wherein a top edge of said front panel is defined at a predetermined distance below a top edge of each of said side panels, wherein said top edge of said front panel is configured to drain excess said runoff from said enclosure.