# US 9,752,326 B2 · Membrane roofing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,326 B2 - Document ID: US9752326B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/613,351 - Filed: 2012-09-13 - Published: 2013-01-03 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-10 - Assignees: Velcro BVBA - Applicants: David P. Kraus, Jr.; Derrick Slowikowski; Ernesto S. Tachauer; William H. Shepard; Howard A. Kingsford; Peter C. Garrigus; Michael D. Murry - Inventors: David P. Kraus, Jr.; Derrick Slowikowski; Ernesto S. Tachauer; William H. Shepard; Howard A. Kingsford; Peter C. Garrigus; Michael D. Murry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752326B2 ## CPC - E04D 5/144: {Mechanical fastening means} - B29C 39/18: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles {(B29C39/206 takes precedence)} - B29C 44/306: {Longitudinally shaping, e.g. the belt} - B29C 44/32: Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. linings, inserts or reinforcements - B29C 44/321: {the preformed part being a lining, e.g. a film or a support lining} - B29C 44/326: {Joining the preformed parts, e.g. to make flat or profiled sandwich laminates} - B29C 44/461: {dispensing apparatus, e.g. dispensing foaming resin over the whole width of the moving surface} - B29C 44/468: {in a plurality of parallel streams which unite during the foaming} - E04C 2/243: {one at least of the material being insulating} - E04D 5/147: {not perforating the flexible material} - E04D 13/1643: {the roof structure being formed by load bearing corrugated sheets, e.g. profiled sheet metal roofs} - F24S 25/61: for fixing to the ground or to building structures - F24S 2025/02: {Ballasting means} - F24S 2025/6001: {by using hook and loop-type fasteners} - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A foam roofing underlayment is provided with a reinforcement membrane having an array of fastener elements for engaging fastener elements on a flexible roof membrane. The underlayment is formed by molding foam between the reinforcement membrane and a carrier membrane. The underlayment in secured to the roof using washers having fastener elements for engaging the fastener elements of the flexible roof membrane. An anti-peel flap with fastener elements is provided around the periphery of the washers. A slip sheet is used between the underlayment and the flexible roof membrane to permit accurate positioning of the flexible roof membrane prior to engagement of the fastener elements. The interstices between the fastener elements provide lateral moisture paths to vents in the flexible roof membrane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roof comprising: a roof deck; underlayment comprising foam boards each fastened to the roof deck with discrete board fasteners each extending through one of the foam boards and into the roof deck, each foam board of the underlayment carrying a field of fastener elements extending across an exposed surface of the board; and a flexible roof membrane extending over the underlayment, the roof membrane comprising a water-impervious sheet with a field of fastener elements disposed on an underside thereof and engaged with the fastener elements of the foam boards to secure the roof membrane; wherein the discrete board fasteners each carry a field of fastener elements that releasably engage with the fastener elements of the roof membrane to secure the membrane to the fastener elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the discrete board fasteners each comprise a flange that overlays an outer foam board surface to retain the foam board to the roof deck, and wherein the flange carries the field of fastener elements that releasably engage with the fastener elements of the roof membrane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The roof of claim 2, wherein the flange is formed by a washer through which a shank of the discrete board fastener extends, with a head of the fastener bearing against the washer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the fastener elements comprise molded fastening projections with individual resin stems extending from a common resin layer on an outer surface of the discrete board fastener. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the fields of fastener elements extending across exposed surfaces of the underlayment boards are coplanar with the fields of fastener elements carried by the discrete board fasteners. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the fields of fastener elements carried on the underlayment boards and on the discrete board fasteners comprise male touch fastener elements, and wherein the field of fastener elements on the underside of the roof membrane comprises exposed fiber loops or fiber segments configured to be snagged by the male touch fastener elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the fastener elements of the underlayment and the fastener elements of the roof membrane form a fastening with a nominal shear slack of between about 0.762 mm (0.030 inch) and 1.524 mm (0.090 inch). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, configured to withstand an up-lift force of at least about 90 pounds/square foot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of at least one of the discrete board fasteners comprises a peripheral anti-peel flap carrying fastener elements for engaging fastener elements of the roof membrane. ### Claim 10 A method of roofing a structure, the method comprising: securing underlayment to a roof deck, the underlayment comprising foam boards each fastened to the roof deck with discrete board fasteners each extending through one of the foam boards and into the roof deck, each foam board of the underlayment carrying a field of fastener elements extending across an exposed surface of the board, and each discrete board fastener carrying a field of fastener elements; and positioning a flexible roof membrane to extend across the secured underlayment, the roof membrane comprising a water-impervious sheet with a field of fastener elements exposed across one face thereof to engage with the fastener elements of the underlayment and of the discrete board fasteners, to secure the roof membrane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising mechanically enhancing engagement of the fastener elements of the flexible roof membrane with the fastener elements of the discrete board fasteners and underlayment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein mechanically enhancing the engagement of the fastener elements comprises rolling or brooming the outer surface of the positioned membrane.