Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Disparate sheet lamina between exposed surfaces of wall,... – Tie crossing dividing lamina
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-02
2003-12-23
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Disparate sheet lamina between exposed surfaces of wall,...
Tie crossing dividing lamina
C052S408000, C411S545000, C411S466000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06665991
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to seam plates for use in connection with the retention of roof decking membranes upon roof decking substructures at seam locations defined between separate, adjacent, and overlapping membrane members, and more particularly to a new and improved seam plate, and a roof decking system employing the same, wherein improved retention of the membrane member upon the roof decking substructure is able to be achieved without generating or initiating tearing or other similar deterioration of the roof decking membrane when the membrane is subjected to wind or other environmental forces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stress plates or seam plates are used in connection with the retention of roof decking membranes upon roof decking substructures at seam locations defined between separate but adjacent or overlapping membrane members, and are of course well-known in the art. Examples of such seam plates or stress plates are disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,699 which issued to Colin R. Murphy on Aug. 7, 1990, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,188 which also issued to Colin R. Murphy on Nov. 29, 1988. As can be appreciated from FIGS.
1
,
2
, and
3
A-
3
C of the drawings, which substantially correspond to FIGS.
4
,
1
, and
3
A-
3
C, respectively, of the aforenoted U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,699 patent to Murphy, the roof decking substructure is disclosed at
103
and may conventionally be provided with overlying insulation
102
. The insulation
102
is, in turn, adapted to have membranes disposed thereon in an overlying manner, and at a location or site at which separate and adjacent membranes are to be in effect seamed together in an overlapping manner, a first underlying membrane is disclosed at
101
and is adapted to be secured to the underlying deck substructure
103
by means of a screw fastener
107
passing through a seam plate or stress plate
10
, while a second membrane member
104
is adapted to be secured in an overlapping manner upon the first underlying membrane member
101
by means of a welded seam
111
.
The seam plate or stress plate
10
is seen to have a circular configuration, and is provided with an upper surface
11
and a lower surface
12
. A central aperture
15
is provided for passage therethrough of the screw fastener
107
, and a circular reinforcing rib
14
annularly surrounds the central aperture
15
. Accordingly, when such a stress plate or seam plate
10
is to be used to secure membrane members to the underlying decking substructure
103
, the stress plate or seam plate
10
is disposed atop the first underlying membrane member
101
, and the stress plate or seam plate
10
is then fixedly secured to the underlying decking substructure by means of screw fastener
107
being threadedly engaged with the underlying decking substructure. In accordance with the particularly unique stress plate or seam plate
10
as disclosed with the noted Murphy patents, the bottom surface
12
of the stress plate or seam plate
10
is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced prongs or tangs
21
each of which terminates in a gripping point
22
. The prongs or tangs
21
each have a substantially triangular configuration and are in effect partially punched-out or otherwise cut from the bottom surface portion
12
of the plate
10
, and are subsequently bent such that the prongs or tangs
21
attain their desired disposition with respect to the bottom surface portion
12
of the plate
10
. Such prongs or tangs
21
will therefore grip the lower or underlying membrane sheet
101
and prevent the same from becoming loose or free with respect to the stress plate
10
or the underlying roof substructure
103
despite wind or other environmental forces being impressed upon the membrane sheet
101
.
While the aforenoted stress or seam plates of Murphy have been satisfactory and commercially successful, it has been experienced that, despite well-meaning statements of intent to the contrary as set forth in the Murphy patents, the presence of the pointed prongs or tangs
21
characteristic of the stress plate or seam plate
10
of Murphy do in fact tend to puncture, tear, weaken, and otherwise cause deterioration of the membrane sheets
101
under wind and other environmental conditions. Obviously, such a state is not satisfactory in view of the fact that eventually, the membrane sheets tear away from the overlying seam plate
10
as well as away from the underlying roof decking, with the consequent result being the compromise of the structural integrity of the entire roof decking system.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved stress plate or seam plate wherein the plate can satisfactorily engage the membrane sheets so as to secure the membrane sheets to the underlying decking substructure, and yet, the means formed upon the stress plate or seam plate for engaging the membrane sheets will not tend to initiate tearing of the membrane sheets and thereby cause separation of the sheets with respect to the stress plate or seam plate as well as the underlying decking substructure under, for example, windy or other forceful environmental conditions.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved stress plate or seam plate for use in connection with the fixing or securing of membrane sheets to underlying roof decking substructures.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stress plate or seam plate for use in connection with the fixing or securing of membrane sheets to underlying roof decking substructures wherein the stress plate or seam plate effectively overcomes the various operational disadvantages or drawbacks characteristic of conventional stress plates or seam plates.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stress plate or seam plate for use in connection with the fixing or securing of membrane sheets to underlying roof decking substructures wherein the stress plate or seam plate effectively overcomes the various operational disadvantages or drawbacks characteristic of conventional stress plates or seam plates by providing the stress plate or seam plate with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, downwardly extending, triangularly configured projections wherein, in lieu of the projections having sharp pointed apex portions, the projections have substantially rounded or radiused apex portions so as not to in fact cause or initiate tearing or rupture of the roof decking membrane sheets under wind or other environmental force conditions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stress plate or seam plate for use in connection with the fixing or securing of membrane sheets to underlying roof decking substructures wherein the stress plate or seam plate effectively overcomes the various operational disadvantages or drawbacks characteristic of conventional stress plates or seam plates by providing the stress plate or seam plate with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, downwardly extending, triangularly configured projections wherein, in lieu of the projections having sharp pointed apex portions, the projections have substantially rounded or radiused apex portions so as not to in fact cause or initiate tearing or rupture of the roof decking membrane sheets under wind or other environmental force conditions, and wherein further, the seam plate or stress plate is also provided with different annular or circular rib structure which imparts various reinforcing and bending or flexibility characteristics to the stress plate or seam plate, as functions of or with respect to the characteristics of the membrane sheets, under such aforenoted wind or other environmental force conditions.
A last object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stress plate or seam plate for use in connection with the fixing or securing of membrane sheets to underlying roof decking substructures wherein the stress plate or seam plate effectively o
Friedman Carl D.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Schwartz & Weinrieb
Thissell Jennifer I.
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