Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
STRUCTURE FOR HIDING AND PROTECTING FROM DAMAGE HVAC
AND OTHER ROOFTOP MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
111
The present invention relates generally to structures and construction
but more particularly to a
structure for hiding and protecting from damage HVAC and other rooftop
mechanical equipment.
2. Description of Related Art
121 On large commercial buildings HVAC and related mechanical equipment can be
found on the roof. In
some instances, during the design phase, architects may incorporate some
decorative elements designed
for hiding such equipment from view. Recently, some municipalities have
amended their building
codes so that it makes it mandatory for buildings to hide such equipment. This
new rule applies to new
and existing buildings. This means that existing buildings have to be
retrofitted with some kind of
structure having some aesthetic values. In both cases, installing a structure
for hiding rooftop
mechanical equipment is not always an easy task. First, trying to install a
new structure on a rooftop
without adversely affecting the roof surface is a challenge, as one does not
want a leaky roof as a result
of having installed such a structure. Also, a roof is not always level because
rainwater drainage
1
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
requires a slope, which adds a level of difficulty when trying to build a
level structure. The added
structure must not be too heavy so as to add weight beyond what the building
was designed for. The
mechanical equipment should not bear the load of the structure. For example in
fig. 2A a heat pump
has a perimeter fence with brackets that are mechanically fastened to the top
of the heat pump.
[3] This is likely to void any manufacturer warranty. This may not be
important for some residential
homeowners but applying the teachings of this patent onto commercial HVAC
equipment would also
void any warranty and not be at all recommended.
[4] Because HVAC equipment needs to exchange air, it cannot be sequestered
into a closed structure, there
has to be an opening for air exchange and since the purpose of the structure
is to hide the equipment,
the only way to have an opening is from the top. So, without a roof, and
without the possibility of
attaching the four walls of the structure to the equipment, how can one make
sure that the structure will
not be blown by the wind? The installer of such structure cannot drill holes
into the roof and cannot use
the HVAC as anchoring means. Options are quite limited and thus far, the prior
art has not found a
solution that provides for a securely attached decorative structure. A
decorative structure that can
withstand strong wind, and a decorative structure that does not impede the
ingress and egress of air
flow in and around the HVAC equipment so that it works properly.
151 Finally, special openings and access ways must be provided so that
maintenance can be done
unimpeded by accessing the equipment from the outside as well as getting
inside the structure so as to
also be able to walk around and service various parts of the equipment. No
adaptive structural system
2
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
that can provide such features exists. Consequently, there is therefore room
for improvement in that
area.
161 Applicant has already filed an application for a similar invention in CA
application 3,032,612 but there
were some issues which did not fully resolve the problems. For example, the
wind load were not
properly carried by the structure and some of the stress was borne by the HVAC
equipment. Also,
some features in the installation required support from the HVAC equipment.
These problems needed
to be addressed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[7] In one aspect of the invention a structure for hiding and protecting from
damage HVAC and other
rooftop mechanical equipment is provided, comprising a plurality of pre-cut,
adjustable metallic frame
and support members essentially consisting of vertical support members,
horizontal frame members, top
frame members, and bottom retaining members, wherein the plurality of pre-cut,
adjustable metallic
frame and support members are configured to surround the rooftop equipment
while providing a
passageway enabling a user to provide maintenance on the rooftop equipment.
Each bottom retaining
member is comprised of a base portion, a reinforcement member, and a
connecting member wherein the
3
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
connecting member is mechanically fastened either to an existing roof curb
forming part of the building
the structure is on or to a base portion of the rooftop equipment.
[8] In a preferred embodiment, the top frame members are extendible in length
via extensions, wherein the
extensions are configured and sized to slide and engage with the top frame
members.
[9] In yet another preferred embodiment, the connecting member take the wind
pressure coming onto the
bottom of one side of the screen and transfers it from the screen onto the
bottom retaining member, and
wind pressure applied to the upper half of the screen is transferred by way of
the top frame members
onto the vertical support members located on the opposite side of the
structure, from there, the force
follows the vertical support members downwardly until the forces are
transferred via the base portion
and reinforcement member onto the bottom retaining member.
[10] The structure for hiding rooftop equipment of claim 1, wherein the
plurality of pre-cut, adjustable
metallic frame and support members are extruded or cold formed from a selected
metallic material in a
shape selected from the group consisting of: square, rectangular, "Omega" or
"C" shaped.
1111 In yet another preferred embodiment, the extensions may be locked in
place with fasteners via a
plurality of aligned openings provided on the extensions and the top frame
members.
4
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
[12] In still another preferred embodiment, each vertical support members
rest on a pancake
configured to spread the load eliminating potential roof damage.
1131 In another embodiment, the vertical support and vertical frame members
include hooks enabling
the installation of a screen, wherein the screen is configured to hide the
roof equipment.
[14] Such a raised platform forms part of the building and is made
specifically to add a layer over the
rooftop so that mechanically fastening the HVAC equipment does not damage the
roof But the side of
this raised platform, which, like the rest of the raised platform, or the
bottom of the HVAC structure, is
designed for securely holding mechanical fasteners, allows for the bottom
retaining member to be
securely fastened. The webbing section forming part of the retaining member
allows for forces, such as
wind pressure, to be transferred from the vertical walls of the structure
perpendicularly onto the
retaining member.
1151 Moreover, wind pressure applied to the upper half of the walls is
transferred by way of top
transfer beams onto the other vertical members forming part of the wall on the
opposite side and the
forces follow the vertical beam downwardly until the forces are transferred
via the base portion onto
the retaining member. The weight of the structure is not borne by the HVAC but
rather by footings
resting on the rooftop. The footings have their load spread over a wide area
by way of pancakes having
a rubberized underside and resting on top of a membrane made out of the same
material as the roof
membrane. This ensures that there is no damage to the roof and that it can
also bear the load.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
1161 Additionally these footings not only have the advantage of
distributing the weight of the screen
on the roof, they also allow the screen to be level with the building. In most
cases, roofs have a slope
and the ventilation units are installed according to this roof slope. It is
not uncommon to have a 3-4
inch difference between one side of a unit and the other side.
1171 Access to the inside existing screens has always been a challenge.
Most of the time, you must
either remove a louver, as seen in FIG. 2C, or slide panels as in FIG. 2D. In
both cases, a service person
must always step over a steel or aluminum bar which is located approximately 2
feet from the ground.
In addition, in Nordic countries, ice forms in the mechanism and this blocks
the opening of doors.
Since in most cases the four sides of an HVAC system do not need to be hidden,
we have developed a
screen that allows to have a full opening on the back or on the side. In
addition, if the four sides must
be hidden, we have developed a hinge door so that it does not get caught in
the ice.
[18] In one embodiment, wherein the plurality of pre-cut, adjustable
metallic frame and support
members are extruded or cold formed from a selected metallic material in a
shape selected from the
group consisting of: square, rectangular, or "C" shaped. In one embodiment,
top frame members are
extendible in length via extensions, wherein the extensions are configured and
sized to slide and engage
with the top frame members. In another embodiment, the extensions may be
locked in place with
fasteners via a plurality of aligned openings provided on the extensions and
the top frame members. In
yet another embodiment, each vertical support members rest on a pancake
configured to spread the load
6
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
eliminating potential roof damage. In one embodiment, the vertical support and
vertical frame
members include hooks enabling the installation of a screen, wherein the
screen is configured to hide
the roof equipment.
[19] It should be noted that the term HVAC is to be interpreted as to mean
any rooftop equipment
that needs to be hidden. HVAC is just used here as a shorthand rather than a
limitation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
1201 Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent when the following
detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[21] FIGS. 1A-B is an isometric view of a structure for hiding HVAC and
other rooftop mechanical
equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1221 FIGS. 2A-B-C-D are an isometric view of a structure from the prior
art.
1231 FIGS. 3A-B are top views of the structure showing wind direction.
7
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
[24] FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing how the loads are distributed.
[25] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the vertical frame members, top frame
members, screen, and
bottom retaining members, showing how the forces are applied and transferred.
[26] FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing how the webbing sections attach to
the raised platform or
the bottom of the HVAC structure.
[27] FIGS. 7A-C are isometric views of various components for the structure
for hiding HVAC and
other rooftop mechanical equipment according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[28] FIG. 8A is a top view of a mechanical equipment component with the
structure installed around
it element according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[29] FIG. 8B is a side view of a mechanical equipment component, platform,
and bottom retaining
member according to embodiment of the present invention.
[30] FIGS. 9A-B are various views of a lever component according to an
embodiment of the present
invention.
[31] FFIG. 10 is a side view showing how to leveling the hiding system.
[32] FIG. 11 is a view showing a people accessing around the HVAC.
[33] FIG. 12 is the full rear access way.
[34] FIG. 13 is the full side corner access way.
[35] FIG. 14 is the full side access way.
[36] FIG. 15 is the full side access way with a door.
[37] FIG. 16 is the typical installation on the bottom of the HVAC
structure.
[38] FIG. 17 is the typical installation on to top of the raised platform.
8
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1391 The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in
the art to make and use the
invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of
carrying out their invention.
Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled
in the art, since the
general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to
specifically provide a structure
for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment.
1401 Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1,6 and 7, a structure 10 for
hiding HVAC 12 and
other rooftop mechanical equipment is illustrated. In one embodiment, the
structure comprises a
plurality of vertical support members 14, horizontal frame members 18, top
frame members 20, and
bottom retaining members 22. In a preferred embodiment, the frame and support
members previously
mentioned are pre-cut, adjustable, and constructed from a metallic material,
such as aluminum,
galvanized steel, or any other suitable material. The frame and support
members are extruded or cold
formed from the selected material in a shape such as, square, rectangular,
"Omega" or "C" shaped.
1411 In one embodiment, the frame and support members are size, shaped, and
joined such that the
HVAC and rooftop mechanical equipment is surrounded, yet still providing
access around the
equipment such that maintenance workers can perform any necessary maintained
on the equipment
when needed. The challenge with this type of design is that generally,
structures of this type would
require diagonal braces for structural strength. However, diagonal braces as
seen in the prior art of
FIG. 2B diagonal Z blocks the access way to the equipment. The provided access
and unencumbered
9
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
passageway around the equipment is a particular advantage of the present
invention. As seen in FIG.
11, the bottom retaining member 22 is at no more than 8 inches above the
rooftop whereas in FIG. 2B,
which is an example of the prior art, an equivalent bottom retaining member
22' is anywhere between
18-24 inches above the rooftop. This greatly encumbers the process of entering
inside the structure for
servicing. To provide the necessary structure and support, the bottom
retaining members 22 are further
comprised of a base portion 34, a reinforcement member 35, and a connecting
member 36.
[42] In one embodiment, the top frame members 20 are extendible in length
via extensions 24, which
are configured and sized to slide and engage with the top frame members 20. In
one embodiment, the
extension are locked in place using metal screws that pass through holes
(typically two aligned on each
side and one on top) made into the extension 24 and piercing through the top
frame member 20. The
bottom retaining members 22 and top frame members 20 connect with the vertical
support members 14
by way of pins 15 passing through grooves 17 as illustrated in FIF. 7B. In one
embodiment, the top
frame members 20 connect to other top frame members 20 via connecting brackets
32, as seen in FIG.
1A. In one embodiment, the vertical support members 14 with their footings 40
rest on the pancakes
28 configured for spreading the load to eliminate potential roof damage.
[43] In order to set a screen 30 level in relation to a building rather
than the slope of a rooftop 54, as
seen in FIGS. 8B and 10, the base portions 22 are installed so that they
follow the building rather than
the slope of the rooftop 54 level with the building. In order to do that, one
needs to simply use the
groove 17 so that the footing 40 can rest firmly on the rooftop 54.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
[44] In one embodiment, hooks 32 are provided on the vertical support
members 14, enabling the
installation of the screen 30 (best seen in FIG. 5), wherein the screen 30
provides a means for hiding
the HVAC. Latches (not illustrated) may be provided on the screen 30 to engage
with the hooks 32.
[45] There are three ways that a service person can access to the inside of
the screen:
[46] 1) As seen in FIG. 12, one side of the screen open.
[47] 2) One corner is left open as per FIG. 13
[48] 3) There is a door on one of the walls as per FIG. 14.
[49] No matter which way is used, access is always easy.
[50] In a preferred embodiment, the structure is not secured directly to
the roof, but rather by
utilizing the existing roof curb 21, best seen in FIG. 17 or a bottom section
of the HVAC structure, as
best seen in FIG. 16, when the HVAC manufacturer has provided its equipment
with a bottom portion
specifically for this function (In other words, no warranty violation). In
this manner, no drilling into
the roof is required but rather on the side of the roof curb 21 as seen in
FIG.17B, or to a bottom portion
23 of the HVAC structure FIG. 16.
[51] As best seen in FIGS 9A-C, these methods comprise steps (a) drilling
holes through on the side
of the raised platform or the bottom of the HVAC structure; (b) inserting
threaded inserts 42 into the
drilled holes; (c) squeezing the threaded inserts so that they bulge in such a
way that they cannot be
pulled out from the roof curb 21 or the bottom of the HVAC structure; (d)
testing the strength of the
11
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
insertion by partially screwing in a bolt 44 so as to let room for hooking the
head of the bolt with a rod
member 46 forming part of a lever 50; and (e) hooking a hanging weighing scale
48 at a distal end of
the lever 50, and using a fulcrum part 52 of the lever pressed against the
roof curb 21 or the bottom of
the HVAC structure, pulling on the lever 50 so as to exert a pre-determined
pulling force on the bolt
44, as measured by the scale 48, a way of testing the quality of the insertion
of the threaded insert into
the roof curb 21 or the bottom of the HVAC structure.
[52] This validation ensures that the roof curb 21 or the bottom of the
HVAC structure can bear any
environmental load, such as wind applied to the structure. If the test is
successful, bolt 44 is removed
and bottom retaining member 22 is installed and the bolt with a washer is
bolted in. Once the bottom
retaining member 22 is installed, the rest of the structure may be assembled.
[53] Such a roof curb 21 forms part of the building and is made
specifically to add a layer over the
roof top so that mechanically fastening the HVAC equipment will not damage the
roof. But the side of
this roof curb 21, which, like the rest of the roof curb 21 or the bottom of
the HVAC structure are
designed for securely holding mechanical fasteners, allows for the bottom
retaining member 22 to be
securely fastened. The connecting member 36 allows for forces, such as wind
pressure, to be transferred
from the screen 30 of the structure perpendicularly onto the bottom retaining
member 22. Moreover,
wind pressure applied to the upper half of the screen 30 is transferred by way
of top frame members 20
onto the other vertical support members 14 forming part of the wall on the
opposite side and the forces
follow the vertical support members 14 downwardly until the forces are
transferred via the base portion
34 and reinforcement member 35 onto the bottom retaining member 36. The weight
of the structure is
12
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
not borne by the HVAC but rather by footings 40 resting on the rooftop. The
footings 40 have their
load spread over a wide area by way of pancakes 28 having a rubberized
underside and resting on top
of a membrane made out of the same material as the roof membrane. This ensures
that there is no
damage to the roof 54 and that it can also bear the load.
[54] This transfer of forces from one side to the other, and down to the
bottom retaining members 22,
as best seen in FIGS. 3A-B and 4, ensures that the structure is solid and
secured around the HVAC
equipment.
[55] Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in
language specific to
structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the
invention defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described.
Rather, the specific features
and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the
claimed invention. Stated
otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein, as well as the
abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting. Therefore, while
exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described,
numerous variations and
alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such
variations and alternate
embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the
invention.
[56] It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the
labels such as left, right,
front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up,
down, or other similar
13
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique,
proximal, distal, parallel,
perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience
purposes only and are not
intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they
are used to reflect relative
locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an obj
ect.
[57]
In addition, reference to "first," "second," "third," and etc. members
throughout the disclosure
(and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical
limitation but instead are used to
distinguish or identify the various members of the group.
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-27
