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1US 1 0,954,674 B2HEATED SNOW GUARDCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATIONSThis application is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 1 5/974,582, filed May 8, 201 8.BACKGROUNDThis disclosure relates to snow retention devices attachedto roofs. Specifically, this disclosure relates to snow guards.Snow guards are snow retention devices designed toprevent snow and ice from avalanching off roofs. Snowguards are different from roof edge deicing systems. Roofedge deicing systems use heated pads, heated membranes, orheated cables, mounted flush or below the roof shingles,tiles, or other metal roof surface, at the roof edge. Theirpurpose is to prevent heavy ice, or ice dams, caused by snowmelting and re-freezing at the warmer roof edge fromaccumulating at either the roof edge or gutter. In contrast,snow guards are snow retention devices mounted above theroof surface, typically away from the roof edge. Theirpurpose is to create a barrier, or create friction, to preventsnow from avalanching off a pitched (i.e., an angled) roof.There are several types of snow guards. These includepad-style, pipe-style, and bar-style snow guards. Histori cally, these derive from two concepts for snow retentiondeveloped several hundred years ago. The first concept wasto place stationary rocks on roofs to provide friction andprevent snow from sliding down the roof slope. The secondconcept was to position logs on the roof parallel to, but awayfrom, the roof edge to act as a fence or barrier for snow andice. Pad-style snow guards are analogous to placing station ary rocks on the roof surface. Pipe-style and bar-style snowguards are analogous to placing logs parallel to, but awayfrom, the roof edge.Pad-style snow guards, typically comprise individual pro jections, cleats, or pads that project above the roof surface.Their purpose is to provide friction and prevent snow and icefrom sliding down a sloped roof.Pipe-style snow guards use one or more enclosed pipes ortubes positioned above the roof surface to create a barricadefor snow to accumulate. The pipes or tubes are oftenpositioned above the roof surface by brackets, seam clamps,or mounting devices depending on the type of roof. Thepipes or tubes are typically positioned parallel to the length wise edge of the roof. More than one pipe or tube can bepositioned above one another to act like a fence or barrier forsnow. The pipes or tubes are typically placed well away fromthe roof edge so if snow accumulates and spills over the topof the snow guard, it is less likely to avalanche over the edgeof the roof.Bar-style are like pipe-style snow guards except verticalbars or open L-brackets are used in place of enclosed pipesor tubes. Both bar-style and pipe-style snow guards are oftencollectively called snow guard rail systems.SUMMARY51015202530354045505560The inventor noted that one problem with snow guards isthat in unexpected large storms or long cold winters, snowmay accumulate beyond the capacity of the snow guard andspill over the top of snow guard tubes.The inventor reasoned that he could heat the snow guard 65tubes to prevent excess accumulation of snow and melt iceand snow gradually to prevent large amounts of snow and2ice falling all at once. The inventor discovered that he coulddirect the heat energy to optimize snow melt. The inventorfound several ways, that could be used alone or in combi nation, to direct the heat. These include the following. First,he could use infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs), radiantinfrared emitters, or other infrared heating or lights sourcesand direct the heat by directing the infrared light. Second, hecould vary the wall thickness of the snow guard tube todirect the heat. Third, he could create a multi-chamber snowguard tube with one or more heating elements (e.g. heatingtape in one chamber, and infrared LEDs in the other cham ber). The multi-chamber snow guard tube could optionallyhave a heating element in one chamber isolated from a heatstorage material in the other chamber. Fourth, he couldcreate an infrared absorbing or reflective coating selectivelyapplied to the snow guard tube in combination with aninfrared light source to direct the heat.To the inventor's knowledge, he is the first to use infraredLEDs as a heating element in a snow guard assembly.Infrared LEDs and infrared light sources are typically usedwhere the infrared light can radiate outward into an openspace. For example, infrared quartz heating elements aretypically used in reflective room heaters. A reflective backsurface, typically parabolic, projects the infrared light intoeither an interior or exterior space to heat a specific area.Arrays of infrared LEDs mounted against back reflectivesurfaces are similarly used to heat specific indoor or outdoorspaces. In addition, infrared LED in waterproof fixtures,combined with large blower fans, are used in automated carwashes to dry water vehicles. In all these examples, theinfrared LEDs are used to project infrared energy (i.e.,infrared light) out into an exterior environment. Their fix tures are typically uncovered or covered with a materialtransparent to infrared light. The inventor discovered, contrary to popular wisdom, that he could advantageously applyinfrared LEDs to an enclosed space where the surfaceenclosing the space is substantially opaque to infraredenergy and/or visible light.When switching between conduction type heating elements, and infrared heating elements differences betweenthe two types of heating elements should be appreciated andis not simply substitution. Conduction type heating ele ments, like heat tape, heat trace cable, or heating wire,transfer heat by direct contact with a heat conductivemedium. For example, direct conduction to a metal snowguard tube as well as heating the air space surrounding theheating element. Infrared heating elements, such as infraredLEDs, conduct waste heat through their diode junction andthrough radiating infrared radiation (i.e., infrared light) ontoa heat conducting medium such as the snow guard tube.These differences can dictate design choices and are non obvious. However, designing for each type of heating ele ment or combinations of each should be clear from theexamples described within this disclosure.To make the snow guard easy to assemble and service, theinventor discovered that he could construct the snow guardtube so that the snow guard tube was length-wise separableinto a first tube portion and a second tube portion. Theinventor envisions that a wide range of structures can jointhe length-wise tube portions together. For example, the firsttube portion and a second tube portion can snap together, canbe hinged along one length-wise edges on side of the snowguard tube and snap together along the length-wise edges onthe other side of the snow guard tube.The inventor anticipates using his snow guard assembly ina wide range of roof styles. These include standing seam,shingle, shake, tile, metal, or concrete roofs. He also envi-

US 1 0,954,674 B234sions the snow guard being used in transparent or translucentroofs, for example glass, acrylic, or polycarbonate roofs.The inventor envisions the snow guard assembly couldinclude a mounting bracket to raise the snow guard tubeabove the roof. In addition, the inventor envisions that thesnow guard can include a backstop that projects above theenclosed tube with the enclosed tube being mounted directlyto the roof surface or via an elastomeric membrane orflashing. This type of snow guard has the advantages of botha pipe-style and bar-style snow guard.The inventor discovered that he could mix strings ofinfrared LEDs with visible light emitting LEDs to create asnow guard that was both heated and could display wordsand patterns. The infrared LEDs can be arranged so they heatthe tube by both waste heat conduction and by infraredradiation. The visible light emitting LEDs can be arrangedso they shine light through the cutouts in the shape ofsymbols, patterns, or words and conduct their waste heat toheat the tube.The snow guard assembly can have their heating elementcontrolled by a controller such as an automation controlleror other electronic or electro-mechanical control system.The heating elements can be wired in a single zone or in twoor more zones within the snow guard tube. A systemcontroller can separately drive the heating elements based onfeedback control from snow sensors positioned in each zoneor by other factors such as air temperature, weather forecast,or precipitation.This S ary introduces a selection of concepts insimplified form described the Description. The Summary isnot intended to identify essential features or limit theclaimed subject matter.FIG. 13 illustrates a portion of FIG. 11, in side elevationview, showing an enlarged view of the snow guard.FIG. 14 illustrates a section view of FIG. 13 taken alongsection lines 14-14.FIG. 15 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 14, indicated inFIG. 14 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral15, enlarged to show the heating element in more detail.FIG. 16 illustrates a portion of the snow guard of FIG. 11,in top, side, and perspective view, with the snow guard tubein exploded view to show the heating element.FIG. 17 illustrates a portion of the snow guard tube andheating element of FIG. 11, in top, side, and explodedperspective view.FIG. 18 illustrates the snow guard tube and heatingelement of FIG. 17 in exploded side elevation view.FIG. 19 illustrates a third example of a snow guardmounted to a portion of a tile roof in top perspective view.FIG. 20 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 19, indicated inFIG. 19 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral20, and enlarged to show the end portion of the snow guardin greater detail.FIG. 21 illustrates the view of FIG. 20 with one of theroofing tiles removed to better illustrate the mountingbracket.FIG. 22 illustrates a fourth example of a snow guardmounted to a portion of a roof in top, front, and perspectiveview.FIG. 23 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 22, stated in FIG.22 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral 23,enlarged to show the end portion of the snow guard ingreater detail.FIG. 24 illustrates a portion of FIG. 22, in side elevationview, showing an enlarged view of the snow guard.FIG. 25 illustrates a portion of the snow guard of FIG. 22,in top, side, and perspective view, with the snow guard tubein exploded view to show the heating element.FIG. 26 illustrates a portion of the snow guard tube ofFIG. 22, in top, side, and exploded perspective view.FIG. 27 illustrates the snow guard tube of FIG. 22 inexploded side elevation view.FIG. 28 illustrates the mounting bracket of the snow guardof FIG. 22 in side elevation view.FIG. 29 illustrates the mounting bracket of the snow guardof FIG. 22 in top perspective view.FIG. 30 illustrates a forth example of a snow guardmounted to a portion of a roof in top, front, and perspectiveview.FIG. 31 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 30, indicated inFIG. 30 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral31, and enlarged to show the end portion of the snow guardin greater detail.FIG. 32 illustrates a portion of FIG. 30, in side elevationview, showing an enlarged view of the snow guard.FIG. 33 illustrates a portion of the snow guard of FIG. 30,in top, front, and perspective view, with the snow guard tubein exploded view to show the heating element.FIG. 34 illustrates the snow guard mounting bracket anda seam clamp assembly of FIG. 30 in side elevation view.FIG. 35 illustrates the snow guard mounting bracket andthe standing seam clamp of FIG. 30 in top and explodedperspective view.FIG. 36 illustrates a portion of the snow guard tube andinfrared LED lighting assembly of FIG. 30, in top explodedperspective view.FIG. 37 illustrates a portion of the snow guard tube ofFIG. 30, in exploded side elevation view.DRAWINGSFIG. 1 illustrates a snow guard assembly mounted to aportion of a roof in top, front, and perspective view.FIG. 2 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 1, indicated in FIG.1 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral 2, andenlarged to show the end portion of the snow guard ingreater detail.FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of FIG. 1, in side elevationview, showing an enlarged view of the snow guard.FIG. 4 illustrates a section view of FIG. 3 taken alongsection lines 4-4.FIG. 5 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 4, indicated in FIG.4 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral 5, andenlarged to show the heating element in more detail.FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of the snow guard of FIG. 1,in top, side, and perspective view, with the snow guard tubein exploded view to show the heating element.FIG. 7 illustrates a portion of the snow guard tube in topand exploded perspective view.FIG. 8 illustrates the snow guard tube of FIG. 7 inexploded side elevation view.FIG. 9 illustrates the snow guard mounting bracket andseam clamp in front, top, and exploded perspective view.FIG. 10 illustrates a snow clip of FIG. 1 in explodedperspective view.FIG. 11 illustrates a second example of a snow guardmounted to a portion of a roof in top, front, and perspectiveview.FIG. 12 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 11 indicated inFIG. 11 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral 12and enlarged to show the end portion of the snow guard ingreater detail.5101520253035404550556065

5US 1 0,954,674 B2FIG. 38 illustrates the snow guard of FIG. 30, mounted toa concrete or flat metal roof.FIG. 39 illustrates a detail view of FIG. 38, indicated inFIG. 38 by the dashed portion called out with the numeral39, and enlarged to show a second portion of the snow guardtube in greater detail.FIG. 40 illustrates a fifth example of a snow guardmounted to a

Raychem RIM-SC Snow Melt Concealed Panel System for Con cealed Roof & Gutter De-Icing (DS-H59994), Dec. 2016, Pentair Thermal, Houston, Texas. Raychem Roof and Gutter De-Icing Systems for Commercial Build ings (SB-H81855), Jul. 2016, Pentair Thermal, Houston, Texas. Raychem Roof Ice Melt Systems (SB-H81694), Aug. 2016, Pentair