Roof object support system
View Patent ↗A support block for supporting objects on a roof. The support block is a moulded elastomeric block with a substantially hollow core. The support block can be used as is or in a system whereby a galvanized steel channel is secured to the top wall of the block accommodating the mating of a variety of clamps. In some embodiments, the block is elongate and generally flat and supports a roof mounted object thereon when two or more blocks are supported parallel and spaced apart from one another with the object spanning between the blocks.
1. A method of supporting a roof object comprising rooftop equipment on a roof of a building, the method comprising:
forming a support block such that:
the support block is as a single piece of a self-damping elastomeric material; and
the support block comprises:
a pair of opposing end walls oriented perpendicularly to a flat bottom of the support block;
a top wall which is elongate in a longitudinal direction extending between the opposing end walls;
a pair of sloped side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the top wall between the opposing end walls and extending downwardly and outwardly in a lateral direction from the top wall to the flat bottom of the support block such that the flat bottom is wider in the lateral direction than the top wall;
a pair of hollow cavities formed in the elastomeric material which are open to the flat bottom; and
a divider wall spanning between the top wall and the flat bottom between the hollow cavities;
arranging the divider wall to support and suspend the top wall above the hollow cavities;
supporting the flat bottom of the support block on the roof; and
supporting the roof object on the top wall such that:
the support block is supported between the roof object and the roof; and
the self-damping elastomeric material forming the support block dampens vibration between the roof object and the roof.
2. The method according to claim 1 including forming the support block from recycled rubber tires.
3. The method according to claim 1 including supporting a roof object comprising rooftop mechanical equipment on the support block.
4. The method according to claim 1 including forming the hollow cavities to occupy a majority of the support block such that a majority of the support block is hollow.
5. The method according to claim 1 including:
providing a rigid channel member;
fastening the rigid channel member onto the top side of the support block; and
supporting the roof object on the rigid channel member.
6. The method according to claim 5 including forming the top wall to be flat and mounting the rigid channel member against the flat top wall.
7. The method according to claim 5 including fastening the rigid channel member to the top wall of the support block using threaded fasteners.
8. The method according to claim 5 including forming the rigid channel member to be generally U-shaped in cross section, having a base secured to the top wall of the support block and a pair of spaced apart upright flanges spanning upward from the base to an open top end of the channel.
9. The method according to claim 8 including orienting the base and the upright flanges to extend in the longitudinal direction between the opposing end walls of the support block.
10. The method according to claim 1 including adhering the flat bottom of the support block to the roof using adhesive.
11. The method according to claim 1 including moulding a plurality of support blocks as a single length and cutting the support blocks from the single length.
12. The method according to claim 1 including supporting a plurality of support blocks spaced apart from one another, each being formed of a single piece of self damping elastomeric material, and commonly supporting the roof object on the plurality of support blocks.
13. A method of supporting a roof object comprising rooftop mechanical equipment on a roof of a building, the method comprising:
forming a support block from recycled rubber such that:
the support block is a single piece of self-damping elastomeric material; and
the support block comprises:
a pair of opposing end walls oriented perpendicularly to a flat bottom of the support block;
a top wall which is elongate in a longitudinal direction between the opposing end walls;
a pair of sloped side walls extending downwardly and outwardly in a lateral direction from the top wall to the flat bottom of the support block such that the flat bottom is wider in the lateral direction than the top wall;
a pair of hollow cavities formed in the elastomeric material which are open to the flat bottom; and
a divider wall spanning between the top wall and the flat bottom between the hollow cavities;
arranging the divider wall to support and suspend the top wall above the hollow cavities;
providing a rigid channel member;
fastening the rigid channel member onto the top side of the support block using threaded fasteners;
supporting the flat bottom of the support block on the roof; and
mounting the mechanical roof object on the rigid channel member such that:
the support block is supported between the roof object and the roof; and
the self-damping elastomeric material forming the support block dampens vibration between the mechanical roof object and the roof.
14. A method of supporting a roof object comprising rooftop equipment on a roof of a building, the method comprising:
forming a support block such that:
the support block is a single piece of a self-damping elastomeric material; and
the support block comprises:
a pair of opposing end walls oriented perpendicularly to a flat bottom of the support block;
a top wall which is flat and elongate in a longitudinal direction extending between the opposing end walls which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a pair of sloped side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the top wall between the opposing end walls and extending downwardly and outwardly in a lateral direction from the top wall to the flat bottom of the support block such that the flat bottom is wider in the lateral direction than the top wall;
a pair of hollow cavities formed in the elastomeric material which are open to the flat bottom; and
a divider wall spanning between the sloped side walls from the top wall to the flat bottom between the hollow cavities;
arranging the divider wall to support and suspend the top wall above the hollow cavities;
supporting the flat bottom of the support block on the roof; and
supporting the roof object on the top wall such that:
the support block is supported between the roof object and the roof; and
the self-damping elastomeric material forming the support block dampens vibration between the roof object and the roof.