초록 ▼

An apparatus for removing snow and ice from a roof includes a plurality of heating panels fastened to a rooftop surface. Each heating panel is formed from water-impermeable material and includes top and bottom surfaces formed from heat-resistant material. A plurality of elongated thermal-conductive

An apparatus for removing snow and ice from a roof includes a plurality of heating panels fastened to a rooftop surface. Each heating panel is formed from water-impermeable material and includes top and bottom surfaces formed from heat-resistant material. A plurality of elongated thermal-conductive heating elements are sandwiched medially of the top and bottom surfaces. A control panel is electrically coupled to one of the heating panels and a power cord is electrically coupled to an external power supply source. The present invention further includes a mechanism for electrically coupling the heating panels to each other and a mechanism for removably attaching the heating panels to the roof. A thermal sensor is operably connected to the control panel and the heating panels for monitoring an operating temperature of the heating elements.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A transportable apparatus positionable on a rooftop for dissipating heat along a surface area thereof, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of heating panels for being selectively fastened to at lea

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A transportable apparatus positionable on a rooftop for dissipating heat along a surface area thereof, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of heating panels for being selectively fastened to at least one portion of the rooftop surface, each said heating panel having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and comprising top and bottom surfaces formed from heat-resistant material and being flexible such that said heating panels can conform to uneven rooftop surfaces, and a plurality of thermal-conductive heating elements sandwiched medially of said top and bottom surfaces and extending along rectilinear paths disposed substantially parallel to the axis; a control panel electrically coupled to one of said heating panels and including a power cord electrically coupled to an external power supply source, said control panel for selectively regulating an operating temperature of said heating elements such that a user may cause said heating elements to heat the rooftop surface and melt undesirable ice and snow therefrom; means for electrically coupling said heating panels to each other such that said one heating panel defines a conduit through which power is supplied to other ones of said heating panels; means for removably attaching said heating panels such that selected ones of said heating panels can be maintained at a substantially stable position without being directly fastened to the rooftop surface, wherein said attaching means comprises a plurality of removably engageable male and female adaptors disposed along opposed sides of said heating panels such that adjacently positioned heating panels can be locked together while juxtaposed along the rooftop surface, each of said heating panels having first and second oppositely facing sides extending parallel to each other, each of said heating panels further having third and fourth oppositely facing sides extending parallel to each other wherein said first and second sides are registered orthogonal to said third and fourth sides respectively, selected ones of said heating panels having first, second, third and fourth ones of said female adaptors directly abutted against said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively, each of said first, second, third and fourth female adaptors having coextensive U-shapes facing outwardly from said selected heating panels, other ones of said heating panels having first, second, third and fourth ones of said male adaptors directly abutted against said first, second, third and fourth sides thereof respectively, said first, second, third and fourth male adaptors being removably and directly interfittable within said first, second, third and fourth female adaptors respectively such that said selected heating panels can be interchangeably rotated and locked with said other heating panels at each of said first, second, third and fourth sides respectively, a thermal sensor operably connected to said control panel and said heating panels for monitoring an operating temperature of said heating elements such that a user can identify whether the operating temperature should be adjusted during periodic intervals; and a portable hand-operable implement for assisting a user to maneuver said heating panels during installation procedures. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control panel comprises: a user interface and a microprocessor electrically coupled thereto, said interface for allowing a user to input a selected data parameter for operating said heating panels, said microprocessor for receiving said user input and generating a corresponding output signal such that said heating elements are caused to generate a selected level of heat for elevating a surface temperature of said heating panels respectively. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said heating panels is provided with a plurality of oppositely positioned apertures for receiving a fastening member therethrough. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said heating elements comprises: a pair of conductive end terminals for being electrically mated to said power cord. 5. A transportable apparatus positionable on a rooftop for dissipating heat along a surface area thereof, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of heating panels for being selectively fastened to at least one portion of the rooftop surface, each said heating panel having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and being formed from heat-resistant and water-impermeable material, said heating panels comprising top and bottom surfaces formed from heat-resistant material and being flexible such that said heating panels can conform to uneven rooftop surfaces, and a plurality of thermal-conductive heating elements sandwiched medially of said top and bottom surfaces and extending along rectilinear paths disposed substantially parallel to the axis; a control panel electrically coupled to one of said heating panels and including a power cord electrically coupled to an external power supply source, said control panel for selectively regulating an operating temperature of said heating elements such that a user may cause said heating elements to heat the rooftop surface and melt undesirable ice and snow therefrom; means for electrically coupling said heating panels to each other such that said one heating panel defines a conduit through which power is supplied to other ones of said heating panels; means for removably attaching said heating panels such that selected ones of said heating panels can be maintained at a substantially stable position without being directly fastened to the rooftop surface, wherein said attaching means comprises a plurality of removably engageable male and female adaptors disposed along opposed sides of said heating panels such that adjacently positioned heating panels can be locked together while juxtaposed along the rooftop surface; and a thermal sensor operably connected to said control panel and said heating panels for monitoring an operating temperature of said heating elements such that a user can identify whether the operating temperature should be adjusted during periodic intervals; and a portable hand-operable implement for assisting a user to maneuver said heating panels during installation procedures, wherein said implement has a linear handle and an actuating head monolithically formed therewith, said actuating head having a pair of outwardly diverging sides equidistantly spaced from said handle, said actuating head further having a plurality of coextensively shaped teeth equidistantly spaced along a distal end of said actuating head and intermediately seated between said pair of sides, each of said teeth having a first portion extending parallel to a top face of said actuating head and further having a second portion extending downwardly therefrom, wherein said first and second portions are registered orthogonal to each other. 6. The transportable apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control panel comprises: a user interface and a microprocessor electrically coupled thereto, said interface for allowing a user to input a selected data parameter for operating said heating panels, said microprocessor for receiving said user input and generating a corresponding output signal such that said heating elements are caused to generate a selected level of heat for elevating a surface temperature of said heating panels respectively. 7. The transportable apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said heating panels is provided with a plurality of oppositely positioned apertures for receiving a fastening member therethrough. 8. The transportable apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said heating elements comprise: a pair of conductive end terminals for being electrically mated to said power cord. 9. A transportable apparatus positionable on a rooftop for dissipating heat along a surface area thereof, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of heating panels for being selectively fastened to at least one portion of the rooftop surface, each said heating panel having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and being formed from heat-resistant and water-impermeable material, each of said heating panels comprising top and bottom surfaces formed from heat-resistant material and being flexible such that said heating panels can conform to uneven rooftop surfaces, and a plurality of elongated thermal-conductive heating elements sandwiched medially of said top and bottom surfaces and extending along rectilinear paths disposed substantially parallel to the axis; a control panel electrically coupled to one of said heating panels and including a power cord electrically coupled to an external power supply source, said control panel for selectively regulating an operating temperature of said heating elements such that a user may cause said heating elements to heat the rooftop surface and melt undesirable ice and snow therefrom, said control panel being mountable to a support surface adjacent ground level so that a user can operate said heating panels therefrom; means for electrically coupling said heating panels to each other such that said one heating panel defines a conduit through which power is supplied to other ones of said heating panels; means for removably attaching said heating panels such that selected ones of said heating panels can be maintained at a substantially stable position without being directly fastened to the rooftop surface; and a thermal sensor operably connected to said control panel and said heating panels for monitoring an operating temperature of said heating elements such that a user can identify whether the operating temperature should be adjusted during periodic intervals; wherein one of said heating elements is spaced below a top wall of said conduit. 10. The transportable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said control panel comprises: a user interface and a microprocessor electrically coupled thereto, said interface for allowing a user to input a selected data parameter for operating said heating panels, said microprocessor for receiving said user input and generating a corresponding output signal such that said heating elements are caused to generate a selected level of heat for elevating a surface temperature of said heating panels respectively. 11. The transportable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said attaching means comprises: a plurality of removably engageable male and female adaptors disposed along opposed sides of said heating panels such that adjacently positioned heating panels can be locked together while juxtaposed along the rooftop surface. 12. The transportable apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of said heating panels is provided with a plurality of oppositely positioned apertures for receiving a fastening member therethrough. 13. The transportable apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of said heating elements comprise: a pair of conductive end terminals for being electrically mated to said power cord. 14. The transportable apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a portable hand-operable implement for assisting a user to maneuver said heating panels during installation procedures.