Patent Issued for Roof protection system (USPTO 11808044): United Services Automobile Association

2023 NOV 24 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent by the inventors Bodden, Chris Aaron (San Antonio, TX, US), Bunton, Shirley Elizabeth (San Antonio, TX, US), Contreras, Andrew Jacob (San Antonio, TX, US), Dickson, Shayna (Boerne, TX, US), Gregorio, Igor Alexandre (San Antonio, TX, US), Hinojosa, Cynthia Ann (Selma, TX, US), Pena, Ric M. (Boerne, TX, US), Seaton, Jonathan Edward (San Antonio, TX, US), Williamson, Lemont (San Antonio, TX, US), Young, Stephen Anthony (Boerne, TX, US), filed on March 31, 2021, was published online on November 7, 2023, according to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx correspondents.

Patent number 11808044 is assigned to United Services Automobile Association (San Antonio, Texas, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Exterior structures will generally be covered or sheltered by a roof or other surface that is designed for exposure to outdoor conditions. For example, roofs provide a very large surface area facing ‘up’ or at least partly angled in a direction toward the sky, which necessarily increases the possibility of impacts and in some cases damage from hail, wind-blown debris, and other unfavorable weather events. Roofing contractors and owners of such structures, whether they be residential or commercial, are well aware that the type of damage that can result from a hailstorm can be catastrophic.

“In addition, because the damage that occurs is in the roof structure itself, the repair or replacement process can be costly and deeply affect people, structures, equipment, or other inventory stored within the affected buildings. For example, artwork, personal valuables, sensitive equipment, and documents are but a few possible items contained within a building that would be irrevocably damaged by contact with any significant amount of water. The roofing systems available today remain vulnerable to exposure to such dynamic weather elements. Attempts to add protective measures to these exterior surfaces are also frequently associated with a decrease in a building’s aesthetic appearance.

“There is a need in the art for a system and method that addresses the shortcomings discussed above.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “In one aspect, a method of protecting an outdoor structure in anticipation of damage resulting from exposure to hailstorms includes identifying a first appearance type of a first exterior portion of the outdoor structure, matching the first appearance type to a first mesh option of a plurality of mesh options, and obtaining a first protective sheet corresponding to the first mesh option. The method also includes arranging the first protective sheet to extend across and cover a first exterior portion of the outdoor structure, and securing and installing the first protective sheet onto the first exterior portion, the first protective sheet being spaced apart from the first exterior portion.

“In another aspect, a method of providing protection to exterior structures from inclement weather includes receiving at least a first image of a first portion of a roof of an exterior structure, receiving a first request for a protective covering system for at least the first portion, and determining a first appearance type of the first portion of the roof based on the first image. The method also includes selecting a first mesh material with a second appearance type that is substantially similar to the first appearance type, and providing a protective covering system including a first protective sheet comprising the first mesh material.

“In another aspect, a roof protection system includes a first mesh sheet. The first mesh sheet covers a first roof portion of a building, and is spaced apart from the first roof portion.

“Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A method of protecting structure in anticipation of damage resulting from exposure to hailstorms, the method comprising: identifying a first color of a first exterior portion of the structure; matching the first color appearance type to a color of a first mesh option of a plurality of mesh options; obtaining a first protective panel based on the first mesh option, the first protective panel including a rigid frame having a first thickness, where a first mesh material of the first color is stretched across a first side of the frame and is bounded and bordered by the frame; arranging the first protective panel to extend across and cover the first exterior portion of the structure; and securing the first protective panel onto the first exterior portion, the first mesh material being spaced apart from the first exterior portion by at least the first thickness of the frame.

“2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a shape and dimensions of the first exterior portion, and wherein the first protective panel has substantially similar shape and dimensions as the first exterior portion.

“3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mesh material includes a plurality of apertures.

“4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mesh material is spaced apart from the first exterior portion by at least a quarter of an inch upon installation.

“5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mesh material is substantially elastic.

“6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mesh material is substantially rigid.

“7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first exterior portion is a portion of a roof of the exterior structure.

“8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mesh material is spaced apart from the first exterior portion by a distance that is selected based on an elasticity of the first mesh material.

“9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protective panel is hingedly connected to a second protective panel that is configured to extend across a second exterior portion that is adjacent to the first exterior portion.

“10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting a second protective panel including a substantially transparent mesh material; arranging the second protective panel sheet to extend across and cover a second exterior portion of the structure; and securing the second protective panel onto the first exterior portion.

“11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mesh material comprises a plurality of interconnected strands, and wherein an average thickness of the strands is less than 1 millimeter.

“12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mesh material has a first color substantially similar to a second color of the first exterior portion.

“13. A roof protection system comprising a first panel and a second panel, wherein: a first mesh sheet is bordered by a first rigid frame with a first thickness to form the first panel; a second mesh sheet is bordered by a second rigid frame with a second thickness to form the second panel; the first panel is hingedly connected to the second panel; the first panel covers a first roof portion of a building and the second panel covers a second roof portion of the building; and wherein the first mesh sheet is stretched across a first side of the first rigid frame and is bounded and bordered by the rigid frame.

“14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first mesh sheet is substantially elastic.

“15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first mesh sheet has a first elasticity and the second mesh sheet has a second elasticity that is less than the first elasticity.

“16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first panel includes a plurality of reinforced loops along a peripheral edge of the rigid frame.

“17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first mesh sheet is spaced apart from the first roof portion by at least a quarter of an inch.

“18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first mesh sheet is spaced apart from the first roof portion by a first distance, the second mesh sheet is spaced apart from the second roof portion by a second distance that is less than the first distance.

“19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first mesh sheet is substantially rigid.

“20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first panel is secured to the building via rails installed along the first roof portion.”

URL and more information on this patent, see: Bodden, Chris Aaron. Roof protection system. U.S. Patent Number 11808044, filed March 31, 2021, and published online on November 7, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11808044)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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