Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ronald J Huffmon

Parimal M Vadhar

Dave C Hempfling

A protective seam plate retains a flexible membrane of a roofing system in place without tearing the flexible membrane during high winds. The protective seam plate comprises a seam plate having a web with a periphery and top and bottom surfaces. A protective ring surrounds the seam plate web periphery and overlies the web top and bottom surfaces around and adjacent the web periphery. The protective ring has a smooth continuous surface that is contacted by the flexible membrane when the flexible membrane lifts off the roof during high winds. The protective seam plate may be manufactured by heat shrinking a tube of heat shrinkable material surrounding the periphery of the seam plate web. Alternately, the protective ring may be an L-shaped ring that is assembled to the seam plate by bending a leg over the web top surface. The protective seam plate may also be fabricated by bending a flange that is integral with the seam plate web such that the flange partially overlies the web top surface. In that design, the web bottom surface and the flange bottom surface cooperate to form the smooth continuous surface presented to the flexible membrane.

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Northlake, IL, United States of America

Ronald J Huffmon