Securable Parapet Cap Roof Mat

Abstract

In a first embodiment a safety mat for use with a parapet cap on a wall is disclosed. The cap extends over the top of the wall and partially down each side of the wall. The safety mat includes a flexible pad having a width greater than a width of the top wall; a first cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from an interior of the pad toward a first width end; and a second cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of safety equipment and more particularly to a safety mat for use with a parapet wall having a cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many flat building roofs have parapet walls around the edges of the roof. The parapet wall in turn usually has a cap over the top of the wall and extending partially down each side of the wall for sealing the top of the wall. This cap is made of a variety of materials including sheet metal. In many cases in order to access the roof a ladder must be raised to the side of the parapet wall and the person trying to access the roof will have to step onto and over the wall from the ladder. Such a maneuver can be dangerous under the best conditions and especially so if the cap is wet from dew, rain snow, sleet or ice.

The concept of utilizing a mat over a surface to increase traction is well known. Various designs of mats for use in roofing settings have been put forth. U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,676 to Meniman et al. discloses a slip resistant floor mat for use on angled roofs. The mat includes a layered anti-slip surface with cloth reinforcing strip. The mat is held in place by hooks attached to the mat at one end.

Another example is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,245 to Turner in which a portable roof mat is disclosed. This mat is designed to be utilized on roof surfaces to create a walkway on a roof.

Other safety mat designs have incorporated features pertaining to how the anti-slip surface is to be designed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,356 to Shoemaker et al. discloses a specific pattern of raised projections for supplying traction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment a safety mat for use with a parapet cap on a wall is disclosed. The cap extends over the top of the wall and partially down each side of the wall. The safety mat includes a flexible pad having a width greater than a width of the top wall; a first cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from an interior of the pad toward a first width end; and a second cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end.

In preferred embodiments of the mat the first and second cinch down straps include hooks on an end opposite the interior of the pad. It is highly preferred that the safety mat further include a third cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end; and a fourth cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end.

In further embodiments the width of the safety mat is dimensioned so that the flexible pad hangs over the parapet cap extending partially down the wall when the safety mat is in the deployed position. In preferred versions, the flexible pad of the safety mat further includes a length and an open pattern section extending the entire length of the pad and a part of the width of the pad. It is highly preferable that the open pattern section is at least as wide as the section of the parapet cap covering the top of the wall.

In another embodiment, the safety mat further includes a pair of ladder cinch down straps extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end. Such an embodiment could also include a pair of ladder mounting straps for holding mat onto a top of a ladder while the ladder is lifted.

In a still further embodiment a method of protecting a parapet cap disposed over the top of a wall and extending at least partially down each side of the wall is disclosed. The method includes the step of providing a safety mat including a flexible pad having a width greater than a width of the top wall; a first cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from an interior of the pad toward a first width end; and a second cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end. Next, the safety mat is placed over the top of the wall so that first and second cinch down straps hang over different sides of the parapet cap. Finally each of the first and second cinch down straps are secured to a respective end of the parapet cap extending down the wall.

In other embodiments of the method the safety mat further includes a third cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end; and a fourth cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end. In such an embodiment the method further includes the step of securing each of the third and fourth cinch down strap to a respective end of the parapet cap extending down the wall. Furthermore, the cinch down straps could include hooks on an end opposite the interior of the pad.

In some embodiments the width of the flexible pad used in the method is dimensioned so that the flexible pad hangs over the parapet cap extending partially down the wall when the safety mat is in the deployed position. In preferred versions, the flexible pad further includes a length and an open pattern section extending the entire length of the pad and a part of the width of the pad. Highly preferably the width of the open pattern section is at least as wide as the section of the parapet cap covering the top of the wall.

In further embodiments the safety mat further includes a pair of ladder cinch down straps extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end. In such an embodiment, the method further includes the step of placing a ladder against the safety mat and securing the ladder cinch straps to the ladder. In addition the safety mat could further includes a pair of ladder mounting straps for holding mat onto a top of a ladder while the ladder is lifted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a safety mat according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the safety mat of FIG. 1 secured to a parapet cap with a ladder secured to the safety mat;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the ladder of FIG. 2 taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2 with a safety mat attached for installation; and

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1 a safety mat 10 according to a preferred embodiment is shown. In this embodiment the mat 10 is preferably made of rubber and is generally rectangular in shape, although other shapes could be utilized. The mat 10 includes opposite length sides 12, 14 and a opposite width sides 16, 18. The mat 10 is comprised of three primary regions extending between the width sides 16, 18. The center region 20 is of a crossing pattern defining opening 22 for allowing moisture to pass through. On each side of the center region is a solid side region 24. Furthermore, the mat 10 includes a top side 26 that is coated with an anti-slip coating like a sandpaper for grip. The bottom side (not shown) is not coated to protect the surface under the mat 10.

The safety mat 10 further includes a cap strap system. This cap strap system includes two opposite pairs of cinch down straps 28, 30. The first pair of straps 28 extends from the interior of the mat near opposite width sides 16, 18 and over the first length side 12. The location near, but not at the width sides 16, 18 ensures that the straps 28 stays over the mat 10 during use. The opposite pair of straps 30 extends from the interior of the mat near opposite width sides 16, 18 and over the second length side 14. Each strap includes an end 32 hanging over the length sides 12, 14 and each end 32 is attached to a hook 34. In this preferred embodiment the cinch down straps 28, 30 are of a releasable cam-buckle design; however any tightening straps known in the art could be utilized. For example, bungee cords or racheting straps could be used. This holds tile for any of the cinch down straps described herein.

The safety mat 10 also includes a ladder strap system. This ladder strap system includes a pair of ladder cinch down straps 36. The ladder cinch down straps 36 extend from the interior of the mat 10 closer to the first length side 12 than the second length side 14 and preferably a ladders-width apart and centered on the middle of the width of the mat 10. The ladder cinch down straps 36 do not extend past the length sides 12, 14. Each of the ladder cinch down straps 36 includes an end 38 including a hook 40.

Finally, the safety mat 10 includes a ladder mounting system. This ladder mounting system includes a pair of ladder lifting straps 42. The ladder lifting straps 42 extend from the interior of the mat 10 closer to the second length side 14 than the first length side 12 and preferably a ladders-width apart and centered on the middle of the width of the mat 10. The top 44 of one of the ladder lifting straps 42 and the bottom (not shown) of the other ladder lifting straps preferably includes hook and loop fasteners.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 the safety mat 10 is shown in use. In most cases in order to use the safety mat 10 the mat must be raised into position and attached to a cap on top of a parapet wall 60. This is best accomplished by attaching the mat 10 to a ladder 50. The ladder 50 includes side rails 52 and a plurality of steps 54. The ladder cinch down straps 36 are attached to the side rails 52 several steps down from the top of the ladder 50 as seen in FIG. 2. Referring now to FIG. 3, the ladder lifting straps 42 are wrapped around a ladder step 54 above where the cinch down straps 36 are placed and secured to each other utilizing the hook and loop fasteners, thus securing the mat 10 to the ladder 50.

Next, the ladder 50 is positioned with the safety mat 10 in contact with the cap 62 of a parapet wall 60. Preferably the safety mat 10 is positioned with the center region 20 extending slightly over the sides 64 of the cap 62. This will keep moisture from building up on top of the safety mat 10. Once the ladder 50 is raised and positioned, the person utilizing the mat 10 can climb the ladder and undo the ladder lifting straps 42 to allow the safety mat 10 to overlap the top of the cap 62 as seen in FIG. 4.

The final step of the installation is to secure the cap strap system to the cap 62. The cinch down straps 28, 30 are put into place with the hook 34 over a lower edge 66 of the cap 62. The cinch down straps 28, 30 are then tightened and the safety mat 20 is secured to the cap 62. It is important to note that preferably the ladder cinch down straps 36 remain in place in order to keep the ladder in place during use.

While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.

Claims

1. A safety mat for use with a parapet cap on a wall, the cap extending over the top of the wall and partially down each side of the wall, the mat comprising:

a flexible pad having a width greater than a width of the top wall;

a first cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from an interior of the pad toward a first width end; and

a second cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end.

2. The safety mat of claim 1 wherein the first and second cinch down straps include hooks on an end opposite the interior of the pad.

3. The safety mat of claim 1 further comprising a third cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end; and

a fourth cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end.

4. The safety mat of claim 3 wherein the cinch down straps include hooks on an end opposite the interior of the pad.

5. The safety mat of claim 4 wherein the width is dimensioned so that the flexible pad hangs over the parapet cap extending partially down the wall when the safety mat is in a deployed position.

6. The safety mat of claim 5 wherein the flexible pad further includes a length and an open pattern section extending the entire length of the pad and a part of the width of the pad.

7. The safety mat of claim 6 wherein the width of the open pattern section is at least as wide as the section of the parapet cap covering the top of the wall.

8. The safety mat of claim 5 further comprising a pair of ladder cinch down straps extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end.

9. The safety mat of claim 8 further comprising a pair of ladder mounting straps for holding mat onto a top of a ladder while the ladder is lifted.

10. A method of protecting a parapet cap disposed over the top of a wall and extending at least partially down each side of the wall, the method comprising

providing a safety mat including a flexible pad having a width greater than a width of the top wall; a first cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from an interior of the pad toward a first width end; and a second cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end;

placing the safety mat over the top of the wall so that first and second cinch down straps hang over different sides of the parapet cap; and

securing each of the first and second cinch down straps to a respective end of the parapet cap extending down the wall.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the safety mat further includes a third cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end; and a fourth cinch down strap extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a second width end, the method further comprising the step of securing each of the third and fourth cinch down strap to a respective end of the parapet cap extending down the wall.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the cinch down straps include hooks on an end opposite the interior of the pad.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the width of the flexible pad is dimensioned so that the flexible pad hangs over the parapet cap extending partially dow n the wall when the safety mat is in the deployed position.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the flexible pad further includes a length and an open pattern section extending the entire length of the pad and a part of the width of the pad.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the width of the open pattern section is at least as wide as the section of the parapet cap covering the top of the wall.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the safety mat further includes a pair of ladder cinch down straps extending at a first end thereof from the interior of the pad toward a first width end the method further comprising the step of placing a ladder against the safety mat and securing the ladder cinch straps to the ladder.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the safety mat further includes a pair of ladder mounting straps for holding mat onto a top of a ladder while the ladder is lifted.