ADJUSTABLE ROOFING SAFETY APPARATUS
An adjustable roofing safety system is provided which adapted to prevent materials, supplies, tools and workmen performing roofing operations on high-pitched roofs from falling over the edge, protecting both individuals on the roof and individuals who happen to be positioned at levels lower than the edge of the roof from being injured. The apparatus is selectively positionable in both the horizontal and vertical directions as needed as work progresses across the roof surface.
This nonprovisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/372,808 filed on Aug. 11, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to a roofing safety apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable and selectively positionable roofing safety apparatus adapted to prevent material and personnel from falling over the edge of a roof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRoofing can be a dangerous occupation since most roofs are elevated and are pitched at a large incline. Often tools, materials and even workmen slide down the incline and over the edge. The roof pitch or incline presents a challenge to the roofer to not only prevent supplies, materials and tools needed for the job from falling off the roof, but also to prevent the roofer personally from physically falling off the roof while performing roofing operations.
A roofing bracket, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,691,478, issued to Henderson, Nov. 13, 1928, has been proposed to keep supplies on the roof. The roofing bracket is secured to the roof by fastening flat strips or plates to the roof's surface. The roofing bracket of the ‘478 disclosure is adapted to hold planks or boards to provide a surface to rest material thereon and to prevent material from falling over the edge of the roof.
Adjustable roofing jacks, such as the jack disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,971, issued to Violet, May 19, 1992, have been proposed for use with a scaffold to prevent falls and other dangers associated with working on an elevated, highly-pitched roof. The roofing jack has a frame with a bent portion forming a support for a scaffold. The roofing jack is secured to the surface of the roof using fasteners and securement apertures on the frame, which are configured to facilitate removal of the frame from the roof.
While the prior art, including the references discussed above, contribute to the safety of the roofer, the prior art does not provide for a safety apparatus that can be easily and selectively movable with a roofer as he or she progresses across the roof surface and which may be secured to the roof without piercing the shingles or other covering material.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that a need exists for an improved adjustable roofing safety apparatus that may be securely fastened to a roof with minimal damage thereto while, at the same time, may be easily positionable at a selected location on the roof and readily moved from one location to another as work on the roof progresses. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Referring initially to
The safety apparatus 1 includes a track 2, at least one scaffold support frame or sled 6, a connecting element or strap 4 having top and bottom ends disposed intermediate the track 2 and the scaffold support frame 6 operatively interconnecting the two, and a sliding coupler 10 secured to the top and bottom of strap 4, the operation of which will be described in greater detail below. The track 2 is adapted to be secured to the roof, preferably near the crown or apex of the roof. The track 2 has a length greater than its width and stretches across the roof. The strap 4 is slidably coupled to the track 2 and selectively positionable at various locations along its length. The strap 4 attaches to the sled 6 and thereby connects the sled 6 to the track 2.
In the embodiment shown in
The strap 4 and the sled 6 constitute a catch assembly 14 that is able to slide along the track 2 to a desired position and cooperate with adjacent catch assemblies that are similarly structured and arranged to support scaffolding of conventional lengths used in the construction field. Preferably, in the safety apparatus 1, a plurality of catch assemblies 14 are slidably connected to the track 2. The sleds 6 of the catch assemblies 14 support at least one scaffold or board 16, which serve as a safety rail to abut debris, tools, materials or even roofers, for example, that slide down the roof. Moreover, in structures where roofing operations are being performed along long roofs, multiple catch assemblies may be selectively positioned across the roof surface to enable several crews to be on the roof at the same time without interfering with one another.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The above-described safety apparatus 1 provides a roofer with an apparatus that is repositionable as work progresses. Furthermore, the safety apparatus 1 can be strategically positioned on the roof so as to be most likely to catch debris, materials or a roofer and prevent injury to the roofer or workers below the roof. Thus, the apparatus 1 is a continuously connected system that is configurable to best suit the needs of the roofer. That is, whether through the track 2 or through boards 16, the plurality of catch assemblies 14 are continuously connected. The catch assemblies 14 are optionally not connected by boards 16 at the sled 6 to allow free movement thereof. Furthermore, the apertures 22 can be used to more precisely position the sled 6 on and to secure it to the roof via a nail or screw, for example.
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the present invention, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a roof equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a roof equipped with the present invention. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An adjustable roofing safety apparatus adapted to be releasably mounted along an apex of a roof, comprising:
- a scaffold;
- at least one frame adapted to support the scaffold;
- a track member configured to be secured to the roof near the apex thereof;
- a connecting element disposed intermediate the scaffold support frame and the track and being operatively connected thereto; and
- a coupler adapted to slidably couple the connecting element to the track.
2. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one frame is formed of a rigid material such as plate steel.
3. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one frame is formed in a generally L-shaped configuration adapted to support the scaffold.
4. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the track member comprises at least one cable extending tautly along the apex of the roof and having first and second end portions secured thereto.
5. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tack member comprises a flat metal strip having a preselected width.
6. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 6 wherein the coupler includes first and second sides structured and arranged to form a channel member of substantially the same width as the flat metal strip.
7. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 6 wherein the flat metal strip is adapted to slidably fit in the channel member.
8. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coupler includes bearings disposed in the first and second sides.
9. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one frame includes first and second end portions, the first end portion being adapted to lie on the roof, and the second end portion being configured to extend away from the roof for receiving the scaffold.
10. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second end portion includes a tongue portion structured and arranged to prevent the scaffolding from rising upwardly away from the roof surface.
11. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is adapted to be selectively positioned along the surface of the roof in both a horizontal and in a vertical direction.
12. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connecting element comprises a ratchet strap.
13. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connecting element includes means for vertically adjusting the safety apparatus.
14. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 13 wherein the vertical adjusting means comprises a hand crank.
15. The adjustable roofing safety apparatus of claim 13 wherein the vertical adjusting means comprises an electric motor.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 11, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2012
Inventor: Thomas R. Mathieson (Louisville, CO)
Application Number: 13/208,241
International Classification: E04G 3/26 (20060101);