BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the area of tools, and more specifically to tools used to facilitate human safety and mobility in a construction environment.
2. Background
Structures intended for habitation, commerce or other functions are composed of framing and structural elements often referred to as “beams”. The arrangement of such beams is guided by engineering principles, customer requirements and other factors. Human workers involved in the assembly of such structures are subjected to numerous safety hazards, including the risk of falling from the structure during construction. In addition, structures such as residential buildings are often constructed in such a way that the attic of the structure is “unfinished”. This is intended to refer to the condition that the beams of the attic affixed to the ceiling below are exposed within the attic environment and do not support a floor within the attic. Such an attic is not intended for habitation. During maintenance activities, however, the home owner or other repair worker may be required to work and move about extensively in the attic space. Due to the unfinished nature of such attics, there is a risk of injury to the worker or damage to the home if the worker inadvertently steps between the rafters, since the ceiling is usually not constructed to support such an action. Thus there is a need to reduce this risk, and there is a benefit to improving the efficiency when working in such hazardous environments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the invention which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described, but are for explanation and understanding only.
FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively show front and side views of one embodiment of the invention, installed on a rafter. FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of the same embodiment without the rafter.
FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively show front and side views of one embodiment of the invention, installed on a rafter. FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of the same embodiment without the rafter.
FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively show top and front views of yet another embodiment of the invention, installed on a rafter. FIG. 3C shows a perspective view of the same embodiment without the rafter.
FIG. 4 shows the embodiment from FIGS. 3A-3C in operation by a human user in a construction environment.
FIG. 5 shows a front view another embodiment according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention may be constructed in a variety of ways, and the embodiments described herein should not be considered limiting. An embodiment may be designed, for instance, to function as a single-rafter platform in one configuration, and include features to convert two or more platforms into an embodiment which spans two or more rafters. Such an embodiment is not explicitly shown herein, however it is well within the intended scope of this invention. Additionally, an embodiment may be devised in such a way that assembly or disassembly of the embodiment facilitates portability, shipping, storage and the like.
The terms “platform” and “rafter platform” are used interchangeably, and are intended to refer to the functional invention regardless of particular embodiment. The term “rafter” refers to the individual beams or joists typically used in construction of frames, sub-floors, roof structures and ceilings. In the embodiments shown, the exemplified rafter is composed of wood, and is commonly known as a “two-by-six”. However, metal components of various sizes can easily apply instead. The specific embodiment's design criteria would naturally be adjusted to accommodate the beam type intended for the embodiment's use.
FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a rafter platform 10 installed on a rafter 20. FIG. 1C shows the rafter platform without the rafter, and is provided for clarity. The platform has a horizontal stage 30 and two lateral retainers 40, forming a retaining channel 60 of a dimension sufficient to closely bestride the rafter. The retainers are referred to as “lateral retainers” because, although they extend vertically downward, they provide a lateral bearing force and lateral stability. Alternatively, they could be referred to as “vertical retaining members” or simply “rafter retainers”. A non-slip pad 50 is affixed to the top surface of the horizontal stage. In this embodiment, the stage and lateral retainers are integrally made of a structural material. Examples of applicable materials include cast aluminum, PC-ABS plastic, liquid-crystal polymers (LCP), fiberglass, etc. The form factor shown for the platform body is conducive to extrusion processes. Thus the embodiment shown might be injection molded, cast or extruded in the material of choice. The non-slip pad may be an adhesively attached sheet of abrasive material, such as the safety pads used on stairs and floors in industrial environments. While the stage and lateral retainers are shown as one integral material, this need not be the case. For example, the lateral retainers might be composed of an injection molded polymer and bonded by an adhesive to the stage, which might be made of steel. The inclusion of the non-slip pad is not absolutely essential, but is useful for ensuring safe use of the invention. Alternatively, the non-slip function might instead be provided by a molded texture on the top surface of the horizontal stage.
FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a different rafter platform 110 installed on a rafter 120. FIG. 2C shows the rafter platform without the rafter, and is provided for clarity. The platform has a horizontal stage 130 and two lateral retainers 140, forming a retaining channel 160 of a dimension sufficient to closely bestride the rafter. A guide flange 170 on the end of each lateral retainer facilitates alignment during platform installation. In this embodiment, the stage and lateral retainers are integrally made of a formed thin-walled structural material. Examples of applicable materials include sheet steel, sheet brass or other sheet metals. A non-slip feature 150 is affixed to the top surface of the horizontal stage. The non-slip feature may be a pad of adhesively affixed sheet of abrasive material, such as the safety pads used on stairs and floors in industrial environments. The inclusion of the non-slip pad is not absolutely essential, but is useful for ensuring safe use of the invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B depict a different rafter platform 210 installed on a rafter 220. FIG. 3C shows the rafter platform without the rafter, and is provided for clarity. The platform has a horizontal stage 230 and two lateral retainers 240, forming a retaining channel 260 of a dimension sufficient to closely bestride the rafter. In this embodiment, the stage and lateral retainers are integrally formed from a molding process such as casting or injection molding. A non-slip feature 250 is formed from a rubberized coating in a region on the top surface of the horizontal stage. The inclusion of the non-slip feature is not absolutely essential, but is useful for ensuring safe use of the invention. The non-slip feature need not be a coating, but may be integrally molded as a textured region on the top surface of the horizontal stage. In fact, a variety of processes or components may be used to improve traction, and the variety of example solutions described in these embodiments should not be considered as limiting or comprehensive.
FIG. 4 depicts a construction environment 310 occupied by a worker 370 traversing a number of typically spaced rafters 320. The worker is shown standing on a first rafter platform 380 with his left foot and a second rafter platform 385 with his right foot. The worker may safely advance within the environment by stepping from one of the first or second platforms to a third platform 386, and subsequently onto either a fourth platform 387 or a fifth platform 388. The worker may then move about the environment by stepping or standing on any of the platforms as necessary. The increased surface area provided by the platform in lieu of the rafter below it provides a safer, more stable means for the worker to accomplish his tasks in this environment. Examples of such environments include residential attics, as well as unfinished levels of a structure under construction. In some structures, the rafter may be described as a “joist”. It should be noted that the invention may be useful in a number of environments not explicitly described.
FIG. 5 shows a different rafter platform 410 mounted on a first rafter 420 and an adjacent second rafter 425. A first lateral retainer 440, a second lateral retainer 441 and a first stage coupler 430 form a first retaining channel 460 of a dimension sufficient to closely bestride a first rafter. A third lateral retainer 445, a fourth lateral retainer 446 and a second stage coupler 435 form a second retaining channel 465 of a dimension sufficient to closely bestride a second rafter. A horizontal stage 450 is coupled to the first stage coupler at one end, and coupled to the second stage coupler at the opposing end. The horizontal stage is elongated and of a sufficient dimension to span two rafters which may be adjacent or which may have intermediate rafters (not shown) between them. For instance, many building codes in the United States call for rafters to be parallel-wise spaced by approximately 16″ from the center of one rafter to the next adjacent rafter. Other codes may call for a different spacing. In any case, the horizontal stage is of a dimension sufficient to span the entire space required by the rafter spacing as well as the rafter platform components below it. In the 16″ spacing example, for instance, the horizontal stage might be 20″ in length in order to accomplish the requirements according to the design. It should be noted that the exact spacing is not a limiting distinction for the invention, and in fact the invention may be designed for any spacing. Further, the simple case of two points of support should not be interpreted as a limiting factor. For instance, the horizontal stage may span three or four rafters instead of two.
In some embodiments, the apparatus does not have an extruded shape. For example, there may be lateral bracing members (not shown) extending between the horizontal stage and the vertical retainers, to increase the lateral strength of the structure and improve its resistance to bending if the user steps on the edge of the horizontal stage.
In some embodiments, the stage couplers are rigidly coupled to the horizontal platform, and thus the mechanism is adapted for use with rafters of a predetermined spacing such as 20″. In other embodiments, the stage couplers are rotatably coupled to the horizontal platform, enabling the mechanism to be used with rafters of different spacing by placing the horizontal platform on the rafters at an angle other than 90 degrees. In some such embodiments, it may be desirable to limit the angular movement of the stage couplers, to prevent the horizontal platform from being placed at unsafely shallow angles with respect to the rafters.
The various components shown in the FIGS. are not necessarily shown to scale. Sizing the various components is well within the abilities of an ordinary skilled designer, when armed with the teachings of this disclosure.
Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.
If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
The various features illustrated in the figures may be combined in many ways, and should not be interpreted as though limited to the specific embodiments in which they were explained and shown.
Those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that many other variations from the foregoing description and drawings may be made within the scope of the present invention. Indeed, the invention is not limited to the details described above. Rather, it is the following claims including any amendments thereto that define the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070028550
