TREA

Roof safety system

Follow

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070267249
  • Publication Number
    20070267249
  • Date Filed
    May 18, 2006
    18 years ago
  • Date Published
    November 22, 2007
    17 years ago
Information
Abstract
A lightweight roof safety system with a top portion and a bottom portion is easily carried to flat rooftop of a building and assembled to form a rigid structure that has a connection member for attaching one or more safety lines. The top portion has a central member to which three or more legs are removably attached. The bottom portion has three or more base members that correspond to the leg members and a pair of leg members attached to distal and proximal ends of a base member to form a rigid structure. Each of the base members is weighted by hand weights placed in weight containers to prevent tipping of the roof safety system. The base members are, optionally, provided with support members that rest on a flat rooftop providing to improve stability of the roof support system.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawing, in which:



FIG. 1 illustrates a lateral view of a typical roof rig, known in the art, and being generally utilized contemporaneously with the subject invention;



FIG. 2
a illustrates a lateral view of the roof safety system of the present invention;



FIG. 2
b illustrates the attachment of a leg member with a horizontal member using a bolted connection; and



FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the roof safety system of the present invention.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a roof safety system, which provides a safety rope that is securely attached providing a person secured to a harness or foldable chair suspended from a working rope at elevated heights. The law requires that a safety rope be attached to a person working at elevated heights other than the working rope he is suspended from. The safety rope prevents rapid fall of the working person in the event that the working rope fails. Generally, contractors rely commonly on attaching the safety rope to existing structures of a building, which oftentimes involve drainpipes, air conditioners, or other insecure structural elements. When the working rope fails, the person's weight is immediately transferred from the working rope to the safety rope. When these structural elements to which the safety rope is attached separate from the building, the safety rope fails. This places the suspended person at risk of falling. Depending on the height of the suspended person at the time that failure of the structural element causes the safety rope to provide inadequate support, a worker unable to depend on that support may sustain serious injury or even fall to his death. In accordance with present invention, there is provided a roof safety system that is easily removed and carried to the roof in parts. It is thereafter reassembled on the flat rooftop to support a secure and reliable safety line that can be attached to a worker suspended from a working line. Since the roof safety system is weighted by one or more detachable weights attached to bottom members, the sudden application of load by the suspended worker does not tip the roof safety system, but provides secure attachment and support to the suspended worker. Since the roof safety system comprises at least three wheel-free, flat supporting feet, it remains stable, in contact the horizontal surface of the roof, and resists any unexpected movement.


The attachment of the safety line to the harness may be accomplished by a number of well-known methods. A belay may be used to prevent the rapid descent of the working person upon failure of the working rope.


Generally stated, the roof safety system broadly comprises: (i) a top portion comprising a center member, and at least three or more leg members; (ii) the center member having at least one connection member extending there from and being appointed to receive a safety rope device; and (iii) a bottom portion comprising a base member adapted to attach to each of the leg members by attachment means, at least one weight container, and at least one support member. The central member, leg members and base members are disassembled into pieces and are easily carried to the roof of the building. The lengths of the leg members are adjusted to have the roof safety system anchored vertically on a flat roof. On a flat roof, the leg members have equal length and are attached to the horizontal cross members and base members by bolts creating a rigid non-sliding base.



FIG. 1 illustrates a lateral view of a typical roof rig, known in the art, and being generally utilized contemporaneously with the subject invention; the roof rig is shown generally at 10. The roof rig generally comprises an elongated bar 11 having a head portion 14 appointed with a rope aperture. The rope aperture accommodates a rope 15, which is utilized as the primary support working rope. Rope 15 is connected to a harness or chair device upon which a person sits. The rig is further provided with a back end portion 13 adapted to accommodate weights, the amount of which is proportional to the weight of the person suspended from rope 15. The rig has a base portion 12, generally with wheels. The rig 11 rests on the rooftop of a building 16. In operation, a person is generally strapped into a chair harness, and working rope 15 is attached thereto for support of the person while the person is suspended from the building 16, and traverses the building wall by the movement of the wheels in the base portion 12. A safety rope 17 is required at all times pursuant to regulation. The safety rope 17 is provided with an attachment portion 18 so that the safety rope 17 can be attached to a random roof top object 19. When the wheels are moved, the safety rope has a slack to accommodate the movement of the suspended person. Oftentimes this object 19 consists of an air conditioning vent or the like, which is not adequately enforced or constructed for holding and supporting the weight of a person suspended from the building 16. Many tragedies have occurred over the years as a direct result of inadequate support of the safety rope 17. All too often, the object 19 gives way under the stress of the suspended person's weight, when the working rope 15 fails. From a safety standpoint, rope 17 represents the suspended person's last resort. Failure of the safety rope will cause the suspended person to plummet from the building, resulting in certain injury or death, depending on the height at which the person is suspended, when failure of object 19 occurs.


There is a therefore a strong felt need in the art for a roof safety device specifically constructed to accommodate sudden application of stress levels associated with the weight of a person that is suspended in air when the working rope fails. There exists a need in the art for a roof safety device that provides direct engagement of the safety rope 17 so that the person is safely supported in the suspended position. The roof safety system provides a safe and efficient system to ensure that the person suspended from the rooftop is optimally secured should their main working rope break by providing a safety system specifically appointed for receiving the safety rope, and specifically constructed to support a person's body weight while suspended in the air.



FIG. 2
a illustrates a lateral view of the roof safety system, shown generally at 20. The roof Safety system broadly comprises a top portion (21) and a bottom portion (25) attached together by way of attachment means 26. Top portion (21) includes a center member 22, and at least three leg members 24 which are removably connected. This connection may be a bolted connection, screwed connection or other connection means. In the case of a three legged support, these legs extend outward from the center member in a symmetrical manner. Preferably base member 27 has a triangular shape, comprising three side portions, and three leg members 24. Center member 22 is appointed with at least one connection member 23 extending there from. The connection member 23 has an aperture 23a adapted to receive a safety rope device, generally comprising attachment portion 18 and safety rope 17. Bottom portion 25 comprises a base member 27 adapted to attach to the leg members 24 by attachment means 26. Preferably base member 27 is a triangular shape, having three side portions, and there are three leg members 24. At least one weight container 28 is attached to a side portion of base member 27 of bottom portion 25. Weight container 28 is appointed to receive hand weights 29 generally having a handle 29a. Preferably, each side portion of base member 27 is provided with a weight container 28. Preferably, weight container 28 is centrally located on each of the side portions of base member 27. At least one support member 30 is included for stabilizing and providing optimal support of the system 20.


Continuing with the insert in FIG. 2b, a side view of the attachment means 26 is shown generally at 40. Leg member 24 is attached to base member 27 of bottom portion 25 by way of attachment means 26. Attachment means 26 is herein shown as a pivot point 41. In this embodiment, the attachment means 26 provides the ability for leg member 24 to pivot along pivot point 41 for proper alignment of the roof support system. When the pivot point is disconnected the top portion and bottom portion separate and can be carried as two separate pieces. Preferably, attachment means 26 is constructed so that the top portion 21 and the bottom portion 25 are two distinct, separate portions being engaged together by way of the attachment means 26, wherein the attachment means comprises a bolt and nut configuration, claim and clasp configuration, or the like. In this arrangement, the separate portions, top 21 and bottom 25, are readily carried as separate units, thereby facilitating convenient carriage of lighter system components system. In a second embodiment as shown in FIG. 3 below at 50, the roof safety system is constructed having a generally square shape. In this embodiment, the attachment means 26 provides the ability for leg member 24 to pivot along pivot point 41 so that the leg member 24 can enter the same plane as the base member 27, to form a flat structure for carrying or transporting the system.



FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the Roof Safety System, shown generally at 50. In this embodiment the Roof Safety System is constructed having a generally square shape. The top portion (21) includes a center member 22, and four leg members 24. Preferably, there are four leg members 24 provided, as is shown, however, the number of leg members 24 can vary depending on the overall shape of the bottom member (25). Center member 22 is appointed with at least one connection member 23 extending therefrom. Optionally, there may be more than one connection member so that more than one safety device can be attached to the system. The connection member 23 has an aperture (23a) adapted to receive a safety rope device, generally comprising attachment portion (18) and safety rope (17). Optionally, the aperture (23a) of connection member 23 can be appointed to accommodate more than one safety rope device. Base member 27 of bottom portion (25) is shown herein with four sidewalls to generally form the shape of a square. Base member 27 is attached to the leg members 24 by the attachment means 26. Preferably base member 27 has a triangular shape, comprising three side portions, and three leg members 24. More preferably, base member 27 has a square shape, comprising four sides, and four leg members 24. Weight containers 28 are attached to the each of the side portions of base member 27 so that hand weights (29) can be added to the weight containers 28 accordingly. Support members 30 are provided on each of the side portions of base member 27 for stabilization of the system. Optionally, these support members 30 may be constructed as out-riggers for optimal support of the system.


The roof safety system is preferably composed of an aluminum material so that it has a lightweight construction. Moreover, the system is presented preferably as a two or three-piece system (i.e. top and bottom portions) so that it is easier to carry and lighter in weight. The pieces or portions of the system may be connected together vie connection means, such as cotter pins. The frame of the device is extremely sturdy, and works in conjunction with the weights to counter balance the weight of the person suspended form the building. The weight limit of the device may be directly proportionate to the rooftop roller. The size of the unit varies, depending on the size needed to provide optimal safety by counteracting the weight of the individual to be suspended. Advantageously, the roof safety system presents a lightweight, durable, system that securely and effectively provides safety to an individual while suspended from a building.


Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

Claims
  • 1. A roof safety system, comprising: a. a top portion comprising; i) a center member;ii) a connection member for attaching one or more safety lines;iii) a set comprising three or more legs;iv) a proximal end of said leg being removably attached to said center member by a first attachment means;b. a bottom portion comprising; i) a set of three or more base members;ii) each said base members being removably attached to distal end of adjacent leg members by second attachment means forming a rigid three dimensional structure;iii) each of said base members having weight containers for placing hand weights of sufficient mass to prevent tipping of said roof safety system attached to a safety line;whereby said top portion and bottom portion of said roof support system is carried to a flat roof, and assembled using said first and second attachment means to create a rigid stable structure that provides a secure reliable safety line attachment on the roof for said system, the distal end of said safety line being attached to a harness or chair of a person working at elevated heights.
  • 2. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein each of said base members has support members provided on distal and proximal ends that contact said flat roof providing support.
  • 3. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said first attachment means comprises a screwed connection.
  • 4. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said first attachment means comprises a nut and bolt connection.
  • 5. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said first attachment means comprises a cotter pin connection.
  • 6. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said second attachment means comprises a nut and bolt connection.
  • 7. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said second attachment means comprises a cotter pin connection.
  • 8. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said top portion has four legs and said bottom portion has four base members.
  • 9. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said top portion has five leg members and said bottom portion has five base members.
  • 10. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said top portion and said bottom portion is fabricated from lightweight aluminum.
  • 11. A roof safety system recited by claim 1, wherein said second attachment means is a pivoting attachment.
  • 12. A roof safety system recited by claim 11, wherein said second attachment means collapses, and the leg members fold co-planar with base member.