This application claims the benefit of the filing dates of application number 12/948742, filed Nov. 17, 2010, and PCT/US11/59026, filed Nov. 2, 2011, for any matter disclosed herein and therein; these applications are incorporated herein by this reference. This application is a continuation-in-part of such applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Generally stated, roof jacks are used on pitched roofs to provide a temporary platform for standing, placing equipment and supplies, and similar. A description and drawings of a roof jack are provided in application number 12/948742, filed Nov. 17, 2010, and PCT/US11/59026, filed Nov. 2, 2011, filed by the inventor named in the present application, which applications are incorporated by this reference.
Certain roof materials, such as slate, are brittle or otherwise subject to being damaged by walking on the materials or by pressure on the materials from roof jacks and similar. When using roof jacks with such roof materials, steps must be taken to avoid damaging the materials, such as leaving uncovered strips where the roof jack tongues are nailed down. Then, after the bulk of the slate is installed and the roof jacks may be removed, the roof jacks must be pounded up off of the nails, the nails are typically then driven down, and the uncovered strips are covered with slate attached via slate hooks. Slate hooks are not desirable because they are visible, because they can catch debris, and because they present a hazard for those on the roof in the future. Even following such practices may still result in damage, because the roof jacks are still resting on a layer of installed slate. Any discontinuity in the surface beneath the slate may result in breaking the slate when enough pressure is placed on the slate from above by the roof jack.
The art has not demonstrated a satisfactory accessory for a roof jack, which accessory reduces or eliminates damage to roof materials.
Generally stated, the disclosed invention is directed to a roof jack and/or associated accessory which reduces or eliminates damage to roof materials, which distributes the weight from a roof jack across a larger area of the roof, which may be releasably attached to a roof jack, and which works in conjunction with a roof jack as disclosed in applications 12/948742 and PCT/US11/59026, which roof jack may attach to a quick connect roof clip, which roof clip is attached to the roof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof jack with attached shoes attached to a quick connect roof clip.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roof jack shoe.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roof jack with an attached shoe, showing alternative shoe attachment mechanisms.
FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a roof jack, an attachment head, a quick connect roof clip, and a shoe.
FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a roof jack, an attachment head, a quick connect roof clip, and a shoe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The reference numbers in the drawings follow a pattern of X.YYY, where X is the figure number and YYY is a number identifying an element in the drawing. The same YYY numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Where “X” is used in the specification, it refers to the element number as depicted in any of the figures where the element is depicted. YYY reference numbers herein which are the same as the YYY number in a parent application refer to the same parts.
The following detailed description is for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention only, and other embodiments are possible without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. The figures and elements discussed in this specification use terms meant as examples and not as limitations. Functions equivalent to those illustrated in the figures may be provided by other device(s) or structure(s).
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof jack 1.017 with attached shoes, the roof jack being attached to a quick connect roof clip 1.004. In this view, the shoes are shown to comprise a bar 1.201, a pad 1.203, and a clamp to releasably attach the shoe to the roof jack. In this view, the clamp to releasably attach the shoe to the roof jack comprises a plate 1.205, first and second fasteners 1.207 and 1.213, a bolt X.215 (labeled in FIG. 2 as 2.215), and a nut 1.211. Threading on the bolt X.215 is not shown. The fasteners may comprise bolts welded or chemically bonded to the components, bolt attached to the other components by nuts (with or without one or more washers), rivets, or similar.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roof jack shoe. In this view, two clamp components to releasably attach the shoe to a roof jack are shown, one of which is labeled as element 2.221. This view shows the plate 2.205 and that the plate comprises a first bend 2.218 and a second bend 2.216. The first bend 2.218 lifts the plate 2.205 off of the bar 2.201 through an angled section 2.217, while the second bend 2.216 returns the plate to approximately the same horizontal orientation as the bar, though at a distance above the bar. The distance above the bar is shown as a line, which line is labeled as element 2.219. The distance above the bar is also referred to herein as the opening.
The view in FIG. 2 shows that there is a hole in the plate 2.205 at the location labeled 2.209, through which the bolt 2.215 passes. The bolt 2.215 is attached to the bar 2.201, such as by welding, chemical bonding, a bolt, a set of bolts, and/or is blocked from passing up through a hole in the bar, such as by a head on the bolt, a rivet, a nut or similar. Views of an embodiment of the bolt 2.215 within the bar 2.201 are shown in FIG. 4. The bolt may further comprise a sleeve, washer, spacer or similar between the nut 2.211 and the plate 2.205 (any such component being generally referred to herein as a “space”), which component is larger than the hole at location 2.209 but smaller than the nut 2.211. An example of a spacer is shown in FIG. 5 at element 5.235.
FIG. 2 shows that the plate 2.205, in this example, is attached to the bar 2.201 by two fasteners 2.207 and 2.213, at the end of the plate 2.205 most distant from the opening.
The distance above the bar 2.219 is adjustable, for example, by screwing the nut 2.211 down or up on the bolt 2.215. As shown in FIG. 1, the two clamp components to releasably attach the shoe to a roof jack are spaced far enough apart to allow the lower portion of the roof jack to be inserted through the two openings. Screwing the nut 2.211 down on the bolt 2.215 results in reducing the size of the opening and holding the roof jack and the shoe together through pressure and friction. The nut 2.211 can be screwed up on the bolt 2.215 to increase the size of the opening and to allow the shoe and roof jack to be moved, one relative to the other, and/or to allow the shoe to be removed. In use, it is important to be able to relocate the shoe on the roof jack as necessary, for example, to allow the shoe to be located on the lower portion of an already installed shingle.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roof jack with an attached shoe, showing alternative shoe attachment hardware. In this alternative, a hole 3.223 is located in the roof jack 3.017. The hole 3.235 may extend toward the other end of the roof jack 3.017, forming a slot 3.235. In this example, the nut 3.211 may be tightened on the bolt 3.215 to secure the shoe to the roof jack. The nut 3.211 may be loosened on the bolt 3.215 to allow the shoe to be relocated along the slot 3.235. Instead of a slot, multiple holes may be provided along the path of the slot.
FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a roof jack 4.017, an attachment head 4.016, a quick connect roof clip 4.004, and a shoe 4.201. This view shows an extended projection 4.225 installed on the attachment head 4.016. The extended projection 4.225 may be necessary to connect the roof jack with shoes on it to an existing quick connect roof clip. The extended projection 4.225 extends down below the bottom of the roof jack without the shoes. In FIG. 4, the bottom of the quick connect roof clip 4.004 and the bottom of the pad 4.203 are at the same level. The extended projection 4.225 may installed by removing the nut 4.227 and replacing an existing projection X.018 with the extended projection 4.225. The existing projection X.018 and extended projection 4.225 may comprise a spacer (see element 5.235 for an example of a spacer).
FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a roof jack 5.107, an attachment head 5.016, a quick connect roof clip 5.004, and a shoe 5.201. This view shows an embodiment in which the attachment head 5.016 has been lowered on bolt 5.019 (and the corresponding bolt on the other side of the attachment head, not shown in this view). Lowering the attachment head 5.016 may be achieved by removing nut 5.020, placing a smaller spacer, sleeve, washer, or set of washers (or similar) onto bolt 5.019 (spacers, sleeves, washers, or set of washers (or similar) being shown in 5.235), replacing the attachment head 5.016, and screwing the nut 5.020 back onto the bolt 5.019. If not lowered, the bottom of the projection 5.018 would be at or just above the bottom of the roof jack. As shown in FIG. 5, when lowered, the bottom of the projection 5.018 is below the bottom of the roof jack without shoes. In FIG. 5, the bottom of the quick connect roof clip 5.004 and the bottom of the pad 5.203 are at the same level. An example of a spacer is shown as element 5.235.
As used herein, “releasably attachable” and “releasably connectable” are understood to be equivalent; “attach” and “connect” (and “attachable” and “connectable”) are also understood to be equivalent; and “releasable,” “releasably,” “releasably attachable,” and/or “releasably connectable” are understood to mean being able to be repeatedly connected/disconnected (or engaged/disengaged) through the use of the hands, feet, or human appendage, with application of human-scale work effort, not generally requiring the use of a tool.
The components discussed in this specification may be made of or from a wide range of materials non-exclusively including aluminum, steel, iron, copper, tin and alloys between and including these and other materials, as well as and/or including composites such as fiber-glass, aramid, carbon-fiber, an other fibers combined with resin and/or epoxy; in addition, wood may be used, as well as rubber, felt, plastic, vinyl, leather, or similar for the pad on the shoe.
Patent Application
20120267193
