RoofmatesTM products

Abstract

A number of roofing accessories, including a lightweight adjustable ladder and scaffold support are disclosed. The scaffold support is provided with a pair of rails spaced the standard spacing of most roof joists. Connected to the rails through suitable holes and slots, are rods supporting an adjustable platform. One of the rods may be placed through a corresponding slot to achieve a suitable angle of adjustment corresponding to roof incline. An apparatus is also provided for supporting loads of materials or supplies on an inclined roof, using components and parts in common with the scaffold support, or components and parts similar thereto. A tool tray is provided which may be backed with a layer of foam to prevent the tray from slipping off the roof, while allowing the tray to be freely moved along and up and down the roof, as work progresses.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 586,227 filed on Jul. 9, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference. [0002] The present application is related to the following co-pending patent applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 050,964, filed on Jan. 22, 2002; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 050,964 in turn claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 262,650, filed on Jan. 22, 2001; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 050,964 in turn claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 286,527, filed on Apr. 27, 2001; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 050,964 in turn claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 297,530, filed on Jun. 13, 2001; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 050,964 in turn claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 3...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0048] Another embodiment of the present invention, SHINGLESAW™, comprises a pneumatically powered miniaturized reciprocating saw designed especially for roofing applications. In an alternative embodiment, SHINGLESAW™ may be powered by rechargeable battery packs or the like. SHINGLESAW™ is the size and shape of a Prior Art razor knife, but is powered and provided with a depth gauge to prevent cutting through roofing underlayment or the like.

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Problems solved by technology

An alarming number of construction site accidents are due to falls from pitched roofs by workmen, or injuries sustained by workmen when roofing materials (shingles, felt, nails, flashing, compounds, sealants, and the like) or tools (hammer, nail guns, water jugs, and the like) fall from a roof onto workers or passersby below.

One of the basic difficulties in roof work is transporting the materials up to the roof and storing them there until needed.

Thus, large quantities of shingles, tiles, slates, or the like, may need to be stored on the roof prior to installation.

If a fellow workman or passerby is below when such a large amount of material falls, serious injury or even death can occur.

In addition, although probably less hazardous, workers and passersby below are also in danger of serious injury from falling tools, hammers, and smaller amounts of roofing materials and the like.

In addition to causing stress on the body, such a work environment is inefficient, as such long reaches increase the time needed to install shingles and more readily fatigue the roofer.

Moreover, extended reaches may put the roofer at increase risk of falling due to loss of balance and the like.

Roofing materials and tools may be more likely to fall off a roof if a roofer has to stretch to reach them.

Such a primitive technique, commonly used, provides very little purchase for the roofer or materials to rest upon.

In addition, it may take time at the jobsite for the roofer to secure such scrap lumber, cut it to size, measure for nail spacing, and install.

However, most, if not all, of these attempts have failed in one or more ways, and none of these patented invention appear to have been commercially successful or readily available in the marketplace.

Most of these schemes utilize unnecessarily complicated apparatus, which is too costly for the average roofer to afford, to heavy to lift to the jobsite, and to cumbersome to work with.

The problem with the Eisenmenger system is that it requires that a ladder with specialized fittings first be hauled up to the roof and secured before the platform can be installed.

However, it appears that Bitner is limited to a device for supporting a walk-board or plank, and does not explicitly provide support for ladders, tools, supplies, or roofing materials.

In addition, the Bitner device utilizes a fairly complex and expensive screw-jack leveling system to provide infinite

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