Roof clamp for fall protection safety equipment

Abstract

This is a multi-part clamp assembly used for fall protection used on standing seam metal roofs. One component of the clamp is a clamp body measuring 2″×2½″×6″ made of extruded aluminum. This part is designed to allow attachment to multiple styles of standing seam roofs without having to slide the clamp body onto the end of a seam. Another component of the clamp assembly is a series of six (6) ½″×1¼ concave set screws horizontally opposed to a series of six (6) ⅜″×1¼″ convex set screws with a thread-locking compound designed for non-removal from the clamp body. These twelve (12) set screws are torqued at 200 inch pounds and apply pressure and dimple the roof seam to secure the clamp to the standing seam without puncturing or tearing the seam metal. The final component is a D-ring secured by a special non-removable bolt with thread-locking compound screwed in the clamp body for attaching a safety fall arrest system or harness. The D-Ring is slotted with a 1″×¾″ hole allowing for ease of attachment and 360 degree movement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to roof safety devices for roof workers, and more specifically to a clamp used to attach a fall safety device to standing seam roof systems. A standing seam metal roof is made up of many formed metal panels that are connected together. These connections, or seams, run the length of the roof and are spaced evenly along its width providing the building protection from exterior elements and are also formed in such a way as to be esthetically appealing. These seams are standardized within the roofing industry and create a convenient attachment point for a fall safety protection device. Presently, the brackets used to attach a safety device to a roof consist of a plate that needs holes drilled or other fastening methods which deform or create holes in the roof panel. These holes or other deformations must be repaired and sealed from leaks causing considerable time and effort. Moreover, this fixed bracket method does not allow easy movemen...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved fall protection system which will allow secure attachment of safety devices to a standing seam metal roof while providing ease of movement over the roof by way of multiple tie-off points that will not deform the roof panels. It would also be desirable to have a system which will exceed support weights recommended by OSHA standards that will hold approved personal fall protection devices.

Problems solved by technology

These holes or other deformations must be repaired and sealed from leaks causing considerable time and effort.

Moreover, this fixed bracket method does not allow easy movement over the roof and further limits the work area unless multiple brackets are installed over the entire work space of the roof.

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