Roof shingle installation assistance apparatus

Abstract

In one embodiment described herein, a roof shingle installation assistance apparatus for placement on a sloped roof surface comprises an elongated member for supporting a quantity of roof shingles placed on the surface of the elongated member. A wall member disposed at one end of the elongated member functions to prevent the roof shingles from sliding off the elongated member. The lower surface of the elongated member is adapted to receive a layer of frictional material to enhance the frictional engagement of the apparatus on the roof. The wall member is sloped away from the upper surface of the elongated member in order to reduce the load upon the wall member when shingles are placed on the elongated member. The wall member can also be configured to be a dimensional member which includes a surface member and first and second sidewalls for conferring additional structural rigidity to the wall member.

Description

ROOF SHINGLE INSTALLATION ASSISTANCE APPARATUSTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to roofing installation tools, and in particular to a roof shingle installation apparatus.BACKGROUNDIn many roof shingle installations, piles of loose roof shingles are often placed on the sloped surface of the roof in preparation for installation. These roof shingles could include standard types of asphalt shingles, which are typically sold in premanufactured strips of asphalt shingles on fiberglass mat. Roof shingles can include other varieties of shingles, such as cedar shingles, clay shingles, steel shingles, and other varieties. Roof shingle materials resting on a sloped roof surface are prone to slide off the roof which could injure persons in the vicinity and / or cause property damage. What is needed is a novel and cost-effective solution to the above-referenced problem.SUMMARY OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0002] In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for facilitating the placement and securement of roof shingles (including sheets of roof shingles, such as asphalt roof shingles) on the surface of a roof before installation by a roofer. In the absence of such an apparatus, roof shingle piles are prone to slide on the sloped surface of a roof, and could slide off the surface of the roof altogether. The novel and inventive features ofthe apparatus of the present invention are described in detail in the enclosed detailed description and drawings.

[0003] In one embodiment, there is described an apparatus for supporting the safe positioning of a load on a sloped surface, comprising an elongated member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the elongated member sized to support a quantity of the load on its upper surface when the elongated member is positioned face-up on the sloped surface; and an at least one wall member disposed at one end of the elongated member, the at least one wall member forming a raised protrusion, the at least one wall member for preventing any quantity of the load from sliding off the elongated member when the elongated member is positioned face-up on the sloped surface and when the wall member is positioned at a lower end of the sloped surface.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the embodiments of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings set out below, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a roof shingle installation assistance apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.Fig. 2 is an alternative perspective view of the roof shingle installation assistance apparatus of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is an alternative perspective view of the roof shingle installation assistance apparatus of Fig. 1 showing the underside of the apparatus.Fig. 4 is an alternative perspective view of the roof shingle installation assistance apparatus of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a roof shingle installation assistance apparatus in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure.Fig. 6 is an alternative perspective view of the roof shingle installation assistance apparatus of Fig. 5 showing the underside of the apparatus.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0005] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

[0006] Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. In particular, all terms used herein are used in accordance with their ordinary meanings unless the context or definition clearly indicates otherwise. Also, unless indicated otherwise except within the claims the use of “or” includes “and” and vice-versa. Non-limiting terms are not to be construed as limiting unless expressly stated or the context clearly indicates otherwise (for example, “including”, “having”, “characterized by” and “comprising” typically indicate “including without limitation”). Singular forms included in the claims such as “a”, “an”and “the” include the plural reference unless expressly stated or the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, "substantially" means sufficient to function for its intended purpose. As such, the term "substantially" means a small, insignificant amount from absolute or perfect conditions, dimensions, measurements, results, etc., as would be expected by one skilled in the art, but which does not significantly affect overall performance, and allows for variation. "Substantially" when used for a number or parameter or property that can be expressed as a number means within 10 to 15 percent. In the context of the present description, the term "approximately", used in relation to one or another value of a quantity, means a range within ± 20% of the specified value of the quantity. For any of the embodiments described herein, it is understood that any value referred to can be considered in combination with the term “about”, that is, in various embodiments, the values of this value can be in the range of ± 20% of that indicated. Further, the stated features and / or configurations or embodiments thereof the suggested intent may be applied as seen fit to certain operating conditions or environments by one experienced in the field of art. As used herein, “planar surface” includes a surface having planar portions and / or extending along an axis or plane, even if the surface has features that do not extend along the same axis or plane (e.g., bumps, attachment features, features improving frictional contact with a roof, etc.). Further, the stated features and / or configurations or embodiments thereof the suggested intent may be applied as seen fit to certain operating conditions or environments by one experienced in the field of art.

[0007] In one embodiment, as shown in the drawings, the apparatus 100 of the present invention includes an elongated member 10 for receiving (or holding, or supporting) aquantity of roof shingles (including quantities of pre-packaged shingles) (not shown) on its surface. A wall member 20 is disposed at one end of the elongated member. The wall member 20 functions to prevent the roof shingles positioned on the elongated member 10 from sliding off the elongated member 10.

[0008] In one embodiment, the wall member 20 includes an at least one aperture 30 for facilitating ready repositioning of the apparatus 100 by placement of a user’s hand in the aperture 30 and moving the apparatus 100 to a preferred location on the roof. The aperture 30 is not required for the apparatus 100 to function in securing roof shingles safely on a sloped roof. In addition, the aperture 30 could be substituted with another type of handle or handle means, including but not limited to a protrusion (not shown) which the user can grasp or an indentation which the user can position his / her hand into to grab the apparatus 100.

[0009] In one embodiment, the elongated member 10 includes an upper surface 40 and a lower surface 50, wherein roof shingles to be installed can be positioned on the upper surface 40 of the elongated member 10 and the lower surface 50 of the elongated member 10 is in contact with the sloped surface of the roof along the entire lower surface of the elongated member 10.

[0010] In one embodiment, best shown in Figure 3, a frictional material 60 can be disposed on the lower surface 50 of the elongated member 10 for the purpose of enhancing frictional contact between the roof and the lower surface 50 of the apparatus 100. For example, thematerial in question could be a suitable foam material having sufficient compression strength. Foam is a soft, non-slip material, which condenses as pressure (or downward force) is applied thereto. In this regard, as more weight is added to the apparatus 100 (via placement of roof shingles on the upper surface 40 of the elongated member 100, the foam or other frictional material 60 will condense, which serves to stabilize the apparatus 100 in position on the roof. The frictional material could take another form, such as a gritty paper material, or other suitable materials. As shown in Figure 3, the frictional material 60 is a foam piece which as has been sized to cover all or most of the lower surface 50 of the elongated member 10. Importantly, the frictional material 60 could take the form of a plurality of pieces of frictional material 60 disposed on the lower surface 50 of the elongated member 10. In a non-limiting example, one could fixedly or releasably secure four squares of foam (or other frictional material) at each comer of the lower surface 50 of the elongated member. It is anticipated that with use, the frictional material 60 will degrade. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the frictional material 60 can be replaced on the lower surface 50 of the elongated member 10.

[0011] In one embodiment, the frictional member 60 is compressible within a range of approximately 25 percent to 75 percent. In one embodiment, the frictional member 60 has a resilience ranging from approximately 20 percent ball rebound to as high as 80 percent rebound. A firmer frictional member 60 will be denser and therefore not be as compressible as a softer frictional member 60. Accordingly, it is anticipated that when a firmer frictional member 60 is used, the depth (or height) of the frictional member 60 will be shorter than when a softer frictional member 60 is used. In one embodiment, the depth (or height) ofthe frictional member ranges from approximately 0.25 inches to 5 inches. In one embodiment, the density of the foam (frictional member 60) ranges from approximately 1.5 pounds per cubic foot (PCF) to 6 PCF.

[0012] The apparatus 100 is not intended to be fixedly secured to roof (for example, by screwing the device directly onto the roof), however, the apparatus 100 could be adapted to include securement means to permit fixed attachment of the apparatus 100 to the roof. In one embodiment shown in the drawings, there is an at least one securement member 70 positioned on the upper surface 40 of the elongated member 100. In this embodiment, the securement member 70 takes the form of an aperture through which a nail or screw could be driven to fixedly attach the apparatus 100 to the roof on which the installation is taking place. Notably, the securement member could take the form of an at least one securement member positioned on another component of the apparatus 100 other than the elongated member 10. In addition, the apparatus 100 could be adapted to incorporate a plurality of securement members positioned on different components of the apparatus 100.

[0013] When installed in a use position on the surface of a roof (such as a sloped roof surface), the distal end 80 of the elongated member 10 is directed toward the uppermost surface of the roof and the wall member 20 is directed toward the lowermost surface of the roof. The wall member 20 must be configured so that the wall member 20 does not bend or break when shingles are positioned on the elongated member 10 in contact with the wall member 20. In this regard, when the apparatus 100 is positioned on a sloped roof surface and when a quantity of roof shingles is positioned on the elongated member 10, the weightof the roof shingles will result in a fair or even a significant amount of force applied to the wall member 20.

[0014] In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the wall member 20 is configured to withstand the weight of the roof shingles without bending or breaking. In this regard, in the embodiments shown, the wall member 20 is configured to include an at least one surface member 90 for contacting the quantity of roof shingles positioned on the elongated member 10. The at least one surface member 90 may be disposed perpendicular to the elongated member 10. Alternatively, to reduce the pressure applied to the wall member, the at least one surface member 90 may be angled (or sloped) away from the elongated member 10. The at least one surface member 90 may include a plurality of ribs 110 to confer additional structural rigidity to the wall member 20. The wall member 20 can also be configured to be a dimensional member which includes at least one surface member 90 for contacting a quantity of roof shingles, and first 120 and second 130 sidewalls extending from the at least one surface member 90, the sidewalls 120, 130 for conferring additional structural rigidity to the wall member 20.

[0015] As force is applied to the at least one surface member 90 by placement of roof shingles on the elongated member 10, the sidewalls 120, 130 function to displace a portion of the applied force, and prevent the at least one surface member 90 from bending, buckling or breaking in response to the applied force.

[0016] In one embodiment, the wall member 20 may take the form of a three-dimensionally shaped wall, which may be hollowed out (or substantially hollowed out) in its core, as shown in the drawings. This form of three-dimensionally shaped wall may include an aperture 30 for permitting a user to lift and carry the apparatus 100 when not in use. In one embodiment, the wall member 20 may have a substantially cylindrical, conical, cube, cuboid, pyramidal or other three-dimensional shape.

[0017] Referring next to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, wherein the elongated member 10 includes an at least one stabilizing rib 140 disposed along (or substantially along) the upper planar surface of the elongated member 10. In the embodiments shown in Figures 5 and 6, there are three stabilizing ribs 140 disposed along the upper planar surface of the elongated member 10. The stabilizing ribs 140 confer additional structural rigidity on the elongated member 10 to protect the elongated member 10 from bending, buckling or breaking in response to the downward force applied onto the elongated member 10 when heavy roof shingles are placed on the elongated member 10.

[0018] Importantly, the apparatus of the present invention can be used in applications other than roof shingle installation. In this regard, goods other than roof shingles can be positioned on the elongated member 10 of the apparatus 100. Further, the apparatus of the present invention can be used in non-roof applications, and could, for example, be positioned on a flat surface or moderately sloped surface, whether or not a roof surface.

[0019] The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates respective embodiments herein as including particular components, elements, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may include any modification, combination or permutation of any of the components, elements, functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. All such modifications, combinations and permutations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for supporting the safe positioning of a load on a sloped surface, comprising: a. An elongated member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the elongated member sized to support a quantity of the load on its upper surface when the elongated member is positioned face-up on the sloped surface; and b. An at least one wall member disposed at one end of the elongated member, the at least one wall member forming a raised protrusion, the at least one wall member for preventing any quantity of the load from sliding off the elongated member when the elongated member is positioned face-up on the sloped surface and when the wall member is positioned at a lower end of the sloped surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sloped surface is a roof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the load is a plurality of roof shingles to be installed on a roof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frictional material attached to the lower surface of the elongated member, the frictional material for enhancing the frictional contact between the apparatus and the sloped surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frictional material is removably attachable to the lower surface of the elongated member.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frictional material is foam.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the foam has a density in the range of 1.5 pounds per cubic foot to 6 pounds per cubic foot.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an at least one securement member positioned near a distal end of the elongated member, the at least one securement member for fixedly attaching the apparatus to the sloped surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an at least one surface member disposed on the wall member, the at least one surface member for contacting the load when the load is positioned on the elongated member, the at least one surface member for displacing the weight of the load across its surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one surface member is a plurality of ribs disposed along the surface of the wall member.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall member comprises an at least one surface member for contacting the load when the load is positioned on the elongated member, and first and second sidewalls depending from the at least one surface member, the first and second sidewalls for conferring additional structural rigidity to the wall member.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an at least one handle disposed at one end of the wall member, the at least one handle for permitting a user to readily grasp the apparatus.

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