Modular Roofing Ladder with Angularly Adjustable Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current roofing ladders are difficult to place on steep roofs, often come into direct contact with the roof surface, and are of fixed length, making them challenging to use on varying roof sizes and angles, limiting worker access and safety.
Innovation Solution
A modular, angularly adjustable roofing ladder with a beam, beam lifters, roof anchor hook, wheel assembly, and platform assembly that allows for customizable positioning, extension, and clearance from the roof surface, enabling secure and adaptable use on different roof angles and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional roofing ladder is used, then the worker can access the roof, but the ladder is difficult to place and comes into direct contact with the roof surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beam lifters as intermediary components that contact the roof surface instead of the ladder itself. These lifters transfer the ladder from the ground to the roof and then can be removed, allowing the ladder to hover above the roof surface during work, eliminating direct contact between the worker's equipment and the roof.
Solution Approach 2:
The roofing ladder system is divided into separate components: the ladder itself, beam lifters for placement, and a modular platform system. This segmentation allows the placement function to be separated from the working function, enabling easy placement while maintaining clearance during actual roof work.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length roofing ladder is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to roofs of various sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The ladder is divided into modular sections that can be connected in different configurations. The platform assembly can be attached at various positions along the ladder, and extension components can be added to adjust the overall length, allowing the same basic structure to adapt to different roof sizes without requiring completely different ladders.
Solution Approach 2:
The ladder system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements rather than fixed components. The platform height and position can be adjusted along the ladder length, and the ladder itself can be extended or reconfigured, providing dynamic adaptability to match various roof dimensions and angles.
3Ease of operation
If the ladder is positioned close to the roof surface for stability, then the ladder is stable, but the worker cannot work underneath
Solution Approach 1:
Beam lifters serve as temporary intermediaries during placement that provide stability when contacting the roof surface. Once placement is complete, these lifters are removed, and the ladder is stabilized through its anchor hook system and platform distribution, allowing clearance below while maintaining stability during work.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying solely on vertical contact with the roof for stability, the system uses horizontal distribution through the platform and anchor hooks that engage with the roof structure at multiple points. This distributes the stability function across different spatial dimensions, allowing vertical clearance while maintaining overall stability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the platform is fixed at one position, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying roof angles
Solution Approach 1:
The platform assembly incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow it to be repositioned and reconfigured for different roof angles. The platform can be attached at multiple positions along the ladder and adjusted to maintain a level working surface regardless of the roof's inclination, providing dynamic adaptability to varying angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform system allows changes in key parameters such as attachment position, angle, and orientation to accommodate different roof configurations. By adjusting these parameters, the same platform structure can adapt to various roof angles while maintaining a stable, level working surface for the worker.
Data Source
AI summary
A roofing ladder with a modular angularly adjustable platform facilitates roofing work by providing a platform assembly which can be adjusted angularly to provide a desired slope for sitting or standing on or for storing tools or supplies. A beam provides structural support. A roof anchor hook connected to the beam contacts the opposing roofing surface to hold the ladder in place. A wheel assembly allows a user to easily mount the ladder on a roof. A plurality of step rods laterally connected to the beam provides steps for climbing the ladder as well as attachment locations for the platform assembly. A plurality of beam lifters provides a means to lift the beam off the roof surface for performing work on the roof surface underneath the beam. An extension slot allows the ladder to be extended for longer roofs or more easily manipulated into place using an extension pole.