Roofing construction tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sloped roofs pose challenges for workers and roofing materials as they can slide and potentially fall, with high-friction boots only partially addressing the issue of worker slippage.
Innovation Solution
A roofing construction tool featuring a compressible planar stand with a high friction layer and embedded weights, designed to provide stability and resistance to movement on sloped roofs, even in windy conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If workers wear high coefficient of friction boots, then worker slippage on sloped roofs is reduced, but workers can still slide and fall from the roof
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (roofing construction tool with high friction layer) between the worker's boot and the roof surface. This mediator provides enhanced friction and stability, preventing both slippage and sliding, thereby fully addressing the safety issue that high-friction boots alone could not resolve.
2Ease of operation
If roofing materials and tools are placed on sloped roofs, then roofing work can be performed, but the materials and tools can slide and fall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the friction parameter of the roofing construction tool by incorporating a high friction layer with specific material properties. This parameter change enables the tool to maintain static friction greater than kinetic friction, preventing sliding while allowing roofing work to proceed normally.
3Reliability
If a roofing construction tool is designed with a high friction layer, then gripping to the roof surface is enhanced, but the tool structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a compressible base layer with a high friction layer on top. This composite structure achieves enhanced grip stability while maintaining relatively simple construction, as the high friction layer can be applied as a surface treatment or bonded layer rather than a completely complex structural design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tool effectively stabilizes objects on the roof by compressing against the surface and enhancing grip through its high friction layer, preventing sliding and ensuring objects remain in place.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially planar stand (101) comprising a compressible material
Implementation Method 2
Gripping of the bottom surface of the roofing construction tool to a roof surface can be enhanced by providing a high friction layer adjacent the bottom surface
Implementation Method 3
The high friction layer can comprise at least one of latex, nitrile rubber, double-density polyurethane, thermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, styrene rubber, rubber and glass fiber mixture, crepe rubber, microcellular polyurethane, and ethylene vinyl acetate
Implementation Method 4
at least one weight embedded therein having a density greater than a density of the compressible material
Data Source
AI summary
A roofing construction tool including a substantially planar stand formed from a compressible material that includes a top surface having a first area, a bottom surface defining a second area larger than the first area, and side walls joining the top surface and bottom surface. The roofing construction tool may further include a high friction layer adjacent the bottom surface and/or at least one weight embedded in the compressible material and having a density greater than a density of the compressible material.