Structure for staging materials on a roof structure

Solution Overview

Problem

The inefficiencies in transporting and staging materials for solar panel installations on roofs, including unsecured and unorganized delivery, lead to time and labor losses, as well as potential delays due to missing or damaged materials.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a ridge member and rotatable arms angled to match the pitches of the roof, allowing materials to be securely staged between the arms and the roof, with load arms acting as mechanical stops to prevent sliding, enabling efficient and organized material placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If materials are delivered to ground level and left unprotected, then delivery cost and time are reduced, but materials are vulnerable to theft and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery timeVSAvoidmaterial security

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus enables materials to be staged on the roof structure in advance of the installation appointment. By providing a staging platform that can be positioned on the roof beforehand, materials can be delivered to ground level, lifted to the roof, and organized on the apparatus prior to installation. This preliminary staging action resolves the contradiction by allowing early material placement on the roof (improving security and organization) while maintaining efficient ground-level delivery processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If materials are transported from ground level to roof structure at installation appointment, then delivery logistics are simplified, but time and energy are lost during installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery logisticsVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus enables materials to be staged on the roof structure in advance of the installation appointment. By providing a staging platform that can be positioned on the roof beforehand, materials can be delivered to ground level, lifted to the roof, and organized on the apparatus prior to installation. This preliminary staging action resolves the contradiction by allowing early material placement on the roof (improving security and organization) while maintaining efficient ground-level delivery processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus acts as an intermediary staging platform between ground-level delivery and roof installation. It provides a intermediate holding position on the roof where materials can be organized and prepared before final installation, decoupling the delivery logistics from the installation process and eliminating the need for time-consuming material handling during installation appointments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If materials are not organized prior to installation appointment, then storage space is reduced, but missing or damaged materials are discovered late

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidinstallation readiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus enables materials to be staged on the roof structure in advance of the installation appointment. By providing a staging platform that can be positioned on the roof beforehand, materials can be delivered to ground level, lifted to the roof, and organized on the apparatus prior to installation. This preliminary staging action resolves the contradiction by allowing early material placement on the roof (improving security and organization) while maintaining efficient ground-level delivery processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus segments the installation process into distinct phases: material delivery to ground level, lifting to roof, staging and organization on the apparatus, and final installation. This segmentation allows materials to be organized and inspected on the staged platform before installation begins, enabling early discovery of missing or damaged materials without requiring extensive storage space at the delivery location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10767376B2Structure for staging materials on a roof structure

Publication Date: 2020.09.08 FINAL MILE SOLAR LLC

AI summary

The apparatus may include a ridge member, a first arm rotatably coupled to the ridge member and extending outward, relative to the ridge member, in a first plane angled relative to a first pitch of a roof structure. Also, the apparatus may include a second arm rotatably coupled to the ridge member and extending outward, relative to the ridge member, in a second plane angled relative to a second pitch of the roof structure. The ridge member may be positioned at an apex between the first pitch and the second pitch along a ridge of the roof structure. Further, materials for installation may be placed on at least one of the first arm and the second arm positioned between the roof structure and the materials. Additionally, the apparatus may include a load arm coupled at each respective end portion of the first arm and the second arm.