Abstract:
A safety apparatus for building construction, and preferably for the above-ground construction of a home. The apparatus consists of at least two supports that are coupled directly to the building, either outside an above-ground floor and/or proximate the roof. The purpose of the apparatus is to provide fall protection for a person working on the roof or otherwise above-ground. The main components of the apparatus include at least two supports, planks extending between the supports to define a horizontal falling surface, and guard rails extending between the supports to define a vertical falling surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to construction safety apparatuses and methods and, more particularly, to a safety platform that may be affixed to the frame of a building, such as a house, that is under construction.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Persons engaged in certain activities related to the construction of a building, such as a home, face the risk of falling from their work area to the ground below. Particular danger areas include work on the roof and work on a second (or higher floor) where an exterior wall is not yet in place.  
           [0003]    It is desired to provide a safety apparatus and method that can provide fall protection to workers involved in above-ground tasks on a home or other building. The apparatus and method should be secure, and should be relatively easy to couple to the home (or other building) where construction is taking place. The apparatus should not require the assembly of a traditional scaffolding type of structure, which is generally positioned on the ground and which extends upward along one or more sides of a building.  
           [0004]    The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related, advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety apparatus and method that provides fall protection for workers involved in above-ground tasks on a home or other building.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety apparatus and method that provides fall protection and that is relatively easy to couple to the home or other building where construction is taking place.  
           [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety apparatus and method that provides fall protection and that is relatively easy to couple to the home or other building where construction is taking place, and that eliminates the need for a ground-based scaffolding type of structure.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0008]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a building-mountable safety apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first support coupleable to a building at a point that is above ground level; a second support coupleable to the building at a point that is above ground level; at least one plank extending from the first support to the second support and defining a horizontal falling surface; and at least one guard rail extending from the first support to the second support and defining a vertical falling surface.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing fall protection to a person engaged in an above-ground construction task on a building is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first support coupleable to a building at a point that is above ground level; providing a second support coupleable to the building at a point that is above ground level; coupling each of the first support and the second support to the building at the above ground level point; providing at least one plank extending from the first support to the second support and defining a horizontal falling surface; providing at least one guard rail extending from the first support to the second support and defining a vertical falling surface; and a person engaging in an above-ground construction task on the building at a position that is above the first support and the second support, so that in the event the person falls during performance of the above-ground construction task the person shall contact at least one of the plank and the guard rail.  
           [0010]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention, in position proximate the roof portion of a building under construction.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a side view of the safety apparatus of FIG. 2, with guard rails and planks thereon.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stud coupling portion of an embodiment of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a side view of a double stud section of a building under construction, illustrating attachment of the study coupling portion of an embodiment of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is an end view of an embodiment of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention, without planks or guard rails thereon.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a top view of a first side of a safety apparatus of consistent with the present invention, illustrating a coupling portion, a plank support, and a guard rail support.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a top view of a second side of a safety apparatus of consistent with the present invention, illustrating a coupling portion, a plank support, and a guard rail support.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a possible positioning of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention, relative to a roof under construction.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating another possible positioning of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention, relative to a roof under construction.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating yet another possible positioning of a safety apparatus consistent with the present invention, relative to a roof under construction and relative to the second floor of a building under construction. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a safety apparatus  10  consistent with the present invention is shown. The safety apparatus  10  consists generally of at least two supports  12 , at least one and preferably a plurality of planks  14 , and at least one and preferably a plurality of guard rails  16 .  
         [0023]    Referring additionally to FIGS. 3, 6 and  9 - 11 , the supports  12  are now described in greater detail. Each support  12  preferably consist of an upright  20  having at least one and preferably three guard rail supports  18  thereon, a plank support  15  coupled at a first end at a substantially right angle to the upright  20 , and an attachment section  22  coupled at a second end of the plank support  15  and that permits attachment of the support  12  to the building  100  that is under construction. As best shown by way of example in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the planks  14  are placed across the plank supports  15 , and the guard rails  16  are secured by the guard rail supports  18 . Preferably, strengthening members  19  extend from the attachment section  22  to a point proximate where the plank support  15  and guard rail support  18  meet, in order to increase the strength of the support  12 .  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, attachment of the attachment section  22  of the support  12  to the building  100  (see, e.g., FIG. 1) is described. Preferably, a plurality of lag screws  24  are inserted through openings (not shown) in the attachment section  22 , and into one or more studs or posts on the building  100 . One and one-quarter inch lag screws  24  have been shown to be desirable for this purpose, though lag screws  24  of other lengths, or indeed other hardware such as bolts, could be utilized.  
         [0025]    It is preferred to attach the attachment section  22  to a place on the building  100  where there are two studs  26 , three studs  26  (not shown), or a large post (also not shown). While coupling to a single stud  26  may be possible, it is preferred for safety reasons to require at least the use of a double stud  26 , so as to guard against accidental detachment of the attachment section  22  in the event that a person  200  falls onto the apparatus  10 . Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 7- 8 , it is preferred that the attachment section  22  have a substantially L-shape, so that it may be coupled along a width and a thickness of the studs  26 . And, as shown for example in FIG. 1, one support  12  may be coupled at a corner of the building  100 , while another is coupled within a side of the building  100 . It may also be possible to provide two supports  12  within a side of a building  100 , or to have an apparatus  10  consisting of three (or even more) supports  12  coupled, as desired, along a side of a building  100 . For example, where three supports  12  are utilized, it may be desired to place a support  12  at each end of one side (i.e, at the corners), and a third support  12  at substantially a midpoint therebetween. It is generally preferred that supports  12  be spaced no more than about  10  feet apart, so as to reduce the risk that planks  15  could break in the event that a person  200  falls thereon.  
         [0026]    In terms of materials and dimensions, it is preferred that the planks  15  be 2×12&#39;s, and that the guard rails  16  be 2×4&#39;s. Other dimensions would also be possible, as desired. While the use of wood is preferred, plastic or metal materials could also be substituted.  
         [0027]    The supports  12  are preferably formed from tubular steel. The upright  20  preferably has a length of about 44″, the plank support  15  preferably has a length of about 32″, the strengthening member  19  preferably has a length of about 44″, the guard rail supports  18  are dimensioned to be able to receive a guard rail  16  therein, and the attachment section  22  has a length of about 35″. These measurements are preferred, but even significant deviations are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. It should be noted that it may be preferred to provide gussets (not shown) for purposes of further strengthening the supports  12 , proximate the attachment of the upright  20 , plank support  15  and strengthening member  19  and/or proximate the attachment of the plank support  15  and attachment section  22 .  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 9- 11 , in one embodiment, the apparatus  10  is coupled proximate the roof  110  of a building  100  that is under construction. As illustrated by way of comparison in FIGS. 9 and 10, the position of the support  12  relative to the roof  110  may be varied somewhat, so long as the apparatus  10  will prevent a person  100  from falling past the apparatus  10  to the ground. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, the apparatus  10  could be positioned relatively higher, so that the guard rails  16  will stop a falling person  100 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the apparatus  10  could be positioned relatively lower, in a manner that might permit a person  100  to fall to the planks  14 . An advantage of a relatively lower configuration is that it might permit the use of the apparatus  10  as a scaffold as well as a safety support.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 11, it can be seen that the apparatus  10  may be positioned proximate a second floor of a building  100 . (Such placement could be instead of or in addition to the placement of a second apparatus  10  proximate the roof  110 .) When used in this manner, the apparatus  10  may particularly permit a dual use as a scaffolding and safety apparatus.  
         [0030]    The term building  100  is intended to capture the full range of edifices that may be constructed. In the preferred embodiment, the building  100  is a home. However, the building  100  may also be a commercial or other non-residential structure.  
         [0031]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.