Abstract:
A safety rail for use by roofers is disclosed. The rail is light in weight, high in strength and durability, and can be installed relatively quickly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/674,999, filed on Apr. 26, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to a safety rail for use by roofers and other types of contractors.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Current safety rails for roofers are cumbersome, time-consuming to install, and expensive. Consequently, there is a demand for an invention which addresses these problems.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety rail which is easy to install and manufacture. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the present invention in a disassembled state; and  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows detail of the bottom end of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  shows detail of the present invention in an installed state;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is another view of the base of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  shows an additional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  shows the present invention in an installed state;  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  shows more detail of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-6 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  shows more detail of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-7 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  shows more detail of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  shows a second embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a brace  100  for use in a tri-level safety rail. A U-shaped lip  104  is designed to fit around a gutterboard, which is a horizontal bordering structure typically positioned near to a roofline of a structure such as a house. It is important that the lip  104  be strong, sturdy, and solidly fixable to the gutterboard, as the brace  100  must be able to withstand a significant amount of force exerted thereupon.  
         [0017]     It is the purpose of the present invention that a group of braces  100  be combined in the aggregate to provide a type of safety fence or safety rail around the roof of a house or other structure. One common use for such an arrangement is during the installation, repair, or tear-down of a roof of a house, although this is but an example and the present invention should not be considered as limited exclusively thereto. A movable bracket  108  holds the bottom level of the safety rail. The bracket  108  can be affixed in position by finger-screws or other securing means (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Two fixed brackets  112  and  116  support the middle and top levels of the safety rails.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows more detail of the bottom end of the brace  100 . A plurality of holes  204  are positioned within the lip  104  so as to provide strength and durability for attaching it to the gutterboard, or other portion of the structure requiring a safety rail. In  FIG. 2 , the movable bracket  108  has a securing means  216 . At the opposite end of the bracket  108  exist holes  208  and  212  for securing a bottom rail within the bracket  108 . These holes  208 ,  212  are also for the purpose of attaching a securing mechanism, and thus can be threaded. The bottom rail secured within the bracket  108  could for example by a 2×4, although the present invention should not be considered as limited exclusively thereto.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a view of the base of a brace  100  secured in place and attached to a gutterboard. The brace  100  differs from that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the support brackets of  FIG. 3  face toward the roof. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is apparent that the support brackets  104 , 112 , and  116  would, when installed, face away from the roof. The brace  100  of  FIG. 3 , as with those in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is attached to the gutterboard via a variety of nails or screws located in holes  308  which penetrate through the lip  104 . A securing means  216  holds the body of the brace  100  securely in place.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is another view of the base of the brace  100  from  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 4  it is apparent that there can be multiple holes  308  within the lip  104 . Indeed, the more holes  308 , and more securing mechanisms passing therethrough such as nails or screws, the more solidly the lip  104  and therefore the entire brace  100  will hold to the gutterboard. However, an increase in the number of holes and securing mechanisms used will also increase the time necessary to install (and later remove) the brace  100 .  
         [0021]     The brace  100  can have a securing weld  312  or other solidifying means at its base. This is because it is so important that the lip  104  and body of the brace  100  be very solidly attached. The main portions of the mechanical stress exerted on the brace  100  will exist largely at its base.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  again shows the base of a brace  100 , in which a movable bracket  504  differs from the earlier movable bracket  208  in that the bracket  504  includes a cylindrical-shaped housing  512 , for accommodating a pipe-shaped mechanism such as that used in chain-link fences. This is because, as stated, the present invention is intended to provide a type of safety fence or safety rail around the roof of a house or other structure.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a brace  100  supporting three levels of safety rail  804 , which in  FIG. 6  are 2×4s, although the present invention should not be considered as limited exclusively thereto.  FIG. 7  shows a pair of braces  100  attached to a gutterboard at a roofline, where the braces  100  are supporting cylindrical pipes which are acting as safety rails.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show perspective views of safety rails supported by the brace  100  of the present invention. In  FIG. 19  it is apparent that both 2×4s as well as pipe-rails can co-exist within the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9 , the purpose of the device  100  is generally to install a new roof. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the purpose of the brace  1000  is instead to tear off an existing roof for repair or replacement. In these circumstances, there may not be a gutterboard available, or it may be so badly deteriorated such that it is unreliable.  
         [0026]     Use of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  is accomplished as follows. A triangular device  1004  is attached to a roof beam which supports shingles which are to be torn off. The triangular device  1004 , which is sometimes referred to as a roof-jack, is nailed into the beam using the three holes provided therein. The triangular device  1004  is carefully chosen so that its angles match with the pitch of the roof. Alternatively, the device  1004  can be adjustable in angle, so that that present invention could accommodate a variety of roof pitches.  
         [0027]     Normally, the device  1004  exists to create a foot layer or walkway, in which boards (e.g. 2×6) are inserted as shown in  FIG. 10 , as a type of stepping beam or foot rail for the roofers to move about on the slanted roof surface with less difficulty. However, the present invention takes advantage of a different effect of attaching the device  1004 , which is to create a vertical surface  1008 . The brace  1000  is secured to this vertical surface  1008  via a slot or hollow securing mechanism  1012  in which the brace  1000  can be vertically inserted. Additionally, the exact positioning of the brace  1000  within the slot or securing mechanism  1012  can be fixed using a threaded securing mechanism  1016 , similar to those used in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9 .  
         [0028]     A third embodiment of the present invention exists, in which a brace can be used with masonry, bricks, walls, wall studs, or other non-roof vertical surfaces. In this embodiment, an attachment mechanism is securedly affixed to a wall or other surface. The attachment mechanism has extension members securedly joined thereto, where these members support a base receptacle for seating a brace, and also provide a walkway such as but not limited to 20 inches in width. This embodiment has the advantage of interchangeability of parts. The brace can be inserted into the receptacle, the triangular device, or even into a U-shaped lip  104 . Using such interchangeable parts, a construction company can purchase a smaller amount of braces, and insert them in the walls as the walls are being completed but before the roof is begun. After the walls are completed, by making some simple adjustments, the same braces can be used on the roof as well. Thus, it is not necessary to purchase separate safety parts for the roof and also for the walls.  
         [0029]     It is anticipated that various changes may be made in the arrangement and operation of the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.