Abstract:
A shoe protects a roof material from direct contact with a roof jack; the roof jack connects to a quick connect roof clip via a projection. The quick connect roof jack and roof clip are releasable; the quick connect roof clip may be left in place for later use.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing dates of application number 12/948742, filed Nov. 17, 2010, and PCT/US11/59026, filed Nov. 2, 2011, for any matter disclosed herein and therein; these applications are incorporated herein by this reference. This application is a continuation-in-part of such applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0002]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0003]    Generally stated, roof jacks are used on pitched roofs to provide a temporary platform for standing, placing equipment and supplies, and similar. A description and drawings of a roof jack are provided in application number 12/948742, filed Nov. 17, 2010, and PCT/US11/59026, filed Nov. 2, 2011, filed by the inventor named in the present application, which applications are incorporated by this reference. 
         [0004]    Certain roof materials, such as slate, are brittle or otherwise subject to being damaged by walking on the materials or by pressure on the materials from roof jacks and similar. When using roof jacks with such roof materials, steps must be taken to avoid damaging the materials, such as leaving uncovered strips where the roof jack tongues are nailed down. Then, after the bulk of the slate is installed and the roof jacks may be removed, the roof jacks must be pounded up off of the nails, the nails are typically then driven down, and the uncovered strips are covered with slate attached via slate hooks. Slate hooks are not desirable because they are visible, because they can catch debris, and because they present a hazard for those on the roof in the future. Even following such practices may still result in damage, because the roof jacks are still resting on a layer of installed slate. Any discontinuity in the surface beneath the slate may result in breaking the slate when enough pressure is placed on the slate from above by the roof jack. 
         [0005]    The art has not demonstrated a satisfactory accessory for a roof jack, which accessory reduces or eliminates damage to roof materials. 
         [0006]    Generally stated, the disclosed invention is directed to a roof jack and/or associated accessory which reduces or eliminates damage to roof materials, which distributes the weight from a roof jack across a larger area of the roof, which may be releasably attached to a roof jack, and which works in conjunction with a roof jack as disclosed in applications 12/948742 and PCT/US11/59026, which roof jack may attach to a quick connect roof clip, which roof clip is attached to the roof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roof jack with attached shoes attached to a quick connect roof clip. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a roof jack shoe. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a roof jack with an attached shoe, showing alternative shoe attachment mechanisms. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of a roof jack, an attachment head, a quick connect roof clip, and a shoe. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of a roof jack, an attachment head, a quick connect roof clip, and a shoe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The reference numbers in the drawings follow a pattern of X.YYY, where X is the figure number and YYY is a number identifying an element in the drawing. The same YYY numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Where “X” is used in the specification, it refers to the element number as depicted in any of the figures where the element is depicted. YYY reference numbers herein which are the same as the YYY number in a parent application refer to the same parts. 
         [0013]    The following detailed description is for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention only, and other embodiments are possible without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. The figures and elements discussed in this specification use terms meant as examples and not as limitations. Functions equivalent to those illustrated in the figures may be provided by other device(s) or structure(s). 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roof jack  1 . 017  with attached shoes, the roof jack being attached to a quick connect roof clip  1 . 004 . In this view, the shoes are shown to comprise a bar  1 . 201 , a pad  1 . 203 , and a clamp to releasably attach the shoe to the roof jack. In this view, the clamp to releasably attach the shoe to the roof jack comprises a plate  1 . 205 , first and second fasteners  1 . 207  and  1 . 213 , a bolt X. 215  (labeled in  FIG. 2  as  2 . 215 ), and a nut  1 . 211 . Threading on the bolt X. 215  is not shown. The fasteners may comprise bolts welded or chemically bonded to the components, bolt attached to the other components by nuts (with or without one or more washers), rivets, or similar. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a roof jack shoe. In this view, two clamp components to releasably attach the shoe to a roof jack are shown, one of which is labeled as element  2 . 221 . This view shows the plate  2 . 205  and that the plate comprises a first bend  2 . 218  and a second bend  2 . 216 . The first bend  2 . 218  lifts the plate  2 . 205  off of the bar  2 . 201  through an angled section  2 . 217 , while the second bend  2 . 216  returns the plate to approximately the same horizontal orientation as the bar, though at a distance above the bar. The distance above the bar is shown as a line, which line is labeled as element  2 . 219 . The distance above the bar is also referred to herein as the opening. 
         [0016]    The view in  FIG. 2  shows that there is a hole in the plate  2 . 205  at the location labeled  2 . 209 , through which the bolt  2 . 215  passes. The bolt  2 . 215  is attached to the bar  2 . 201 , such as by welding, chemical bonding, a bolt, a set of bolts, and/or is blocked from passing up through a hole in the bar, such as by a head on the bolt, a rivet, a nut or similar. Views of an embodiment of the bolt  2 . 215  within the bar  2 . 201  are shown in  FIG. 4 . The bolt may further comprise a sleeve, washer, spacer or similar between the nut  2 . 211  and the plate  2 . 205  (any such component being generally referred to herein as a “space”), which component is larger than the hole at location  2 . 209  but smaller than the nut  2 . 211 . An example of a spacer is shown in  FIG. 5  at element  5 . 235 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows that the plate  2 . 205 , in this example, is attached to the bar  2 . 201  by two fasteners  2 . 207  and  2 . 213 , at the end of the plate  2 . 205  most distant from the opening. 
         [0018]    The distance above the bar  2 . 219  is adjustable, for example, by screwing the nut  2 . 211  down or up on the bolt  2 . 215 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the two clamp components to releasably attach the shoe to a roof jack are spaced far enough apart to allow the lower portion of the roof jack to be inserted through the two openings. Screwing the nut  2 . 211  down on the bolt  2 . 215  results in reducing the size of the opening and holding the roof jack and the shoe together through pressure and friction. The nut  2 . 211  can be screwed up on the bolt  2 . 215  to increase the size of the opening and to allow the shoe and roof jack to be moved, one relative to the other, and/or to allow the shoe to be removed. In use, it is important to be able to relocate the shoe on the roof jack as necessary, for example, to allow the shoe to be located on the lower portion of an already installed shingle. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a roof jack with an attached shoe, showing alternative shoe attachment hardware. In this alternative, a hole  3 . 223  is located in the roof jack  3 . 017 . The hole  3 . 235  may extend toward the other end of the roof jack  3 . 017 , forming a slot  3 . 235 . In this example, the nut  3 . 211  may be tightened on the bolt  3 . 215  to secure the shoe to the roof jack. The nut  3 . 211  may be loosened on the bolt  3 . 215  to allow the shoe to be relocated along the slot  3 . 235 . Instead of a slot, multiple holes may be provided along the path of the slot. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of a roof jack  4 . 017 , an attachment head  4 . 016 , a quick connect roof clip  4 . 004 , and a shoe  4 . 201 . This view shows an extended projection  4 . 225  installed on the attachment head  4 . 016 . The extended projection  4 . 225  may be necessary to connect the roof jack with shoes on it to an existing quick connect roof clip. The extended projection  4 . 225  extends down below the bottom of the roof jack without the shoes. In  FIG. 4 , the bottom of the quick connect roof clip  4 . 004  and the bottom of the pad  4 . 203  are at the same level. The extended projection  4 . 225  may installed by removing the nut  4 . 227  and replacing an existing projection X. 018  with the extended projection  4 . 225 . The existing projection X. 018  and extended projection  4 . 225  may comprise a spacer (see element  5 . 235  for an example of a spacer). 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of a roof jack  5 . 107 , an attachment head  5 . 016 , a quick connect roof clip  5 . 004 , and a shoe  5 . 201 . This view shows an embodiment in which the attachment head  5 . 016  has been lowered on bolt  5 . 019  (and the corresponding bolt on the other side of the attachment head, not shown in this view). Lowering the attachment head  5 . 016  may be achieved by removing nut  5 . 020 , placing a smaller spacer, sleeve, washer, or set of washers (or similar) onto bolt  5 . 019  (spacers, sleeves, washers, or set of washers (or similar) being shown in  5 . 235 ), replacing the attachment head  5 . 016 , and screwing the nut  5 . 020  back onto the bolt  5 . 019 . If not lowered, the bottom of the projection  5 . 018  would be at or just above the bottom of the roof jack. As shown in  FIG. 5 , when lowered, the bottom of the projection  5 . 018  is below the bottom of the roof jack without shoes. In  FIG. 5 , the bottom of the quick connect roof clip  5 . 004  and the bottom of the pad  5 . 203  are at the same level. An example of a spacer is shown as element  5 . 235 . 
         [0022]    As used herein, “releasably attachable” and “releasably connectable” are understood to be equivalent; “attach” and “connect” (and “attachable” and “connectable”) are also understood to be equivalent; and “releasable,” “releasably,” “releasably attachable,” and/or “releasably connectable” are understood to mean being able to be repeatedly connected/disconnected (or engaged/disengaged) through the use of the hands, feet, or human appendage, with application of human-scale work effort, not generally requiring the use of a tool. 
         [0023]    The components discussed in this specification may be made of or from a wide range of materials non-exclusively including aluminum, steel, iron, copper, tin and alloys between and including these and other materials, as well as and/or including composites such as fiber-glass, aramid, carbon-fiber, an other fibers combined with resin and/or epoxy; in addition, wood may be used, as well as rubber, felt, plastic, vinyl, leather, or similar for the pad on the shoe.