Abstract:
A hoisting device and method for hoisting material up an extension ladder. The device includes a load-carrying carriage having a wheel and roller axle assembly that also serves as rollers for engagement with the rails of the ladder. The wheel and roller axle assembly allows the cart to transition from the ladder rails to the roof surface. Also provided is a dual braking means that serves to prevent the carriage from rolling back down the ladder or off of the roof in cases of cable malfunction. The method employs a hoisting mechanism having a removable winch used in conjunction with a releasable coupled pull cable that is brought to the roof surface on the carriage, detached from the carriage, mounted on the roof and used to return the carriage to and from the roof during hoisting operations. An adjustable ladder support is provided to support the ladder during a hoist.

Description:
This application is a divisional application of prior application Ser. No. 10/933,610 filed Sep. 2, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,424,932, the entire content of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hoisting devices. Particularly it pertains to a new lifting device used in conjunction with a ladder, and a method for raising construction materials onto the roof of a building. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Construction workers are often called upon to transport construction materials and equipment onto the roof portion of a building. The materials may include roofing shingles, plywood sheets, bricks, ventilation units or even ornamental structures. Various lifting devices have been employed to accomplish this task. Such devices often require multiple persons to operate, have limited safety features and are often quite expensive to purchase and maintain. 
     Applicant proposes a load lifting system used in conjunction with a ladder, and a method to move a load to the roof of a building. The system is comprised of a carriage that rolls along the rails of conventional extension ladders and a self-contained hoisting mechanism for raising a load to the roof surface of a building. 
     The carriage of Applicant&#39;s lifting system includes a dual braking mechanism that reduces the risk of a loaded carriage sliding or rolling down the ladder during a lift or off of the roof once the load is brought to the roof surface. Applicant&#39;s lifting system also includes ladder rail adaptors to provide for a smooth transition of the carriage as it rolls along the rails of extension ladders and an eave adaptor to provide for a smooth roll surface between the ladder rails and the roof surface. The proposed lifting system also includes an infinitely adjustable ladder support to provide an intermediate support to the extension ladder. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a hoisting system for use in conjunction with a ladder, and a method to lift loads to a roof surface. The device is primarily intended to lift materials to the surface of pitched roofs typically used in residential construction. The device may also be employed to raise loads to flat or substantially flat roofs or to various levels of a wall during its construction and it may be of particular use in the construction of masonry walls. 
     The hoisting system is comprised of a load-bearing carriage having a roller axle and wheel assembly that allows the loaded carriage to roll up the rails of a ladder on its axels and then roll along a roof surface on the provided wheels to a desired unloading area. A rail guide is provided to maintain alignment of the carriage as it travels on the ladder rails. 
     A self-contained hoisting means is provided to roll the carriage along the ladder rails and along the roof surface. The hoisting means includes a roof anchor mechanism that adapts to the pitch of the roof in which it is used and thus allows for its employment on roofs having a variety of different roof slopes. The hoisting means is further comprised of a winch mechanism and pull cable arrangement having a support that works in cooperation with the roof anchor mechanism. 
     The carriage is further provided with a dual breaking mechanism as a safety device. The first breaking mechanism is comprised of a breaking bar that slides over the ladder rungs during a lift up the ladder but provides a positive stop against a ladder rung in the event of an untoward reversal of the carriage during the lift. The second breaking mechanism is comprised of elongated spikes that dig into the roofing surface and serve to hold the carriage on the roof in the event of an untoward reversal of the carriage while it is on a roofing surface. 
     Adaptors are provided for the ladder rails to allow for a smooth transition of the carriage between ladder rail extensions and from the ladder rails to the roof surface. 
     An infinitely adjustable ladder support is provided to give support to the extension ladder a point between its ends. This allows the user of the device to reduce the angle of the lift and as a consequence increase the lift capacity of the hoisting device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the ladder hoisting assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the ladder hoist carriage. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective bottom view of the ladder hoist carriage. 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the ladder hoist carriage on a ladder. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the winch assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the roof anchor. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the roof eave guide bar. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the ladder extension rail transition assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the hoisting apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the ladder hoisting assembly ready for a hoist. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a load carriage. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of the hoisting apparatus during a hoist. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the hoisting assembly on a roof surface. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the ladder support. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view of the ladder support adjustment clamp. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Lifting Hoist System 
                 12 
                 Carriage 
               
               
                 14 
                 Hoisting Assembly 
                 16 
                 Winch Assembly 
               
               
                 18 
                 Roof Anchor 
                 20 
                 Winch Cable 
               
               
                 22 
                 Ladder 
                 23 
                 Ladder Rail 
               
               
                 23A 
                 Ladder Extension Rail 
                 24 
                 Ladder Rungs 
               
               
                 25 
                 Ladder Support 
                 26 
                 Carriage Frame 
               
               
                 27 
                 Carriage Deck Assembly 
               
               
                 27A 
                 First Deck Portion 
                 27B 
                 Second Deck Portion 
               
               
                 28 
                 Carriage Deck Hinge 
                 29 
                 Deck Load Support 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Bar 
               
               
                 29A 
                 Load Support Bar 
                 30 
                 Carriage Axle 
               
               
                   
                 Adjustment 
               
               
                   
                 Screw 
               
               
                 30A 
                 Axle Bearing 
                 32 
                 Carriage Axle 
               
               
                 32A 
                 Axle Bearing 
                 34 
                 Carriage Wheel 
               
               
                 36 
                 Carriage load stop 
                 38 
                 Lower Load Stop 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Frame 
               
               
                 40 
                 Lower Load Stop Frame 
                 42 
                 Upper Load Stop 
               
               
                   
                 Columns 
                   
                 Frame 
               
               
                 44 
                 Upper Load Stop Columns 
                 46 
                 Load Stop Brace 
               
               
                 46A 
                 Load Stop Brace Support 
                 48 
                 Load Stop Adjustment Screw 
               
               
                 50 
                 Carriage Brake Assembly 
                 52 
                 Ladder Rung Brake Bar 
               
               
                 54 
                 Carriage Ladder Brake bearing 
                 56 
                 Carriage Ladder Brake Rung Stop 
               
               
                 58 
                 Carriage Roof Brake Assembly 
                 60 
                 Carriage Roof Brake Claw 
               
               
                 62 
                 Carriage Roof Brake Bearing 
                 64 
                 Carriage Ladder Brake Support Pins 
               
               
                 66 
                 Carriage Brake Engagement Lever 
                 68 
                 Brake Engagement Lever Bearing 
               
               
                 69 
                 Brake/Carriage Deck Latch 
                 70 
                 Carriage Hitch Bar 
               
               
                 71 
                 Carriage Hitch Ring 
                 72 
                 Rail Guide Assembly 
               
               
                 74 
                 Rail Guide 
                 75 
                 Rail Guide Adjustment plate 
               
               
                 76 
                 Rail Guide Adjustment Slot 
                 78 
                 Rail Guide Adjustment Screw 
               
               
                 80 
                 Winch 
                 81 
                 Winch spool 
               
               
                 82 
                 Winch Support Frame 
                 83 
                 Cable Guide 
               
               
                 84 
                 Winch Support Roof Anchor Stops 
                 85 
                 Winch Support Carriage Hitch 
               
               
                 86 
                 Roof Anchor Bar 
                 86A 
                 Roof Anchor legs 
               
               
                 86B 
                 Roof Anchor legs 
                 87 
                 Roof Anchor Winch Supports 
               
               
                 88 
                 Roof Anchor Cable Hitch 
                 89A 
                 Roof Anchor Pad 
               
               
                 89B 
                 Roof Anchor Pad 
                 90 
                 Roof Anchor Pad Bearing 
               
               
                 91 
                 Roof Anchor Spike Guide 
                 92 
                 Ladder Roof Eave Guide Bar 
               
               
                 93 
                 Eave Guide Bar Attachment Tab 
                 95 
                 Eave Guide Bar Bolt 
               
               
                 96 
                 Ladder Extension Rail Transition Assembly 
               
               
                 97 
                 Ladder Transition Rail 
                 98 
                 Ladder Transition Rail Support Plate 
               
               
                 98A 
                 Transition Rail Filler Plate 
                 99 
                 Ladder Transition Support Plate Bolt 
               
               
                 101 
                 Ladder Support Base 
                 102 
                 Ladder Base Legs 
               
               
                 103 
                 Ladder Support Pole 
                 103A 
                 Lower Support Pole Segment 
               
               
                 103B 
                 Upper Telescoping Support Pole Segment 
               
               
                 104 
                 Ladder Support Adjustment Clamp 
                 104A 
                 Ladder Support Adjustment Clamp 
               
               
                 104B 
                 Ladder Support Spring 
                 104C 
                 Ladder Support Spring Stop 
               
               
                 105 
                 Ladder Rung Support Bar 
                 106 
                 Ladder Rung Cradle 
               
               
                 200 
                 Building 
                 210 
                 Roof 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and more particularly  FIG. 1 , there is shown a prospective view of the hoisting system  10  of applicant&#39;s invention. The hoisting system  10  is typically used to lift materials from the ground or from a truck bed onto the roof of a building  200 . The system  10  is comprised of a hoisting assembly  14  used to hoist loads up a ladder  22  that extends to the roof  210  of the building  200 . The ladder  22  is shown as an extension ladder having lower ladder rails  23  and upper ladder extension rails  23 A, though single section, non-extending, ladders may also be utilized. As may be required, the extension ladder  22  may be supported as desired by a telescoping ladder support  25 . 
     The hoisting assembly  14  is comprised of a carriage  12  that rolls along and is supported by the rails  23  and  23 A of the ladder assembly. A winch assembly  16  having a winch cable  20  is used, in conjunction with a roof anchor  18  attached to the ridge of the roof  210 , to roll the carriage  12  along the ladder  22  to the roof  210 . 
       FIG. 2 , a top prospective view of the carriage  12 , and  FIG. 3 , a bottom prospective view of the carriage  12  show the components of the carriage  12 . The carriage  12  is comprised of a frame  26  having carriage axles  30  and  32  supported on axle bearings  30 A,  32 A for rollably supporting the carriage  12  on the rails  23  and  23 A of the extension ladder  22 . Each carriage axle  30 ,  32  has carriage wheels  34  that allow the carriage  12  to be rolled along the roof surface  210  when the carriage transitions from the rails  23 ,  23  A of the ladder  22  to the roof surface  210 . 
     A carriage deck assembly  27  is supported on the frame  26 . The carriage deck assembly  27  has a first deck portion  27 A a second deck portion  27 B. These deck portions  27 A and  27 B are pivotally attached to the carriage frame  26  by means of carriage deck hinges  28 . To minimize load shifting during a lift the carriage  12  is provided with a deck load support bar  29  adjustably mounted to the frame  26  by means of a load support bar adjustment screw  29 A. 
     The carriage  12  has a carriage load stop  36  which is comprised of a lower load stop frame  38  having tubular lower load stop frame columns  40  and an upper load stop frame  42  having upper load stop columns  44  that slidably fit into the tubular support columns  40  and held in place by means of adjustment screw  48 . This arrangement allows for telescopic adjustment of the height of the load stop  36 . The load stop  36  has a load stop brace  46  mounted on load stop brace support  46 A attached to the upper load stop frame  42 . The upper load stop frame  42  may be reversed to position the load support brace  46  atop a load carried on the deck surface  27 . 
     The carriage  12  is provided with a carriage hitch bar  70  mounted to the frame  26  of the carriage  12 . The carriage hitch bar  70  has a carriage hitch ring  71  for attachment of the cable  20  from the winch assembly  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the carriage brake assembly  50  is shown below the deck  27  of the carriage  12 . The carriage brake assembly  50  is comprised of a ladder rung brake bars  52  having an upwardly canted configuration that pivots about the axle  30  by means of a ladder brake bearing  54 . This pivotal mounting allows the brake bar  52  to slide over ladder rungs  23 ,  23 A as the carriage  12  is pulled up the ladder  22 . The ladder brake bars  52  support a ladder brake rung stop  56  at their ends. The rung stop  56  will slide over the ladder rungs  23  and  23 A during a lift but will fall down to engage a ladder rung  24  in the event the carriage  12  rolls down the ladder  22  during the hoisting of a load. 
     The carriage brake assembly  50  also includes a roof brake assembly  58 . The roof brake assembly  58  is comprised of a roof brake claw  60  that is pivotally mounted on the axle  30  between the ladder rung brake bars  52  by means of roof brake bearings  62 . Upper and lower carriage ladder support pins  64  attached to the claw  60  impede the full rotation of the roof brake claw  60  on the axle  30 . The pins  64  engage the brake bars  52  and allow the carriage brake claw  60  to dig into a roof surface when the carriage  12  rolls down a roof surface. 
     The carriage brake assembly  50  and roof brake assembly  58  are engaged and disengaged by means of a brake engagement lever  66  that pivots on a brake engagement lever bearing  68  mounted on the roof brake claw assembly  58 . When the brake assembly is disengaged the lever  66  is upwardly biased against the carriage hitch bar  70 . To engage the braking system prior to making a lift, the engagement lever  66  is pivoted off of the hitch bar  70  to allow the claw  60  of the roof brake assembly  58  and the brake bars  52  of the carriage brake assembly  50  to freely pivot on the axle  30 . 
     The carriage brake assembly  50  and roof brake assembly  58  can also be completely disengaged, as shown in  FIG. 9 , to avoid its contact with the ladder rungs  23 ,  23 A and roof  210  to allow the carriage  12  to roll down the roof and the ladder. This is accomplished by means of a brake deck latch  69  positioned below the carriage deck  27 B. Raising the carriage bar  52  for engagement in the deck latch  69  allows the carriage  12  to be rolled down the ladder and/or roof and also identifies to a user that the brake assemblies  50  and  58  are disengaged. 
     In  FIG. 4 , an end view of the carriage  12 , rail guide assemblies  72  are shown mounted to the carriage frame  26  to steer the carriage  12  as it rolls along the rails  23 ,  23 A of the ladder  22 . Each rail guide assembly  72  is comprised of a rail guide bar  74  positioned along the outside edges of the ladder rail  23 . The position of the rail guide bar  74  with respect to the ladder rail  23  may be adjusted by means of the rail guide adjustment plate  75  having an adjustment slot  76  and rail guide adjustment screw  78 . The adjustment of the rail guide assembly  72  allows for the carriage  12  to be adapted to fit the various widths of a selected ladder  22 . 
     The winch assembly  16  of the hoist assembly  14  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The winch assembly  16  is comprised of a winch  80  having a winch spool  81  and winch cable  20 . The winch  80  may be electrically powered though other sources of power may also be employed. The winch  80  may be remotely controlled by mechanical or electronic means. The winch  80  is mounted on a winch support frame  82  having a cable guide  83 . The winch support frame  82  has winch support roofing anchor stops  84  for supporting and securing the winch assembly  16  on the roof anchor  18 . The anchor stops  84  are spaced apart so as to allow them to also be supported on the ladder rails  24  if lifting the carriage to the roof surface is not desired. Winch support frame  82  also has a carriage hitch  85  for attaching the winch assembly  16  on the carriage frame  26 . 
     The roof anchor assembly  18  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The roof anchor assembly is comprised of a roof anchor bar  86  having vertically oriented roof anchor legs  86 A and  86 B positioned along the axis of the anchor bar  86 . Transversely positioned anchor bars  87  are positioned on the anchor bar  86  for corresponding engagement with winch anchor stops  84 . Roof anchor legs  86 A,  86 B have corresponding support pads  89 A,  89 B that have perforations serving as nail, spoke or screw guides  91 . The spike guide  91  allows the anchor pads  89 A,  89 B to be secured to the roof surface  210  by nails or other means. The roof anchor leg  86 B is somewhat longer than roof leg  86 A to allow it to engage the roof surface on the opposite side of the roof ridgeline. The roof anchor leg  86 B is pivotally attached by means of roof anchor leg bearing  90  to the roof support pad  89 B to facilitate its alignment with the roof surface. While the roof anchor  18  may be utilized without the use of nailing the pads to the roof surface, such nailing allows a further measure of safety for the user. 
       FIG. 7  shows an adaptor piece for a typical extension ladder  22  to more readily allow the carriage  22  to be moved from the ladder  22  onto the roof  210 . This is accomplished by means of attaching an eave guide bar  92  to the ends of the ladder rails  23  or  23 A, as may be the case. Each eave guide bar  92  is pivotally attached to the ladder rails  23 A, as shown in  FIG. 7 , by means of an attachment tab  93  and a guide bar bolt  94 . The pivotal attachment of the guide bar  92  allows for adjustment to roofs of various pitches or inclines. 
       FIG. 8  shows a rail transition assembly  96  for use in adapting a typical extension ladder to facilitate travel of the carriage  12  along the ladder rails  23  to ladder rails  23 A. When the rails of the typical extension ladder are extended, there is a difference in rail height and in rail spacing width from one section of the ladder to the other. The ladder rail transition assembly  96  adapts the ladder rails to allow for a smooth transition in rail height and rail spacing width from one rail section to another. The rail transition assembly  96  is comprised of a ladder transition rail  97  secured to ladder extension rail  23 A. The ladder transition rail rests on the top of ladder rail  23  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Transition rail  97  is pivotally attached to the transition rail  23 A by means of transition support plate bolt  99  and transition rail filler plate  98 A if required. The transition rail assembly  96  is thus adaptable to ladders of varying dimensions. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the hoisting assembly  10  is shown being prepared for an initial lift to the roof surface. To make such a lift, a user would climb the ladder  22  to the roof surface  210  and secure the anchor assembly  18  at the ridge of the roof. The cable  20  is then extended from the winch assembly  16 , mounted on the carriage  12  by means of the winch carriage hitch  85 , to the roof anchor assembly  18  and attached to the cable hitch  88 . Engagement of the winch  80  of the winch assembly  16  will pull the carriage  12  by means of the cable  20  on the axle rollers  30 ,  32  along the ladder rails  23 ,  23 A to the surface of the roof  210 . When the carriage  12  reaches the roofs surface, the carriage  12  will roll along the roof  210  by means of the wheels  34 . At this stage, the carriage  12  is held in place on the roof surface by means of wheel chocks or an intermediate support cable (not shown) temporarily placed between the carriage  12  and the anchor assembly  18 . This allows for the winch assembly  16  to be removed from the carriage  12  and mounted on to the anchor assembly  18  by means of the winch supports  87  and winch anchor stops  84 . The cable  20  is extended from the roof anchor  18  and winch assembly  16  and attached to the carriage hitch ring  71  of the carriage hitch bar  70 . 
     To lower the carriage  12  from the roof surface to  210  and down the extension ladder  22 , the break assemblies  50  and  58  are disengaged by means of lifting the deck  27 B to expose the brake/carriage deck latch  69  and then lifting the ladder rung brake bar  52  and placing the brake rung stop  56  on the deck latch  69 . This procedure will disengage the break assemblies  50  and  58 , by holding the bars  52  and the claw  60  above the roof surface  210  and the ladder rungs  24 , so that the unloaded carriage  12  may be rolled along the roof  210  and ladder  22 .  FIG. 9  shows a cross sectional view of the carriage brake assembly  50  disengaged by means of the brake/carriage brake latch  69  as described. 
       FIG. 10  shows the hoisting assembly  14  just prior to loading the deck  27  and hoisting the carriage  12  and the accompanying load. At this step in the process, the winch assembly  16  is mounted on the roof anchor assembly  18 , the cable  20  is connected to the carriage hitch ring  71  of the carriage  12 , and the carriage brake assembly  50  and the roof brake assembly  58  have been engaged by rotating and moving the lever  66  from its fixed position against the ladder hitch bar  70 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a loaded carriage  12  made ready for a lift. As shown the carriage  12  is loaded with boxes  250  representing roof materials, shingles or the like. These boxes  250  are supported on the carriage bed  27  and are prevented from shifting by means of the adjustable deck load support bars  29 . The Boxes  250  stacked on the carriage deck  27  are further supported by the load stop brace  46 . Load stop brace adjusts for the height of the boxes  250  as the upper load stop frame  42  has columns  44  which slide into the lower load stop columns  40  of the lower load stop frame  38  and the orientation can be reversed to allow the load support brace  46  to rest on top of the boxes  250 . The upper load stop frame  42  can then be held in place by means of adjustment screws  48 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a cross sectional view of a loaded carriage  12  in place on the ladder  22 . As it can be seen, the carriage  12  is supported on axles  30  and  32  as it rolls along the rails  23  and  23 A of the ladder  22 . The ladder break assembly  50  is shown in its engaged position impede the backward movement of the carriage  12  on the ladder  22  but allow its forward movement up the ladder  22 . Engagement of the winch  80  will pull the carriage  12  upward on the ladder  22  by means of the cable  20 . As the carriage  12  moves forward and upward on the ladder  22 , the pivoting claw  60  and the ladder rung brake bar  52  of the brake assemblies  50  and  58  glide over the ladder rungs  24 . Any downward movement of the carriage  12  on the ladder  22  would provide for engagement of the rung stop  56  of the ladder rung brake bar  52  with a rung  24  to prevent further downward movement of the carriage  12 . 
       FIG. 12  also shows the adjustable ladder support  25  in place to provide additional support to the ladder  22  as may be thought necessary on lifts made on longer ladder spans. The ladder support pole  103  has a lower support pole segment  103 A and an upper telescopic support pole segment  103 B that may be adjusted by means of support adjustment clamp  104  to place ladder rung cradle  106  in a desired position against a desired ladder rung  24 . 
       FIG. 13  shows the carriage  12  on a roof surface  210 . At this stage the carriage  12  has transitioned from the ladder  22  to the roof surface  210  by means of the ladder roof guide bar  92 . The wheels  34  allow the carriage  12  to be rolled along the roof surface by means of the cable  20  and winch assembly  16 . Should the cart  12  roll downward on the roof surface due to a defect of the winch  80  or other reason, the roof brake claw  60  of the roof brake assembly  58  will engage and dig into the roof surface  210 . Because the roof brake claw  60  pivots on roof brake bearing  62 , the roof brake claw  60  is adaptable to different types of roof surfaces and roof pitches. The carriage ladder brake support pins  64  engage and hold the pivoting brake claw  60  in place to prevent over pivoting and rotation of the claw  60 . 
       FIG. 14  shows the telescopically adjustable ladder support  25 . The ladder support  25  has a base  101  on which is vertically mounted a telescoping support pole  103 . The telescoping support pole  103  is comprised of a lower pole  103 A and an extendable upper support pole  103 B that is telescopically adjustable in length by means of pole adjustment mechanism  104 . The support pole  103 B includes a rung support bar  105  to which is mounted lateral rung cradles  106 . In use, the ladder support  25  is placed at a desired position under the ladder  22  and the pole  103 B is extended as desired to place the rung cradle  106  under the desired ladder rung  24  to support the ladder  22  as may be desired. 
       FIG. 15  shows a cross sectional detail of the ladder rung adjustment assembly  104 . The ladder support adjustment assembly  104  is comprised of a ladder support adjustment clamp  104 A and ladder support  104 B that places the adjustment clap  104 A in bias contact with support spring stop  104 C. This allows for an infinite adjustment of the extension of ladder support pole  103 B. 
     As can be seen from the illustrations, the carriage  12 , in combination with the ladder  22 , the roof ridge anchor  18 , and the hoist assembly  16 , provides for a self-contained hoisting assembly  14 . This hoisting assembly  14  allows the winch  60  to be transported to the roof  210  on the carriage  12 , detached from the carriage  12 , and mounted on the roof anchor  18 . The cable  20  may then be attached to the hitch ring  71  of the carriage  12  to allow the carriage  12  to be lowered down the roof and ladder  22 . The user never has to manually bring the winch  60  to the roof surface  210  to facilitate a hoisting of a load. Once the carriage  12  is off the roof  210  and on the ground or a truck bed, the deck  27  may be loaded and pulled up the ladder  22  by means of the winch assembly  16 . The process may be is repeated as necessary. 
     The carriage  12  may also be moved on the ladder  22  in the matter described above by placing the anchor stops  84  of the winch support frame  80  on the rungs  24  of the ladder and attaching the cable  20  to the carriage winch ring  71 . This will allow loads to move up a ladder positioned against a wall without the use of the anchor assembly  18 . 
     The foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principles of the invention. It may be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.