Patent Publication Number: US-6698702-B2

Title: Roofing bracket

Description:
This is a second continuation in part application from previous application Ser. No. 09/783,166 filed on Feb. 15, 2001 ABN. The first continuation in part application Ser. No. 10/120,873 was filed on Apr. 11, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for assisting a roofer performing work on a roof, and, more particularly to an apparatus which is secured to a roof and supports a platform so that the roofer can work off of the platform. 
     2. Background Art 
     Roofing brackets are well known in the art of roofing. Shown in FIG. 1 is a roofing bracket  10  of the prior art. The roofing bracket  10  used in conjunction with a platform allows a roofer to gain access to higher positions on a roof. In use, a roofer lifts a portion of an upper shingle and places the roofing bracket  10  over a tar saturated portion of a lower shingle. The roofer drives a nail into each nail slot disposed through the roofing bracket. Typical roofing brackets include three nail slots. 
     Once the roofing bracket  10  is secure in place, the roofer inserts a platform into a platform support arm  24  between at least two roofing brackets. At this point, the roofer uses the platform as support and to hold tools and supplies. 
     When the roofer finishes his work, he must remove the roofing bracket  10 . One method for removing the roofing bracket  10  is to pry the bracket  10  out at the nailed slotted portions. However, this proves difficult and often destroys parts of the upper shingle. Further, the nails are very difficult to pry from several types of wood used on roofs, such as tongue and groove pieces. 
     Another method more commonly used is to strike a backside support  42  of the roofing bracket  10  with a hammer, so that the bracket  10  will slide along the nails at slotted channels until the roofing bracket  10  becomes disengaged. However, this is difficult because the backside support  42  of the roofing bracket  10  often collapses, thus destroying the bracket  10 . 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the problems associated with the prior art, as discussed above, and to provide an improved roofing bracket. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a roofing bracket that is easily removed from the roof when finished in use. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a roofing bracket that stays intact during its removal from the roof. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a roofing bracket that can be removed without destroying any installed shingles. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a roofing bracket that is durable so that it can be reused time and time again. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a roofing bracket that can be manufactured in a simple manner. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a roofing bracket such that the backside support does not collapse when struck with a hammer. 
     These and other objects are attained in accordance with the present invention wherein there is provided a roofing bracket for use with a platform and having a base with a proximal and distal end. At least one nail slot is disposed through the base near its distal end. A platform support arm is disposed along said base and includes a bottom lip, a platform support and a guardrail. A backside support perpendicularly extends from the proximal end of the base. The backside support includes an angled lip, wherein the angled lip is attached with a rear portion of the platform support. A heel extends from the backside support. Finally, at least one brace is disposed between the backside support and the platform support. 
     In various embodiments, the heel is of a different color than the color of the backside support. The heel may be disc-shaped and include a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the backside support. The disc-shaped heel includes a diameter that is equal to the width of the backside support. In a preferred embodiment, the heel is rectangular shaped having a width equal to a width of the backside support. 
     The at least one angle brace is preferably partially rectangular shaped having one side being wedge or triangular shaped and extends from the front side of the backside support to the back side of the platform support. The triangular or wedge shaped portion has dimensions formed by the interior angle between the platform support arm and the base. Various other sizes and shapes can also make an effective angle brace. 
     The roofing bracket of the present invention can be one-piece cast or manufactured from a plurality of components. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side-elevation view of the roofing bracket of the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 is a side-elevation view of the roofing bracket of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the roofing bracket of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side-elevation view of the roofing bracket of FIGS. 2 and 3 shown in use on a typical roof; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket in accordance with a third alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the roofing bracket in accordance with a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the roofing bracket shown in FIG. 5 minus the heel. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a roofing bracket in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment having a corrugated brace; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a roofing bracket having a rectangular shaped brace; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a roofing bracket having an elevated brace; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of a roofing bracket wherein the guardrail extends directly from the backside support; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a roofing bracket wherein the backside support angles inward directly from the base; and 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a roofing bracket wherein the backside support extends directly upward to a point of attachment with the platform support. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, the roofing bracket  10  of the present invention shall be described in detail. The roofing bracket  10  includes a flat bottomed base  12  having a plurality of nail slots  14  disposed therethrough. The nail slots  14  include an arcuate head portion  16  which opens into a rearwardly running slanted channel  18 . Alternatively the nail slots could be teardrop shaped nail slots  114  as shown in FIG. 11 or any other slot known would be obvious to one skilled in the art. Turning back now to FIG. 3, the slanted channel  18  runs continuously until a lateral edge  20  of the base  12  is reached. At the lateral edge  20 , the distal edge  22  of the slanted channel  18  bevels rearwardly. 
     Moving rearwardly along the base  12 , a platform support arm  24  includes a platform support  26  and a bottom lip  28 , wherein the bottom lip  28  mounts to the base  12 . It is desirable that the angle of the platform support  26  relative to the base  12  matches the pitch of the roof. 
     Moving upward along the platform support arm  24 , a top support member  30  disposed on the upward edge of the platform support  26  runs substantially perpendicular to the platform support  26 . The top support member  30  includes an opening  32  that allows a nail  74  to be driven therethrough and into a platform  34  (shown in FIG.  4 ). This nail prevents the platform  34  from moving in any direction. 
     At the upward edge of the top support member  30 , a platform flange cover  36  is disposed in a downward angled forward facing direction. The top support member  30  and platform flange cover  36  form a substantially L-shaped guardrail  38  having an angle that is slightly greater than ninety degrees. The L-shaped guardrail  38  prevents the platform  34  from moving upward or forward. By having the angle of the L-shaped guardrail  38  greater than ninety degrees, it becomes easier to install and remove the platform  34  from the roofing bracket  10 . It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that other shaped guardrails can be equally effective. 
     Once again moving rearward along the base  12  and to its proximal end  40 , a backside support  42  is disposed upwardly and perpendicular from the proximal end  40  of the base  12 . The backside support  42  includes an angled lip  44  that mounts to the rear side  46  of the platform support  26  and aligned in the same direction as the platform support  26 . The mounting means for the angled lip  44  of the backside support  42  to the platform support  26  and the mounting means for the platform support arm bottom lip  28  to the base  12  will be discussed later. 
     A heel  48  extends from the lower back side  51  of the backside support  42 . In a preferred embodiment, the heel  48  is rectangular-shaped having a uniform thickness. It is preferred, but not necessary, that the lateral dimensions of the heel  48  be roughly equivalent to the width of the backside support  42 . It is preferable but not necessary that the thickness of the heel  48  be greater than the thickness of the backside support  42 . In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the backside support  42  is approximately one eighth inch, while the thickness of the disc-shaped heel  48  is slightly greater than three eighths inch. It is also possible to create the roofing bracket  10  not having the heel  48  as shown in FIG.  10 . 
     While this invention is described according to a preferred embodiment, it is not necessary that the heel  48  be rectangular. Other heel shapes will suffice. 
     Looking now between the front side  50  of the backside support  42  and the bottom rear side  52  of the platform support  24 , there is disposed a triangular shaped brace  54 . The bottom surface  56  of the brace  54  mounts longitudinally along the center of the base  12 . A rear end  55  of the brace  54  mounts longitudinally to the front side  50  of the backside support  42 . In a preferred embodiment, the height of the rear end  55  of the brace  54  is roughly equivalent to the diameter of the disc-shaped heel  48 . Although the shape of the brace  54  has been described as being triangular shaped, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that other brace shapes can also be effective, or that a plurality of angle braces can also be utilized. 
     In FIGS. 5 and 6 and according to another preferred embodiment the brace  54  includes a substantially rectangular shaped portion  86  and a triangular shaped portion  88  or wedge shaped portion  90 . 
     In yet another alternative embodiment a triangular shaped brace  92  defines a cross sectional area of the triangular shaped volume formed by base  12 , platform support  26  and the backside support  42 , shown in FIG.  7 . 
     In still yet another alternative embodiment a rectangular shaped brace  94  is disposed between the backside support  42  and the platform support  26 , shown in FIG.  8 . 
     It is also possible to include a plurality of braces  96 , FIG. 9, between the backside support  42  and the platform support  26 . 
     Turning back to the mounting means between the platform support arm bottom lip  28  to the base  12  and backside support angle lip  44  to the platform support  26 , it should be noted that typical mounting means are known in the art and include welding and/or riveting. It has been common in the art to rivet because the roofing brackets  10  are banged often with hammers, which destroys welded joints quicker than riveted joints. 
     With respect to the base  12 , backside support  42 , and angle lip  44 , it is preferable to one piece die cast using an appropriate metal such as steel. The platform support arm  24  is also one piece die cast steel. Typically, a flat piece of steel having suitable dimensions is manipulated to shape to form the base  12 , backside support  42 , angled lip  44  and platform support arm  24  using known manipulation means. Finally, the heel  48  is one piece cast as is the brace  54 . In fabricating the bracket, all four above identified pieces are welded and/or riveted together using means known in the art of fabrication. 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a roofing bracket  10  of the present invention in use on a roof  60 . A roofing shingle  62  typically consists of a thick tar saturated material upper part  64  and a granular showy lower part  66 . The granular showy lower part  66  of an upper shingle  68  conceals the thick tar saturated upper part  64  of a lower shingle  70 . A roofer starts at the bottom of the roof and works his way up to the peak of the roof. 
     In order to gain access to a higher point on the roof, at least two roofing brackets are set apart a distance side by side. The platform, typically a 2×6, 2×8, 2×10 or 2×12 is securely placed onto the platform support arms  24  so that one side edge  72  of the platform fits snugly inside the L-shaped guardrail  38  of the roofing brackets  10 . The roofer uses the platform  34  as a means of storing tools and materials and to support his body weight. 
     Prior to placing the platforms  34  onto the roofing brackets  10 , the roofing brackets  10  must be set in place. The roofer peels back the granular showy lower part  66  of an upper shingle  68 . The roofing bracket  10  is placed over the lower shingle  70  so that the plurality of nail slots  14  are disposed over the thick tar saturated upper part  64  of the lower shingle  70 . The roofer drives a nail  74  through the arcuate head portion  16  of each nail slot  14  until the nail head  76  contacts the upper surface  78  of the roofing bracket base  12 . 
     After using and removing the platform  34 , the roofer removes the roofing bracket  10  by tapping sharply with a hammer head squarely onto the heel  48  of the roofing bracket  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the heel  48  is of a different color than the color of the backside support  42  so as to provide the roofer with a more visible striking target. 
     As previously described, the nail slots  14  include an arcuate head portion  16  disposed along the central longitudinal axis of the base  12 . The arcuate head portion  16  opens into a backwardly directed slanted channel  18  such that when the heel  48  is struck with the hammer, the base  12  is urged into the direction of its distal end  13  and away from the direction that the slanted channel  18  runs from the arcuate head portion  16 . The slanted channels  18  run until they reach a beveled portion  22  on the distal side  21  of the slanted channel  18  at which point the beveled portion  22  and the proximal side  23  of the slanted channel  18  open at a lateral edge  20  of the base  12 . 
     The brace  54  extends between the front side  50  of the backside support  42  to the lower rear side  52  of the platform support  26 . As the hammer strikes the heel  48 , the brace  54  serves several functions. First, the brace  54  causes the force of the strike to transfer substantially longitudinally along the base  12 , thereby causing the base  12  to shift uniformly forward. 
     Second the brace  54  acts to prevent the backside support  42  from collapsing as the heel  48  is struck with the hammer head. 
     As the force of the hammer causes the base  12  to shift in a forward direction, the slanted channels  18  of the nail slots  14  ride along a side edge of their respective nails  74  until the nail slots  14  become completely disengaged from the nails  74 . At this point, the roofer completely removes the roofing bracket  10  and pounds the nails  74  into the thick tar saturated part  64  of the under shingle  70 . 
     According to yet another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the base  12  includes a portion between the platform support  26  and the backside support  42  having a corrugated ridge  104  along its longitudinal axis. The corrugated ridge  104  is made by stamping during manufacture of the bracket  10 . 
     In still yet another embodiment depicted in FIG. 12, the brace  100  extends only a portion along the base  12  from the backside support  42 . 
     In still yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a raised brace  102  extends from the backside support  42  to the platform support  26 . 
     It should be noted that several other embodiments of various aspects of the roofing bracket  10  are also suitable to give effect to the present invention. For instance, FIG. 14 shows a roofing bracket  10  wherein the guardrail  38  extends directly from the backside support  42 . Also, it is not necessary for the backside support  42  to be perpendicular to the base  12 . As shown in FIG. 15, the backside support  42  angles inwardly directly from the base  12 . Finally, the backside support  42  can be configured a number of additional ways. For instance, as shown in FIG. 16, the backside support  42  extends directly upward to be attached to the platform support  26 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been particularly described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited. Many modifications, equivalents and adaptations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.