Patent Publication Number: US-11641915-B1

Title: Roofing walking stick and method of use

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/595,467 filed Oct. 8, 2019, which is a nonprovisional parent application of, and claims the benefit to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 67/742,452, filed Oct. 8, 2018, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to stability aid systems, and more specifically to a roofing walking stick system that provides for improved stability for users while performing tasks on roofs with varying sloped surfaces. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Stability aid systems are well known in the art and are effective means to provide stability during user movement. Commonly in the art, stability aid systems utilize walking sticks or walking canes to help individuals move safely and easily. However, conventional walking sticks are limited to helping individuals suffering from afflictions (e.g., age, medical conditions, or the like) walk along flat surfaces. There is a need to provide a walking stick which provides increased stability for the user while navigating on sloped surfaces such as a pitched roof. 
     Many individuals (roofers, home inspectors, homeowners, and the like) walk on pitched roofs of structures for various tasks. Pitched roofs can be perilous and difficult to balance on and to maneuver when walking thereon. Typically, individual employ stability aids such as rope and harness systems, roof ladders with ridge hooks, roof jacks with support beams, and the like to safely navigate on pitched roofs. While these stability aids focus on fall prevention or lessening injury from a fall, these stability aids are cumbersome to set up and sometimes result in physical damage to structures during use. 
     Hence, it would be advantageous to have a system that provides for improved stability for a user while maneuvering on pitched roofs of structures without causing physical damage to said structures during employment. 
     Accordingly, although great strides have been made in the area of stability aid systems, many shortcomings remain. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic of a roofing walking stick system in use in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of the roofing walking stick of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present application; 
         FIG.  3    is a close-up view of the base of the roofing walking stick of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present application; 
         FIG.  4    is a simplified schematic of features associated with the bottom portion of the base of the roofing walking stick of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present application; and 
         FIG.  5    is a flowchart of a method of use of the system of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     The system and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional stability aids. Specifically, the system of the present invention provides a roofing walking stick capable of stabilizing a user performing various tasks on the roof of a structure. These and other unique features of the system and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise. 
     The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings. 
     Reference in the specification to “structure” or “structures” means a building having a roof and walls. 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views,  FIG.  1    depicts a schematic of a roofing walking stick system  101  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application. It will be appreciated that the roofing walking stick system  101  overcomes one or more of the above-listed problems commonly associated with conventional stability aid systems. It should also be appreciated that the roofing walking stick system  101  may vary based on aesthetical, functional, or manufacturing considerations. 
     In the contemplated embodiment, the roofing walking stick system  101  includes a structure  103  having a roof  105 , a user  107 , and a roofing walking stick  109  (details discussed further below in  FIGS.  2 - 4   ). 
     It should be appreciated that the structure  103  can be any type of building including, without limitation, a residential home, a multifamily housing, a commercial building, a factory, a warehouse, a farmhouse, a shed, and a garage. 
     In addition, it should be appreciated that the roof  105  can include any shape, angle, form, or the like including, without limitation, flat, mono-pitched, pent, multi-pitched, circular, hyperbolic, and the like. Examples of common roof shapes include, but are not limited to, gable, hip, half hip, gambrel, flat, shed, mansard, dome, saddleback, pagoda, butterfly, Dutch gable, witch hat, and cat slide. 
     Likewise, it should be appreciated that the roof  105  can be made of any material including, without limitation, wood, thatch, slate, metal (e.g., aluminum, steel, copper), asphalt, clay, concrete, transparent materials (e.g., glass, polycarbonate), synthetic materials (rubber, plastic, polymer), or a combination thereof. 
     The user  107  includes one or more persons, one or more businesses, or a combination thereof interacting with system  101 . Examples of businesses include, without limitation, financial institutions, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and other business entities. In one example, the user can be an agent of a roofing company assigned to inspect the roof of a residential home. 
     It should be appreciated that during use, the user  107  operates the roofing walking stick  109  to navigate and maneuver on the roof  105 . During operation, the roofing walking stick  109  provides stability for the user  107  without causing physical damage to the roof  105 . 
     In  FIG.  2   , a front view of the roofing walking stick  109  is depicted. As shown, the roofing walking stick  109  comprises of a handle  201 , an elongated shaft  203  having a proximal end  205  and a distal end  207 , and a base  209 . The handle  201  removably couples to the proximal end  205  of the elongated shaft  203 . The base  209  removably couples to the distal end  207  of the elongated shaft  203 . In some embodiments, the elongated shaft  203  is telescopic, providing for easy storage and allowing the user  207  to adjust the roofing walking stick  109  to a length suitable for the user  207 . 
     It should be appreciated that although the elongated shaft  203  is shown having a cylindrical shape, it is contemplated that the elongated shaft  203  can vary in shape such as square, triangular, circular, polygonal, starlike, or the like. Likewise, it should be appreciated that the elongated shaft  203  can vary in size, style, and the like. Further, it should be appreciated that the configuration of the elongated shaft  203  prevents the elongated shaft  203  from displacing when laid down on a roof surface. 
     In  FIG.  3   , a front view of the base  209  of the roofing walking stick  109  is depicted. As shown, the base  209  comprises of one or more joint couplings  301 , a top portion  303 , and a bottom portion  305  (details discussed further in  FIG.  4   ). The one or more joint couplings  301  are removably attached to the distal end  207  of the elongated shaft  203 . The one or more joint couplings  301  are further rotatably and removably attached to the top portion  303  of the base  209 . The one or more joint couplings  301  are configured to allow the elongated shaft  203  to articulate relative to the base  209  in multiple directions, including 0° through 180° angles, as depicted with directional arrows. The bottom portion  305  is removably coupled to the top portion  303  of the base  209 . The bottom portion  305  is configured to provide grip when in contact with the surface of a roof. 
     It should be appreciated that although the base  209  is shown having a rectangular shape, it is contemplated that the base  209  can vary in shape such as square, triangular, circular, polygonal, starlike, or the like. Likewise, it should be appreciated that the base  209  can vary in size, style, and the like. 
     In  FIG.  4   , a simplified schematic depicts features contemplated with the bottom portion  305 . These features allow the bottom portion  305  to provide further grip along the surface of a roof. In some embodiments, the bottom portion  305  may include high-density foam  401 , magnets  403 , or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the bottom portion  305  may include natural rubber and/or synthetic rubber  405 , magnets  407 , or a combination thereof. Examples of synthetic rubber include neoprene, butyl, butadiene, and styrene-butadiene. In alternative embodiments, the bottom portion may include natural and/or synthetic fabric  409 , magnets  411 , or a combination thereof. Examples of synthetic fabric  409  include polyester and polyester blend. It should be appreciated that magnets  403 ,  407 ,  409  provide further stability during use, especially on roofs made of metal material. In addition, it should be appreciated that magnets  403 ,  407 ,  409  include materials having ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic properties. 
     It should be appreciated that one of the unique features believed characteristic of the present application is the inclusion of the shaft, base, and joint coupling that allow for improved stability during navigation on a roof. 
     In  FIG.  5    is a flowchart of a method of use of the system of  FIG.  1   . During use, the user adjusts the roofing walking stick to a suitable length, as shown with box  503 . As the user maneuvers on the roof of a structure, the base of the roofing walking stick prevents slippage during maneuvering, as shown with boxes  505 ,  507 . The roofing walking stick provides for improved stability, as shown with box  509 . 
     The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.