Patent Publication Number: US-2009229213-A1

Title: Roof top archery practice platform

Description:
This invention relates to a platform of such size as to provide comfortable and secure support for a person atop the roof of a building so as to enable the person to practice archery from an elevated position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is common for archers who hunt deer and other animals to practice and improve their skill by shooting arrows at a target while standing on the ground at a predetermined distance from the target which also is on the ground. A person can become quite proficient in having the arrows strike the target at a selected position thereof. 
     It also is common for persons during deer or other animal hunting season to occupy a tree stand which locates the person at a desired level above ground so as to minimize early detection by the animal. In the case where the hunter&#39;s weapon comprises a bow and arrow, the trajectory of an arrow shot from a bow toward a target on the ground and from an elevated position often is quite different from that of an arrow shot toward a target on the ground by an archer who is also on the ground. As a consequence, it is not uncommon for a hunter using archery equipment from an elevated tree stand to miss the target. 
     Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention enables an archer to practice shooting an arrow from an elevated position to a target on the ground and thereby become sufficiently proficient to improve the likelihood of having the arrow strike the target. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A person-supporting platform comprises a base of such size as to provide sufficient area to support at least one person in a sitting or standing position atop the roof of a building and at a selected height above ground level, such as twelve to fifteen feet. A typical installation is on the roof of a garage or pole barn which typically has a pitched roof having two downwardly inclined sections extending in opposite directions from a ridge line forming the peak of the roof. The platform is supported by vertically extending frame members which extend both below and above the platform. Preferably, there are four such frame members and each of them is secured at its lower end to an inverted V-shaped frame comprising two beams which underlie the platform and which diverge from the central part thereof at angles corresponding to the pitch of the underlying roof sections. The platform is fixed to the roof of the building by means of an anchor member at the lower end of each of the supporting frame members. The anchor member has a flat section which may underlie a shingle and be secured to the roof by nails or the like. Each anchor member also has an extension which extends beyond the overlying shingle and overlies the next adjacent shingle. The extension is provided with at least one upstanding flange which may be nailed or otherwise secured to the associated frame member, thereby fixing the platform to the roof without risking leakage of moisture through the shingles. 
     At a level above the base the frame members are spanned by braces and rails which provide protection against a user&#39;s falling off the base. Hooks or other supports may be secured to the rails or supporting frame members for the removable support of an archer&#39;s bow, quiver, clothing, or other equipment. 
    
    
     
       THE DRAWINGS 
       Apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is fragmentary, isometric view illustrating the platform supported in an elevated position on a shingled roof. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the platform; 
         FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of the platform; and 
         FIG. 4  is a greatly enlarged, isometric view illustrating the application of a platform-anchor member to a shingled roof. 
     
    
    
     THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention is adapted for installation atop a garage, pole barn, or other appropriate building  1  having a roof  2  at a height above ground level of a selected distance and corresponding substantially to the level at which a tree stand (not shown) may be affixed to a tree. Typically, the height of the roof  2  is such that a person-supporting platform  3  will enable a person to occupy a level between about twelve-fifteen feet above ground. However, the platform can be mounted atop the roof of a building of any height. 
     The roof  2  is covered by shingles  4  each of which, as is shown in  FIG. 4 , has a mat section  5  from which a plurality of tabs  6  extend, each tab being spaced from its adjacent tab by a slot  8 , as is conventional. Each shingle conventionally is placed on an underlayment (not shown) atop the roof structure and is nailed, stapled, or otherwise secured to the roof structure, such nails or staples passing through the mat portion of the shingle. The shingles are so arranged that the mat portion of a lower shingle underlies the tabs of the next adjacent upper shingle and the tabs are so arranged as to overlie the nails or staples by means of which the mat section of each shingle is secured to the roof. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 1 , the roof  2  is a pitched roof and has two sections  9  and  10  which extend in opposite directions from a ridge line  11 . The sections  9  and  10  diverge downwardly from the ridge line and at the same or substantially the same angle to the horizontal. 
     The person-supporting platform  3  comprises a base  12  having a flat upper surface on which a person may stand or sit. The base is secured in any suitable manner to a framework  13  comprising four parallel, spaced apart, upright frame members  14  joined together by braces  15  and cross members  16 . The upper ends of the frame members  14  are spanned by rails  17  which, together with the cross members  16 , provide security against a person&#39;s falling off the base  12 . The frame members and rails extend along three sides of the platform. The fourth side is open in a direction away from the adjacent roof edge to enable a person safely and easily to access the base. 
     A stabilizing structure  18  underlies the platform  12  and overlies some of the shingles  4  of the roof  2 . Reinforcing structures are provided and each includes an inverted, V-shaped frame member  19  fixed to the base  12  by known securing plates  20 . Opposite ends of the members  19  are secured to the frame members  14  adjacent the lower ends thereof by means of additional securing plates  21 . The angle at which the members  19  diverge from the center region of the base  12  corresponds to the pitch angle at which the roof sections  9  and  10  diverge from the ridge line  11 . Thus, each of the reinforcing frame members  19  lies flat upon the upper surface of the roof shingles. 
     It is contemplated that the platform  1 , after installation atop a roof, will remain in such position for at least a limited period of time, such as a few days before and during a hunting season. To guard against the platform&#39;s being displaced by wind, a known anchor member  22  is provided at the lower end of each of the frame members  14 . Each anchor member comprises a preferably metal body  23  having a flat mounting section  24  adapted to be placed in a position in which it underlies a shingle tab  6  and overlies a shingle mat  5 , as is shown in  FIG. 4 . The mounting section  24  is provided with a plurality of openings, some of which are shown at  25 , through which headed nails  26  may pass so as to secure the anchor member  23  to the roof and in a position atop the mat section  5  of an underlying shingle. 
     Each anchor member  22  has an attaching section  27  provided with a pair of parallel, spaced apart flanges  28 , the spacing between the flanges forming a groove having a width corresponding substantially to the thickness of the lower end of a frame member  14 . Each flange has openings  29  therein through which nails may pass to secure the flanges to the lower end of the adjacent frame member  14 . To enable as secure as possible the connection between the frame member  14  and the anchor member, the lower end of each frame member is inclined as is shown at  30  in  FIG. 2  so as to correspond to the pitch of the associated roof section inasmuch. Each anchor member will occupy a position in which its body sections are parallel to the underlying roof section. 
     To condition the apparatus for use, the platform is installed on the roof of the building and, preferably, adjacent one end thereof. A target  31  may be placed on the ground or on the trunk of a tree  32  at a distance from the building corresponding substantially to that at which the user intends to shoot at the animal being hunted. Since the platform and a hunter sitting or standing thereon are at an elevated level with respect to the target, the hunter will be able to practice shooting from an elevated position to a target at ground level and thereby improve the chances of striking an animal on the ground. 
     As a convenience, some or all of the rails  17  may be provided with hooks  33  from which hunting equipment and/or garments may be suspended. 
     When desired, the platform may be removed from the roof by lifting the shingle tabs which overlie the attaching part  24  of the anchor member, removing the nails  26 , and then removing the anchor device from the roof. Whatever tabs have been lifted may be restored to their flat condition atop the underlying shingle mat so as to cover the holes through which the nails  26  passed, thereby preventing exposure of the nail holes to rain or snow. 
     This disclosure is representative of a preferred embodiment of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.