Patent Publication Number: US-2006000180-A1

Title: Adjustable base bracket for roof scaffolding post

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an adjustable base bracket for securing a scaffolding post on a roof.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,122 (Cupp from 1989) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,204 (Goodwin et al from 1998) disclose adjustable base brackets for securing a scaffolding post on a roof.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an alternative configuration of adjustable base bracket for securing a scaffolding post on a roof.  
      According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable base bracket for roof scaffolding post which includes a base adapted to be secured to roof trusses having a width sufficient to span at least two roof trusses. The base has a leading edge intended to be positioned upslope on a pitched roof and a trailing edge. An elongate body is pivotally mounted to the base for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis. The body has a first end oriented toward the leading edge of the base and a second end. The pivot axis is positioned at the first end of the body. A receptacle positioned on the body which is adapted to receive a scaffolding post. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an adjustable base bracket constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the adjustable base bracket illustrated in  FIG. 1  positioned for use on an angled surface.  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the adjustable base bracket illustrated in  FIG. 1  positioned for use on a flat surface.  
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the support leg of the adjustable base bracket illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the adjustable base bracket constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the adjustable base bracket illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The preferred embodiment, an adjustable base bracket for a roof scaffolding post generally identified by reference numeral  10 , will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . A second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 through 6 .  
      Structure and Relationship of Parts:  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , adjustable base bracket  10  includes a base  12  adapted to be secured to roof trusses by a series of nail receiving openings  14 . Either nails or screws may be inserted into nail receiving openings  14 . Base  12  is wider than it is long. The width of base  12  is sufficient to span at least two roof trusses. Base  12  has a leading edge  16  intended to be positioned upslope on a pitched roof, and a trailing edge  18 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , an elongate body  20 , which has a first end  24  oriented toward leading edge  16  of base  12  and a second end  26  is pivotally mounted to base  12  for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis  22  which is positioned at first end  24  of body  20 . A support leg  28  is used to support body  20  in a selected pivotal position. Support leg  28  is pivotally mounted to, and depending, from second end  26  of body  20 . There are a series of slotted support receivers  30  on base  12  for locking support leg  28  in a selected angular position. In the illustrated embodiment, support leg  28  is locked in the selected position by inserting a pin  29  into one of the slotted support receivers  30 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , pin  29  is attached to support leg  28  and is in the direction of the width of base  12 . Referring again to  FIG. 2 , there is also a receptacle  32  adapted to receive a scaffolding post positioned on body  20 . In  FIG. 2 , support leg  28  is locked in a position in a slotted support receiver  30  such that body  20  is horizontal and receptacle  32  is vertical, while base  12  is at an angle, and in  FIG. 3 , locking support leg is locked in a position in a slotted support receiver such that body  20  and base  12  are each in a horizontal position, with receptacle  32  in a perpendicular position in relation to the base, thereby facilitating use on a flat roof.  
      Operation:  
      The use of adjustable base bracket  10  will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . Adjustable base bracket is placed on a roof such that base  12  spans at least two roof trusses, and such that leading edge  16  is positioned upslope on a pitched roof, or if the roof is flat, in any convenient orientation. Base  12  is then secured by putting nails through nail receiving openings  14  and into the roof trusses. First end  24  of body  12  is then pivoted about horizontal pivot axis  22 , and support leg  28  is pivoted about second end  26  of body  20 . Support leg  28  is locked in a position by inserting pin  29  into one of the slotted support receivers  30  such that body  20  is horizontal and receptacle  32  is vertical. The slotted support receiver  30  that is chosen will depend upon the pitch of the roof. Adjustable base bracket  10  is removed by removing the nails from nail receiving openings  14 .  
      Advantages:  
      The present invention provides a number of advantages over the Cupp reference and the Goodwin et al reference: 
          The base has a width that extends between two or more roof trusses and, therefore, provides a more secure mode of attachment to the roof.        

      The body can be locked in a selected pivotal position, in order to place the receptacle in a desired angular orientation. This is in contrast to the Cupp reference and the Goodwin et al reference in which the receptacles pivoted freely.  
      Rapid adjustment is possible by merely repositioning the support leg in a different one of the series of slotted support receivers.  
      The adjustable base bracket can also be used on a flat roof, as there is included an adjustment that places the receptacle in an orientation perpendicular to the base.  
      Variations  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a second embodiment generally referenced by numeral  100  will now be described.  
      As with first embodiment  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , second embodiment of adjustable base bracket  100  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , includes a base  112  adapted to be secured to roof trusses by a series of nail receiving openings  114 . Either nails or screws may be inserted into nail receiving openings  114 . Base  112  has a leading edge  116  intended to be positioned upslope on a pitched roof, and a trailing edge  118 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , an elongate body  120  is provided, which has a first end  124  oriented toward leading edge  116  of base  112  and a second end  126  is pivotally mounted to base  112  for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis  122  which is positioned at first end  124  of body  120 . A receptacle  132  is positioned on body  120  for receiving a scaffolding post.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , a support leg  128  is used to support body  120  in a selected pivotal position. With first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , angles  32  on base  112  extended outward where as with second embodiment  100 , angles  132  on base  112  extend inward as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . This facilitates support body  132  laying flat on an underlying surface. Support leg  128  is pivotally mounted to, and depending, from second end  126  of body  120 . There are a series of slotted support receivers  130  on base  112  for locking support leg  128  in a selected angular position. In the illustrated embodiment, support leg  128  is locked in the selected position by inserting a pin  129  into one of the slotted support receivers  130 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a spacer  133  is provided to facilitate adjustable base bracket  100  laying flat on an underlying surface.  
      In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.  
      It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.