Abstract:
A facia guard bracket that attaches to the facia board of a roof provides recesses for receiving guard boards in order to create a structure that will act as a fall protection device on the roof of a building.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention pertains to a guard bracket for attachment to a facia board to provide support for a guard system to prevent a person falling from a roof of a building during construction.  
         [0002]     The prevention of injuries from people falling off a roof during construction on a building has been a long-time concern in the construction industry, as well as safety organizations. More and more regulations are being put into effect to address the safety of construction workers. Safety devices for individuals while on a roof include anchored harness systems, which can be uncomfortable and restrict a person&#39;s movement. The harness systems also require that the person remember to hook up to the harness each time he or she goes onto the roof.  
         [0003]     Various other rooftop fall protection devices have been proposed. Many of these devices are complex and expensive. Moreover, contractors will often have a number of roofing jobs going on at the same time, which increases the number of fall protection devices that a contractor must purchase. Many contractors simply cannot afford to maintain an adequate inventory of fall protection devices when the cost of fall protection devices is high.  
         [0004]     Installation of fall protection devices may also become an issue if the installation and use of the fall protection devices is complex or time-consuming to install.  
         [0005]     Another factor that has adversely affected fall protection systems is the lack of uniformity in rooftop construction. More and more different pitches are being used in current construction projects, with some fall protection devices suitable for use on a single pitch roof.  
         [0006]     Due to the lack of uniformity in rooftop construction, some contractors may be required to increase inventory of rooftop fall protection devices in order to accommodate different construction projects. Those rooftop fall protection devices that exist and may be used on multiple roof pitches likely utilize a complex design.  
         [0007]     There exists a need, therefore, for a rooftop fall protection device that is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Further, it is desirable that the fall protection device be applicable to various pitched roofs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The rooftop fall protection device of the present invention solves the need for a relatively inexpensive protection device that is easy to install. This goal is accomplished by providing a facia guard bracket that is installed anywhere along a facia board, which can receive a horizontal fall protection device. The facia guard bracket has an opening to receive an extension in order to support additional horizontal fall protection devices.  
         [0009]     The facia guard bracket embodying of the present invention includes a U-shaped receptor for receiving the facia board on a roof. This U-shaped receptor also has a set bolt that can be advanced in order to secure the facia guard bracket to the facia board. The facia guard bracket contains a second U-shaped receptor, which is generally parallel to the U-shaped facia board receptor. The second U-shaped receptor is designed to receive a 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, or similar board. When two or more facia guard brackets, embodying the present invention, are installed on a facia board, a rooftop fall protection device is created by the horizontal extension of one or more boards between the facia guard brackets.  
         [0010]     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the facia guard bracket embodying the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the facia guard bracket;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of two facia guard brackets, embodying the present invention, holding guardrails in place along the edge of a roof; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the facia guard bracket embodying the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a facia guard bracket  2  embodying the present invention. The facia guard bracket  2  has a generally U-shaped recess  8  defined by sidewalls  28  and  26 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the generally U-shaped recess  8  receives the facia board  4  of a roof  14 . A set bolt  20 , which is advanced through a threaded hole  18  of sidewall  28  of the U-shaped recess  8 , secures the facia guard bracket  2  to the facia board  4  as the set bolt  20  is advanced towards the opposite wall  26  of the U-shaped recess  8 .  
         [0016]     The facia guard bracket  2  contains a second generally U-shaped recess  16  in order to receive a guard board  6  ( FIG. 3 ) that will extend between multiple facia guard brackets  2 . The main body  30  of the facia guard bracket  2  and the wall  22  serve to define the generally U-shaped recess  16  for receiving the guard board  6 . The wall  22  of the generally U-shaped recess  16  may have one or more holes  24  ( FIG. 2 ) to allow fastening members, such as nails or screws, to be fastened to the guard board.  
         [0017]     The facia guard brackets  2  may be attached to the facia board  4  ( FIG. 3 ) anywhere along the facia board  4 , except where the roof trusses are attached to the facia board  4 . The bottom of the first guard board  6 , which is received by the second generally U-shaped recess  16  of each facia guard bracket  2 , may be even with, slightly below, or several inches above the plane of the roof  14 . If the bottom of the first guard board  6  is even with or slightly below the plane of the roof  14 , then the guard board  6  can assist in the prevention of tools, nails, and other devices, which are dropped by someone on the roof  14 , from falling off the roof  14 .  
         [0018]     The body  30  of the facia guard bracket  2  also contains an open end  10  for receiving an extension  36  ( FIG. 3 ) to allow additional guard boards  12 ,  38  to be extended between facia guard brackets  2 . For example, the first generally U-shaped recess  32  on the extension  36 , which is inserted into the open end  10  of each facia guard bracket  2 , receives a second guard board  12  that also lies above the plane of the roof  14 . The extension  36  may have additional generally U-shaped members  34  for receiving additional guard boards  38 , all of which will provide fall protection of the roof  14 . Thus, a fall protection device may be constructed which provides heightened fall protection.  
         [0019]     The U-shaped recesses  16 ,  32 ,  34  on the facia guard brackets  2  and the extensions  36  may be spaced apart in any manner to allow the facia guard brackets  2  and extensions  36  to receive multiple guard boards  6 ,  12 , and  38 . For example, should the bottom of the recesses  16 ,  32 , and  34  be spaced  18  inches apart, then the top of the first guard board  6 , if the guard board  6  is a 2×6, will be approximately 12 inches below the bottom of the second guard board  12 .  
         [0020]     The facia guard bracket  2  is made of any material with the strength to support at least one guard board  6 . The facia guard bracket  2  can be made of metal, for example, that is molded, welded, or stamped into the appropriate shape.  
         [0021]     In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4 , one or more of the walls  28  and  26  of the generally U-shaped recess  8 , that receives the facia board, may extend laterally beyond the body  30  of the facia guard bracket  2 . This extension  42  may have one or more holes  40  to allow fastening members, such as nails or screws, to be fastened to the facia board to assist in securing the facia guard bracket  2  to the facia board. The other generally U-shaped recesses  16 ,  32 , and  34  may have similar extensions.  
         [0022]     The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.