Abstract:
A lightweight roof safety system with a top portion and a bottom portion is easily carried to flat rooftop of a building and assembled to form a rigid structure that has a connection member for attaching one or more safety lines. The top portion has a central member to which three or more legs are removably attached. The bottom portion has three or more base members that correspond to the leg members and a pair of leg members attached to distal and proximal ends of a base member to form a rigid structure. Each of the base members is weighted by hand weights placed in weight containers to prevent tipping of the roof safety system. The base members are, optionally, provided with support members that rest on a flat rooftop providing to improve stability of the roof support system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention roof safety systems; and, more particularly, to a roof safety system that is readily assembled on a roof to provide a worker suspended via a working line with a reliable, secure safety line that prevents injuries likely to result if the worker were to fall. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Many patents address issues related to harnesses attachments for persons suspended from great heights. Such harnesses are typically attached to a working lines, not a safety line. The safety line is a line connected to drain pipe or other insecure building object. Unfortunately, these structures do not always provide a reliable anchoring mechanism for the safety lines. Consequently, conventional roof systems oftentimes fail to provide secure support when the working line fails. Many fall injuries have been sustained and lives have been lost due to this unsecured method safety line attachment mechanism. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 85,777 to Anderson discloses a scaffold that is independent, perpendicular and movable. The platform can be raised or lowered so that workman can approach the wall of a building at all heights. This scaffold is a self-contained frame with a platform designed to lift a worker upwardly and downwardly along the vertical face of a wall. The worker is not hang suspended from a height and the device does not provide a safety line. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 403,636 to Bitterly discloses scaffolding. Such scaffolding is constructed from several cross pieces, which are bolted together to form a scaffold that fits on an inclined roof designed for workmen to build chimneys, do plastering or painting. The scaffold is an aid for workmen to construct chimneys and perform plastering or painting operations. A person is not suspended in the scaffolding apparatus. The scaffolding system does not provide a safety line attached to a person working in a suspended position at elevated locations. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 597,205 to Rue et al. discloses a scaffold. This scaffold has two adjustable platforms designed to carry brick and mortar at a height suitable for laying bricks. Such a scaffold does not carry workmen at an elevated height. No safety line is provided by the system. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,569,821 to Maxeiner discloses a collapsible roof crane. This lightweight self-supporting portable crane can carry hoist supplies commonly used by roofers without the need for screws or other roof fastening mechanisms. The collapsible roof crane has two parts, a jib member and a vertical member. It is lightweight and easily assembled over a horizontal roof. The proximal end of the jib member carries a welded scoop that carries counter balancing weights, while the distal end of the jib member carries an eye-bolt carrying a working rope that carries supplies. This portable device is used to lift supplies using a working rope. No disclosure is contained by the &#39;821 patent concerning a safety rope system that provides support to a workman suspended from a working line. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,778 to Steinhagen discloses a portable roof winch. This collapsed roof winch is opened out and set on a roof, which may be flat or inclined. The operator rests on a seat and the operator&#39;s weight functions as the counter weight to the load that is being lifted by the winch. This roof winch is designed to lift loads and therefore functions as a load lifting working cable or rope. The apparatus disclosed by the &#39;778 patent does not provide a safety rope supporting a suspended person working at elevated heights. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,179 to Williams discloses a portable support for a scaffold. The portable support comprises two wheeled portable supports, which are placed on a roof. A scaffold support arm is connected on one end to a load being carried. The other end of the support arm is attached by a pin to the second portable support. The second portable support is weighted to balance the weight of the support arm and the load being carried. This portable support does not operate to provide a safety rope to a person that is working at elevated heights and suspended from a working rope. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,838 to Finley discloses a movable support for window washers and the like. The movable support structure from which a window washer is suspended utilizes the parapet wall of a building as a support or runway by directing the force applied by the weight of the washer downwardly into the parapet wall. An upright frame above the parapet wall extends upwardly in substantially the same vertical plane of the parapet wall. This is a wheeled structure having a frame, which is designed to roll on the flat surface of the roof and on the edge of a parapet wall. A rope is attached to the frame and passes over a pulley suspending the window washing person. A detachable ladder is provided to assist the window washer to climb the parapet and reach the rope. The rope provided is a working rope and is not a safety rope. If this working rope fails for any reason, the window washer has no rescue means provided. The presence of wheels allows rapid and unpredictably unsafe movement of the window washing person. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,078 to Bell et al. discloses a portable support system for suspending persons from buildings. This portable support system is utilized to suspend persons from buildings with a flat roof and a parapet edge. The system comprises a collapsible four-wheeled, cart-like device with an extendable boom. Two eyelets are provided at the distal end of the boom to hang a pair of lines to support a harness carrying a hanging person. The cart is weighted to provide support. The two lines provided do not serve as a safety line; and constitute, in reality, a working line. A separate safety line, which provides safety for the hanging person in case the working ropes fail, is attached to a fixed anchor on the roof of the user&#39;s choosing and this anchor may or may not provide adequate and safe support for the suspended person. Therefore, this support system does not provide the functionality of a safety rope. In addition, the support system rests on wheels and is subject to unexpected movement. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,898 to Baziuk discloses a foldable boom for mounting on a roof of a building. The foldable boom has a vertical post, telescopically extendable counterbalance pole and a base. The cable is attached to the distal end of the boom is used for lowering or raising supplies. This system is not designed to lower persons. The cable or rope provided is at best a working rope. No safety rope is provided in this system. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,248 to Willaughby discloses a confined space lowering and retrieving apparatus. This apparatus is designed for use in conjunction with a fall arrester or load winch, when servicing a closed vessel having a top or side man way. This apparatus can be mounted over a horizontally oriented or vertically oriented manhole, using four legs or two legs and an adaptor bar. The safety rope is hung from a separate eyelet compared to working ropes. This apparatus works with persons working in enclosed spaces and is not designed to support persons hanging from elevated heights of a building. In all embodiments, the apparatus requires a hole-like opening over which the three legs of the supporting system can be attached. This geometry is not available in a building. The safety rope and the working rope are suspended from close proximity eyelets and the failure of the main shaft prevents the working of the safety rope assuring fall or death of the person suspended. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,437 to Anson et al. discloses support and hoist systems. The support system generally comprises a mast component, a boom component extending forwardly from the mast component, and a weight stabilizing component for maintaining the support in a working disposition. The support may be used in conjunction with a lifting pole for forming a hoist system. The support and hoist system may be used to support or raise and lower an object such as a chute for debris, roofing equipment, furniture, and the like. This support and hoist system does not suspend a person at great heights and therefore does not require safety rope. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,553 to Palmer discloses attachment assembly for use on flat roofs. This assembly is a three-wheeled cart with a mast that carries a ringbolt to which safety lines are connected. The three-wheel cart is weighted and has a roof-engaging member that digs into the concrete roof. This is a rather a cumbersome heavy device which is not easily disassembled and has to be hoisted to the roof. Since the cart is three wheeled, it could move unpredictably especially due to the safety rope being suddenly loaded upon failure of a working rope. The forward facing person is supported well due to the counter weight and teeth engagement, but the persons using the safety ropes on the sides may experience sudden unexpected movement of the cart. Besides, the teeth containing roof engaging member is unlikely to dig into the surface of a hard, concrete roof. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,238 to Zambelli et al. discloses a fall protecting safety device. This fall protecting safety device has one or more poles firmly attached to the roof of a building. A rope is strung between the poles forming a safety parapet. The high-rise walkers attach their spring clips of harnesses so as to break a fall. Each of the pulleys over which the rope is strung has a spring like shock absorption element designed to absorb shock load. The safety cable is not attached to a person suspended at a high elevation. Rather, it is attached to someone walking on an elevated structure. There are no working ropes attached to the person for descent along a vertical surface. 
         [0018]    Foreign Patent Application No. DE 4104158 C1 to Niederwipper et al. discloses a vertical load hoisting mechanism for buildings. Guy and load ropes are integrated into a compound rope, which is loosely supported. This device is a large device placed on the roof of a building to lower a person in a cage. No disclosure is contained by the &#39;158 foreign patent concerning a safety rope system, as opposed to a working rope system. The device rests on wheels. It does not rest firmly on the rooftop of a building. 
         [0019]    There remains a need in the art for an easy to assemble safety line device that provides reliable support for workmen suspended at significant heights by working ropes and harness devices. The safety line is essential to prevent falls from these elevated locations. Such falls may result in injurious or, in the worst cases, lead to death. Generally, the safety line is attached to a building structure such as a drainpipe or the like. However, the reliability of these structures to function as a support for a safety line is questionable. What is needed is an easy to assemble safety line support system that functions effectively and reliably on flat roofs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention of roof safety system provides an easy to assemble reliable safety line support system that can be readily ported to flat roof structure and assembled in situ to thereby provide a secure support for a safety line. The working lines and harnesses are supported by other standard equipment, which is not a part of this invention. The roof safety system has a top portion comprising a center member and at least three legs that are removably attached to the center member by first attachment mean. The center member has a connection member for receiving a safety rope device. The roof safety system further comprises a bottom portion comprising at least three base members adapted to removably attach to the corresponding leg members of the top portion by second attachment mean. At least one weight container with hand weights is provided on the base member to provide tipping stability of the roof safety system. Optionally, the base member may contain at least one support member that contacts the flat roof surface providing improved stability of the roof support system. 
         [0021]    Generally stated, the roof safety system broadly comprises: (i) a top portion comprising a center member, and at least three leg members removably attached by first attachment means; (ii) the center member having at least one connection member extending therefrom and being appointed to receive a safety rope device; and (iii) a bottom portion comprising a base member adapted to attach to the leg members by second attachment means, at least one weight container, and optionally at least one support member. 
         [0022]    Commercial window cleaning, pressure washing, window maintenance, and other exterior building repairs and general up-keep require access that is customarily provided by suspending a person from a rooftop. The roof safety system provides a convenient, safe and highly reliable system for anchoring the safety line managed by a worker during substantially the entire period of time that he is suspended from a rooftop by a working line. Broadly stated, the roof safety system comprises, in combination, the following features: 
         [0023]    1) a roof safety system designed to be used on a flat roof of a high rise building, having a safety line that is attached to an anchoring member integral with the roof safety system; 
         [0024]    2) the system having at least three, and preferably four, legs removably attached to a central top member by first attachment means; 
         [0025]    3) the central top member having an aperture for receiving a safety rope which is available to safely carry a person in a saddle or a collapsible chair attached to a working line, thereby providing an escape route upon failure of the working rope system that enables the person to safely clean windows or perform construction work; 
         [0026]    4) the distal end of each of said legs being attached by second attachment means such as a pin or bolt system to a bottom member having the form of a cross bar that firmly connects adjacent legs; 
         [0027]    5) a weight member attached to the central portion of the cross member, for providing stability to the roof safety system, and preventing tipping over of the system when a person is suspended from the safety rope; and 
         [0028]    6) the bottom member being provided with adjustable, wheel-free length support members that rest on the horizontal roof surface, 
         [0029]    whereby the user is provided with a safe and reliable working environment that includes a safety rope that is attached to a reliable anchoring member proximate to the work location. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0030]    The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawing, in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a lateral view of a typical roof rig, known in the art, and being generally utilized contemporaneously with the subject invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates a lateral view of the roof safety system of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates the attachment of a leg member with a horizontal member using a bolted connection; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the roof safety system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    The present invention provides a roof safety system, which provides a safety rope that is securely attached providing a person secured to a harness or foldable chair suspended from a working rope at elevated heights. The law requires that a safety rope be attached to a person working at elevated heights other than the working rope he is suspended from. The safety rope prevents rapid fall of the working person in the event that the working rope fails. Generally, contractors rely commonly on attaching the safety rope to existing structures of a building, which oftentimes involve drainpipes, air conditioners, or other insecure structural elements. When the working rope fails, the person&#39;s weight is immediately transferred from the working rope to the safety rope. When these structural elements to which the safety rope is attached separate from the building, the safety rope fails. This places the suspended person at risk of falling. Depending on the height of the suspended person at the time that failure of the structural element causes the safety rope to provide inadequate support, a worker unable to depend on that support may sustain serious injury or even fall to his death. In accordance with present invention, there is provided a roof safety system that is easily removed and carried to the roof in parts. It is thereafter reassembled on the flat rooftop to support a secure and reliable safety line that can be attached to a worker suspended from a working line. Since the roof safety system is weighted by one or more detachable weights attached to bottom members, the sudden application of load by the suspended worker does not tip the roof safety system, but provides secure attachment and support to the suspended worker. Since the roof safety system comprises at least three wheel-free, flat supporting feet, it remains stable, in contact the horizontal surface of the roof, and resists any unexpected movement. 
         [0036]    The attachment of the safety line to the harness may be accomplished by a number of well-known methods. A belay may be used to prevent the rapid descent of the working person upon failure of the working rope. 
         [0037]    Generally stated, the roof safety system broadly comprises: (i) a top portion comprising a center member, and at least three or more leg members; (ii) the center member having at least one connection member extending there from and being appointed to receive a safety rope device; and (iii) a bottom portion comprising a base member adapted to attach to each of the leg members by attachment means, at least one weight container, and at least one support member. The central member, leg members and base members are disassembled into pieces and are easily carried to the roof of the building. The lengths of the leg members are adjusted to have the roof safety system anchored vertically on a flat roof. On a flat roof, the leg members have equal length and are attached to the horizontal cross members and base members by bolts creating a rigid non-sliding base. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates a lateral view of a typical roof rig, known in the art, and being generally utilized contemporaneously with the subject invention; the roof rig is shown generally at  10 . The roof rig generally comprises an elongated bar  11  having a head portion  14  appointed with a rope aperture. The rope aperture accommodates a rope  15 , which is utilized as the primary support working rope. Rope  15  is connected to a harness or chair device upon which a person sits. The rig is further provided with a back end portion  13  adapted to accommodate weights, the amount of which is proportional to the weight of the person suspended from rope  15 . The rig has a base portion  12 , generally with wheels. The rig  11  rests on the rooftop of a building  16 . In operation, a person is generally strapped into a chair harness, and working rope  15  is attached thereto for support of the person while the person is suspended from the building  16 , and traverses the building wall by the movement of the wheels in the base portion  12 . A safety rope  17  is required at all times pursuant to regulation. The safety rope  17  is provided with an attachment portion  18  so that the safety rope  17  can be attached to a random roof top object  19 . When the wheels are moved, the safety rope has a slack to accommodate the movement of the suspended person. Oftentimes this object  19  consists of an air conditioning vent or the like, which is not adequately enforced or constructed for holding and supporting the weight of a person suspended from the building  16 . Many tragedies have occurred over the years as a direct result of inadequate support of the safety rope  17 . All too often, the object  19  gives way under the stress of the suspended person&#39;s weight, when the working rope  15  fails. From a safety standpoint, rope  17  represents the suspended person&#39;s last resort. Failure of the safety rope will cause the suspended person to plummet from the building, resulting in certain injury or death, depending on the height at which the person is suspended, when failure of object  19  occurs. 
         [0039]    There is a therefore a strong felt need in the art for a roof safety device specifically constructed to accommodate sudden application of stress levels associated with the weight of a person that is suspended in air when the working rope fails. There exists a need in the art for a roof safety device that provides direct engagement of the safety rope  17  so that the person is safely supported in the suspended position. The roof safety system provides a safe and efficient system to ensure that the person suspended from the rooftop is optimally secured should their main working rope break by providing a safety system specifically appointed for receiving the safety rope, and specifically constructed to support a person&#39;s body weight while suspended in the air. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates a lateral view of the roof safety system, shown generally at  20 . The roof Safety system broadly comprises a top portion ( 21 ) and a bottom portion ( 25 ) attached together by way of attachment means  26 . Top portion ( 21 ) includes a center member  22 , and at least three leg members  24  which are removably connected. This connection may be a bolted connection, screwed connection or other connection means. In the case of a three legged support, these legs extend outward from the center member in a symmetrical manner. Preferably base member  27  has a triangular shape, comprising three side portions, and three leg members  24 . Center member  22  is appointed with at least one connection member  23  extending there from. The connection member  23  has an aperture  23   a  adapted to receive a safety rope device, generally comprising attachment portion  18  and safety rope  17 . Bottom portion  25  comprises a base member  27  adapted to attach to the leg members  24  by attachment means  26 . Preferably base member  27  is a triangular shape, having three side portions, and there are three leg members  24 . At least one weight container  28  is attached to a side portion of base member  27  of bottom portion  25 . Weight container  28  is appointed to receive hand weights  29  generally having a handle  29   a . Preferably, each side portion of base member  27  is provided with a weight container  28 . Preferably, weight container  28  is centrally located on each of the side portions of base member  27 . At least one support member  30  is included for stabilizing and providing optimal support of the system  20 . 
         [0041]    Continuing with the insert in  FIG. 2   b , a side view of the attachment means  26  is shown generally at  40 . Leg member  24  is attached to base member  27  of bottom portion  25  by way of attachment means  26 . Attachment means  26  is herein shown as a pivot point  41 . In this embodiment, the attachment means  26  provides the ability for leg member  24  to pivot along pivot point  41  for proper alignment of the roof support system. When the pivot point is disconnected the top portion and bottom portion separate and can be carried as two separate pieces. Preferably, attachment means  26  is constructed so that the top portion  21  and the bottom portion  25  are two distinct, separate portions being engaged together by way of the attachment means  26 , wherein the attachment means comprises a bolt and nut configuration, claim and clasp configuration, or the like. In this arrangement, the separate portions, top  21  and bottom  25 , are readily carried as separate units, thereby facilitating convenient carriage of lighter system components system. In a second embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3  below at  50 , the roof safety system is constructed having a generally square shape. In this embodiment, the attachment means  26  provides the ability for leg member  24  to pivot along pivot point  41  so that the leg member  24  can enter the same plane as the base member  27 , to form a flat structure for carrying or transporting the system. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the Roof Safety System, shown generally at 50. In this embodiment the Roof Safety System is constructed having a generally square shape. The top portion ( 21 ) includes a center member  22 , and four leg members  24 . Preferably, there are four leg members  24  provided, as is shown, however, the number of leg members  24  can vary depending on the overall shape of the bottom member ( 25 ). Center member  22  is appointed with at least one connection member  23  extending therefrom. Optionally, there may be more than one connection member so that more than one safety device can be attached to the system. The connection member  23  has an aperture ( 23   a ) adapted to receive a safety rope device, generally comprising attachment portion ( 18 ) and safety rope ( 17 ). Optionally, the aperture ( 23   a ) of connection member  23  can be appointed to accommodate more than one safety rope device. Base member  27  of bottom portion ( 25 ) is shown herein with four sidewalls to generally form the shape of a square. Base member  27  is attached to the leg members  24  by the attachment means  26 . Preferably base member  27  has a triangular shape, comprising three side portions, and three leg members  24 . More preferably, base member  27  has a square shape, comprising four sides, and four leg members  24 . Weight containers  28  are attached to the each of the side portions of base member  27  so that hand weights ( 29 ) can be added to the weight containers  28  accordingly. Support members  30  are provided on each of the side portions of base member  27  for stabilization of the system. Optionally, these support members  30  may be constructed as out-riggers for optimal support of the system. 
         [0043]    The roof safety system is preferably composed of an aluminum material so that it has a lightweight construction. Moreover, the system is presented preferably as a two or three-piece system (i.e. top and bottom portions) so that it is easier to carry and lighter in weight. The pieces or portions of the system may be connected together vie connection means, such as cotter pins. The frame of the device is extremely sturdy, and works in conjunction with the weights to counter balance the weight of the person suspended form the building. The weight limit of the device may be directly proportionate to the rooftop roller. The size of the unit varies, depending on the size needed to provide optimal safety by counteracting the weight of the individual to be suspended. Advantageously, the roof safety system presents a lightweight, durable, system that securely and effectively provides safety to an individual while suspended from a building. 
         [0044]    Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.