Abstract:
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a roofing system includes a sloped roof structure extending from a lower elevation area that is accessible from a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and extending to a higher elevation area. The system further includes an elongate rail structure attached to the sloped roof structure, the elongate rail structure extending from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area. The system further includes an attachment mechanism that slides along and is securely attached to the elongate rail structure, the attachment mechanism includes an attachment structure for securely tethering the person to the elongate rail structure to prevent the attached person from falling off the sloped roof structure, and so that when the attached person travels from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area the attachment mechanism slides along the elongate rail structure while maintaining the secure tethering of the person to the elongate rail structure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) (1) to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/080,954, filed on Jul. 15, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a safety device for a sloped roof and a method for securely ascending and/or descending a sloped roof. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Roof safety systems prevent a person, such as an installer, painter, window washer, plumber, HVAC, chimney sweep, pest controller, inspector, maintenance person, homeowner and others from falling off of a roof. Roof safety systems generally have one or more attachment locations at the ridge or uppermost portions of the roof, depending on roof construction and style. By being tethered to the attachment location using a lanyard/safety line, the person is prevented from falling off of the roof. A person can secure him or herself, or another object, to the attachment location by ascending the roof and fastening a lanyard/safety line to the attachment location. A person can detach him or herself, or another object, from the attachment location by unfastening the object&#39;s lanyard/safety line from the attachment location and descending the roof. A roof is typically accessed from the top of a ladder at the gutter line. Because the attachment location is often fixed at the top of the roof, the person must make the initial ascent and final descent without any lanyard/safety line attachment to the attachment location. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In general, this document describes a roof safety system. In a first aspect, a roofing system includes a sloped roof structure extending from a lower elevation area that is accessible from a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and extending to a higher elevation area. The system further includes an elongate rail structure attached to the sloped roof structure, the elongate rail structure extending from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area. The system further includes an attachment mechanism that slides along and is securely attached to the elongate rail structure, the attachment mechanism includes an attachment structure for securely tethering the person to the elongate rail structure to prevent the attached person from falling off the sloped roof structure, and so that when the attached person travels from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area the attachment mechanism slides along the elongate rail structure while maintaining the secure tethering of the person to the elongate rail structure. 
         [0005]    Implementations can include any, all, or none of the following features. The elongate rail can include latch points and the attachment mechanism can include a latch adapted to allow the attachment mechanism to move past each latch point when the attachment mechanism can be moved toward the higher elevation area and to prevent movement of the attachment mechanism past each latch point while the latch is engaged. The system can include an elongate traction structure parallel to the elongate rail for giving the attached person additional traction when the attached person travels from one elevation area to another elevation area. The elongate traction structure can include a plurality of handholds, footholds, or a combination thereof. At least a portion of the elongate rail can be within three feet of the lower edge of the sloped roof structure. At least a portion of the elongate rail extends to within six inches of the lower edge of the sloped roof structure. At least a portion of the elongate rail extends to within three feet of a ridge line of the sloped roof structure. The elongate rail can be attached to one or more structural members below a surface of the roof. The system can include a plurality of support pieces that can be affixed to the elongate rail and to at least one support rafter. The system can include fluid distribution conduit for distributing a liquid over a surface of the sloped roof structure. 
         [0006]    In a second aspect, a method of constructing a roof structure, the method includes providing a sloped roof structure that extends from a lower elevation area that is accessible from a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and that extends to a higher elevation area, the sloped roof structure includes support rafters upon which a roofing surface is provided. The method further includes affixing a rail structure to the rafters of the sloped roof structures, the rail structure includes support pieces that are affixed to the rafters and an elongate rail affixed to the support pieces. The rail structure is affixed to the rafters so that the elongate rail extends parallel to and above the roofing surface and further extends from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area. 
         [0007]    Implementations can include any, all, or none of the following features. The support pieces can be attached to the rafters before the roofing surface is provided. The roofing surface can be provided before the elongate rail is attached to the support pieces. 
         [0008]    In a third aspect, a method for safely ascending a sloped roof includes climbing to a position adjacent to a lower edge of the sloped roof structure, the sloped roof structure extending from a lower elevation area that is accessible from the lower edge of the sloped roof structure, and extending to a higher elevation area. The method further includes fastening a tether from an object to an attachment mechanism that slides along and is securely attached to an elongate rail structure, the elongate rail structure attached to the sloped roof structure and extending from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area. The method further includes traveling the object from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area such that as the object travels, the attachment mechanism slides along the elongate rail structure toward the higher elevation area. The attachment mechanism prevents the object from falling off of the sloped roof structure by latching at one or more latch points along the elongate rail structure. 
         [0009]    The systems and techniques described here may provide one or more of the following advantages. First, a roof safety system can prevent a person from falling off of a roof while the person is moving up or down the roof. Second, a sloped roof safety system can be made accessible to and from a ladder or other roof entry/access point adjacent to a lower edge of the roof. Third, a sloped roof safety system can allow for the attachment of a lanyard/safety line between the person and an attachment location before the person mounts the surface of the roof (e.g., while the person remains on a ladder). Fourth, a sloped roof safety system can be made accessible to and from a safety attachment point at the ridge or other upper portion of a roof. Fifth, a sloped roof safety system can remain in place on a roof after work or other access to the roof is complete, thereby remaining usable by subsequent persons needing access to the roof in the future. Sixth, a sloped roof safety system can provide a tie-off point for securing a ladder to prevent it from shifting or falling over while a person is stepping off of or onto the ladder. 
         [0010]    The details of one or more embodiments of the sloped roof safety system are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the sloped roof safety system will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  shows an example of a sloped roof safety system for securing a person or an object moving up or down a sloped roof. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  shows an example of a sloped roof safety system that includes handholds and footholds, which can be used, for example, on a steeply pitched roof. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  shows an example cross-section of a sloped roof safety system that has handholds and footholds, which can be used, for example, on a steeply pitched roof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an example portion of a sloped roof safety system that includes a traveling, latching, fall-arrest attachment mechanism on a rail. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows an example portion of a sloped roof safety system attached to a structural member of a roof. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows an example portion of a sloped roof safety system that includes an attachment mechanism with a latch, which provides constant fall-arrest protection. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows an example portion of a sloped roof safety system that includes a rail with multiple sections. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a sloped roof safety system that includes a combination vertical and horizontal rail, allowing both vertical and lateral movement across the roof while attached to the safety system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A  shows an example of a sloped roof safety system that distributes an anti-growth medium on a sloped roof. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7B  shows an example cross-section of a sloped roof safety system that includes an anti-growth medium distribution system. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    This document describes a sloped roof safety system and technique for securing a person moving up or down a sloped roof. The sloped roof safety system provides secure access to a roof from the base of the roof (e.g., the ladder up location) to an attachment location at the ridge or other upper portion of roof. The sloped roof safety system prevents people from falling off of the roof while ascending from, for example, the ladder up position to the attachment position, as well as descending back to the ladder. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1A-C  show an example of a sloped roof safety system  100  for securing a person  104  moving up or down a sloped roof  102 . Particularly, the sloped roof safety system  100  prevents the object from falling off of the sloped roof  102  while the person  104  moves up or down the sloped roof  102 . In other implementations, the sloped roof safety system  100  can secure other objects, such as, construction materials or tools. 
         [0024]    The sloped roof safety system  100  secures the person  104  while the person  104  moves from a lower elevation of the sloped roof  102  to a higher elevation of the sloped roof  102 , and vice versa. For example, the sloped roof safety system can secure the person  104  while the person  104  moves from a ladder  106  to one or more safety attachment points  108   a - c . The safety attachment points  108   a - c  can be, for example, fixed position eye loops or one or more attachment points that travel across the sloped roof  102  on a track. 
         [0025]    The sloped roof safety system  100  includes an elongate rail  110  and an attachment mechanism  112 . In some implementations, the elongate rail  110  can be an I-beam, a tee bar, an angle bar, or a channel. In some implementations, the attachment mechanism  112  includes wheels or glides that allow it to travel or slide along the elongate rail  110 . 
         [0026]    The elongate rail  110  extends from a lower elevation of the sloped roof  102  to a higher elevation of the sloped roof  102 . The elongate rail  110  is aligned, at least in part, along the slope of the sloped roof  102 . In the example shown here, the elongate rail  110  is only aligned along the slope of the sloped roof  102 . In another example, the elongate rail  110  can be aligned to travel across the sloped roof  102  while also traveling up and down along the slope of the sloped roof  102  (e.g., the elongate rail  110  can be aligned at a slant up the sloped roof  102 ). 
         [0027]    The attachment mechanism  112  slides along and is securely attached to the elongate rail structure. The attachment mechanism  112  slides along the elongate rail  110  as the person  104  travels from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area of the safety system. The attachment mechanism  112  includes an attachment structure  114 . The person  104  or other object to be secured, can be tethered to the attachment mechanism  112  via the attachment structure  114 . For example, the person  104  may wear a safety harness  116  and fasten an end of the safety harness  116  to the attachment structure  114 . The safety harness  116  can have a lanyard/tether  118  and a clasp  120 . The person  104  can be fastened to the sloped roof safety system  100  by attaching the clasp  120  to the attachment structure  114 . In some implementations, the ladder  106  can be secured to the elongate rail  110 . 
         [0028]    As the person  104  moves up or down the sloped roof  102 , the attachment mechanism  112  travels along the elongate rail  110 . Accordingly, the sloped roof safety system can maintain the secure tethering of the person to the elongate rail  110  while the person travels both from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area, and back down. As the person  104  ascends the sloped roof  102  the attachment mechanism  112  slides freely upward along the elongate rail  110 , but does not unintentionally slide back down the elongate rail  110  without latching, thereby ensuring that the person  104  will not fall off the sloped roof  102  if a slip occurs. 
         [0029]    In some implementations, the sloped roof safety system  100  can include an elongate traction structure parallel to the elongate rail  110  for giving the person  104  additional traction when the person  104  travels from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation areas. In some implementations, the elongate traction structure can have a unitary construction with the elongate rail  110 , as shown. In other implementations, the elongate traction structure can be a separate structure spaced from the elongate rail  110  along a surface of the roof. The elongate traction structure can include one or more handholds/footholds  122 .  FIG. 1B  shows an example of the sloped roof safety system  100  having a unitary structure including both the elongate rail  110  and an elongate traction structure along with the handholds/footholds  122 .  FIG. 1C  shows an example cross-section of the sloped roof safety system  100  taken along a line from A to B. The handholds/footholds  122  assist the person  104  in moving up or down the sloped roof  102 . The handholds/footholds  122  can be formed in a structure attached to the elongate rail  110 . For example, a plate extending from the side of the elongate rail  110  in the plane of the sloped roof  102  can have indentations or apertures for grasping or stepping upon. In another example, individual handholds and/or footholds can extend from the side of the elongate rail  110 , such as handles and steps. 
         [0030]    In some implementations, the lower end of the elongate rail  110  is located close enough to the lower edge of the sloped roof  102  that the person  104  can reach the attachment structure  114  on the attachment mechanism  112  while remaining on the ladder  106 . Conversely, the lower end of the elongate rail  110  can be located close enough to the edge of the sloped roof  102  that the person  104  can reach the ladder  106  while fastened to the attachment structure  114  on the attachment mechanism  112 . In some implementations, at least a portion of the elongate rail  110  is within three feet (or other safe distance) of the lower edge of the roof. For example, a portion of the elongate rail  110  can be within six inches of the lower edge of the roof or a distance that can be reached by a person without putting the person in danger of falling off of the ladder. In some implementations, the upper end of the elongate rail  110  can be located close enough to the ridge or upper edge of the sloped roof  102  that the person  104  can reach the safety attachment point  108   a  while fastened to the attachment mechanism  112 . Conversely, the upper end of the elongate rail  110  can be located close enough to the ridge or upper edge of the sloped roof  102  that the person  104  can reach the attachment structure  114  on the attachment mechanism  112  while fastened to the safety attachment point  108   a.  In some embodiments, a portion of the elongate rail can be within three feet (or other safe distance) of the ridge or upper edge of the sloped roof  102 . In some embodiments, a portion of the elongate rail can be within three feet (or other safe distance) of the safety attachment point  108   a.  For example, the elongate rail can be within arms reach of the safety attachment point  108   a.    
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows an example portion of a sloped roof safety system  200  that includes an attachment mechanism  202  on an elongate rail  204 . The attachment mechanism  202  includes an attachment structure  206  for fastening an object to the attachment mechanism  202 . The attachment mechanism  202  also includes a latch  208 . The elongate rail  204  includes one or more latch points  210  along its length. The latch  208  latches on the latch points  210  as the object fastened to the attachment mechanism  202  moves up and down a roof. The sloped roof safety system  200  also includes one or more support pieces  212  for attaching the elongate rail  204  to a sloped roof. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows an example portion of a sloped roof safety system  300  attached to a structural member  304  of a roof  302 . In particular, the sloped roof safety system  300  includes an elongate rail  306  and an attachment mechanism  308 . The elongate rail  306  is fastened to one or more support pieces  310  for attachment to a sloped roof. As shown here, the elongate rail  306  is fastened to the support pieces  310  using multiple bolts  312 . In some implementations, the elongate rail  306  is fastened to the support pieces  310  using another fastening method, such as welded joints or a unibody construction. 
         [0033]    The support pieces  310  are fastened to the structural member  304  or to multiple structural members in the roof  302 . The structural member  304  can be, for example, a rafter, a purlin, or a truss. The support pieces  310  can include two parallel plates spaced for placement against opposite sides of a structural member of the roof. The support pieces  310  can be fastened to the structural member  304  using, for example, bolts or screws. 
         [0034]    In some implementations, one or more of the support pieces  310  can be fastened to the surface of the roof  302  as opposed to the structural member  304 . In some implementations, the elongate rail  306  can be directly attached to the surface of the roof  302  without the use of the support pieces  310 . Additionally, an elongate traction structure can be fastened to the roof  302  with or without the support pieces  310 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is an example portion of a sloped roof safety system  400  that includes an attachment mechanism  402  that shows a latch  404   a - b  in engaged and released positions, respectively. As previously described, the attachment mechanism  402  slides up and down along an elongate rail  406 . As the attachment mechanism  402  moves along the elongate rail  406 , the latch  404   a,  in the engaged position, latches on one or more latch points  408 . 
         [0036]    In some implementations, the latch  404   a  automatically moves up and over the latch points  408  as the attachment mechanism  402  moves up the elongate rail  406  as the person travels from the lower elevation area to the higher elevation area. In some implementations, the latch  404   b,  in the released position, is manually disengaged when moving the attachment mechanism  402  across the latch points  408 . In some implementations, the latch  404   a - b  has an associated spring mechanism that biases the latch  404   a - b  into the engaged position. 
         [0037]    In some implementations, the attachment mechanism  402  can be removed from the elongate rail  406 . For example, the attachment mechanism  402  may be removed for storage, cleaning, servicing, replacement, or repair. In some implementations, the lower and/or upper end of the elongate rail  406  includes a removable stop that allows the attachment mechanism  402  to be removed from the elongate rail  406 . Alternatively, the wheels, glides, or other structures that maintain the attachment mechanism  402  on the elongate rail  406  can be removed or disengaged to remove the attachment mechanism  402  from the elongate rail  406 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows an example portion of a sloped roof safety system  500  that includes a rail with multiple sections  502   a - b . In the example shown here, the sections  502   a - b  are fastened together by bolts through a rail-to-roof attachment structure  504 . In another example, the sections  502   a - b  can be directly fastened together or fastened together without the use of the rail-to-roof attachment structure  504 . In some implementations, the rail can be made using a unibody construction or the sections  502   a - b  can be welded or glued together. In some implementations, the sections  502   a - b  can have two different orientations. For example, the section  502   a  can be oriented up and down along the slope of a roof and the section  502   b  can be oriented from side to side (horizontally) across the roof. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a sloped roof safety system  600  that includes a horizontal rail. The sloped roof safety system  600  provides secure access to a sloped roof  602  for a person  604  accessing the sloped roof  602  from a ladder  606 , for example. The sloped roof safety system  600  includes a horizontal rail  608  and a vertical rail  610 . An attachment mechanism  612  can travel up and down along the vertical rail  610  and side to side along the horizontal rail  608 . The vertical rail  610  and the horizontal rail  608  are joined by a curved rail  614 . The curved rail  614  allows the attachment mechanism  612  to travel from the vertical rail  610  to the horizontal rail  608  and vice versa. 
         [0040]    In the example shown here, the vertical rail  610  is aligned diagonally along a hip  616  of the sloped roof  602 . In some implementations, the vertical rail  610  is only aligned or substantially aligned up and down along the slope of the sloped roof  602 . For example, the vertical rail  610  can be placed along a gable  618  of the sloped roof  602  or set back from the hip  616  of the sloped roof  602 . In some implementations, the vertical rail  610  can be aligned along a valley (not shown) of a sloped roof. 
         [0041]    In some implementations, multiple rails, such as the horizontal rail  608  and the vertical rail  610 , can be used to form a network of secure access across a sloped roof. For example, a sloped roof can include many ridges, hips, valleys, and gables. A network of interconnected horizontal and vertical rails can be placed along the ridges, hips, valleys, and gables to provide secure access to the various surfaces of the sloped roof. 
         [0042]    In some implementations, the horizontal rail  608  and/or the vertical rail  610  can be placed directly at or substantially along a roof feature, such as a ridge, hip, valley, or gable. In some implementations, the horizontal rail  608  and/or the vertical rail  610  can be set back from a roof feature (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). In some implementations, the horizontal rail  608  and/or the vertical rail  610  can be placed in a location on the sloped roof  602  irrespective of any roof feature. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 7A-B  show an example of a sloped roof safety system  700  that distributes pesticide or anti-growth material on a sloped roof  702 . In some implementations, the pesticide or anti-growth material of the sloped roof safety system  700  prevents or reduces accidents due to slipping on the sloped roof  702 . The sloped roof safety system  700  also provides secure access to the sloped roof  702  for a person  704  accessing the sloped roof  702  from a ladder  706 , for example. The sloped roof safety system  700  includes a horizontal rail  708  and a vertical rail  710 . An attachment mechanism  712  can travel along the vertical rail  710  and the horizontal rail  708 . 
         [0044]    The sloped roof safety system  700  includes a fluid distribution conduit  714 . The fluid distribution conduit  714  distributes a liquid, such as an herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, moss kill, or other anti-growth medium over the sloped roof  702 , as indicated by arrows  716 . In some embodiments, the fluid distribution conduit  714  can distribute water as a fire retardant, a soap solution, or even a simple bleach-water mixture. The distributed liquid can remove or prevent growth of organisms, such as molds, fungi, lichen, and moss, and may be used to repel or discourage various pests. The medium can be a fluid that is applied to the sloped roof  702  as a spray, a mist, or a drip. 
         [0045]    The fluid distribution conduit  714  can be attached to the sides of a rail, such as the horizontal rail  708 , as shown in the cross-section of  FIG. 7B . The fluid distribution conduit  714  can be attached to both sides of the vertical rail  710  and/or the horizontal rail  708  or a single side. In some implementations, the fluid distribution conduit  714  can be attached to an anchor, such as the support pieces  212  shown in  FIG. 2 . In some implementations, the fluid distribution conduit  714  is integrated with a rail, such as in a unibody construction. The liquid can be dripped from the horizontal rail  708 , such that gravity spreads the medium across the sloped roof  702 . 
         [0046]    The sloped roof safety system  700  includes a reservoir  718 . The reservoir  718  stores a supply of a liquid (such as a herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, moss kill, or other anti-growth medium) for later distribution on the sloped roof  702 . The sloped roof safety system  700  also includes a pump  720 . The pump  720  pumps the medium from the reservoir  718  through the fluid distribution conduit  714 . In some implementations, gravity can be used to move the medium from the reservoir  718  by placing the reservoir  718  above the vertical rail  710  and/or the horizontal rail  708 . 
         [0047]    Although a few implementations have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, while shown here as small or residential in scale, the sloped roofs  102 ,  302 ,  602 , and  702  can be of any size, such as a large commercial, industrial, multi-residential, apartment, hotel, governmental, community center, sports arena or other sizeable roof. Other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.