Abstract:
A firefighting training apparatus having a trailer capable of being towed by a vehicle; an elevated platform supported above the trailer and presenting a simulated rooftop; and a raising mechanism, the raising mechanism attached between the elevated platform and the trailer, the raising mechanism supporting the elevated platform at a desired pitch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates broadly to firefighting training apparatus. Specifically, the present invention relates to firefighting training related to rooftop applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to an elevated platform upon which firefighters practice rooftop firefighting techniques. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Firefighters routinely place themselves in dangerous situations when fighting fires from rooftops of burning structures. Specialized tools and techniques have been developed to aid firefighters in these applications. While many fires present characteristics common to both vertical and horizontal ventilation, vertical ventilation often requires significant safety considerations, specialized tools, knowledge of roof openings, roof construction, roof coverings, and procedures for opening the roof. 
     While vertical ventilation doesn&#39;t in itself extinguish a fire, it provides effective containment of a fire&#39;s movement through a structure, and can reduce property damage. Removal of smoke allows more efficient rescue of victims who are overcome by smoke as visibility is improved once smoke is removed. One method of vertical ventilation by which smoke and heat may be removed from a structure is by opening the roof at its highest point, reducing the danger of a backdraft or a flashover and allowing water to be applied down into the structure onto the fire. Vertical ventilation utilizes skills that must be practiced, such as maintaining safety of the firefighters, providing a second egress from the roof, having charged attack and protection lines ready, observing wind direction and intensity, noting dead loads and obstructions on a roof, constantly observing the roof and evaluating roofing materials and the condition of the roof, locating the seat of the fire, cutting large openings, and avoiding roof collapse when the roof is weakened by fire. Pitched roofs are the most difficult rooftops from which firefighters perform vertical ventilation. Pitched roofs are usually supported by wooden rafters, laminated beams, or wooden or steel trusses spanning the shortest distance between bearing walls. In the average home, the space between the roof and the ceiling defines and attic space, which may be vented by louvers under gable end of the roof. 
     Firefighters are trained carefully on vertical ventilation because of the inherent danger of operating at a distance above the ground. Training is performed on elevated structures, where firefighters practice using tools for operations such as hauling tools up ladders, operating tools safely on rooftops, such as chain saws, rotary saws, stripping tools, pike poles, sledgehammers, rubbish hooks and pickhead axes, cutting openings in a rooftop, lowering firefighters and/or equipment through such openings, and safely extracting people from such openings and evacuating people from rooftops. Typically, such training takes place on a stationary, permanently fixed training structure that is embodied in an elevated platform. Because of size, the construction of such structures is costly, they generally have only one configuration and one slope, and all training activities have to take place at the site of the structure. 
     There is thus a heartfelt need for a firefighting training apparatus that is portable, compact, easily deployed, and having multiple training features for different firefighting operations such as vertical ventilation, forcible entry, confined space entry, extraction procedures, as well as rooftop safety and safe operation of tools in a rooftop application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problems described above by providing a trailer-based simulated rooftop. In one aspect, the present invention provides a firefighting training apparatus having a trailer capable of being towed by a vehicle; an elevated platform supported above the trailer and presenting a simulated rooftop; and a raising mechanism, the raising mechanism attached between the elevated platform and the trailer, the raising mechanism supporting the elevated platform at a desired pitch. In an embodiment, the desired pitch includes a flat rooftop having no pitch. The elevated platform comprises a plurality of joists supporting a flat surface. In an embodiment, the elevated platform is covered in a roofing material such as wood shingles, roofing felt, clay tile shingles, or composition roofing material. In an embodiment, the firefighting training apparatus includes a secondary elevated platform below the elevated platform in a horizontal orientation, presenting a ceiling structure. A third elevated platform, is also presented in an embodiment, suspended from an edge of the elevated platform in a vertical orientation, presenting a vertical wall structure. The third elevated platform is secured by horizontal supports connected between the bottom of the elevated platform and the third elevated support. 
     In an embodiment, the raising mechanism includes at least one hydraulic ram or a pneumatic system. In a simplified embodiment, the hydraulic ram or pneumatic system is replaced with a crank assembly. 
     In an embodiment, the firefighting training apparatus includes at least one outrigger member being a retractable member connected to the trailer in a substantially horizontal orientation and having a foot member, the foot member brought in contact with ground surrounding the trailer when the outrigger member is in an extended orientation. 
     An important feature of the present invention is that the elevated platform has a surface area larger than the surface area defined by the trailer&#39;s length and width. The elevated platform includes two outer members presented opposite of each other to define a substantially rectangular area, each outer member having three segments attached to each other at right angles to present three sides of a rectangle, each outer member having a plurality of joist hangers are aligned with joist hangers connected to another outer member present in opposing relationship. In an embodiment, a safety railing is disposed along the perimeter of the elevated platform. 
     The present invention is easily adapted to numerous training exercises for rooftop operations. Some of the many exercises include cutting holes in between joists  130 , such as a 24 inch by 24 inch aperture for confined space entry and extraction measures, in which a tripod is assembled on platform  102  and people are lowered into the aperture as well as hauled out of the aperture. Ladder placement training is also easily practiced on platform  102  in its various elevations and angles. 
     In an embodiment, the elevated platform is supported by vertical members having adjustable lengths to simulate different roof pitches. In an embodiment, the raising mechanism also unfolds a support frame on which the elevated platform is assembled for use and folds the support frame for transport. 
     Another important feature included on the trailer is a door in a door frame for forcible entry training, presented in a vertical orientation. In an embodiment, at least one hinge is included for severing operations. Similarly, in an embodiment, at least one deadbolt secures the door within the doorframe. 
     An instrument panel displaying information such as raising mechanism pressure information and elevated platform pitch information is included in an embodiment. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  presents an elevation view of the present invention with the training platform in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 2  presents an elevation view of the present invention with the training platform in an elevated position. 
         FIG. 3  presents a perspective view of the trailer of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  presents a frame structure for the training platform that can be deployed in a vertical or sloped orientation. 
         FIG. 5  presents a pair of door-in-a-frame structures for use in a substantially vertical orientation. 
         FIG. 6  presents a plan view of a rappelling tower for use with the elevated platform of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the trailer of the present invention folded and secured for transport. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the platform of the present invention during pivoting and assembly of the two frame members that make up the frame for the platform. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the two frame members shown in  FIG. 9  in alignment and secured by a locking pin. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a vertical support that locks and secures the platform of the present invention once it is elevated to a desired pitch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Directing attention to  FIG. 1 , there is shown trailer  100  having a platform  102  in a retracted position. Platform  102  is formed from frame member  103  connected to frame member  104 , which pivots from a horizontal orientation to a sloped orientation when assembled for operation. When member  103  and  104  are connected, they define an area larger than the footprint of trailer  100 . Ram  105  connects between platform  102  and top member  106 . During raising operations, ram  105  extends to drive platform  102  upward against hinge  107  located at the end of frame member  103 . In the preferred embodiment, ram  105  is a hydraulic ram located at both ends of platform  102 . However, in place of a hydraulic ram, ram  105  can be pneumatic, or replaced by a mechanical crank. The operating height of platform  102  is defined by the height of vertical members  108 - 1 ,  108 - 2 . Horizontal frame member  110  provides a base for trailer  100 , and also mounting points for wheels  112 - 1 ,  112 - 2 . Multiple outrigger members  114  can be incorporated into base member  110 , and, in the case of outrigger  114 - 2 , extend outward from trailer  100 . Outrigger members  114  deploy feet  116 - 1 ,  116 - 2  downward to contact the ground surrounding trailer  100 , thus improving stability of trailer  100  when platform  102  is raised as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 2  is ceiling structure  120 . In the preferred embodiment, ceiling structure  120  is a drywall surface disposed horizontally over a frame to present a simulated ceiling structure beneath platform  102 . Like platform  102 , ceiling structure can have a footprint larger than trailer  100  when it slides out beyond the edge of the trailer. 
       FIG. 3  presents trailer  200  in a perspective view. Trailer  200  is similar to trailer  100 , but incorporates vertical arms that extend above the top frame member. However, trailer  200  incorporates platform  102 , and illustrates it elevated with a plurality of joists  130  spanning the width of platform  102 . Joists  130 , in operation, are covered typically with plywood sheets and then roofing material such as tar paper, composition shingles, wood shingles, clay shingles, and other suitable roofing materials found in typical outdoor structures. As shown, vertical brace  140  is attached between platform  102  and vertical support member  208 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates frame  400 , which can be included as a secondary, vertically disposed training wall. Frame  400 , in the preferred embodiment, is suspended from the high end of platform  102  in a vertical orientation, and is then braced horizontally to vertical member  108 - 2 , similar to the plurality of joists  130  found in platform  102 . 
     A vertical wall such as presented by frame  400 , when covered with sheeting material such as plywood, can also incorporate consumable material  402  covering door  404  within frame  405 . Presenting a door in a frame for training allows a user to practice using tools to cut or otherwise remove hinges  406 , or deadbolts  408 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a pair of door-in-frames  600 . Bolt to prop mounting tabs  602 - 1 ,  602 - 2  can be used to suspend door-in frames  600  in a vertical orientation as discussed above with respect to frame  400 . By presenting multiple doors, different materials can be used for training using different tools. For example door  610  can have a tubular steel frame, thus requiring through-the-lock operations such as drilling. Door  612  can be made of consumable material such as wood, so that prying operations during forcible entry training can be learned. As shown, frame member  614  can be pried from its vertical orientation to allow entry. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates rapelling tower  700  incorporated in platform  102 . Rapelling tower  700  can utilize a safety chain  702  at one end, and aperture  704  for confined space entry and extraction exercises from a rooftop application. A safety chain can similarly be implemented along the perimeter of platform  102  to protect users from falling off the edge of platform  102 . 
       FIG. 7  shows trailer  100  in the transport position. Frame member  103  is in a horizontal and locked position. Frame member  104  is secured in a vertical and locked position. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the pivoting detail between frame member  103  and frame member  104  Once ram  105  unfolds or pivots frame member  104  to a horizontal orientation, thus aligning it with frame member  104 , securing pin  900  is inserted through aperture  902  ( FIG. 9 ), thus connecting frame member  103  and frame member  104  in an aligned position. Ram  105  then continues operation to lift frame member  103  and frame member  104  to a desired elevation and slope, vertical support  140  is locked between frame member  104  and the base of trailer  100  ( FIG. 10 ). 
     Numerous modifications can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof.