Safety Apparatus for Roofers

The present invention relates to a safety device for preventing roofers or other workers from falling off of a roof.

In the past, different techniques of preventing injury to a roofer in the event of a fall have been developed. These techniques have varied from a net or a cushioned pad on which the roofer would land to various tether devices adapted to catch the worker.

Cushioned pads have the disadvantage that they do not help prevent the fall, rather, they simply reduce the likelihood of an inury. Injuries are still possible, however, if the roofer is in an awkward position with he hits the pad. Also, an effective pad system would require pads to be placed at every location that a roofer could possibly fall, thus requiring a large number of pads and a rather lengthy process of putting the pads in place. Transportation of the pads would be difficult due to their necessary bulk. Also, a pad system would do nothing to prevent sudden uncontrolled movements by an off-balance worker that could also lead to an injury. Net systems would basically have the same inherent difficulties.

A safety device for use by workmen on steel structures is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,833. This device essentially consists of a pair of adjustable jaw members which are designed to slidably grip the flange of a steel I-beam. An elongated bar is attached at one end to the jaw members and, at the other end, is connectable to a safety belt worn by the workman. This structure only allows movement by the worker along the particular beam to which the jaw members are attached, and would not be adaptable for use on a roof.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,717 discloses an apparatus that is mounted on a roof to provide anchoring points for a roofer. A plurality of brackets are provided on the roof and are inter-connected by rigid connecting rods. A flexible strap element is connected to the rigid rods in order to anchor a worker. The major shortcoming with this system is that it requires substantial rigging which would not be easily installed. Additionally, the extensive network of brackets and connecting rods obstruct the worker's movements and access to certain portions of the roof.

A simple tether device which is adapted to be fastened to a peaked roof is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,713. A strip of metal is bent to provide a connector having a central portion and two extending leg portions. The extending leg portions are provided with openings through which a nail can be driven to attach the connector to the peak of the roof. A safety line is clipped to an aperture in the central portion of the connector. In order to allow the worker sufficient mobility on the roof, the safety line must be relatively lengthy, thereby increasing the distance a roofer would fall before he is caught, particularly when he is working near the connector. Also, since the safety line is at the roof level, it provides somewhat of a hazard in that a worker could easily trip over it. Further, it is an added obstruction to movement and subject to entanglement with roofing materials or tools on the roof surface.

Another tether device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,032. A bent pole is rotatably supported by a vertical sleeve secured to a side of a structure on which a man is working. A safety line is suspended from the upper end of the pole. Though the rotatable pole allows an increase in the mobility of the worker, the safety line still must be sufficiently long to permit the worker to work near the sleeve. This lengthy safety line has the same disadvantage discussed above. Several difficulties arise in attempting to use this device on a sloped roof. If the roof an overhang, there would be no way to attach the vertical sleeve to the side of the structure in a position that would receive the pole. Also, the fixed angle of the bent pole would lead to problems due to the slope of the roof.

While to social and human advantages of an adequate safety system for roofers are apparent, financial considerations also indicate a long felt need for an arrangement which does not slow or impede a worker in carrying out his normal work when in use, but also provide financial reward for using such a safety arrangement. In particular, one of the significant costs of installing or replacing roofs is insurance of workers. The cost per worker is on the order of $50-$20 per day. Accordingly, a suitable safety device that roof workers will actually use is of great economic and social importance to the workers, employers and building owners.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a roofer's safety device adapted to prevent a worker from uncontrolled slipping or falling off of a sloped roof of any pitch without impeding the worker's mobility or productivity.

In accordance with the invention the roofer's safety device includes a mounting saddle adapted to support a vertical stanchion mounted for aximuthal rotation relative to the saddle for supporting a boom pivotally connected to its upper end for elevational movement. Desirably the boom is resiliently biased, as by damping means, to maintain the boom vertically above the worker and in the case of a slip or fall to assist in arresting rapid movement of a worker over the roof. Tether means are slidably connected at one end with the boom and at the other end to the back of a worker's safety harness or belt. The rotatable stanchion, pivotal boom and slidable tether give the worker a high degree of mobility without the need of a lengthy tether that may interfere with his movement over the roof or with contruction materials or tools on the roof. Means responsive to rapid movement of the tether relative to the boom arrests the tether and the attached worker to slow or absorb the jolt in the event of a fall.

In a preferred form the tether engages the boom through a slidable sleeve which forms a brake surface engagable with the boom by a pivotal lever member actuated by a change in tension of the tether such as by sudden acceleration of the worker in a slip or fall.

In a further preferred form the movement responsive means includes a collar resiliently biased inward from the outer end of the boom so that any impact or shock of the slidable sleeve against the end of the boom is absorbed. The saddle desirably includes adjustable legs to accomodate various slopes or pitches of peaked roofs.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general elevation view of the safety device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the invention in use with the tether attached to a worker moving from one location to another;

FIG. 3 is another view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the safety device in use with the tether above and at the back of a worker so as not to interfere with working on a portion of the roof;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the safety device illustrating the tether and the workers motion being arrested by the device to catch the worker after a fall;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional plan view taken in the direction of arrows 5--5 in FIG. 1; and showing the mounting saddle structure of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken in the direction of arrows 6--6 in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is an exploded elevation view showing means for adjusting the legs of the saddle structure to accommodate the saddle to different roof pitches;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 8--8 in FIG. 1 and illustrates the pivotal connection between the rotatable stanchion and the elevation pivotable boom;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the slidable connection of the sleeve and tether connecting lever with the boom;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the slidable sleeve and lever operating arrangement taken through the boom in the direction of arrows 10--10 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane denoted by arrows 10--10 of FIG. 1 and illustrating additional damping means for arresting the movement of the sleeve on the boom to absorb the jolt when the tether means catches a falling worker.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred form of the sleeve and lever connection between the tether and boom, including the construction elements of a brake formed by the sleeve and boom.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view through the assembled sleeve and brake arrangement of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a vertical stanchion 2 which is rotatably mounted for azimuthal rotation in an adjustable saddle 4. The top portion of the vertical stanchion 2 is pivotally connected at pivot 6 to a boom 8 for elevation movement of the boom relative to pivot 6. A pneumatic cylinder 10 is pivotally connected between an upper portion of stanchion 2 and the inner end of boom 8 in order to limit resiliently the pivotal movement of the boom 8 relative to stanchion 2. As shown, pneumatic cylinder 10 is conveniently connected at one end by a pivot pin 7 to a collar member 12 which is clamped to stanchion 2. The other end of the pneumatic cylinder 10 is pivotally connected by pin 9 to boom 8 by flange member 14.

A sleeve 16 is slidably mounted on boom arm 8 to form a sliding connection to flexible tether 24. In a preferred form sleeve 16, as best seen in FIG. 12, includes a split tubular wall portion 18 and a split flange portion 20. Wall 18 includes a pair of depending sidewalls or brackets 29 on opposite sides of split 17, and together with flange 20 define a brake arrangement in which circular wall 18 may be squeezed around, and at any location along the length of, boom 8. As shown, a flexible tether may be connected to sleeve 16 through operating lever 25 and pivot pin 27 which passes through bores 11 in bifurcated arms 13 of lever 25 and bores 31 in opposed brackets 29. Arms 13 straddle brackets 29. Brackets 29 are then held apart to maintain a minimum width of split 17 by coil spring 33 surrounding pin 27. In normal operation the friction surface of sleeve 18 is free to slide along boom 8. This permits easy movement of a worker over the roof surface without substantial restraint by the attached tether and boom. However, the diameter of sleeve 18, as indicated in FIG. 13, can be reduced by pressing brackets 29 together to decrease the width of split 17. Lever 25 acts to engage frictionally the inner circumference of sleeve 18 with the surface of boom 8 by rotating balls 35 in serrated tracks or grooves 37 formed in an outer sidewall of one of brackets 29. As indicated in FIG. 13, each serration is about 1/4 to 1/2 the diameter of ball 35 so that upon rotation over a ridge in tracks 37, the balls clamp brackets 29 closer together. Balls 35 are held in tracks 37 by the cupped ends 43 of tension set screws 39 threaded into holes 41 in one of arms 13. If desired, the depth of each adjacent serration in tracks or grooves 37 may gradually decrease so that greater rotation of lever 25 progressively pushes brackets 29 inwardly to increase friction between sleeve 18 and boom 8. As indicated, sleeve 16 is preferably formed from a tough plastic such as nylon or polypropylene.

The end of boom arm 8 is also arranged to absorb the shock of sudden movement or impact on sleeve 18 along its length. For this purpose, as best seen in FIG. 11, the end of boom 8, remote from the stanchion 2, includes a collar 26 having a shoulder portion 28 adapted to engage the flange 20 of sleeve 16. Collar 26 is preferably resiliently biased by spring 45 toward the pivoted end of the boom 8 so that spring 45 reduces and absorbs the jolt if shoulder portion 20 of the sleeve 16 engages the shoulder portion 28 of the collar 26, as indicated in FIG. 4.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the device is shown in use with a worker moving from one location to another on the roof 1. When the worker is in an upright position, desirably pneumatic cylinder 10 is resiliently biased to cause the boom 8 to pivot upwardly in elevation. By pivoting upwardly, the boom 8 provides sufficient clearance above the worker's head to permit easy movement over the roof surface. Any slack in the tether 24 is taken up by such upward movement. Thus, the boom 8 and tether 24 do not interfere with the movement of materials or tools, as well as the worker.

As the worker moves circumferentially about the vertical axis of the stanchion 2, the stanchion rotates in azimuth relative to the saddle 4. Movements in the radial direction relative to stanchion 2 are permitted by slidable sleeve 16 connecting tether 24 with boom 8. Due to the ability of the worker to move freely both circumferentially and radially, the available work area without further adjustment of the safety apparatus of this invention is greatly enlarged. Since there need be no slack in tether 24, the likelihood that the tether 24 will snag on tools or material, or interfere with the worker's movements is eliminated. Rotatable stanchion 2, pivotal boom 8 and slidable sleeve 16 accordingly work together to give the worker a wide range of motion without the necessity of a lengthy tether 24, which would further increase the worker's risk of tripping or getting tangled in the tether.

FIG. 3 shows the safety device of the present invention with the worker working on a portion of the roof. As the worker assumes a working position, the boom 8 pivots downwardly. The length of the pneumatic cylinder 10 shortens to accomodate the pivoting of the boom 8, however the pneumatic cylinder 10 adjustably biases boom 8 upwardly to maintain a desirably tautness in tether 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, the safety device is arranged to halt sudden movement or to catch the worker in the event of a slip or fall without providing an extreme jolt to the worker. When the worker begins to accelerate, as by such a slip or fall, the tether pulls against lever 25 to actuate braking action beween sleeve 16 and boom 8. Such movement at the same time pulls boom 8 downwardly. Free movement of the boom 8 is prevented due to the damping function provided on the boom 8 by the pneumatic cylinder 10. This damped movement may be adjusted so that it is sufficient to allow the worker to regain his balance if the worker is not completely out of control.

If the worker is completely off balance, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the braking means is actuated by a sudden rotation of lever 25 to move balls 35 out of their respective serrations in track 37 against the force of spring 33 and thereby close split sleeve 18 around boom 8. Additionally, sleeve 16 may slide outwardly from stanchion 2 until shoulder 20 of the sleeve 16 engages shoulder 28 of spring-biased collar 26 to reduce further the jolt of the worker's body on line 24. A further reduction in the jolt is produced by pneumatic cylinder 10, which damps pivoting of boom 8 if shoulders 20 and 26 engage. Because a sudden jolt alone can injure a worker, the present invention not only catches a falling worker, but also promptly decellerates his movement to reduce the likelihood of such an injury far sooner by catching a working before he falls off a roof.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the saddle 4 preferably includes a vertical post 30 over which hollow stanchion 2 fits. Bearing surfaces 32 and 34 allow the hollow stanchion 2 to rotate freely in azimuth about the vertical post 30. Desirably, the vertical post 30 is supported on a horizontal shaft 36 on which support legs 38 and 40 are pivotally mounted. Support legs 38 and 40 each include a pair of pivotal anchor plates 42 and 44, respectively, which permit the support legs to be anchored independently and securely to roof 1 by bolts, nails or the like. As shown in the drawings, the anchor plates 42 and 44 include a plurality of holes through which nails may be driven. The large number of holes allow the nails or screws to be driven into a selected portion of the roof, for example, into a roof joint or rafters.

The position of the support legs can be adjusted by an adjustment means shown best in FIGS. 6 and 7. A disk 46 is concentric with the horizontal shaft 36, and includes a plurality of apertures 48 arranged in inner and outer rows. Adjustment arms 50 and 52 include abutment members 54 and 56, respectively, which are adapted to engage pivotal support legs 38 and 40, respectively. The adjustment arms 50 and 52 each include a roughly hourglass-shaped aperture 58 to align with either the outer or inner row of holes 48 in disc 46.

Coarse adjustment of the angular position of a support leg is made by rotating the corresponding adjustment arm to a desired position. The aperture 58 is then aligned with a hole 48 in disk 46, and a pin or a bolt inserted through the aligned apertures to lock the adjustment arm into position. Fine adjustments of the support legs is gained by rotating the threaded shaft 60 which varies the relative distance between the adjustment arm 52 and the abutment member 56.

In use, the weight of the safety device causes the support legs 38 and 40 to pivot upwardly until they contact the abutment members 54 and 56, respectively. Thus, by properly setting the position of the angular arms 50 and 52 and the abutment members 54 and 56, the support legs can be adjusted to accomodate various roofs of different slopes.

FIG. 8 illustrates the pivotal connection 6 between stanchion 2 and boom 8. The top of stanchion 2 is provided with a pivot pin 62 about which the base 80 of boom 8 is free to pivot. As shown, the boom 8 is fitted into a socket portion of the base 80 and is fastened in place by a nut and bolt assembly 64.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the arrangement of slidable sleeve 16 on boom 8. Desirably slidable sleeve 16 may be formed of plastic or include a plastic inner surface to engage the outer surface of boom 8 formed of steel or aluminum.

Referring now to FIG. 11, movement of sleeve 16 on boom 8 is arrested by collar 26, slidably biased inwardly from distal end guide 70 closing the end of boom 8. Collar 26 is on the inner end of telescopic sleeve 84 and slidably supported by shoulder 28 on the outside of boom 8 and on a plunger 72 inside boom 8. Plunger 72 includes at one end a threaded portion 74 which extends through bore hole 74 in end portion 71 of sleeve 84 and is fastened in place by nut 76. The inner end of plunger 72 is connected to a slidable piston or guide member 78 by a threaded portion 80 and a nut 82. As shown, telescoping end portion 84 covers the outer end of boom 8. Thus, the slidable guide member 78 and the boom end guide 70 maintain plunger 72 and telescoping sleeve 84 in a concentric relationship. A coil spring 86 between guides 70 and 78 normally biases plunger 72, and thereby collar 26, toward the pivoted end of the boom 8. Spring 86 absorbs a large portion of the force if the sleeve and brake means should fail to arrest a worker's uncontrolled slipping or falling. In such a case shoulder 20 of sleeve 16 strikes shoulder 28 of collar 26, thus further reducing the jolt on a falling worker if he is caught at the end of boom 8.

In summation, an improved safety device for use by workers on a roof includes a rotatable stanchion mounted on the roof. A boom having a tether slidable along its length is pivotally connected at the top of the stanchion, whereby the azimuthly rotatable stanchion, elevationally pivotable boom, and slidable tether permit free movement of the worker on the roof without restraint or interference between the boom or tether and the roof's worksurface. Braking means and damping means are provided to restrict sudden pivotal movement of the boom or sliding of tether along boom 8 to halt movement or absorb the shock (or both) when the tether catches a slipping or falling worker.

Various modifications of the preferred embodiment will become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing specification. For example, the pneumatic cylinder 10 could be a hydraulic cylinder, or the biasing spring 86 could easily be replaced by other biasing means. Various brake means responsive to a sudden tug or pull on tether 24 may be used to arrest uncontrolled worker movement on the roof. Alternatively, spring biased collar 26 at the outer end of boom 8 could be replaced with a rubber or sponge-like material designed to absorb the jolt of a falling worker being caught by the safety device. Further, it will be apparent that an acceleration arresting mechanism can be included within the tether, if desired.

The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be protected herein, however, is not to be construed as being limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.