Apparatus for supporting a working platform on a pitched roof

Apparatus for supporting a working platform on a pitched roof, comprising:

• means for engaging said roof adjacent the roof cap thereof;
• a support unit moveable up and down the incline of said roof;
• suspension means for interconnecting said engaging means and said support unit;
• said engaging means having means for fixing one end of said suspension means thereto;
• said support unit comprising a base member and trolley means for allowing said support unit to roll across said roof, said base member having a chassis section which, when said trolley means contacts said roof, lies parallel to and adjacent said roof, said trolley means permitting said chassis section to approach closer to said roof as the load on said support unit increases so that when the load on the support unit exceeds a predetermined value, said chassis section will contact said roof;
• said support unit further comprising lockable winch means mounted on said base member for retaining the other end of said suspension means and for varying the length of said suspension means between said support unit and said engaging means, and a platform supporting member pivotally mounted on said base member and lockable relative to said base member at a plurality of differing inclinations relative thereto, said platform supporting member being capable of retaining a working platform thereon;
• said platform supporting member being provided with a substantially U-shaped channel section extending transversely thereon and an L-shaped section spaced from and facing but extending substantially parallel to said U-shaped section, thereby enabling a working platform to be retained therebetween,
• said trolley means comprises a pair of wheels adjacent opposed ends of said base member, low-pressure pneumatic tires of equal diameter being mounted on said wheels, said tires having internal pressures not exceeding about 12 psig., each wheel being mounted on an axle and a line drawn between said axles being parallel to said chassis section,
• the spacing between said chassis section and said roof does not exceed 11/2 inches when no load is imposed on said support unit and said trolley means permits said chassis section to touch said roof when said load on said support unit exceeds about 750 lbs.