# US 4,398,620 A · Apparatus for supporting a working platform on a pitched roof

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- Number: US 4,398,620 A
- Document ID: US4398620A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/245,543
- Filed: 1981-03-19
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1981-03-19
- Inventors: Clyde D. Townsend
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398620A

## CPC

- E06C 1/345: {specially adapted to be installed parallel to the roof surface}
- E04G 3/26: specially adapted for working on roofs {(devices or arrangements allowing walking on the roof or in the gutter E04D13/12)}
- E04G 3/265: {with means to adapt it to a variable pitch of the roof}
- E06C 7/488: {Supports specially adapted to attach a ladder to a ridge of a roof}
- E06C: LADDERS (E04F11/00 takes precedence; step-stools A47C12/00; adaptation of ladders to use on ships B63B, to use on aircraft B64; scaffolding E04G)
- E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS

## Abstract

Apparatus for supporting a working platform on a roof comprises hook members for engaging the roof cap, a cable extending downwardly from the hook member and a support unit attached to the lower end of the cable and provided with a winch so that it can be moved up and down the cable. The apparatus is used in pairs or larger numbers with an elongate working platform supported on the support unit of each apparatus. The support units can roll up and down the roof on balloon tires and are provided with a chassis section lying close to and parallel to the roof so that if the support units are overloaded the balloon tires will deform and the chassis section will come into contact with the roof, thereby spreading the load and reducing the risk of damage to the roof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises a hook-shaped member having at least one plate pivotally mounted at one end thereof and said means for fixing said one end of said suspension member adjacent the opposed end thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said winch means comprises a manually operable winch provided with locking means for locking said winch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an elongate adjustment member is pivotally mounted on said base member, said adjustment member having walls defining a plurality of apertures extending through said adjustment member, said apertures being spaced from one another along said adjustment member, and wherein said platform supporting member has walls defining an aperture therethrough, such that a pin can be inserted through one of the apertures in the adjustment member and through the aperture in the platform supporting member, thereby locking the platform supporting member in position relative to the base member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An assembly for working on a roof comprising at least two apparatus according to claim 1, each said apparatus having its engaging means engaged adjacent the roof cap of said roof, said engaging means being spaced from one another along said roof cap, and each apparatus having its platform supporting member locked relative to its base member, so as to extend substantially in a horizontal plane, and an elongate working platform mounted on said platform supporting members of said apparatus so as to be supported by the support units of each apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an elongate adjustment member is pivotally mounted on said base member, said adjustment member having walls defining a plurality of apertures extending through said adjustment member, said apertures being spaced from one another along said adjustment member, and wherein said platform supporting member has walls defining an aperture therethrough, such that a pin can be inserted through one of the apertures in the adjustment and through the aperture in the platform supporting member, thereby locking the platform supporting member in position relative to the base member.