Building-mountable construction safety platform apparatus and method

Abstract

A safety apparatus for building construction, and preferably for the above-ground construction of a home. The apparatus consists of at least two supports that are coupled directly to the building, either outside an above-ground floor and/or proximate the roof. The purpose of the apparatus is to provide fall protection for a person working on the roof or otherwise above-ground. The main components of the apparatus include at least two supports, planks extending between the supports to define a horizontal falling surface, and guard rails extending between the supports to define a vertical falling surface.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A building-mountable safety apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a first support coupleable to a building at a point that is above ground level;    a second support coupleable to said building at a point that is above ground level;    at least one plank extending from said first support to said second support and defining a horizontal falling surface; and    at least one guard rail extending from said first support to said second support and defining a vertical falling surface.    
     
     
         2 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said building is a house.  
     
     
         3 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said point is proximate said roof of said building.  
     
     
         4 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of said first support and said second support comprises: 
 an attachment section coupleable to a building;  
 at least one coupling member adapted to couple said attachment section to said building;  
 a plank support coupled at a first end thereof to said attachment section and extending at a substantially ninety degree angle therefrom;  
 an upright coupled to a second end of said plank support and extending at a substantially ninety degree angle therefrom; and  
 at least one guard rail support located on said upright and adapted to receive said guard rail therein.  
 
     
     
         5 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said at least one coupling member is a lag screw.  
     
     
         6 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a strengthening member coupled at one end to said attachment section and at a second end proximate a point at which said upright coupled to said second end of said plank support.  
     
     
         7 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said plank is a 2×12 length of wood.  
     
     
         8 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 1  comprising two planks extending from said first support to said second support.  
     
     
         9 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said plank is a 2×4 length of wood.  
     
     
         10 . The building-mountable safety apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising three guard rails extending from said first support to said second support.  
     
     
         11 . A method for providing fall protection to a person engaged in an above-ground construction task on a building comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first support coupleable to a building at a point that is above ground level;    providing a second support coupleable to said building at a point that is above ground level;    coupling each of said first support and said second support to said building at said above ground level point;    providing at least one plank extending from said first support to said second support and defining a horizontal falling surface;    providing at least one guard rail extending from said first support to said second support and defining a vertical falling surface; and    a person engaging in an above-ground construction task on said building at a position that is above said first support and said second support, so that in the event said person falls during performance of said above-ground construction task said person shall contact at least one of said plank and said guard rail.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said building is a house.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said point is proximate said roof of said building.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each of said first support and said second support comprises: 
 an attachment section coupleable to a building;  
 at least one coupling member adapted to couple said attachment section to said building;  
 a plank support coupled at a first end thereof to said attachment section and extending at a substantially ninety degree angle therefrom;  
 an upright coupled to a second end of said plank support and extending at a substantially ninety degree angle therefrom; and  
 at least one guard rail support located on said upright and adapted to receive said guard rail therein.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said at least one coupling member is a lag screw.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of providing a strengthening member coupled at one end to said attachment section and at a second end proximate a point at which said upright coupled to said second end of said plank support.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said plank is a 2×12 length of wood.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  comprising the step of providing two planks extending from said first support to said second support.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said plank is a 2×4 length of wood.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of providing three guard rails extending from said first support to said second support.