Roof edge fall protection apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to roof edge fall protection devices typically installed at or near such parapet walls. The apparatus of the present invention comprises several components that can be easily assembled and disassembled on site and which are adaptable to various building geometries. The apparatus comprises at least two support members, each comprised of a roof mounting portion including a first base plate member that is securely mountable on the roof of the building structure and a second base plate member that is securely and removably mountable on the wall of the building structure. A side edge portion of the first base plate member is positioned substantially adjacent to the wall. A top edge portion of the second base plate member securely and removably engages the side edge portion of the roof base plate member. A barrier mounting portion including a substantially upright post member securely engages the roof mounting portion, and a barrier holding member securely engages the post member. An elongate safety barrier member securely and removably engages each barrier holding member, with the safety barrier member securely extending between at least two support members.

1 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus for use with a building structure having a roof and at least one wall, said roof edge fall protection apparatus comprising: 
 a) at least two support members, each comprising: 
 i) a roof mounting portion including a first base plate member that is securely mountable on the roof of the building structure with a side edge portion of said first base plate member positioned substantially adjacent to the wall, and a second base plate member that is securely and removably mountable on the wall of the building structure with a top edge portion of said second base plate member securely and removably engaging said side edge portion of said first base plate member; and  
 ii) a barrier mounting portion including a substantially upright post member securely engaging said roof mounting portion, and a barrier holding member securely engaging said post member; and  
   b) an elongate safety barrier member securely and removably engaging each said barrier holding member, with said safety barrier member securely extending between said at least two support members.    
   
   
       2 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said side edge portion of said first base plate member is shaped and dimensioned so as to define an elongate plate first tongue and groove member, and wherein said top edge portion of said second base plate member is shaped and dimensioned so as to define a complementary mating plate second tongue and groove member, such that said side edge portion securely and removably engages said top edge portion in longitudinally sliding relation.  
   
   
       3 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said plate first tongue and groove member comprises a plate tongue member, and said complementary mating plate second tongue and groove member comprises a plate groove member.  
   
   
       4 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first base plate member is substantially perpendicular to said second base plate member.  
   
   
       5 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said post member removably engages said roof mounting portion.  
   
   
       6 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said roof mounting portion further comprises a post securing means, securely engaging said second base plate member, for securely and removably engaging said post member.  
   
   
       7 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said post securing means comprises a sleeve member securely engaging said second base plate member, with said sleeve member being sized and dimensioned to receive therein a lower post end portion of said post member in close-fitting and substantially upright sliding relation.  
   
   
       8 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said lower post end portion defines a post first tongue and groove member, and wherein said sleeve member defines a complementary mating sleeve second tongue and groove member.  
   
   
       9 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said upright post member and said sleeve member each define a substantially circular cross-section, and wherein a first one of said post first tongue and groove member and said sleeve second tongue and groove member is shaped so as to define an arcuate track groove portion at least partially circumscribing said substantially circular cross-section, with a respective other one of said post first tongue and groove member and said sleeve second tongue and groove member being shaped and dimensioned to fully engage said track groove portion in a post secured configuration.  
   
   
       10 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said post first tongue and groove member comprises a post tongue member, and wherein said complementary mating sleeve second tongue and groove member comprises a sleeve groove member, with said sleeve groove member defining said track groove portion.  
   
   
       11 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first base plate member is removably mountable on the roof of the building structure.  
   
   
       12 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said roof mounting portion further comprises fastening means for securely and removably fastening said first base plate member to the roof of said building structure, and said second base plate member to the wall of said building structure.  
   
   
       13 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said first base plate member and said second base plate member is shaped so as to define fastening apertures, and wherein said fastening means comprises screw members securely mountable to the roof and the wall of the building structure, with the screw members adapted to be securely received within said fastening apertures in removable through-passing relation.  
   
   
       14 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said barrier holding member removably engages said post member.  
   
   
       15 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus for use with a building structure having a roof and at least one wall, said roof edge fall protection apparatus comprising: 
 a) at least two support members, each comprising: 
 i) a roof mounting portion securely mountable on the roof substantially adjacent to the wall; and  
 ii) a barrier mounting portion including a substantially upright post member securely engaging said roof mounting portion, and a barrier holding member securely and removably engaging said post member; and  
   b) an elongate safety barrier member securely and removably interposed between each said post member and each respective said barrier holding member, with said safety barrier member securely extending between said at least two support members.    
   
   
       16 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said barrier holding member comprises a substantially upright member that is substantially coterminous with said upright post member.  
   
   
       17 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said barrier holding member is removably secured to an upper post end portion of said post member.  
   
   
       18 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein an upper end portion of said barrier holding member defines a holding member aperture therethrough, and wherein said post member is provided with a threaded bolt that securely extends from said upper post end portion, with said threaded bolt securely and removably received in through-passing relation within said holding member aperture.  
   
   
       19 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said bolt threadingly engages a threaded nut, with a portion of said barrier holding member being securely and removably interposed between said upper post end portion and said threaded nut.  
   
   
       20 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said holding member aperture defines a holding member slot extending through said upper end portion of said holding member from a peripheral edge thereof, and wherein said threaded bolt has a first end portion that is secured to said upper post end portion for pivotable rotation of said bolt in a plane passing through said bolt axis, such that said bolt is pivotable between a holding member engaging configuration whereat said bolt is received within said holding member slot, and a holding member releasing configuration whereat said bolt is removed from said holding member slot.  
   
   
       21 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said barrier holding member is removably secured to a lower post end portion of said post member.  
   
   
       22 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said barrier holding member comprises a lower end portion and a first post arm member extending therefrom and removably engaging said lower post end portion.  
   
   
       23 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said first post arm member engages said upright post member substantially beneath said safety barrier member.  
   
   
       24 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said lower post end portion comprises a first bar member extending substantially transverse to said upright post member, with said first post arm member removably engaging said first bar member.  
   
   
       25 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein said lower post end portion further comprises a second bar member extending substantially transverse to said upright post member, and wherein said barrier holding member further comprises a second post arm member extending from said lower end portion and removably engaging said second bar member.  
   
   
       26 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said second post arm member engages said upright post member substantially beneath said safety barrier member.  
   
   
       27 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said post member comprises positioning means for positioning said safety barrier member securely relative thereto.  
   
   
       28 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein said positioning means comprises projecting members adapted to be secured within complementary mating apertures formed in said barrier holding member.  
   
   
       29 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein said positioning means comprises projecting members adapted to be secured within complementary mating apertures formed in said safety barrier member.  
   
   
       30 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said safety barrier member comprises a perforated barrier member defining barrier apertures therethrough, and wherein said projecting members comprise hook members adapted to be received in through-passing relation within said barrier apertures, with said hook members being further adapted to securely and removably engage said perforated barrier.  
   
   
       31 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said post member removably engages said roof mounting portion.  
   
   
       32 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein said roof mounting portion comprises a sleeve member sized and dimensioned to receive therein a lower post end portion of said post member in close-fitting and substantially upright sliding relation.  
   
   
       33 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said lower post end portion defines a post first tongue and groove member, and wherein said sleeve member defines a complementary mating sleeve second tongue and groove member.  
   
   
       34 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein said upright post member and said sleeve member each define a substantially circular cross-section, and wherein a first one of said post first tongue and groove member and said sleeve second tongue and groove member is shaped so as to define an arcuate track groove portion at least partially circumscribing said substantially circular cross-section, with a respective other one of said post first tongue and groove member and said sleeve second tongue and groove member being shaped and dimensioned to fully engage said track groove portion in a post secured configuration.  
   
   
       35 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein said post first tongue and groove member comprises a post tongue member, and wherein said complementary mating sleeve second tongue and groove member comprises a sleeve groove member, with said sleeve groove member defining said track groove portion.  
   
   
       36 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said roof mounting portion is removably mountable on the roof of the building structure.  
   
   
       37 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said roof mounting portion comprises a first base plate member that is securely mountable on the roof of the building structure with a side edge portion of said first base plate member positioned substantially adjacent to the wall, and a second base plate member that is securely and removably mountable on the wall of the building structure with a top edge portion of said second base plate member securely and removably engaging said side edge portion of said first base plate member.  
   
   
       38 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus for use with a building structure having a parapet wall, said roof edge fall protection apparatus comprising: 
 a) at least two support members, each comprising: 
 i) a parapet wall mounting portion including a first base plate member that is securely mountable on the top of the parapet wall with a side edge portion of said first base plate member positioned substantially adjacent to the outer parapet wall, and a second base plate member that is securely and removably mountable on the outer parapet wall with a top edge portion of said second base plate member securely and removably engaging said side edge portion of said first plate member, wherein said second plate member comprises a sleeve member securely engaging said second plate member; and  
 ii) a barrier mounting portion including a substantially upright post member securely engaging said parapet wall mounting portion, and a substantially upright bar that is coterminous with said post member, wherein said upright bar is removably secured to upper and lower post end portions of said post member; and  
   b) an elongate safety barrier member securely and removably engaging said barrier mounting portion, with said safety barrier member securely extending between said at least two support members.    
   
   
       39 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein said side edge portion of said first plate member is shaped and dimensioned so as to define an elongate plate first tongue and groove member, and wherein said top edge portion of said second base plate member is shaped and dimensioned so as to define a complementary mating plate second tongue and groove member, such that said side edge portion securely and removably engages said top edge portion in longitudinally sliding relation.  
   
   
       40 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein said plate first tongue and groove member comprises a plate tongue member, and said complementary mating plate second tongue and groove member comprises a plate groove member.  
   
   
       41 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein said first plate member is substantially perpendicular to said second base plate member.  
   
   
       42 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein said post member removably engages said parapet wall mounting portion.  
   
   
       43 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said parapet wall mounting portion further comprises a post securing means, securely engaging said second base plate member, for securely and removably engaging said post member.  
   
   
       44 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein said sleeve member being sized and dimensioned to receive therein a lower post end portion of said post member in close-fitting and substantially upright sliding relation.  
   
   
       45 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein said lower post end portion defines a post first tongue and groove member, and wherein said sleeve member defines a complementary mating sleeve second tongue and groove member.  
   
   
       46 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein said upright post member and said sleeve member each define a substantially circular cross-section, and wherein a first one of said post first tongue and groove member and said sleeve second tongue and groove member is shaped so as to define an arcuate track groove portion at least partially circumscribing said substantially circular cross-section, with a respective other one of said post first tongue and groove member and said sleeve second tongue and groove member being shaped and dimensioned to fully engage said track groove portion in a post secured configuration.  
   
   
       47 . A roof edge fall protection apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein said post first tongue and groove member comprises a post tongue member, and wherein said complementary mating sleeve second tongue and groove member comprises a sleeve groove member, with said sleeve groove member defining said track groove portion.