Portable temporary support for workers

Abstract

A portable worker support bracket for releasable engagement of a work surface such as a truss member or other construction member.

1 . A bracket for supporting a worker atop a work surface such as a truss or construction member including:
 a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls defining a channel therebetween;   at least one cross member;   each one of said pair of sidewalls including a laterally extending, substantially parallel trough member; and   means for attaching said bracket to said work surface.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said cross member includes said means for attaching said bracket to said work surface. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 2  wherein said means for attaching said bracket to said work surface comprises releasable fastening means. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 3  wherein said releasable fastening means comprises a keyhole in said cross member, said keyhole being adapted to receive an upstanding member on said work surface. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 3  wherein said releasable fastening means comprises a work holding clamp. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 3  wherein said releasable fastening means comprises a naming device. 
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 1  wherein each one of said pair of sidewalls further includes a laterally extending foot peg member. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 1  wherein each one of said pair of sidewalls further includes a laterally extending, angularly disposed abutment to support said trough members. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 1  further including at least one handle member. 
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 1  further including at least one pivotally mounted spacer arm. 
     
     
         11 . A method for erecting roof trusses atop a building structure comprising the steps of:
 providing a first truss member erected atop the building structure;   providing a portable, worker-supporting bracket, said bracket including a pair of spaced apart side walls defining a channel therebetween, at least one cross member, and each one of said pair of side walls including a laterally extending, substantially parallel trough member;   attaching said bracket to said first truss member   straddling said bracket while fixing a second truss member atop the building structure adjacent to and separated from said first truss member;   disengaging said bracket from said first truss member;   moving said bracket from said first truss member to said second truss member;   attaching said bracket to said second truss member;   climbing onto and straddling said bracket while fixing a third truss member atop the building structure adjacent to and separated from said second truss member; and   repeating this procedure for erecting trusses on after another.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further including the step of providing said bracket with at least one spacer arm pivotally supported by said bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further including the step of pivotally moving said spacer arm laterally relative to a selected, previously positioned, truss member supporting said bracket as a means of laterally positioning at a pre-selected dimension, a truss member relative to said previously positioned truss member supporting said bracket. 
     
     
         14 . A method for erecting roof trusses atop a building structure comprising the steps of:
 providing a first truss member erected atop the building structure;   providing a first portable, worker-supporting bracket, said bracket including a pair of spaced apart side walls defining a channel therebetween, at least one cross member, and each one of said pair of side walls including a laterally extending, substantially parallel trough member;   attaching said first bracket to said first truss member;   straddling said first bracket while fixing a second truss member atop the building structure adjacent to and separated from the first truss member;   providing a second portable, worker-supporting bracket, said bracket including a pair of spaced apart side walls defining a channel therebetween, at least one cross member, and each one of said pair of side walls including a laterally extending, substantially parallel trough member;   attaching said second worker-supporting bracket to said second truss member;   climbing from said first bracket to said second bracket;   straddling said second bracket while fixing a third truss member atop the building structure adjacent to and separated from the second truss member;   disengaging said first bracket from said first truss member;   moving said first bracket from said first truss member to said third truss member;   attaching said first bracket onto said third truss member;   climbing onto and straddling said first bracket while fixing a fourth truss member atop the building structure adjacent to and spaced from the third truss member; and   repeating this procedure for erecting trusses one after another.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further including the step of providing at least one of said first and second brackets with at least one spacer arm pivotally supported by said at least one bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further including the step of pivotally moving said spacer arm laterally relative to a selected, previously positioned, truss member supporting said at least one bracket, as a means of laterally positioning at a pre-selected dimension, a truss member relative to said previously positioned truss member supporting said at least one bracket.