Support apparatus for use with an elongate structure

Abstract

Embodiments of the innovation relate to a support apparatus for use with an elongate structure, such as a chimney. In one arrangement, the support apparatus includes a base configured to extend along both sides of a pitched roof surface, a set of vertical supports secured to the base and configured to be secured to the chimney, and a set of platforms connected to the set of vertical supports and configured to at least partially extend about the perimeter of the chimney. Each platform of the set of platforms is connected to a corresponding adjacent platform of the set of platforms.

1 . A support apparatus, comprising:
 a first base portion having a first base portion element configured to be disposed on a first roof portion and a second base portion element configured to be disposed on a second roof portion;   a second base portion having a first base portion element configured to be disposed on the first roof portion and a second base portion element configured to be disposed on the second roof portion;   a first set of vertical supports connected to the first base portion and a second set of vertical supports connected to the second base portion, each of the first set of vertical supports and the second set of vertical supports extending along a direction that is substantially parallel to an elongate structure; and   a set of platforms connected to the first set of vertical supports and to the second set of vertical supports, the set of platforms configured to at least partially surround the elongate structure, and each platform of the set of platforms connected to an adjacent platform of the set of platforms.   
     
     
         2 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the set of platforms comprises a first platform, a second platform, a third platform, and a fourth platform;
 a first end of the first platform connected to a second end of the second platform;   a first end of the second platform connected to a second end of the third platform;   a first end of the third platform connected to a second end of the fourth platform; and   a first end of the fourth platform connected to a second end of the first platform.   
     
     
         3 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the set of platforms comprises a first platform, a second platform, and a third platform;
 a first end of the first platform connected to a second end of the second platform; and   a first end of the second platform connected to a second end of the third platform.   
     
     
         4 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion comprises a ridge spanning device, the ridge spanning device having:
 a first platform connected to the first base portion element;   a second platform connected to the second base portion element; and   at least one connecting element connecting the first platform and the second platform, the at least one connecting element configured to span a roof apex.   
     
     
         5 . The support apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one connecting element comprises a first hinged connecting element and a second hinged connecting element, each of the first hinged connecting element and the second hinged connecting element defining an arched geometry extending from an apex location a first platform connection location associated with the first platform and a second platform connection location associated with the second platform. 
     
     
         6 . The support apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the ridge spanning device comprises at least one securing mechanism configured to connect at least one of the first base portion element and the second base portion element to the ridge spanning device. 
     
     
         7 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a first set of foot elements connected to the first base portion and a second set of foot elements connected to the second base portion, each foot element of the first set of foot elements configured to secure corresponding vertical supports of the first set of vertical supports to the first base portion and each foot element of the second set of foot elements configured to secure corresponding vertical supports of the second set of vertical supports to the second base portion. 
     
     
         8 . The support apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 each foot element of the first set of foot elements comprises a base engagement portion configured to adjustably secure the corresponding vertical element to the base; and   each foot element of the second set of foot elements comprises a base engagement portion configured to adjustably secure the corresponding vertical element to the base.   
     
     
         9 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking system configured to couple a first end of a first platform with a second end of a second, adjacently disposed platform. 
     
     
         10 . The support apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the locking system comprises:
 a latch element hingedly coupled to the first end of the first platform and a first opening defined by the first end of the first platform; and   a receptacle element disposed at the second end of the second platform, the receptacle element configured to be disposed within the opening defined by the first end of the first platform and the receptacle element defining an opening configured to receive an engagement portion of the latch element.   
     
     
         11 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first cross beam connected to a first vertical support of the first set of vertical supports and connected to a first vertical support of the second set of vertical supports; and   a second cross beam connected to a second vertical support of the first set of vertical supports and connected to a second vertical support of the second set of vertical supports;   the first cross beam and the second cross beam configured to connect the set of platforms to the first set of vertical supports and to the second set of vertical supports.   
     
     
         12 . A support system, comprising:
 a support apparatus, comprising:
 a first base portion having a first base portion element configured to be disposed on a first roof portion and a second base portion element configured to be disposed on a second roof portion, 
 a second base portion having a first base portion element configured to be disposed on the first roof portion and a second base portion element configured to be disposed on the second roof portion, 
 a first set of vertical supports configured to be connected to the first base portion and a second set of vertical supports configured to be connected to the second base portion, each of the first set of vertical supports and the second set of vertical supports extending along a direction that is substantially parallel to an elongate structure, 
 a set of cross beams, comprising:
 a first cross beam configured to be connected to a first vertical support of the first set of vertical supports and connected to a first vertical support of the second set of vertical supports, 
 a second cross beam configured to be connected to a second vertical support of the first set of vertical supports and configured to be connected to a second vertical support of the second set of vertical supports, and 
 
 a set of platforms configured to be connected to the first set of vertical supports and to the second set of vertical supports via the set of cross beams, the set of platforms configured to at least partially surround the elongate structure, and each platform of the set of platforms configured to be connected to an adjacent platform of the set of platforms; and 
 a placement tool system configured to align the cross beams as substantially square with the elongate structure, comprising: 
 a first placement tool and a second placement tool configured to be disposed on opposing sides of an elongate structure and configured to support the first cross beam and the second cross beam, and 
 a first interconnection member and a second interconnection member configured to be disposed on opposing sides of an elongate structure and configured to connect the first placement tool and the second placement tool. 
   
     
     
         13 . The support system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion comprises a ridge spanning device, the ridge spanning device having:
 a first platform configured to be connected to the first base portion element;   a second platform configured to be connected to the second base portion element; and   at least one connecting element configured to connect the first platform and the second platform, the at least one connecting element configured to span a roof apex.   
     
     
         14 . The support system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one connecting element comprises a first hinged connecting element and a second hinged connecting element, each of the first hinged connecting element and the second hinged connecting element defining an arched geometry extending from an apex location a first platform connection location associated with the first platform and a second platform connection location associated with the second platform. 
     
     
         15 . The support system of  claim 13 , wherein the ridge spanning device comprises at least one securing mechanism configured to connect at least one of the first base portion element and the second base portion element to the ridge spanning device. 
     
     
         16 . The support system of  claim 12 , comprising a first set of foot elements connected to the first base portion and a second set of foot elements connected to the second base portion, each foot element of the first set of foot elements configured to secure corresponding vertical supports of the first set of vertical supports to the first base portion and each foot element of the second set of foot elements configured to secure corresponding vertical supports of the second set of vertical supports to the second base portion. 
     
     
         17 . The support system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 each foot element of the first set of foot elements comprises a base engagement portion configured to adjustably secure the corresponding vertical element to the base; and   each foot element of the second set of foot elements comprises a base engagement portion configured to adjustably secure the corresponding vertical element to the base.   
     
     
         18 . The support system of  claim 12 , further comprising a locking system configured to couple a first end of a first platform with a second end of a second, adjacently disposed platform. 
     
     
         19 . The support system of  claim 18 , wherein the locking system comprises:
 a latch element hingedly coupled to the first end of the first platform and a first opening defined by the first end of the first platform; and   a receptacle element disposed at the second end of the second platform, the receptacle element configured to be disposed within the opening defined by the first end of the first platform and the receptacle element defining an opening configured to receive an engagement portion of the latch element.