Worker support apparatus for conical roof construction

Abstract

An apparatus supporting workers assembling a conical roof includes a central support column, a pivot frame pivotally supported at a top end of the support column, and a stair assembly having an upper end coupled to the pivot frame such that the stair assembly is pivotal together with the pivot frame relative to the support column. The lower end of the stair assembly is supported on wheels for rolling on the building floor. A worker support platform is also carried on the pivot frame to pivot with the stairs. A roof support frame extends above the pivot frame, in fixed relation to the support column to support an apex of the conical roof thereon while the stairs and platform remain pivotal. This arrangement ensures that the stair assembly can be easily aligned with any selected rafters of the roof during construction while remaining safely supported relative to the support column.

1 . A worker support apparatus for use with a conical roof of a building, the apparatus comprising:
 a support column having a bottom end arranged to be supported on a floor of the building and being arranged to extend upwardly from the bottom end to a top end of the support column located in proximity to an apex of the conical roof;   a pivot frame pivotally supported on the support column in proximity to the top end of the support column such that the pivot frame is pivotal relative to the support column about a vertical pivot axis;   a stair assembly extending longitudinally between an upper end and a lower end of the stair assembly;   the upper end of the stair assembly being arranged to be coupled to the pivot frame such that the stair assembly is pivotal together with the pivot frame relative to the support column about said vertical pivot axis; and   the lower end of the stair assembly being supported on wheels arranged for rolling movement in a circumferential direction about the vertical pivot axis of the support column.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a worker platform supported on the support column in proximity to the top end, the worker platform having a horizontal upper supporting surface arranged to support workers thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the worker platform is supported on the pivot frame for rotation relative to the support column about the vertical pivot axis together with the stair assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein an uppermost stair tread at the upper end of the stair assembly is supported in proximity to a perimeter edge of the worker platform. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the stair assembly is releasably coupled to the pivot frame. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the pivot frame includes a first mating connector and the upper end of the stair assembly includes a second mating connector arranged for releasable connection with the first mating connector to support the stair assembly on the pivot frame, the second mating connector being releasable from the first mating connector by upward sliding movement of the second mating connector relative to the first mating connector. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support column comprises a plurality of modular sections arranged to be stacked with one another such that the support column is adjustable in height by adding or removing one of the modular sections relative to the support column. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support column comprises:
 a base portion at the bottom end for engaging the floor of the building; 
 a mounting portion near the top end for pivotally supporting the pivot frame thereon; and 
 an intermediate portion comprising a singular pole formed in one or more sections to extend vertically between the base portion and the mounting portion. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support column comprises:
 a base portion at the bottom end for engaging the floor of the building; 
 a mounting portion near the top end for pivotally supporting the pivot frame thereon; and 
 an intermediate portion formed in one or more sections to extend vertically between the base portion and the mounting portion; 
 the base portion further comprising a lifting assembly arranged to lift the intermediate portion of the support column supported on the base portion relative to the floor of the building. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support column is arranged to be supported by guy wires extending between the support column and the floor of the building. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a roof support frame supported on the top end of the support column, the roof support frame being arranged to support the apex of the conical roof thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the pivot frame is supported on the support column at a location spaced below the roof support frame such that the pivot frame is pivotal relative to the roof support frame about the vertical pivot axis of the support column. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the roof support frame comprises a plurality of radial support arms extending radially from the vertical pivot axis of the support column. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the radial support arms are adjustable in length such that the roof support frame is adjustable in diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the roof comprises a loading opening at the apex including a circular rim, the apparatus further comprising a roof support collar arranged to be supported on the support arms concentrically with the vertical pivot axis, the roof support collar including an annular upper supporting surface arranged to support the circular rim of the loading opening of the roof thereon. 
     
     
         16 . A method of constructing a conical roof of a building, the method comprising:
 providing a worker support apparatus comprising (i) a support column having a bottom end and a top end, (ii) a pivot frame pivotally supported on the support column in proximity to the top end of the support column, and (iii) a stair assembly extending longitudinally between a lower end of the stair assembly supported on wheels and an upper end of the stair assembly;   mounting the support column to extend upwardly from the bottom end supported on a floor of the building to the top end in proximity to an apex of the conical roof such that the pivot frame is pivotal relative to the support column about a vertical pivot axis;   coupling the top end of the stair assembly to the pivot frame such that (i) the stair assembly is pivotal together with the pivot frame relative to the support column about said vertical pivot axis, and (ii) the lower end of the stair assembly is in proximity to a perimeter of the conical roof with the wheels arranged for rolling movement in a circumferential direction about the vertical pivot axis of the support column;   rotating the stair assembly about the vertical pivot axis between a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart working locations and supporting workers on the stair assembly while constructing respective portions of the conical roof at each of the working locations.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising providing a worker platform supported on the support column in proximity to the top end in which the worker platform has a horizontal upper supporting surface arranged to support workers thereon and in which the worker platform is supported on the pivot frame for rotation relative to the support column about the vertical pivot axis together with the stair assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising providing a worker platform supported on the support column in proximity to the top end in which the worker platform has a horizontal upper supporting surface arranged to support workers thereon and in which an uppermost tread at the upper end of the stair assembly is supported in proximity to a perimeter edge of the worker platform. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising:
 providing a roof support frame supported on the top end of the support column such that the pivot frame is supported on the support column at a location spaced below the roof support frame; and 
 supporting the apex of the conical roof on the roof support frame. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising releasing the stair assembly from the pivot frame by an upward sliding movement of the upper end of the stair assembly relative to the pivot frame.