Roof-Anchoring Systems and Methods

Abstract

An improved roof anchoring system configured as a non-penetrating fall protection system with no nails or screws damaging the roof and including simultaneously used multiple anchoring devices each with a connector pivotally attached to a corresponding axle and each preventing another anchoring device from moving away from the roof edge and tensioned with respect to such other anchoring device via a common tether. A stopper can be optionally used to keep a given anchoring device in place during installation of the anchoring system.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A non-penetrating fall protection system for a roof comprising at least one sloped surface, the non-penetrating fall protection system comprising:
 a plurality of anchoring devices each comprising an arched body having a front end and a rear end and configured to hook around an edge of the roof, wherein the plurality of anchoring devices comprises a first anchoring device configured to hook around a first edge of the roof and a second anchoring device configured to hook around a second edge of the roof disposed across the roof substantially opposite of the first edge;   one or more anchor lines each configured to connect one of the plurality of anchoring devices to another of the plurality of anchoring devices, wherein the one or more anchor lines comprises a tether line configured to connect the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device and to extend over the at least one sloped surface of the roof;   one or more lifelines each configured to connect a connection point of a user device to a selected anchor line of the one or more anchor lines, and wherein the user device comprises a harness or a lanyard or a combination thereof;   one or more anchor line slidable elements each configured to be connected to a first end of a selected lifeline of the one or more lifelines and configured to selectively and repositionably anchor the first end to the selected anchor line at a selected one of a plurality of anchor line anchor points by (1) freely allowing slidable movement of the first end along the selected anchor line in a first direction and (2) anchoring the first end to the selected anchor line at the selected one of the plurality of anchor line anchor points on the selected anchor line by not allowing slidable movement of the first end along the selected anchor line in a second direction without actuation to allow slidable movement in the second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially reversed from the first direction relative to an orientation of the selected anchor line;   one or more user slidable elements each configured to be connected to the user device and configured to selectively and repositionably anchor the connection point of the user device to a selected lifeline of the one or more lifelines at a selected one of a plurality of lifeline anchor points by (1) freely allowing slidable movement of the connection point of the user device along the selected lifeline in a third direction and (2) anchoring the connection point of the user device to the selected lifeline at the selected one of the plurality of lifeline anchor points on the selected lifeline by not allowing slidable movement of the connection point of the user device along the selected lifeline in a fourth direction without actuation to allow slidable movement in the fourth direction, wherein the fourth direction substantially reversed from the third direction relative to an orientation of the selected lifeline;   one or more tensioning devices each configured to be connected to and apply tension to one of one or more anchor lines, wherein the one or more tensioning devices comprises a first tensioning device configured to be positioned on the tether line between the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device and in close proximity to either the first anchoring device or the second anchoring device;   a throw line;   a line thrower configured to launch the throw line across the roof from near one of the first edge or the second edge to near the other of the first edge or the second edge;   wherein the throw line is configured to be connectable to the tether line to allow the tether line to be pulled across the roof after the throw line is launched with the line thrower;   wherein the first tensioning device, the line thrower, and the throw line are configured to allow installation of the first anchoring device, the second anchoring device, and the tether line on the roof without requiring a user to be on the roof; and   wherein the tether line and the first tensioning device are configured to cooperatively hold the first anchoring device around the first edge and to hold the second anchoring device around the second edge when tension is applied to the tether line with the first tensioning device.   
     
     
         2 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 1  wherein the tether line consists of a single tether line. 
     
     
         3 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 1  wherein the first tensioning device is the only one of the one or more tensioning devices disposed on the tether line between the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device. 
     
     
         4 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 2  wherein the first tensioning device is the only one of the one or more tensioning devices disposed on the tether line between the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device. 
     
     
         5 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of anchoring devices further comprises a third anchoring device configured to hook around a third edge of the roof disposed substantially perpendicularly to the first edge of the roof or the second edge of the roof or both;
 wherein the one or more anchor lines further comprises a first support line configured to be connected under tension between the tether line and the third anchoring device; 
 wherein the one or more tensioning devices further comprises a second tensioning device configured to be positioned on the first support line between the third anchoring device and the tether line and in close proximity to the third anchoring device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of anchoring devices further comprises a third anchoring device configured to hook around a third edge of the roof disposed substantially perpendicularly to the first edge of the roof or the second edge of the roof or both;
 wherein the one or more anchor lines further comprises a first support line configured to be connected under tension between the tether line and the third anchoring device; 
 wherein the one or more tensioning devices further comprises a second tensioning device configured to be positioned on the first support line between the third anchoring device and the tether line and in close proximity to the third anchoring device. 
 
     
     
         7 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of anchoring devices further comprises a third anchoring device configured to hook around a third edge of the roof disposed substantially perpendicularly to the first edge of the roof or the second edge of the roof or both;
 wherein the one or more anchor lines further comprises a first support line configured to be connected under tension between the tether line and the third anchoring device; 
 wherein the one or more tensioning devices further comprises a second tensioning device configured to be positioned on the first support line between the third anchoring device and the tether line and in close proximity to the third anchoring device. 
 
     
     
         8 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 2  wherein the one or more anchor line slidable elements and the one or more user slidable elements each comprise a rope grab. 
     
     
         9 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 4  wherein the one or more anchor line slidable elements and the one or more user slidable elements each comprise a rope grab. 
     
     
         10 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 5  wherein the one or more lifelines comprises a first lifeline and a second lifeline; wherein the first lifeline is configured to connect to the tether line and the second lifeline configured to connect to the first support line. 
     
     
         11 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 7  wherein the user device is a first user device, wherein the one or more lifelines comprises a first lifeline and a second lifeline; wherein the first lifeline is configured to connect the first user device to the tether line and the second lifeline configured to connect the first user device or a second user device to the first support line. 
     
     
         12 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more tensioning devices is a progress capture pulley or a ratchet or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The non-penetrating fall protection system of  claim 1  wherein the non-penetrating fall protection system does not include any nails or screws to secure the non-penetrating fall protection system to the roof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for restraining and/or arresting falls from a roof on a structure, the roof comprising at least one sloped surface, the method comprising:
 (1) installing a non-penetrating fall protection system on the roof, the non-penetrating fall protection system comprising:
 a. a plurality of anchoring devices each comprising an arched body having a front end and a rear end and configured to hook around an edge of the roof, wherein the plurality of anchoring devices comprises a first anchoring device configured to hook around a first edge of the roof and a second anchoring device configured to hook around a second edge of the roof disposed across the roof substantially opposite of the first edge; 
 b. one or more anchor lines each configured to connect one of the plurality of anchoring devices to another of the plurality of anchoring devices, wherein the one or more anchor lines comprises a tether line configured to connect the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device and to extend over the at least one sloped surface of the roof; 
 c. one or more lifelines each configured to connect a connection point of a user device to a selected anchor line of the one or more anchor lines, and wherein the user device comprises a harness or a lanyard or a combination thereof; 
 d. one or more anchor line slidable elements each configured to be connected to a first end of a selected lifeline of the one or more lifelines and configured to selectively and repositionably anchor the first end to the selected anchor line at a selected one of a plurality of anchor line anchor points on the selected anchor line by (1) freely allowing slidable movement of the first end along the selected anchor line in a first direction and (2) anchoring the first end to the selected anchor line at the selected one of the plurality of anchor line anchor points by not allowing slidable movement of the first end on the selected anchor line in a second direction without actuation to allow slidable movement in the second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially reversed from the first direction relative to an orientation of selected anchor line; 
 e. one or more user slidable elements each configured to be connected to the user device and configured to selectively and repositionably anchor the connection point of the user device to a selected lifeline of the one or more lifelines at a selected one of a plurality of lifeline anchor points by (1) freely allowing slidable movement of the connection point of the user device along the selected lifeline in a third direction and (2) anchoring the connection point of the user device to the selected lifeline at the selected one of the plurality of lifeline anchor points on the selected lifeline by not allowing slidable movement of the connection point of the user device in a fourth direction without actuation to allow slidable movement in the fourth direction, wherein the fourth direction is substantially reversed from the third direction relative to an orientation of the selected lifeline; 
 f. one or more tensioning devices each configured to be connected to and apply tension to one of one or more anchor lines, wherein the one or more tensioning devices comprises a first tensioning device configured to be positioned on the tether line between the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device and in close proximity to either the first anchoring device or the second anchoring device; 
 g. a throw line; 
 h. a line thrower configured to launch the throw line across the roof from near one of the first edge or the second edge to near the other of the first edge or the second edge, wherein the throw line is configured to be connectable to the tether line to allow the tether line to be pulled across the roof after the throw line is launched with the line thrower; 
   (2) attaching a first user slidable element of the one or more user slidable elements to a first lifeline of the one or more lifelines;   (3) attaching the connection point of the user device to the first user slidable element;   (4) attaching a first anchor line slidable element of the one or more anchor line slidable elements to the tether line;   (5) attaching a first end of the first lifeline to the first anchor line slidable element;   (6) sliding the first anchor line slidable element along the tether line and anchoring at a selected first of the plurality of anchor line anchor points to prevent motion of the first end of the first lifeline along the tether line in the second direction; and   (7) sliding the first user slidable element along the first lifeline and anchoring at a selected first of the plurality of lifeline anchor points to prevent motion of the connection point of the user device along the first lifeline in the fourth direction;   wherein the first tensioning device, the line thrower, and the throw line are configured to allow installation of the first anchoring device, the second anchoring device, and the tether line on the roof without requiring a user to be on the roof; and   wherein the tether line and the first tensioning device are configured to cooperatively hold the first anchoring device around the first edge and to hold the second anchoring device around the second edge when tension is applied to the tether line with the first tensioning device; and   wherein the installing of the first anchoring device, the second anchoring device, and the tether line on the roof do not require a user to be on the roof.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the installing comprises:
 positioning the tether line across the roof with a first portion of the tether line disposed on a first side of the structure near the first edge of the roof and a second portion of the tether line disposed on a second side of the structure near the second edge of the roof, wherein the at least one sloped surface is disposed between the first edge and the second edge; 
 attaching the first portion of the tether line to the first anchoring device; 
 lifting the first anchoring device to the first edge of the roof; 
 hooking the first anchoring device around the first edge of the roof; 
 attaching the second portion of the tether line to the second anchoring device; 
 lifting the second anchoring device to the second edge of the roof; 
 hooking the second anchoring device around the second edge of the roof; and 
 applying tension to the tether line. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein when the installing the first anchoring device, the second anchoring device, and the tether line is complete, the non-penetrating fall protection system is secured to the roof by only the tether line connected under tension between the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device, the rear end of the first anchoring device being disposed in contact with a first eave at the first edge, and the rear end of the second anchoring device being disposed in contact with a second eave at the second edge. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the attaching the second portion of the tether line to the second anchoring device comprises (a) connecting the first tensioning device to the second portion of the tether line at or near the second anchoring device and with the first tensioning device positioned on the second portion of the tether line between the second anchoring device and the first anchoring device and (b) connecting the second anchoring device to the first tensioning device such that a free end of the second portion of the tether line extends from the first tensioning device;
 wherein lifting the second anchoring device comprises pulling on the free end of the second portion of the tether line to raise the second anchoring device to the second edge; and 
 wherein applying tension to the tether line comprises pulling on the free end of the second portion of the tether line after the hooking the second anchoring device is complete; and 
 wherein the first tensioning device operates as a progress capture pulley or a ratchet. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first anchoring device further comprises a first connector pivotably connected to the arched body of the first anchoring device near the front end of the first anchoring device;
 wherein the second anchoring device further comprises a second connector pivotably connected to the arched body of the second anchoring device near the front end of the second anchoring device; 
 wherein attaching the first portion of the tether line to the first anchoring device comprises connecting the first portion of the tether line to the first connector; and 
 wherein the attaching the second portion of the tether line to the second anchoring device comprises (a) connecting the first tensioning device to the second connector with the first tensioning device being positioned near the second anchoring device and between the first anchoring device and the second anchoring device; (2) looping the second portion of the tether line in the first tensioning device with a free end of the second portion of the tether line extending from the first tensioning device; 
 wherein the lifting the second anchoring device comprises pulling on the free end of the second portion of the tether line to raise the second anchoring device to the second edge; and 
 wherein the applying tension to the tether line comprises pulling on the free end of the second portion of the tether line after the hooking the second anchoring device is complete; and 
 wherein the first tensioning device operates as a progress capture pulley or a ratchet. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the positioning the tether line across the roof comprises (a) connecting the throw line to the second portion of the tether line, (b) using the line thrower to launch the throw line from the first side of the structure across the roof to the second side of the structure, and (c) pulling the throw line from the second side of the structure until the tether line is reachable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of anchoring devices further comprises a third anchoring device configured to hook around a third edge of the roof disposed substantially perpendicularly to the first edge of the roof or the second edge of the roof or both;
 wherein the one or more anchor lines further comprises a support line configured to be connected under tension between the tether line and the third anchoring device; 
 wherein the one or more tensioning devices further comprises a second tensioning device configured to be positioned on the support line between the third anchoring device and the tether line and in close proximity to the third anchoring device, 
 wherein the one or more lifelines further comprises a second lifeline configured to be connected to the support line at a first end of the second lifeline; and 
 wherein the method further comprises: 
 (8) attaching a second user slidable element of the one or more user slidable elements to the second lifeline; 
 (9) attaching the connection point of the user device to the second user slidable element; 
 (10) attaching a second anchor line slidable element of the one or more anchor line slidable elements to the support line; 
 (11) attaching a first end of the second lifeline to the second anchor line slidable element; 
 (12) sliding the second anchor line slidable element along the support line and anchoring at a selected first of the plurality of anchor line anchor points on the support line to prevent motion of the first end of the second lifeline along the support line in the second direction; and 
 (15) sliding the second user slidable element along the second lifeline and anchoring at a selected first of the plurality of lifeline anchor points on the second lifeline to prevent motion of the second user slidable element along the second lifeline in the fourth direction.