AU2015224381A1

AU2015224381A1 - Platform Support Apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2015224381A1
Application number: AU2015224381A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Horton
Original assignee: BUILDSAFE AUSTRALIA IP Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Buildsafe Equipment Sales Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-23
Filing date: 2015-09-07
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-23
Also published as: AU2015224381B2; AU2018205175B2; AU2007231622A1; AU2018205175A1; AU2008101030A4

Abstract

Abstract A platform support apparatus for use on a sloping surface comprising: 5 - platform support means adapted to support a platform, - angle adjusting means adapted to adjust the angle of the platform to a substantially horizontal position, - height adjusting means adapted to adjust the height of the platform without altering the angle of the platform, and 10 - surface support means for supporting the platform support apparatus on the sloping surface.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT "Platform Support Apparatus" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 PLATFORM SUPPORT APPARATUS Field of the Invention 5 This invention concerns platforms and apparatus used to support platforms. In a particular aspect the invention relates to a platform support apparatus for use on a pitched roof of a building and platform structures supported by such apparatus. 10 Background of the Invention Working on a raised sloping surface such as a pitched roof of a building can be awkward and dangerous due to the difficulty of maintaining a footing and keeping tools at hand and the possibility of injury arising from a fall. In order to overcome 15 this problem a roof scaffolding support may be used for supporting a platform in a horizontal position above the roof. Such a roof scaffolding support, which is not admitted to be common general knowledge, may comprise a triangular frame having: 20 a base arm on or directly adjacent the roof, the base arm being in line with the pitch of the roof, an adjustable arm pivotally attached to the downhill end of the base arm, the adjustable arm extending upward from the base arm and being lengthwise adjustable, and 25 a platform support member pivotally attached between the uphill end of the base arm and the top of the adjustable arm. In this type of arrangement the platform support member may be adjusted to a substantially horizontal position by adjusting the length of the adjustable arm. 30 However, this arrangement suffers in that although the angle of the platform support member may be adjusted, the height of the platform support member is unable to be 3 raised or lowered independently of the angle adjustment. Furthermore the base arm may move around or slide on the pitched roof surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a platform and a platform support 5 apparatus which limits, overcomes, or reduces the impact of at least one of the aforesaid disadvantages. Summary of the Invention 10 The invention provides a platform support apparatus for use on a sloping surface comprising: platform support means adapted to support a platform, angle adjusting means adapted to adjust the angle of the platform to a substantially horizontal position, 15 height adjusting means adapted to adjust the height of the platform without altering said angle of the platform, and surface support means for supporting the platform support apparatus on the sloping surface. 20 The platform support means may comprise a platform support member adapted receive the platform thereon. The platform support means may comprise a clamping arm for clamping the platform on the platform support member. The clamping arm may be adapted to be vertically 25 adjusted with respect to the platform support member. In a particular aspect, the clamping means may comprise a pair of threaded nuts affixed to the platform support member, and a pair of bolts, each bolt passing through the clamping arm and a respective nut. 30 The angle adjusting means may comprise an angle adjusting arm. The angle adjusting arm may comprise first and second telescopic parts adapted to slide one within the other in order to adjust the length of the angle adjusting arm, and thereby adjust the angle of the platform. Each of the telescopic parts may comprise at least 4 one aperture. In a particular form they both comprise a series of apertures. Lengthwise telescopic adjustment of the angle adjusting arm may allow any of the apertures of the first telescopic part to be aligned with any of the apertures of the second telescopic part. The length of the angle adjusting arm may be locked by 5 passing a locking pin through a pair of aligned apertures of the first and second telescopic parts. A rail support member may extend upwardly from the platform support member. The rail support member may comprise a square tube. 10 The height adjusting means may comprise a height adjusting arm. The top end of the height adjusting arm may be pivotally attached to the top end of the angle adjusting arm. 15 The apparatus may comprise a bracket adapted to be adjusted lengthwise along the height adjusting arm, the bracket being connected to the platform support member. The bracket may be slidably adjusted. In a particular aspect the bracket is attached to one end of the platform support member. 20 The bracket may comprise an aperture adapted to be aligned with any of a series of apertures along the length of the height adjusting arm. The position of the bracket may be locked by passing a locking pin through a pair of aligned apertures of the sliding bracket and the height adjusting arm. The aperture in the bracket may be in the form of a notch. 25 The surface support means may be adapted to be fastened to the underlying sloping surface. It may comprise a pair of feet interconnected by an intermediate member. The intermediate member may be telescopically adjustable. The pair of feet may comprise a plurality of apertures adapted to receive a fastener therethrough. Each 30 foot may be fastened to a batten supporting an underlying roof surface. The feet may extend laterally from the intermediate member at each end thereof.

5 The apparatus may comprise a strut member. The strut member may comprise first and second struts extending upward from near one end of the intermediate member. The struts may be interconnected by a joining member. The angle adjusting arm may be pivotally attached to the first strut. The height adjusting arm may be pivotally 5 attached to the second strut. The platform support apparatus may comprise frame fixing means for securing the platform support apparatus to a frame beneath the sloping surface. The frame may be through a gap in the sloping surface. 10 The frame fixing means may comprise a support holding member for holding on to the intermediate member or one of the feet, and an adjustable clamping member adapted to clamp on to the bottom of the frame such as a roof batten or rafter. 15 The frame fixing means may comprise a sheet holding element adapted to hold a sheet for covering the gap in the sloping surface. The sheet holding member may be present on the support holding member. The sheet holding element may comprise a pair of flanges adapted to receive the sheet therebetween. 20 In another aspect the invention provides a platform supported at opposed ends thereof by a pair of spaced platform support apparatuses affixed to a roof wherein the height of the platform is adjustable without altering the height of the platform. Each platform support apparatus may be affixed to the roof at a different level or pitch of the roof, and the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the 30 accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a platform support apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with an associated clamp assembly; 6 Figure 2 is a detail view of part of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the platform support apparatus of Figure 1 in use on a pitched tiled roof and clamped in place in one manner by a first configuration of a clamp assembly; 5 Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second configuration of clamp assembly; Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative platform support apparatus, including the clamp assembly shown in Figure 4, in use on a pitched tiled roof; Figure 6 is a side view of the platform support apparatus of Figure 1 in use on a pitched corrugated steel roof; 10 Figure 7 is a side view of the platform support apparatus of Figure 1 in a collapsed position suitable for transport and storage; and Figure 8 is a side view of the clamp assembly in Figure 1. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment 15 The various features identified by numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list: 2 Platform support apparatus 3 Platform support means 20 4 Post support member 5 Angle adjusting arm 6 Height adjusting means 7 Surface support means 8 Frame fixing means (clamp assembly) 25 10 Platform support member 12 Clamping bar 14 Bolts on platform support 16 Nuts on platform support 18 Clevis 30 20 Square tube 24 First telescopic part of angle adjusting arm 26 Second telescopic part of angle adjusting arm 28 Holes through first telescopic part 7 30 Holes through second telescopic part 31 Space between apertures of second telescopic part 32 Height adjusting arm 33 Space between apertures of first telescopic part 5 34 Sliding bracket 35 D-pin on angle adjusting arm 36 Bolt 37 Flange 38 Notch 10 39 Flange 40 D-pin 42 Holes through flanges 37 and 39 44 D-pin 46 Apertures through height adjusting arm 32 15 48 Pivotal attachment point 49 Foot 50 Foot 51 Outer sleeve portion of intermediate member 52 Intermediate member 20 53 Inner sliding portion of intermediate member 54 Locking screw 56 Slots through feet 58 Screws 60 First strut 25 62 Second Strut 64 Spacing strut 66 Pivotal attachment point 68 Pivotal attachment point 70 Sheet rubber cushion 30 72 First square tubular member 74 Support holding member 76 Second square tubular member 78 Clamping arm 8 80 Threaded shaft 82 Head of shaft 80 83 Flanges 84 Arrow indicating movement of clamping arm 5 85 Channel between flanges 86 Plank 87 Platform 88 Arrow indicating movement of plank 90 Arrow indicating telescopic movement of angle adjusting arm 10 92 Arrow indicating up/down movement of platform support member 94 Arrow indicating telescopic movement of intermediate member 96 Arrow indicating placement of frame fixing means 98 Corrugated steel sheet 100 Battens 15 102 Rafter 104 Safety rail post 106 Safety rails 107 Opening between tiles 108 Roof tiles 20 108a Displaced tile 110 Nut 112 Waterproofing sheet 114 Main clamping face of the support holding member 74 116 Lip on support holding member 74 25 Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 8, there is shown a platform support apparatus, generally designated 2. The platform support apparatus 2 comprises platform support means 3, a post support member 4, angle adjusting means 5, height adjusting means 6, surface support means 7, and frame fixing means 8. The apparatus 2 is constructed 30 from steel components. The platform support means 3 comprises a platform support member 10, formed of rectangular hollow section steel, and a clamping bar 12 connected near each of its 9 ends to the platform support member 10 by a pair of bolts 14 which are threadedly engaged through respective long nuts 16 welded within the platform support member 10. As shown in Figure 3, three side by side planks 86 form a platform 87 which is supported on the platform support member 10 and beneath the clamping arm 12. 5 The post support member 4 comprises a length of square tube 20 which projects upward from one end of the platform support member 10, and is rigidly welded to the support member 10 via a clevis 18. As shown in phantom lines on Figure 3, a square tubular safety post 104 may be mounted on the platform support member by sliding it 10 over the upright square tube 20 of the post support member 4. The safety post 104 supports horizontal safety rails 106 which extend across to another safety post mounted on a second platform support apparatus which is laterally spaced from the platform support apparatus 2 shown. 15 The angle adjusting arm 5 comprises first and second telescopic parts 24 and 26 respectively formed of square hollow section steel having a loose sliding fit therebetween. The first telescopic part 24 carries a series of spaced apart circular holes 28. The second telescopic part 26 also carries a series of spaced apart circular holes 30, although the centre to centre spacing 31 (see Figure 7) between adjacent 20 holes 30 is only about 86% of the spacing 33 (see Figure 7) between adjacent holes 28. The holes 28 and 30 have the same diameter and the shaft of the D-pin 35 forms a loose fit therethrough for locking the first and second parts 24, 26 together at the desired overall length of the arm 5. 25 The height adjusting means 6 comprises a height adjusting arm 32 and a sliding bracket 34. The bracket 34 is securely welded to one end of the platform support member 10. The sliding bracket 34 includes a bolt 36 which interconnects a pair of parallel flanges 37 and 39 of the bracket 34. The flanges 37 and 39 extend on respective sides of the height adjusting arm 32. The flanges 37 and 39 each carry a 30 notch 38 (shown more clearly in Figure 7) adapted to receive the shaft of a D-pin 40, and a circular hole 42 which is also adapted to receive a D-pin 44. The notch 38 may be aligned with any of a series of apertures 46 present along the height adjusting arm 10 32. The top of the height adjusting arm 32 is pivotally attached at 48 to the top of the first telescopic part 24 of the angle adjusting arm 5. The surface support means 7 comprises a pair of laterally extending feet 49 and 50 5 interconnected by a telescopically adjustable intermediate member 52. The intermediate member 52 has an outer sleeve portion 51 within which slides an inner sliding portion 53. An L-handle locking screw 54 extends through the upper wall of the outer sleeve portion 51 to clamp against the inner sliding portion 53 and thereby lock the intermediate member 52 at the desired length. First and second rising struts, 10 60 and 62 respectively, are welded to and extend upward from the outside end of the outer sleeve portion 51, and are joined at their top ends by a spacing strut 64. Each foot 49, 50 has a layer of sheet rubber 70 present on its under surface to act as a cushion and assist grip. 15 The frame fixing means 8 is a clamping assembly. It comprises a first square tubular member 72 having a support holding member 74 welded thereto. The clamping assembly 8 has a second square tubular member 76 which slides telescopically within the first square tubular member 72, a clamping arm 78 which projects from the base of the second square tubular member 76, and a threaded shaft 80 which passes 20 longitudinally through tubular members 76 and 72 and extends from both ends thereof. The shaft 80 passes out through an aperture in the top of the first square tubular member 72, where the shaft carries an enlarged head 82 which is too wide to fit down through the aperture in the top of the first square tubular member 72. The shaft 80 is threadedly engaged with a nut 110 which is welded to the base of the 25 second square tubular member adjacent the clamping member 78. Referring to Figure 3, the platform support apparatus 2 is shown in use on a pitched roof comprising roof tiles 108 laid on timber battens 100 which are fastened across underlying rafters 102. 30 The distance between the feet 49, 50 can be adjusted by telescopically lengthening or shortening (as indicated by arrow 94) the intermediate member 52. Rotation of locking member 54 in an anti-clockwise direction causes unlocking, allowing 11 telescopic adjustment of the intermediate member 52. To lock the length of the intermediate member 52 and therefore the distance between the feet 50, the locking member 54 is rotated in a clockwise direction. The clamp assembly 8 is used to retain the platform support apparatus 2 in position on the roof. 5 In order to attach the apparatus 2 to the roof, the length of the intermediate member is first adjusted so that the feet 49, 50 are spaced to be at least close to the centre to centre distance between a suitable pair of battens 100a, 100d. As seen in Figure 3, there are two further battens 100b, 100c between those battens underlying the feet. 10 The middle tile 108a is displaced upwards so it rests beneath the uphill tile 108b underlying uphill foot 49. This creates an opening 107 between the middle tile 108a and the downhill tile 108c underlying the downhill foot 50. The support holding member 74 of the clamp assembly 8 has a flat main clamping 15 face 114 and a downwardly depending lip 116 along that edge of the member 74 opposite the tubular member 72, so the member 74 has the form of an upside-down channel. As indicated by the arrow 96 in Figure 1, the member 74 is placed over the intermediate member 52 so the face 114 bears down on the outer sleeve portion 51, the lip 116 overhangs the side of the outer sleeve portion 51, and the second square 20 tubular member 76 extends down through the opening 107 as seen in Figure 3. The head 82 of the shaft 80 is rotated to lower the clamping arm 78 until it is able to slip under the batten 100c which is immediately downslope of the opening 107. The clamping arm 78 is slid beneath the batten 1 00c and the head 82 rotated to tighten the clamping arm 78 tip against the underside of the batten 100c, thereby clamping the 25 platform support apparatus 2 to the roof. In order to mount the platform 87 on to the apparatus 2, the bolts 14 are screwed upwards and the clamping arm 12 is raised (as indicated by upward arrow 84). An end of the plank 86 or planks is/are positioned between the clamping arm 12 and the 30 platform support member 10 (as indicated by arrows 88). One end of each plank 86 is supported by the platform support member 10 shown whilst the other end of each plank 86 may be supported by a platform support member of an identical second platform support apparatus which is laterally spaced from the platform support 12 apparatus 2 shown, where respective the feet 49, 50 of both platform support apparatuses are substantially in line. The clamping arm 12 is lowered (as indicated by downward arrow 84) on to the top surface of the planks 86 and the bolts 14 are screwed down so that the planks 86 forming the platform 87 are secured on to the 5 platform support member 10. Figure 4 shows an alternative configuration for the clamp assembly 8 which forms a frame fixing means wherein the clamping arm 78 projects out on the same side of the square tubular members 72, 76 as does the support holding member 74. This 10 orientation enables the clamping arm 78 to be clamped to a rafter 102 as shown in Figure 5. This is more secure than clamping to a batten as in Figure 3 because the batten may not be securely affixed to the rafter. The same clamp assembly 8 may be swapped between the configurations in Figures 1 and 4 by unscrewing the shaft 80 completely from the nut 110, separating the tubular members 72 and 76, and 15 reassembling them in the desired orientation. A pair of flanges 83 project from the first square tubular member 72 on the clamp assembly 8. As shown in Figure 5, the flanges are used for weather-proofing the roof beneath the apparatus. A panel of flexible plastic sheet 112 is used to cover the 20 opening 107 between the tiles in order to prevent rainwater from leaking into the roof through the opening 107. The uphill portion of the sheet 112 is held between the uphill tiles 108a and 108b, and the downhill portion of the sheet 112 is held between the downhill foot 50 and downhill tile 108c. The two parallel flanges 83 are provided on the first square tubular member 72 so that the plastic sheet may be tucked into the 25 channel 85 between the flanges at a level which raises the perforated centre of the sheet 112 slightly above the surrounding portions of sheet in order to prevent leakage. Optionally a short length of string (not shown) may be wound into and tied into the channel 85 to secure the sheet 112 to the clamp assembly 8. 30 The angle of the platform support member 10 may be adjusted to the horizontal position so that the platform is horizontally aligned across the planks. To raise the angle of the platform support member 10 toward horizontal, the D-pin 35 through the angle adjusting arm 5 must first be removed. The first telescopic part 24 is slid down 13 (as indicated by downwards arrow 90) around the second telescopic part 26 thereby shortening the angle adjusting arm. Once a substantially horizontal alignment of the platform support arm 10 is reached, the shaft of the D-pin 35 is passed through whatever pair of apertures 28, 30 in the first and second telescopic parts 24, 26 is 5 aligned, thereby locking the angle adjusting arm so that the platform support member 10 remains substantially horizontal. Conversely, to lower the angle of the platform support member 10 toward horizontal, the first telescopic part 24 is slid up (as indicated by upwards arrow 90) around the 10 second telescopic part 26 thereby lengthening the angle adjusting arm. Again, once a suitably horizontal position of the platforms support arm 10 is reached, the D-pin 35 is inserted into a pair of aligned apertures 28, 30 thereby fixing the length of the angle adjusting arm so that the platform support member 10 is held substantially horizontal. As the two arrays of holes 28, 30 have different centre to centre spacings, only about 15 every seventh set of four holes is in alignment at any one time. This allows very fine adjustment of the length of arm 5, and thus the angle of the platform support member which can be set at about 1 increments. Either before or after the horizontal aligning of the support member 10, the support 20 member 10 can be vertically adjusted to the desired height by raising or lowering (as indicated by arrows 92). D-pins 40, 44 are first removed to enable the sliding of bracket 34 up or down the height adjusting arm 32. The bracket 34 slides on bolt 36 along the height adjusting arm 32. The bolt 36 remains through the bracket 34 to keep the bracket captive on the arm 32. The bracket is slid to a position such that the 25 notch 38 is located just above a desired aperture 46 in the height adjusting arm 32. The D-pin 40 is passed through the desired aperture and the bracket 34 is lowered so that the notch 38 fits down around the D-pin 40, thereby preventing the platform support member 10 from being lowered any further. Another D-pin 44 is then passed through the aperture 42 in the lower part of the bracket 34 in order to prevent upward 30 tilting of the bracket 34. The downwards load from the platform is taken entirely by the D-pin 44 as the bolt 36 and D-pin 44 do not pass through the arm 32.

14 When the platform support apparatus 2 is mounted on a roof clad with corrugated steel, it is not convenient to remove a sheet of steel and clamp the apparatus to the roof structure. So the apparatus 2 is instead preferably screwed to the roof. This may be done without creating any perforations in the steel sheeting further to those 5 required for conventional attachment of the sheet to the roof. In Figure 6, the platform support apparatus 2 is shown in use on a pitched roof comprising a corrugated steel sheets 98 supported on roof battens 100 which are affixed underlying rafters 102. The length of the intermediate member 52 is adjusted 10 so that each foot 50 overlies a batten 100. The feet 49, 50 are spaced to overly respective battens 100 and the screw 54 is tightened slightly so as to allow some forced sliding between portions 51 and 53. At the position on the roof desired a few screws holding the corrugated steel down are removed and the feet 49, 50 placed over the holes so revealed. The base of each foot 49, 50 carries a plurality of slots 56 15 adapted to receive screws 58 therethrough. The feet 49 and 50 are then fastened to the battens 100 by screws 58, which are fed through the slots 56 and the existing holes in the corrugated steel and into the battens, thereby fixing the platform support apparatus 2 in position on the pitched roof. The rubber sheet cushions 70 prevent or reduce any damage to the upper surface of the sheet steel , which may be painted. 20 The clamp assembly 8 is not needed in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 shows the platform support apparatus 2 in a collapsed position suitable for transport and storage. In order to collapse the apparatus 2, D-pins 35, 40, and 44 are removed. The sliding bracket 34 is lowered down the height adjusting arm 32, and 25 the angle adjusting arm 5 is lengthened causing the height adjusting arm 32 to pivot at 68 down towards a horizontal position. D-pin 32 is then placed through aligned apertures 28, 30 of the angle adjusting arm sections 24, 26, thereby locking the angle adjusting arm 24, 26 and fixing the apparatus 2 in the collapsed position. Once locked, the angle adjusting arm 24, 26 may also be used as a carrying handle for the 30 apparatus 2. Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions 15 may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention. 5 It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features. 10 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. 15

Claims

1. A platform support apparatus for use on a sloping surface comprising: - platform support means adapted to support a platform, 5 - angle adjusting means adapted to adjust the angle of the platform to a substantially horizontal position, - height adjusting means adapted to adjust the height of the platform without altering said angle of the platform, and - surface support means for supporting the platform support apparatus on 10 the sloping surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: - the angle adjusting means comprises a lengthwise adjustable angle adjusting arm, 15 - the height adjusting means comprises a height adjusting arm pivotally connected to the angle adjusting arm, - the platform support means comprises a platform support member adapted receive the platform thereon, the platform support member being moveable along the length of the height adjusting arm, and 20 - the surface support means comprises a foot member, the foot member being pivotally connected to the angle adjusting arm and the height adjusting arm.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 comprising a bracket attached to an end of 25 the platform support member, the bracket being adapted for lengthwise movement along the height adjusting arm.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the bracket comprises an aperture adapted to be aligned with any of a series of apertures along the length of the height 30 adjusting arm so that the position of the bracket may be locked by passing a locking pin through a pair of aligned apertures in the bracket and the height adjusting arm. 17

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the platform support means comprises a clamping arm for clamping the platform on the platform support member. 5

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the platform support means comprises a pole support member extending upwardly from the platform support member.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the angle 10 adjusting arm comprises first and second telescopic parts adapted to slide one within the other in order to adjust the length of the angle adjusting arm.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein telescopic part comprises a series of apertures, and the length of the angle adjusting arm may be locked by passing a 15 locking pin through a pair of aligned apertures of the first and second telescopic parts.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the spacing between apertures in the first telescopic arm is greater than the spacing between apertures in the second telescopic arm. 20

10. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims where the surface support means comprises a pair of foot members interconnected by an intermediate member, wherein one of the foot members or the intermediate member is pivotally connected to the height adjusting arm and pivotally connected to the angle adjusting 25 arm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each foot member comprises a plurality of apertures adapted to receive a fastener therethrough. 30

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the intermediate member is telescopically adjustable. 18

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12 comprising a strut member extending upwardly from the intermediate member, wherein the angle adjusting arm and the height adjusting arm are pivotally connected to one of the foot members or the intermediate member via said strut member. 5

14. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a clamp assembly for securing the platform support apparatus to a frame beneath the sloping surface. 10 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the clamp assembly comprises a support holding member, for holding on to the intermediate member or one of the foot members, and an adjustable clamping member adapted to bear against the underside of the frame.

15

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 or 15 wherein the clamp assembly comprises a sheet holding element adapted to retain a sheet for covering a gap in the sloping surface.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the sheet holding element 20 comprises a pair of flanges adapted to receive the sheet therebetween.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 25

19. A platform supported at opposed ends thereof by a pair of spaced platform support apparatuses affixed to a roof wherein the height of the platform is adjustable without altering the height of the platform.

20. The platform according to claim 19 wherein each platform support apparatus 30 is affixed to the roof at a different level or pitch of the roof, and the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position. 19

21. The platform according to claim 19 wherein said platform support apparatuses are in accordance with any one of claims I to 18.

22. The platform according to claim 20 wherein said platform support apparatuses 5 are in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 18.