NZ598628A - A hooked loop for receiving a safety rope that attaches to the fixing or support of a roof from the outside - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a roof hook for use in a safety system on a building to provide increased safety for workers. The hook has at one end a loop for receiving a safety line when in use. At the opposite end the hook has a pair of hooked parts generally parallel to one another, where one hooked part provides a higher part of the roof hook than the other when the hook is in a normal in use disposition. The hook is able to support or resist the weight of a person attached to the safety line engaged with the hook in the event that such person falls from the building and the weight of the person bears on the hook.

Description

1 Patents Form No. 5 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Means for a Safety Line I, Darryll Heaven, a New Zealand citizen of 524 Swanson Road, Ranui, Auckland, New Zealand, hereby declare this invention for which I pray that a patent may be 25 granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 2 Title Means for a Safety Line Field of Invention This invention relates to means for a safety line. A preferred form of this invention relates to a safety line supported by a series of hooks engaging a building underneath roof cladding.

Background It can be dangerous for a workman to work on a building using a ladder, particularly when at significant distances above the ground. For example, a ladder leaning against the roof guttering can tip sideways if a workman standing on the ladder leans too far to one side or the other. It is accordingly an object of a preferred form of the invention to go at least some way towards providing a measure of safety for a 15 workman in such a situation, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

The term "comprising" and derivatives thereof, eg "comprises", if and when used herein in relation to a combination of features should not be taken as excluding the possibility that the combination may have further unspecified features.

Summary of Invention According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a safety system on a building, comprising a plurality of hooks and a safety line, each hook engaged with 25 the roof beneath roof cladding and extending to a position where it can be accessed from in front of the cladding, the safety line engaged with the hooks so that the line runs adjacent to the lower edge of the roof and can be connected to a person to support such person in the event that they need support to prevent injury as a result of falling from the vicinity of the roof.

Optionally each hook comprises a looped part at a first end which receives the safety line, and a hooked part at its opposite end which engages the roof.

Optionally each hook engages a fixing member, for example a nail, screw or bolt 35 used to hold the cladding to the roof. 3 Optionally each hook comprises two hooked parts arranged so that if one should fail to remain in engagement with the fixing member under the weight of the person then the other hooked part is drawn onto the fixing member to act as a backup.

Optionally each hook engages a batten used for supporting roof tiles.

Optionally each hook has been formed from metallic thread, for example steel wire or rod.

Optionally each hook has been formed by bending the metallic thread.

Optionally each hook comprises a looped part at a first end which receives the safety line, and two hooked parts at its opposite end, wherein one of the hooked parts 15 extends to a position further from the looped part than the other hooked part.

Optionally the safety line runs within roof guttering so that it is at least substantially not visible from ground level.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a roof hook for use in a safety system as set out above, the hook having at one end a lower looped part suitable for receiving a safety line when in use, the hook having at an opposite end a pair of hooked parts generally parallel to one another wherein one hooked part provides a higher part of the roof hook than the other.

General Description of the Drawings Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a roof hook; Figure 1a is a an isometric view showing the roof hook from an alternative angle; 4 Figure 2 is an isometric view showing two of the roof hooks engaged with a roof; Figure 3 is an isometric view illustrating detail of the figure 2 arrangement; Figure 4 is an isometric view of an alternative roof hook particularly adapted for use with tile roofs; and Figure 5 is an isometric view of the alternative hook showing the manner in 10 which it may engage a roof batten.

Detailed Description Figures 1 and 1a illustrate a roof hook 1 shaped by bending steel wire. In this embodiment of the invention the wire has a diameter of approximately 4mm but other 15 thicknesses can be used depending on the requirements of a particular job. The hook 1 has a lower looped part 2 suitable for receiving a safety line (not shown). The other end of the hook 1 has a lower hooked part 3 and a higher hooked part 4. As shown, the hooked parts 3, 4 are lay against one another in a parallel fashion.

Referring to figure 2, a roof safety system is created by hooking the lower hooked part 3 around a nail 5 which has been used to fasten roof cladding 6 to a roof. This is achieved by manoeuvring the hook 1 under the cladding, which is in this case corrugated iron 7, leaving the looped part 2 of the hook within roof guttering 8 slightly in front of, or just under the front of, the cladding. A safety line 9 of steel wire, rope or 25 some other suitable thread engages the looped part 2 of the hook. In figure 2 the safety line 9 passes through the looped part 2, however it may also be knotted or otherwise tied to the looped part 2 so that if the line comes under tension it cannot feed through the looped part. As indicated, a number of the hooks 1 may be spaced along the roof, each engaging a different nail in the same fashion to provide multiple 30 attachment points for a long run of the safety line 9.

A workman (not shown) wearing a harness may fasten himself to the safety line 9 by way of a short leash so as to make it safer for him to work on or near the roof. For example if the workman is standing on a ladder leaning up against the guttering 8 35 then he is held by the safety line 9 in the event that the ladder topples sideways or backwards.

Figure 3 illustrates the manner in which the hooks 1 engage the nails 5 beneath the cladding 6 (the cladding is omitted for clarity). In the event the workman falls from the ladder then his body weight will place the safety line under tension, particularly where it engages the nearest of the hooks 1. If the impact loading on the hook 1 is 5 substantial then in some cases the lower hooked part 3 may be pulled laterally and deform. If the deformation is significant then the lower hooked part 3 may cease to have an effective engagement with the nail 5. However in that event the upper hooked part 4 drops into engagement with the nail, thus providing a back up. If in an extreme situation that lower hooked part 4 also deforms then the weight of the 10 workman is taken up by adjacent hooks 1. The workman would thus be prevented from dropping to ground level and suffering serious injury.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative roof hook 1a which has a lower looped part 2a for receiving a safety line in the manner described above. However in this case the 15 hook 1a is particularly adapted for use with tile roofs of the type that do not have nails, screws or the like passing therethrough. The hook 1a has an upper hooked part 10 which can hook over and around a roof batten used to support tiles on a roof. Figure 5 illustrates the manner in which the hook 1a engages a batten 11 beneath roof tiles (not shown). In some situations the roof tiles may need to be momentarily 20 raised to enable the hook 1a to be pushed under them to make contact with the batten 11, but in most cases, depending on the type of tiles, this is relatively easy to do.

Referring to figure 1, in preferred embodiments of the invention the lower end of the 25 upper hooked part 4 extends downwards to a lower end 4a slightly below the corresponding lower end of the other hooked part 3. This means that the lower end prevents the hook engaging a screw or the like until the lower hooked part 3 is pushed slightly to the left, ie to open up entry space to the area within the hooked part. When the screw is within the hooked part 4 the lower hooked part 3 is released 30 and its natural resilience causes it to revert to its original position such that the screw is kept within both hooked parts 3 and 4.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without 35 departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (2)

WHAT I CLAIM IS

1. A roof hook for use in a safety system on a building, the hook having at one end a lower looped part suitable for receiving a safety line when in use, the hook having at an opposite end a pair of hooked parts generally parallel to one another wherein one hooked part provides a higher part of the roof hook than the other when the hook is in a normal in use disposition, the hook, when in use, being able to substantially resist the weight of a person if such person is attached to a safety line engaged with the hook in the event that such person falls from the building and the weight of the person bears on the hook.

2. A roof hook substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 5. A.J. Pietras & Co Attorney for the Applicant(s)