U.S. patent application number 09/946382 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-07 for roof tool box.
Invention is credited to Brown, James O..
Application Number | 20020027091 09/946382 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26924481 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020027091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, James O. |
March 7, 2002 |
Roof tool box
Abstract
A knockdown roof tool box for use by roofers, painters,
homeowners, and others who need to work on inclined or pitched
surfaces is presented. The roof tool box contains a positioning
mechanism which is fully adjustable with respect to almost any
inclined surface. The roof tool box is made up of a large central
tray portion, a pair of support legs, and a pair of adjustable pin
assemblies. In assembled position, the tray support legs are
positioned perpendicularly to the sides of the tray. The tray is
pivotally hinged to the support legs by a removable wing nut and
bolt assembly. The adjustable pin assembly includes movable pins,
which are insertable through a series of arcuate aligned holes
provided in the support legs allowing the tray to be pivotally and
selectively positioned at different attitudes with respect to the
roof.
Inventors: |
Brown, James O.; (Rye,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard C. Litman
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. Box 15035
Arlington
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
26924481 |
Appl. No.: |
09/946382 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60230719 |
Sep 7, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/372 ;
206/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 15/00 20130101;
B25H 3/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/372 ;
206/373 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/28 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A knockdown, adjustable roof tool box comprising: a generally
rectangular tray for supporting a plurality of construction
elements thereon; and two parallel tray support legs removably and
pivotally connected to said tray and selectively adjustable for
fixing the angular orientation of said tray relative to said two
support legs for positioning said tray on an inclined surface.
2. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 1, wherein each said tray
support leg comprises a base and a upstanding wall, said upstanding
wall extending in perpendicular relationship from said base and
including a slot disposed thereon, said slot being dimensioned for
the reception of a hand.
3. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 1, wherein said tray
includes a base and upstanding walls and at least one partition
between said upstanding walls to form a plurality of compartments
for selectively storing and providing support for construction
elements.
4. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 1, wherein said tray is
pivotally connected to each said tray support leg by a removable
wing nut.
5. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 1, wherein said each tray
support leg comprises a base and an upstanding wall, said
upstanding wall extending in perpendicular relationship from said
base and including a slot disposed thereon as a handle, each said
support leg including a pivot hole and a plurality of symmetrically
aligned adjustment holes with the adjustment holes disposed in
spaced curvature with respect to the pivot hole on each support leg
adjacent a front edge thereof, said adjustment holes being utilized
for selectively adjusting the angular orientation of said tray.
6. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 5, wherein said tray is
selectively attached to each support leg by a removable adjustment
pin.
7. An adjustable roof tool box comprising: a generally rectangular
tray for supporting construction elements storably received
thereon; a pair of parallel, symmetrically spaced, and selectively
adjustable support legs, said support legs having a pair of
symmetrically aligned pivot holes and a plurality of symmetrically
aligned pairs of adjustment holes with the adjustment holes
disposed in spaced curvature with respect to the pivot hole on each
support leg adjacent a front edge thereof, said tray being
pivotally supported between said pair of support legs.
8. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 7, wherein each said
support leg comprises a base and an upstanding wall, said
upstanding wall extending in perpendicular relationship from said
base and including at least one slot disposed thereon.
9. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 7, wherein said tray
includes a base and upstanding walls and at least one partition
between said upstanding walls to form a plurality of compartments
for selectively storing and providing level support for said
construction elements.
10. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 7, wherein said tray is
pivotally connected to said pair of support legs by removable wing
nuts.
11. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 7, wherein each of said
pair of support legs comprises a base and an upstanding wall, said
upstanding wall extending in perpendicular relationship from said
base and including at least one slot disposed thereon for use as a
handle.
12. The adjustable roof tool box of claim 11, further comprising a
pad made from a polymeric material having a high coefficient of
friction attached to the base of each said support leg in order to
prevent the tool box from sliding on a roof surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/230,719, filed Sep. 7, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates generally to apparatuses for
housing roofing tools, and more particularly to an adjustable
roofing tool box for supporting materials on a pitched roof.
[0004] 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0005] Numerous apparatuses have been devised for assisting roofers
and other construction personnel with handling materials on
non-level or slippery surfaces. Over the years, some of the most
significant advances have involved the development of temporary or
on-site support structures for tools and other construction
hardware, such as buckets, drill bits, nails, and screwdrivers.
However, none of the references herein described presents a
knockdown roof tool box which provides a stable, level support
surface, which is easily adapted to almost any conventional
inclined roof, and which allows its users to conveniently have all
the necessary tools and hardware at hand.
[0006] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,187, issued on Aug. 3,
1993, to John B. O'Farrell et al. describes a device for leveling
and stabilizing a paint bucket on an inclined surface, which
includes a wedge-shaped housing having a cavity formed in an upper
surface for insertion of the paint bucket therein.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,662, issued on Apr. 30, 1996, to Dennis
J. Amoroso et al. discusses a retainer for holding a plurality of
tools, including a retention layer having opposed first and second
sides and a planar, horizontally disposed top containing a
plurality of openings supported by a more rigid interlocking base
layer.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,671, issued on Aug. 20, 1996, to Ted P.
Kehoe, relates to a multi-purpose roofing tool kit containing tools
which can be used to cut and install shingles or tiles while
standing on a slanted roof surface under precarious conditions.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,864, issued on Nov. 5, 1996, to Juan R.
Flores, describes an adjustable roofing stool for supporting a
person and materials on a pitched roof, including a pedestal
adapted to be placed in contact with the surface of a pitched roof,
and a positioning mechanism coupled between the pedestal and seat
for fixing the angular relationship of the seat relative to the
pedestal.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,322, issued on Mar. 11, 1997, to William
R. Bond, presents a portable utility jack for use on an inclined
roof or a flat roof. The utility jack is constructed from a
mainframe which has at least one support frame which is adjustable
to several positions to accommodate various roof pitches in
conjunction with a platform tray for the level support of various
construction or paint tools, materials, and supplies.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,782, issued on Jun. 22, 1999, to Gary J.
Monoco et al., describes a knockdown roof platform for use on an
inclined roof, including collapsible locking brackets which are
adjustable so as to secure the table structure and the upright leg
structure at right angles. The collapsible locking bracket allows
for the collapsing of the table structure and the upright leg
structure out of right angle relation relative to one another and
into a collapsed storage position where the table structure and the
upright leg structure extend generally in a parallel relation.
[0012] German Patent Application No. 568,264, published on Dec. 29,
1932, for Emanuel Glatzel, illustrates a bucket structure for
placement on a roof.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 606,100, issued on Jun. 21, 1898, to Henry G.
Thompson, describes a combination paint-bucket with leg-lock
members located inside of the bucket and capable of independent
adjustment.
[0014] U.S. Design Pat. No. 321,433, issued on Nov. 12, 1991, to
Thomas Dickinson, illustrates a hip roof tool box.
[0015] U.S. Design Pat. No. 405,671, issued on Feb. 16, 1999, to
Burton S. Klein, shows a combination paint can and tool holder for
the roof.
[0016] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention
as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The knockdown, roof tool box, according to the invention,
provides the user with a convenient level surface upon which to
support and hold their tools and other construction materials.
Designed for use by roofers, painters, homeowners, and others who
need to work on inclined or pitched surfaces, the roof tool box
employs a positioning mechanism, allowing it to be fully adjustable
with respect to almost any inclined surface. The major components
of the invention are a large, central tray portion, a pair of
wing-nut and bolt assemblies, a pair of support legs, and
adjustable pin assemblies. In assembled position, the tray support
legs are positioned in parallel relationship on opposite sides of
the tray. And when no longer in use, the tool box may be easily
disassembled and stored.
[0018] The tray is pivotally connected to its support legs by the
removable wing-nut and bolt assemblies. The central tray portion
has an underlying base and upstanding walls, arranged along its
periphery, and is generally rectangular in shape. The tray portion
also has an upstanding, lateral partition which divides its inner
volume into an upper and a lower cavity. However, the central tray
may be divided into any number of sections, according to the needs
of the user.
[0019] Extending from the front portion of the tray and
substantially perpendicular to the front wall, is a generally
rectangular, planar shelf having a series of various sized
indentations disposed therethrough. A variety of differently shaped
objects may be carried in the shelf. Each tray support leg includes
a base and an upstanding wall, the upstanding wall extending in
perpendicular relationship to the base and including a handle.
Extending integrally upwards from the base is a support flange for
providing additional structural support to the wall. The support
legs are configured to be mirror images of one another and
symmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal plane
intersecting the mid-portion of the tray and normal to its
underlying support base. The legs are provided with foot pads for
traction when the invention is placed on an inclined surface. And
the tray portion, as well as the support legs, are preferably
constructed from polymeric material and are injection molded.
[0020] The positioning mechanism includes movable pins, which are
insertable through a series of aligned holes provided in the
support legs. Each support leg also has a pair of symmetrically
aligned pivot holes, each pivot hole being located at the rear
portions of the support legs and matched to a corresponding hole
disposed through the rear portion of an adjacent side wall. The
holes are dimensioned for reception of the winged nut and bolt
assemblies. Similarly, found near the front edge of each support
leg, are a plurality of symmetrically aligned pairs of adjustment
holes with the adjustment holes disposed in spaced curvature with
respect to the pivot hole on each support leg. To selectively
adjust the tray to a desired angle of inclination, the pins are
inserted through the appropriate adjustment hole and adjacent
mounting hole. Once each movable pin is inserted in its respective
adjustment and mounting holes, the support legs are maintained in a
steady, reliable attachment to the tray.
[0021] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide a roof tool box that can be used on an inclined surface It
is another object of the invention to provide a roof tool box which
may be easily assembled and disassembled It is a further object of
the invention to provide a roof tool box which can hold a variety
of different construction elements and other materials for working
on a roof, as well as other construction activities.
[0022] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes
described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in
accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0023] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a roof tool
box used by a roofer on a roof according to the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the roof tool box according
to the invention.
[0026] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the roof tool box
according to the invention.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the roof tool box,
showing the roof tool box adjustment for various degrees of
incline.
[0028] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The present invention is directed to a roof tool box 10 for
supporting and holding construction elements in level relationship
to the ground.
[0030] As Illustrated in FIG. 1, a view of the roof tool box 10 is
depicted in which a user U is shown working on a roof R. The
present invention is specially designed for use by roofers,
painters, homeowners, and others who need to work on inclined or
pitched surfaces. A serious problem faced by many persons who work
on roofs is that the various tools and hardware used to repair
roofs are unable to be securely retained on the roof's inclined
surface. This results in an extremely hazardous situation in which
objects tend to either roll or fall off the roof. The roof tool box
allows the user to support all the construction elements they need
to do a particular job, such as a box of nails, a hammer, drill
bits, a saw, and patching materials on a single, convenient, level
tray. The roof tool box 10 accomplishes this goal by incorporating
a positioning mechanism which allows the tray to be adjustable to
several positions to accommodate various roof pitches. In the past,
utility jacks have been used for this purpose. However, utility
jacks are frequently not adjustable, offer little to no storage,
and can be unstable. The present invention presents an important
advantage by supplying a secure and stable knockdown tool box 10,
which can easily accommodate and be adapted to almost any slanted
roof surface.
[0031] In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the major components of the
invention are the large, central tray portion 12, a pair of pivot
assemblies 14, a pair of support legs 16, and a pair of adjustable
pin assemblies 18 for selectively adjusting the orientation of the
tray. In assembled position as shown, the tray support legs 16 are
positioned in parallel relationship and at right angles with
respect to the tray 12. And so the roof tool box 10 is constructed
of a central tray portion 12 pivotally supported between a pair of
support legs 16, the tray 12 having a support base 46 pivotally
fastened to the support legs 16 by removable wing nuts 20 and bolts
48. However, it should be understood that any appropriate fastener
can be used, especially those which allow for easy disassembly and
storage.
[0032] In FIG. 3, it can be more fully appreciated that the central
tray portion 12 has an underlying base 46, an upright front wall
22, parallel sidewalls 24, and a back wall 26, arranged along the
periphery thereof, and is generally rectangular in shape. The tray
portion 12, preferably, has an upstanding, lateral partition 28
which divides the inner volume of the tray 12 into two cavities, an
upper cavity 30 and a lower cavity 32. The tray portion 12 and its
various walls 22, 24, 26, and partition 28 are preferably
constructed from polymeric material and injection molded. However,
the central tray portion 12 can be divided into any number of
sections, each section having an upstanding wall disposed
therebetween, depending on the specifications of the
manufacturer.
[0033] Extending from the front portion of the tray 10 and
perpendicular to the front wall 22, is a generally rectangular,
planar shelf 34 having a series of various sized holes or
indentations, generally 36, disposed therethrough. Thus, a variety
of differently shaped objects may be carried in the shelf 34 of the
roof tool box 10, such as the hammer 38 shown in ghost lines in
FIG. 2. Almost any kind of hardware can be supported such as short
screwdrivers, chisels and the like.
[0034] In FIG. 3, it can be seen that each tray support leg 16
comprises a base 38 and an upstanding wall 40, the upstanding wall
extending in perpendicular relationship to the base 38 and
including at least one slot 42 disposed therethrough for use as a
handle. Extending integrally upwards from the base 38 is a support
flange 44 for providing additional structural support to the wall
40. It can now be more fully appreciated that the support legs 16
are configured to be mirror images of one another and symmetrical
with respect to the central longitudinal plane intersecting the
mid-portion of the tray 12 and normal to its underlying support
base 46. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the support
legs 16 are also made of polymeric material, but can be made of any
suitably strong and durable substance. The legs 16 are also
provided with polymeric frictional pads 54 on the bottom surface of
the bases 38 to provide traction when the invention is placed on an
inclined surface such as the roof R.
[0035] As it is necessary that the support legs 16 be readily
positionable at different angles of inclination relative to the
pitch of the roof's surface, a positioning mechanism having movable
adjustment pins 50 which are insertable through a series of aligned
holes 52 is provided. Each support leg 16 has a pair of
symmetrically aligned pivot holes 57, each hole being located at
the rear portions of the support legs 16, and matched to a
corresponding hole 56 disposed through the rear portion of an
adjacent side wall 24. The holes 56 and 57, are dimensioned for
reception of the pivot assemblies, which, in the preferred
embodiment, as discussed, are bolts 48 and wing nuts 20. Similarly,
found near the front edge of each support leg 16, are a plurality
of symmetrically aligned pairs of adjustment holes 52, with the
adjustment holes disposed in spaced curvature with respect to the
pivot hole 56 on each support leg 16.
[0036] To adjust the tray 12 to a certain angle of inclination,
each adjustment pin 50 is removably inserted through the
appropriately aligned adjustment hole 52 and mounting hole 58, the
mounting holes 58 being disposed through the side walls 24. Once
each movable adjustment pin 50 is inserted through its respective
adjustment hole 52 and mounting hole 58, the support legs 16 are
maintained in steady vertical attachment to the tray 12. Thus, an
effective way is provided to enable the tray 12 to be adjustable
with respect to almost any inclined surface as diagrammatically
represented in FIG. 4. Adjustment of the tray 12 to different
angles of inclination becomes a simple matter of inserting each
pair of adjustment pins 50 at the appropriate, pre-selected height.
For example, the tray 12 is shown set at a maximum inclination
indicated by the ghost lines at 60 and at an intermediate
inclination as indicated by the ghost lines at 70, the respective
adjustment pins, 62 and 72, being inserted according to the
particular adjustment hole 52 associated with the desired angle of
inclination after manually pivoting the tray 12 into position.
[0037] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses
any and all embodiments within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *