U.S. patent application number 12/075387 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for roof top archery practice platform.
Invention is credited to Michael J. Mistelski.
Application Number | 20090229213 12/075387 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41060244 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090229213 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mistelski; Michael J. |
September 17, 2009 |
Roof top archery practice platform
Abstract
A platform adapted for mounting on the roof of a garage or other
building and being capable of supporting a hunter, thereby enabling
such hunter to practice shooting from a level above ground level at
a target at or near ground level.
Inventors: |
Mistelski; Michael J.;
(Fostoria, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FARRIS LAW, P.C.
5291 COLONY DRIVE NORTH
SAGINAW
MI
48638
US
|
Family ID: |
41060244 |
Appl. No.: |
12/075387 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/650.3 ;
248/237; 52/90.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01M 31/02 20130101;
F41J 11/00 20130101; E04D 15/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/650.3 ;
52/90.1; 248/237 |
International
Class: |
E04B 7/18 20060101
E04B007/18; E04B 7/02 20060101 E04B007/02; E04H 1/12 20060101
E04H001/12 |
Claims
1. A platform construction adapted to provide support for a person
atop a pitched, shingled roof having adjacent inclined roof
sections extending in opposite directions from a ridge, said
construction comprising a base member; a framework for supporting
said base member atop a roof, said framework having frame members
extending to a level below that of said base member for engagement
with selected shingles on said roof; an anchor member having a
first section adapted to underlie part of a selected one of said
shingles and a second section adapted to overlie at least part of
another of said shingles underlying said selected one of said
shingles; means for securing said second section of said anchor
member to said framework; and means for securing said first section
of said anchor member to said roof in underlying relation to said
selected one of said shingles.
2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said framework
includes reinforcing frame members connected to said base member
and extending therefrom at angles corresponding substantially to
the pitch of said roof sections.
3. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said frame members
extend to the level above that of said base member, selected ones
of said frame member being spanned by safety rails above said base
member.
4. The construction according to claim 1 and wherein said second
section of said anchor member has at least one upstanding flange
engageable with an adjacent frame member.
5. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said second
section of said anchor member has a pair of spaced, upstanding
flanges, the space between said flanges corresponding substantially
to the thickness of an adjacent frame member.
6. The construction according to claim 1 wherein the means for
securing said first section of said anchor member to said roof
comprises openings in said first section for the accommodation of
nails.
7. A platform construction for supporting a person atop a roof
having shingles and two adjacent sections extending at
corresponding angles to the horizontal in opposite directions from
a ridge between said sections, said construction comprising a flat
base member; a framework having upstanding frame members fixed to
said base member and extending to levels above and below that of
said base member, said framework also having frame members
supported atop shingles on said roof and extending at angles
corresponding to the angles at which said roof sections extend;
anchor means securing said framework to said roof, said anchor
means comprising a plurality of body members each of which has a
first section underlying a selected one of said shingles and a
second section joined to said first section and extending therefrom
a distance to overlie another shingle adjacent said selected
shingle; attaching means upstanding from said second section; and
means affixing said attaching means to an adjacent frame
member.
8. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said attaching
means comprises at least one flange extending upward from said
second section of said anchor member a distance sufficient to bear
against a face of said adjacent frame member and being fixed
thereto.
9. The construction according to claim 8 wherein said attaching
means comprises a second flange parallel to and spaced from said
first flange a distance sufficient to form a groove in which said
adjacent frame member is accommodated.
10. The construction according to claim 7 wherein each of said
frame members has a free lower end inclined at an angle
corresponding to the pitch of the adjacent roof section.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a platform of such size as to
provide comfortable and secure support for a person atop the roof
of a building so as to enable the person to practice archery from
an elevated position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is common for archers who hunt deer and other animals to
practice and improve their skill by shooting arrows at a target
while standing on the ground at a predetermined distance from the
target which also is on the ground. A person can become quite
proficient in having the arrows strike the target at a selected
position thereof.
[0003] It also is common for persons during deer or other animal
hunting season to occupy a tree stand which locates the person at a
desired level above ground so as to minimize early detection by the
animal. In the case where the hunter's weapon comprises a bow and
arrow, the trajectory of an arrow shot from a bow toward a target
on the ground and from an elevated position often is quite
different from that of an arrow shot toward a target on the ground
by an archer who is also on the ground. As a consequence, it is not
uncommon for a hunter using archery equipment from an elevated tree
stand to miss the target.
[0004] Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention
enables an archer to practice shooting an arrow from an elevated
position to a target on the ground and thereby become sufficiently
proficient to improve the likelihood of having the arrow strike the
target.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A person-supporting platform comprises a base of such size
as to provide sufficient area to support at least one person in a
sitting or standing position atop the roof of a building and at a
selected height above ground level, such as twelve to fifteen feet.
A typical installation is on the roof of a garage or pole barn
which typically has a pitched roof having two downwardly inclined
sections extending in opposite directions from a ridge line forming
the peak of the roof. The platform is supported by vertically
extending frame members which extend both below and above the
platform. Preferably, there are four such frame members and each of
them is secured at its lower end to an inverted V-shaped frame
comprising two beams which underlie the platform and which diverge
from the central part thereof at angles corresponding to the pitch
of the underlying roof sections. The platform is fixed to the roof
of the building by means of an anchor member at the lower end of
each of the supporting frame members. The anchor member has a flat
section which may underlie a shingle and be secured to the roof by
nails or the like. Each anchor member also has an extension which
extends beyond the overlying shingle and overlies the next adjacent
shingle. The extension is provided with at least one upstanding
flange which may be nailed or otherwise secured to the associated
frame member, thereby fixing the platform to the roof without
risking leakage of moisture through the shingles.
[0006] At a level above the base the frame members are spanned by
braces and rails which provide protection against a user's falling
off the base. Hooks or other supports may be secured to the rails
or supporting frame members for the removable support of an
archer's bow, quiver, clothing, or other equipment.
THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is fragmentary, isometric view illustrating the
platform supported in an elevated position on a shingled roof.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the platform;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the platform; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, isometric view illustrating
the application of a platform-anchor member to a shingled roof.
THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the invention is adapted for installation atop a
garage, pole barn, or other appropriate building 1 having a roof 2
at a height above ground level of a selected distance and
corresponding substantially to the level at which a tree stand (not
shown) may be affixed to a tree. Typically, the height of the roof
2 is such that a person-supporting platform 3 will enable a person
to occupy a level between about twelve-fifteen feet above ground.
However, the platform can be mounted atop the roof of a building of
any height.
[0013] The roof 2 is covered by shingles 4 each of which, as is
shown in FIG. 4, has a mat section 5 from which a plurality of tabs
6 extend, each tab being spaced from its adjacent tab by a slot 8,
as is conventional. Each shingle conventionally is placed on an
underlayment (not shown) atop the roof structure and is nailed,
stapled, or otherwise secured to the roof structure, such nails or
staples passing through the mat portion of the shingle. The
shingles are so arranged that the mat portion of a lower shingle
underlies the tabs of the next adjacent upper shingle and the tabs
are so arranged as to overlie the nails or staples by means of
which the mat section of each shingle is secured to the roof.
[0014] As is shown in FIG. 1, the roof 2 is a pitched roof and has
two sections 9 and 10 which extend in opposite directions from a
ridge line 11. The sections 9 and 10 diverge downwardly from the
ridge line and at the same or substantially the same angle to the
horizontal.
[0015] The person-supporting platform 3 comprises a base 12 having
a flat upper surface on which a person may stand or sit. The base
is secured in any suitable manner to a framework 13 comprising four
parallel, spaced apart, upright frame members 14 joined together by
braces 15 and cross members 16. The upper ends of the frame members
14 are spanned by rails 17 which, together with the cross members
16, provide security against a person's falling off the base 12.
The frame members and rails extend along three sides of the
platform. The fourth side is open in a direction away from the
adjacent roof edge to enable a person safely and easily to access
the base.
[0016] A stabilizing structure 18 underlies the platform 12 and
overlies some of the shingles 4 of the roof 2. Reinforcing
structures are provided and each includes an inverted, V-shaped
frame member 19 fixed to the base 12 by known securing plates 20.
Opposite ends of the members 19 are secured to the frame members 14
adjacent the lower ends thereof by means of additional securing
plates 21. The angle at which the members 19 diverge from the
center region of the base 12 corresponds to the pitch angle at
which the roof sections 9 and 10 diverge from the ridge line 11.
Thus, each of the reinforcing frame members 19 lies flat upon the
upper surface of the roof shingles.
[0017] It is contemplated that the platform 1, after installation
atop a roof, will remain in such position for at least a limited
period of time, such as a few days before and during a hunting
season. To guard against the platform's being displaced by wind, a
known anchor member 22 is provided at the lower end of each of the
frame members 14. Each anchor member comprises a preferably metal
body 23 having a flat mounting section 24 adapted to be placed in a
position in which it underlies a shingle tab 6 and overlies a
shingle mat 5, as is shown in FIG. 4. The mounting section 24 is
provided with a plurality of openings, some of which are shown at
25, through which headed nails 26 may pass so as to secure the
anchor member 23 to the roof and in a position atop the mat section
5 of an underlying shingle.
[0018] Each anchor member 22 has an attaching section 27 provided
with a pair of parallel, spaced apart flanges 28, the spacing
between the flanges forming a groove having a width corresponding
substantially to the thickness of the lower end of a frame member
14. Each flange has openings 29 therein through which nails may
pass to secure the flanges to the lower end of the adjacent frame
member 14. To enable as secure as possible the connection between
the frame member 14 and the anchor member, the lower end of each
frame member is inclined as is shown at 30 in FIG. 2 so as to
correspond to the pitch of the associated roof section inasmuch.
Each anchor member will occupy a position in which its body
sections are parallel to the underlying roof section.
[0019] To condition the apparatus for use, the platform is
installed on the roof of the building and, preferably, adjacent one
end thereof. A target 31 may be placed on the ground or on the
trunk of a tree 32 at a distance from the building corresponding
substantially to that at which the user intends to shoot at the
animal being hunted. Since the platform and a hunter sitting or
standing thereon are at an elevated level with respect to the
target, the hunter will be able to practice shooting from an
elevated position to a target at ground level and thereby improve
the chances of striking an animal on the ground.
[0020] As a convenience, some or all of the rails 17 may be
provided with hooks 33 from which hunting equipment and/or garments
may be suspended.
[0021] When desired, the platform may be removed from the roof by
lifting the shingle tabs which overlie the attaching part 24 of the
anchor member, removing the nails 26, and then removing the anchor
device from the roof. Whatever tabs have been lifted may be
restored to their flat condition atop the underlying shingle mat so
as to cover the holes through which the nails 26 passed, thereby
preventing exposure of the nail holes to rain or snow.
[0022] This disclosure is representative of a preferred embodiment
of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than
definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.
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