Transportation pallet apparatus for transporting roofing shingles to a ridge of a roof

• US 20050207873A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Endrud
• Original Assignee: John Endrud
• Inventors: Endrud, John
• Application Number:
  US10/806,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207873A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/10
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 15/02 for roof coverings comprising tiles, shingles, or like roofing elements E04D15/003 takes precedence

Abstract

A transportation pallet apparatus is disclosed for transporting roofing shingles to a ridge of a roof. The apparatus includes a rectangular platform having a first and a second side and a first and a second edge. The platform defines a surface for supporting the shingles. The second side is disposed parallel and spaced relative to the first side and the second edge is disposed parallel and spaced relative to the first edge. A first stabilizing leg extends from the platform, the first leg having a first and a second end. The first end of the first leg is secured to the platform between the first and the second sides thereof. A second stabilizing leg also extends from the platform, the second leg having a first and a second extremity. The first extremity of the second leg is secured to the platform between the first end of the first leg and the second side of the platform such that when the platform has been loaded with the shingles, the pallet apparatus is transported to the ridge of the roof with the first and second legs resting and being supported by the roof with the legs being disposed on opposite sides of the ridge.

Claims

1. A transportation pallet apparatus for transporting roofing shingles to a ridge of a roof, said apparatus comprising:

a rectangular platform having a first and a second side and a first and a second edge, said platform defining a surface for supporting the shingles;

said second side being disposed parallel and spaced relative to said first side;

said second edge being disposed parallel and spaced relative to said first edge;

a first stabilizing leg extending from said platform, said first leg having a first and a second end;

said first end of said first leg being secured to said platform between said first and said second sides thereof;

a second stabilizing leg extending from said platform, said second leg having a first and a second extremity; and

said first extremity of said second leg being secured to said platform between said first end of said first leg and said second side of said platform such that when said platform has been loaded with the shingles, said pallet apparatus is transported to the ridge of the roof with said first and second legs resting and being supported by the roof with said legs being disposed on opposite sides of the ridge.

2. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said platform includes:

a plurality of elongate bars, each bar of said plurality of bars extending from said first to said second edge with each bar being disposed parallel and spaced relative to an adjacent bar.

3. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein

said platform further includes:

a first side rail disposed adjacent to said first side of said platform;

a second side rail disposed adjacent to said second side of said platform, said second side rail extending parallel and spaced relative to said first side rail;

a first edge rail disposed adjacent to said first edge of said platform;

a second edge rail disposed adjacent to said second edge of said platform, said second edge rail extending parallel and spaced relative to said first edge rail, said plurality of bars being secured to and being reinforced by said rails.

4. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein

said rails and said bars are fabricated from steel.

5. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said first leg extends angularly away from said platform such that when said first leg is supported by the roof, said platform is disposed horizontally above the ridge for supporting the shingles thereon;

said second leg extends angularly away from said platform and said first leg such that when said second leg is supported by the roof on the opposite side of the roof relative to the ridge, said platform is disposed horizontally above the ridge for supporting the shingles thereon.

6. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein

said first leg further includes:

a strengthening first fillet disposed adjacent to said first end of said first leg and extending from said first end of said first leg to said platform, said first fillet being rigidly secured to said first leg and said platform for strengthening the securement of said first leg to said platform;

said second leg further including;

a strengthening second fillet disposed adjacent to said first extremity of said second leg and extending from said first extremity of said second leg to said platform, said second fillet being rigidly secured to said second leg and said platform for strengthening the securement of said second leg to said platform.

7. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said first leg further includes:

a first foot secured to said second end of said first leg such that when said platform with the shingles disposed thereon is disposed above the ridge, said first foot engages and is supported by the roof;

a second foot secured to said second extremity of said second leg such that when said platform with the shingles disposed thereon is disposed above the ridge, said second foot engages and is supported by the roof on the opposite side of the ridge relative to the first foot.

8. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein

said first foot has an inner and an outer end, said first foot being secured to said second end of said first leg between said inner and said outer ends of said first foot;

said inner end of said first foot defining a curved portion which cooperates with the roof when said platform is disposed above the ridge for preventing damage to the roof,

said second foot having an inner and an outer extremity, said second foot being secured to said second extremity of said second leg between said inner and said outer extremities of said second foot;

said inner extremity of said second foot defining a curved member which cooperates with the roof when said platform is disposed above the ridge for preventing damage to the roof.

9. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a releasable hoist for lifting said platform loaded with the shingles to the ridge of the roof and for lowering said loaded platform onto the ridge and thereafter releasing said hoist from said platform.

10. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further including:

a transportation vehicle for transporting said loaded platform to a vicinity of the roof such that an operator is permitted to operate said hoist for hoisting said loaded platform from said vehicle to the ridge of the roof without the need for further personnel on the roof so that the shingles can be delivered to the roof even during inclement weather conditions.

11. A transportation pallet apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further including:

a video camera secured to said platform for viewing a disposition of said platform and legs relative to the ridge and the roof;

a viewing screen remotely connected to said camera for permitting the operator to accurately assess from said transportation vehicle, the disposition and orientation of said platform relative to the ridge and the roof so that safe transportation and positioning of said loaded pallet above the ridge is achieved even in bad weather conditions without any need for further assistance from an unloading crew.

12. A transportation pallet apparatus for transporting roofing shingles to a ridge of a roof, said apparatus comprising:

a rectangular platform having a first and a second side and a first and a second edge, said platform defining a surface for supporting the shingles;

said second side being disposed parallel and spaced relative to said first side;

said second edge being disposed parallel and spaced relative to said first edge;

a first stabilizing leg extending from said platform, said first leg having a first and a second end;

said first end of said first leg being secured to said platform between said first and said second sides thereof;

a second stabilizing leg extending from said platform, said second leg having a first and a second extremity;

said first extremity of said second leg being secured to said platform between said first end of said first leg and said second side of said platform such that when said platform has been loaded with the shingles, said pallet apparatus is transported to the ridge of the roof with said first and second legs resting and being supported by the roof with said legs being disposed on opposite sides of the ridge;

a transportation vehicle for transporting said loaded platform to a vicinity of the roof such that an operator is permitted to operate said hoist for hoisting said loaded platform from said vehicle to the ridge of the roof without the need for further personnel on the roof so that the shingles can be delivered to the roof even during inclement weather conditions;

a video camera secured to said platform for viewing a disposition of said platform and legs relative to the ridge and the roof; and

a viewing screen remotely connected to said camera for permitting the operator to accurately assess from said transportation vehicle, the disposition and orientation of said platform relative to the ridge and the roof so that safe transportation and positioning of said loaded pallet above the ridge is achieved even in bad weather conditions without any need for further assistance from an unloading crew.

13. A transportation pallet apparatus for transporting roofing shingles to a ridge of a roof, said apparatus comprising:

a rectangular platform having a first and a second side and a first and a second edge, said platform defining a surface for supporting the shingles;

said second side being disposed parallel and spaced relative to said first side;

said second edge being disposed parallel and spaced relative to said first edge;

a first stabilizing leg extending from said platform, said first leg having a first and a second end;

said first end of said first leg being secured to said platform between said first and said second sides thereof;

a second stabilizing leg extending from said platform, said second leg having a first and a second extremity;

said first extremity of said second leg being secured to said platform between said first end of said first leg and said second side of said platform such that when said platform has been loaded with the shingles, said pallet apparatus is transported to the ridge of the roof with said first and second legs resting and being supported by the roof with said legs being disposed on opposite sides of the ridge;

said platform including;

a plurality of elongate bars, each bar of said plurality of bars extending from said first to said second edge with each bar being disposed parallel and spaced relative to an adjacent bar;

a first side rail disposed adjacent to said first side of said platform;

a second side rail disposed adjacent to said second side of said platform, said second side rail extending parallel and spaced relative to said first side rail;

a first edge rail disposed adjacent to said first edge of said platform;

a second edge rail disposed adjacent to said second edge of said platform, said second edge rail extending parallel and spaced relative to said first edge rail, said plurality of bars being secured to and being reinforced by said rails;

said rails and said bars being fabricated from steel;

said first leg extending angularly away from said platform such that when said first leg is supported by the roof, said platform is disposed horizontally above the ridge for supporting the shingles thereon;

said second leg extending angularly away from said platform and said first leg such that when said second leg is supported by the roof on the opposite side of the roof relative to the ridge, said platform is disposed horizontally above the ridge for supporting the shingles thereon;

said first leg further includes;

a strengthening first fillet disposed adjacent to said first end of said first leg and extending from said first end of said first leg to said platform, said first fillet being rigidly secured to said first leg and said platform for strengthening the securement of said first leg to said platform;

said second leg further including;

a strengthening second fillet disposed adjacent to said first extremity of said second leg and extending from said first extremity of said second leg to said platform, said second fillet being rigidly secured to said second leg and said platform for strengthening the securement of said second leg to said platform;

said first leg further including;

a first foot secured to said second end of said first leg such that when said platform with the shingles disposed thereon is disposed above the ridge, said first foot engages and is supported by the roof;

a second foot secured to said second extremity of said second leg such that when said platform with the shingles disposed thereon is disposed above the ridge, said second foot engages and is supported by the roof on the opposite side of the ridge relative to the first foot;

said first foot having an inner and an outer end, said first foot being secured to said second end of said first leg between said inner and said outer ends of said first foot;

said inner end of said first foot defining a curved portion which cooperates with the roof when said platform is disposed above the ridge for preventing damage to the roof;

said second foot having an inner and an outer extremity, said second foot being secured to said second extremity of said second leg between said inner and said outer extremities of said second foot;

said inner extremity of said second foot defining a curved member which cooperates with the roof when said platform is disposed above the ridge for preventing damage to the roof;

a releasable hoist for lifting said platform loaded with the shingles to the ridge of the roof and for lowering said loaded platform onto the ridge and thereafter releasing said hoist from said platform;

a transportation vehicle for transporting said loaded platform to a vicinity of the roof such that an operator is permitted to operate said hoist for hoisting said loaded platform from said vehicle to the ridge of the roof without the need for further personnel on the roof so that the shingles can be delivered to the roof even during inclement weather conditions;

a video camera secured to said platform for viewing a disposition of said platform and legs relative to the ridge and the roof; and

a viewing screen remotely connected to said camera for permitting the operator to accurately assess from said transportation vehicle, the disposition and orientation of said platform relative to the ridge and the roof so that safe transportation and positioning of said loaded pallet above the ridge is achieved even in bad weather conditions without any need for further assistance from an unloading crew.