RECONFIGURABLE STANCHION AND GUARDRAIL SYSTEM
A reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface has a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail, a mounting arm configured to reversibly receive the guardrail support and an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the mounting arm. The ability to reversibly mount the guardrail support on different portions of the mounting arm and the ability to relocate and reconfigure the fastening assembly on the mounting arm permits the use of the same stanchion in a guardrail system for a variety of different support surfaces, including balconies, open-hole ledges, flat roofs and parapet roofs.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/480,623 filed Apr. 3, 2017, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELDThis application relates to stanchions for supporting guardrails and to guardrail systems and kits utilizing such stanchions.
BACKGROUNDPortable guardrail systems are used to protect workers from falling from high places, such as roofs and balconies, while performing work. Portable guard rail systems generally comprise stanchions, guardrails supported on the stanchions and some means of securely supporting the stanchion on the roof or balcony. However, portable guardrail systems are generally designed for only one type of application. Different systems are generally required to erect guardrails for different types of applications. For example, systems designed for a parapet roof could not be effectively used on a flat roof, a balcony or an open-hole ledge without using significantly different parts. Thus, multiple systems are required for different applications. Existing systems are therefore not generally reconfigurable for a plurality of different applications.
There remains a need for a reconfigurable guardrail system that can be used in a variety of different applications.
SUMMARYA reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface has a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail, a mounting arm configured to reversibly receive the guardrail support and an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the mounting arm. The ability to reversibly mount the guardrail support on different portions of the mounting arm and the ability to relocate and reconfigure the fastening assembly on the mounting arm permits the use of the same stanchion in a guardrail system for a variety of different support surfaces, including balconies, open-hole ledges, flat roofs and parapet roofs.
In one aspect, there is provided a reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface, the reconfigurable stanchion comprising: a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail; a mounting arm, the mounting arm comprising a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, the first elongated portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the second elongated portion, the first elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive the guardrail support, the second elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive the guardrail support, the guardrail support received by and reversibly secured to either the first elongated portion or the second elongated portion, the second elongated portion comprising a first external support engagement surface configured to engage a first surface of a supporting structure for the stanchion; and, an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly releasably attachable to the first elongated portion in a plurality of configurations and at a plurality of locations along a length of the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly having a second support engagement surface configured to engage a second surface of the supporting structure when the fastening assembly is attached to the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly further having a flange comprising spaced-apart portions forming a channel in the fastening assembly between the spaced-apart portions, the second support engagement surface situated on the adjustable fastening assembly outside the channel.
In another aspect, there is provided a kit comprising: a plurality of elongated guardrail supports; a plurality of mounting arms, each mounting arm comprising a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, the first elongated portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the second elongated portion, the first elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive one of the guardrail supports, the second elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive one of the guardrail supports, the second elongated portion comprising a first external support engagement surface configured to engage a first surface of a supporting structure; a plurality of adjustable fastening assemblies, each adjustable fastening assembly releasably attachable to the first elongated portion of one of the mounting arms in a plurality of configurations and at a plurality of locations along a length of the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly having a second support engagement surface configured to engage a second surface of the supporting structure, the fastening assembly further having a flange comprising spaced-apart portions forming a channel in the fastening assembly between the spaced-apart portions, the second support engagement surface situated on the adjustable fastening assembly outside the channel; and, instructions for assembling the elongated guardrail supports, mounting arms and fastening assemblies into stanchions for a guardrail system supported on the supporting structure.
A plurality of the reconfigurable stanchions may be used in a guardrail system in which at least one guardrail is mounted on at least two of the stanchions. The kit provides portability of the system between work sites where the guardrail system may be used in a variety of guardrail applications.
The supporting structure may be, for example, a balcony, an open-hole ledge, a flat roof or a parapet roof. The supporting structure may be made of any generally suitable construction material, for example wood, metal (e.g. steel), concrete (poured or pre-cast) and the like. The type of fasteners that may be used in some embodiments to assist with reinforcing the stanchion on the supporting structure may be prescribed by the type of construction material of the supporting structure.
The guardrail support may be adjustable along at least a portion of a length of the elongated portion to which the guardrail support is reversibly secured. Further, the guardrail support may be reversibly securable to the elongated portion at a plurality of locations along the elongated portion to which the guardrail support is reversibly secured.
The guardrail support may comprise at least one rail bracket reversibly secured thereto. The at least one rail bracket may be reversibly securable to the guardrail support at a plurality of locations along a length of the guardrail support. The rail bracket may comprise a first aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a polygonal cross-section (e.g. triangular, square, rectangular, etc.). The rail bracket may comprise a second aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a circular and/or ellipsoidal cross-section. Guardrails having substantially cylindrical cross-sections may be secured within the second aperture in a side-by-side configuration by a bolt tightened against a side of one of the two guardrails. If desired, guardrails may be secured together by other fasteners, for example screws, bolts, clamps and the like, for added security. Guardrails may be made of wood, metal (e.g. steel), high strength plastic or any other suitably durable material. The kit may comprise a plurality of the rail brackets releasably securable to the plurality of guardrail supports. The instructions in the kit may further describe how the rail brackets are secured to the guardrail supports and how the rail brackets support guardrails on the stanchions.
The mounting arm comprises first and second elongated portions. The first elongated portion may comprise a first tube or post, preferably a tube. The second elongated portion may comprise a second tube or post, preferably a tube. Where the first and second elongated portions comprise tubes, the first ends of the first and second tubes may be configured to be able to reversibly receive the guardrail support therein. The ability to secure the guardrail support to either the first or second elongated portions and at different heights on the first or second elongated portions helps permit reconfiguration of the stanchion for different applications.
The fastening assembly advantageously provides a plurality of different fastening modes for securing the stanchion to the support structure. In one mode, the fastening assembly may be a clamp that clamps a portion of the support structure between the first external support engagement surface of the second elongated portion and the second support engagement surface of the fastening assembly. In the clamp mode, the fastening assembly comprises a clamp bolt threadingly mated in a nut, preferably a nut welded to the fastening assembly. The clamp bolt may comprise the second support engagement surface that engages the second surface of the supporting structure when the clamp bolt is tightened against the second surface of the supporting structure. A locknut may be employed as a travel limiter to limit travel of the clamp bolt. In a second mode, the fastening assembly may comprise a plate, the plate having an external surface that acts as the second support engagement surface in the second mode. In the second mode, the first external support engagement surface and/or the second support engagement surface may comprise a plurality of apertures through which fasteners (e.g. screws) may deployed to further secure the stanchion to the supporting structure. In the second mode, the clamp bolt may be removed. The clamp mode is especially useful when the supporting structure is a balcony, open-hole ledge or a parapet roof. The second mode is especially useful when the supporting structure is a flat roof. The ability to reconfigure the fastening assembly in a plurality of different fastening modes helps permit reconfiguration of the stanchion for different applications.
The fastening assembly comprises a flange comprising spaced-apart portions forming a channel in the fastening assembly between the spaced-apart portions. When the supporting structure is a balcony or an open-hole ledge, the channel may be configured to receive and contain an elongated rail. The elongated rail may be a toe board. Because the second support engagement surface of the fastening assembly is situated on the adjustable fastening assembly outside the channel, the toe board does not interfere with the clamping function of the fastening assembly on the balcony or open-hole ledge. The flange of the fastening assembly may comprise a bracket, for example a c-bracket. to which the first elongated portion is releasably attached when the fastening assembly is attached to the first elongated portion.
The guardrail system or kit may further comprise auxiliary elements, for example mounting arm extensions, ballasts, various fasteners and the like. A mounting arm extension may be secured to one of the elongated portion to increase the elongated portions effective length. For example, when the stanchion is to be mounted on a particularly wide parapet, the mounting arm extension may be secured to the end of the first elongated portion to permit the first elongated portion to traverse the entire width of the parapet. In another example, when the stanchion is to be mounted on a balcony, the mounting arm extension may be secured to the end of the second elongated portion to provide more potential contact length of the second elongated portion with an underside of the balcony. Ballasts, for example sand bags, cement blocks, water-filled containers and the like, may be placed on top of horizontally extending elongated portions to further help secure the stanchions to the supporting structure. Ballasts are particularly useful on flat roofs and parapet roofs, where the first elongated portion extends horizontally over the roof.
Further features will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. It should be understood that each feature described herein may be utilized in any combination with any one or more of the other described features, and that each feature does not necessarily rely on the presence of another feature except where evident to one of skill in the art.
For clearer understanding, preferred embodiments will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
A guardrail post 40 may be secured to the first elongated portion 6 in a vertical orientation and one or more guardrails (not shown) may be supported in a horizontal orientation by one or more rail brackets 41 (only one labeled) In the illustrated embodiment, the guardrail post 40 and the first elongated portion 6 are rectangular tubes, the guardrail post 40 having smaller outer dimensions than inner dimensions of the first elongated portion 6 so that the guardrail post 40 and the first elongated portion 6 can form a tube-in-tube arrangement with the guardrail post 40 slidable inside the first elongated portion 6. The height of the guardrail post 40 may be conveniently adjusted by sliding the guardrail post 40 to a desired depth in the first elongated portion 6. Pins (e.g. hitch pins 18 or threaded pins such as bolts or screws) or other fasteners may be used to secure the guardrail post 40 to the first elongated portion 6 at the desired depth. Apertures 14 (only one labeled) in the first elongated portion 6 and apertures 44 (only one labeled) in the guardrail post 40 may be aligned at the desired depth to permit the hitch pins 18 to be inserted therethrough to secure the guardrail post 40 in the first elongated portion 6. In other embodiments, the first elongated portion may slide within or beside the guardrail post, the tubes may be of different cross-sectional shapes (e.g. circular, oval, triangular, etc.), one or the other or both of the first elongated portion and the guardrail post may be solid, or some combination thereof.
The rail brackets 41 may be releasably mounted on the guardrail post 40, for example by fasteners, for example pins (e.g. threaded pins such as bolts, screws or the like), clamps, and the like. In one embodiment, the fasteners may be bolts 42 (only one labeled) passed through the apertures 44 in the guardrail post 40 and bolt holes in the rail brackets 41, and secured with nuts. Vertical positioning of the rail brackets 41 may be adjusted by removing the fasteners and positioning the rail brackets 41 at different positions before securing the rail brackets 41 again with the fasteners. The rail brackets 41 each comprise a first rail aperture 45 for side-by-side supporting of overlapping ends of two rectangular guardrail studs (not shown), and a second rail aperture 46 having two substantially circular portions 46a, 46b for side-by-side supporting of overlapping ends of two circular guardrail pipes (not shown). Although the embodiment shown show the rail brackets with two apertures, any number of apertures may be present, and the apertures may be of any convenient shape to support a variety of differently shaped guardrails. To help secure circular guardrail pipes in the round portions 46a, 46b of the second rail aperture 46, an eyebolt 43 may be threaded through the apertures 44 to be tightened against one of the guardrail pipes thereby tightening both of the guardrail pipes against an inner edge of the second rail aperture 46.
Further, a toe board (not shown in
As seen in
As seen in
Thus, by designing both the first and second elongated portions 6, 7 to be able to securably and reversibly receive the same guardrail post 40, and by providing an adjustable fastening assembly 20 releasably attachable to the first elongated portion 6 in a plurality of configurations and at a plurality of locations, it is possible to utilize the same parts of the stanchion 1 in a variety of guardrail applications.
With reference to
The second elongated portion 7 comprises the abutment surface 8, which is comprised of an abutment plate 16 having a flat surface forming the abutment surface 8. The abutment plate 16 further comprises apertures 17 (only one labeled) through which screws may be inserted to assist in securing the mounting arm 5 to surfaces, especially in the flat roof configuration (see
In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second elongated portions 6, 7 may be square tubes having the same cross-sectional dimensions to be able to accommodate insertion of the same guardrail post into open ends 12, 13 of the first and second elongated portions 6, 7, respectively. The first and second elongated portions 6, 7 further comprise the plurality of apertures 14, 15, respectively (only one of each labeled). The apertures 14 in the first elongated portion 6 serve to provide locations at which the fastening assembly 20 (not shown in
With reference to
The mounting flanges 25 may comprise apertures 37, 38 through which fasteners, for example pins (e.g. hitch pins 18 or threaded pins such as bolts, screws or the like), may pass to secure the fastening assembly 20 to the first elongated portion 6. The apertures may be located at any convenient locations on the mounting flanges to enable reconfiguration of the fastening assembly on the first elongated portion. In one embodiment, a first set of apertures 37 (see
Positioning and configuration of the c-bracket 30 on the first elongated portion 6 depends on the particular application. The position at which the c-bracket 30 is releasably attached to the first elongated portion 6 is selected to ensure that the abutment face 21a of the clamping bolt 22 (see
With further reference to
With reference to
With reference to
All of the parts of the stanchion 1 may be constructed of any suitably strong and durable material, for example a metal (e.g. steel).
With reference to
With reference to
The novel features will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon examination of the description. It should be understood, however, that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the wording of the claims and the specification as a whole.
Claims
1. A reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface, the reconfigurable stanchion comprising:
- a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail;
- a mounting arm, the mounting arm comprising a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, the first elongated portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the second elongated portion, the first elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive the guardrail support, the second elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive the guardrail support, the guardrail support received by and reversibly secured to either the first elongated portion or the second elongated portion, the second elongated portion comprising a first external support engagement surface configured to engage a first surface of a supporting structure for the stanchion; and,
- an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly releasably attachable to the first elongated portion in a plurality of configurations and at a plurality of locations along a length of the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly having a second support engagement surface configured to engage a second surface of the supporting structure when the fastening assembly is attached to the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly further having a flange comprising spaced-apart portions forming a channel in the fastening assembly between the spaced-apart portions, the second support engagement surface situated on the adjustable fastening assembly outside the channel.
2. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the guardrail support is adjustable along at least a portion of a length of the elongated portion to which the guardrail support is reversibly secured, and the guardrail support is reversibly securable to the elongated portion at a plurality of locations along the elongated portion to which the guardrail support is reversibly secured.
3. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the first elongated portion comprises a first tube and the second elongated portion comprises a second tube, wherein the first ends of the tubes are configured to be able to receive the guardrail support therein.
4. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the guardrail support comprises at least one rail bracket reversibly secured thereto, the rail bracket comprising a first aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a polygonal cross-section and a second aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a circular and/or ellipsoidal cross-section.
5. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the guardrail support comprises at least one rail bracket reversibly secured thereto, the rail bracket comprising a first aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a rectangular cross-section and a second aperture configured to receive and support two guardrails having substantially cylindrical cross-sections, wherein the two guardrails having substantially cylindrical cross-sections are secured within the second aperture in a side-by-side configurations by a bolt tightened against a side of one of the two guardrails.
6. The stanchion of claim 4, wherein the rail bracket is securable to the guardrail support at a plurality of locations along a length of the guardrail support.
7. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the fastening assembly is a clamp and the clamp comprises a clamp bolt threadingly mated in a nut, the clamp bolt comprising the second support engagement surface that engages the second surface of the supporting structure when the clamp bolt is tightened against the second surface of the supporting structure.
8. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the flange comprises a c-bracket to which the first elongated portion is releasably attached when the fastening assembly is attached to the first elongated portion.
9. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is a balcony, an open-hole ledge, a flat roof or a parapet roof.
10. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is a balcony or an open-hole ledge, and wherein the channel in the fastening assembly is configured to receive and contain an elongated rail.
11. The stanchion of claim 10, wherein the elongated rail is a toe board.
12. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein the first external support engagement surface and/or the second support engagement surface comprise a plurality of apertures through which fasteners may deployed to further secure the stanchion to the supporting structure.
13. A kit comprising:
- a plurality of elongated guardrail supports;
- a plurality of mounting arms, each mounting arm comprising a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, the first elongated portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the second elongated portion, the first elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive one of the guardrail supports, the second elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive one of the guardrail supports, the second elongated portion comprising a first external support engagement surface configured to engage a first surface of a supporting structure;
- a plurality of adjustable fastening assemblies, each adjustable fastening assembly releasably attachable to the first elongated portion of one of the mounting arms in a plurality of configurations and at a plurality of locations along a length of the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly having a second support engagement surface configured to engage a second surface of the supporting structure, the fastening assembly further having a flange comprising spaced-apart portions forming a channel in the fastening assembly between the spaced-apart portions, the second support engagement surface situated on the adjustable fastening assembly outside the channel; and,
- instructions for assembling the elongated guardrail supports, mounting arms and fastening assemblies into stanchions for a guardrail system supported on the supporting structure.
14. The kit according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of rail brackets releasably securable to the guardrail supports.
15. The kit according to claim 14, wherein the instructions further describe how the rail brackets are secured to the guardrail supports and how the rail brackets support guardrails on the stanchions.
16. A reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface, the reconfigurable stanchion comprising a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail, a mounting arm configured to reversibly receive the guardrail support and an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the mounting arm.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2018
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2018
Inventor: Anthony Joseph Gentile (London)
Application Number: 15/944,612