Patent Publication Number: US-2015069313-A1

Title: Metal safety rail for open floors of a building under construction

Description:
This application claims priority as a divisional of application Ser. No. 13/862,938, filed on Apr. 15, 2013, presently pending, which in turn claimed priority as a Continuation in Part of application Ser. No. 12/460,754, filed on Jul. 24, 2009, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,851 on Apr. 23, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to safety rails or guard rails for open air floors of buildings under construction and, more particularly, to metal safety rails that are reusable. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     Safety rails used to prevent workers from falling from open floors of buildings under construction are generally fabricated from wood that is secured together with nails. The wooden safety rails is ultimately “destroyed” when the wooden safety rail is removed from the installation location. Further, the process of assembling and disassembling the wooden safety rail is labor intensive, time consuming and expensive. 
     After the work is completed for the respective open floor, the wooden safety rails are torn apart and discarded, and the respective floor is enclosed. New lumber is then required for constructing safety rails for the next open floor of the building. The discarded wood ultimately ends up in a landfill. The new lumber for the next safety rail must be measured, cut and installed in the same labor intensive, time consuming manner. The new lumber is ultimately discarded when the work is complete for the respective floor. The process is repeated until the building is completed. 
     A need exists for a metal safety rail that is reusable, that quickly assembles and disassembles, that disassembles into two separate members to prevent cooperating elements from being lost or damaged, and that is more stabile, force resistant and safer than comparable wooden safety rails. Further, the metal safety rail must meet all specifications established by safety agencies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A principle object of the present invention is to provide a metal safety rail for open floors of a building under construction. A feature of the safety rail is a metal baseplate secured to a floor surface via anchor bolts. Another feature of the safety rail is a pair of inner stanchions welded to the baseplate, each inner stanchion slidably receiving cooperating outer stanchions of two discrete rail sections. An advantage of the safety rail is that the metal baseplate and inner stanchions maintain the position of the safety rail upon a floor portion when typical force magnitudes are imparted upon safety rails. Another advantage of the safety rail is that the metal baseplate is detachable from the floor surface thereby allowing the safety rail to be reused. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a metal safety rail that is easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. A feature of the safety rail is a plurality of metal rail sections that include two integral metal outer stanchions that snugly slide over cooperating inner stanchions integrally joined to adjacent baseplates. An advantage of the safety rail is that labor costs are reduced. Another advantage of the safety rail is that the safety rail is reusable. Still another advantage of the safety rail is that no portions of the safety rail are discarded. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to maintain safety for personnel engaging the safety rail. A feature of the safety rail is a rod or joining member that secures the outer stanchion to the inner stanchion. An advantage of the safety rail is that a rail section cannot be lifted from the inner stanchions, thereby exposing individuals to a dangerous fall from the open floor under construction. Another advantage of the safety rail is that the joining member is quickly secured to and removed from the inner, thereby minimizing time and costs to assemble and disassemble the safety rail. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to prevent joining members from being lost or damaged. A feature of the safety rail is a sleeve joined to an outer stanchion, the sleeve slidably receiving the joining member. Another feature of the safety rail is a washer welded to the joining member such that the washer and the sleeve cooperate to maintain the joining member inside the outer stanchion. An advantage of the safety rail is that two joining members remain with each rail section, thereby preventing lost or damaged joining members and reducing the time required to secure and separate rail sections and inner stanchions. 
     Another object of the present invention is to allow the safety rail to be vertically adjustable when varying elevations are required to prevent personnel or materials from falling from an open floor of a building under construction. A feature of the safety rail is a coupling member disposed between portions of the inner and outer stanchions as each rail section is elevated. An advantage of the safety rail is that the coupling member occupies “space” between the inner and outer stanchions, thereby increasing safety rail stability and resistance to forces imparted upon one or more rail sections forming the safety rail. 
     Briefly, the invention provides a safety rail for open floors of a building under construction comprising a baseplate secured to a floor surface; an inner substantially vertical stanchion integrally joined to said baseplate; an outer substantially vertical stanchion slidably disposed over said inner stanchion; at least one guard member secured to adjacent outer stanchions; and means for removably securing said outer stanchion to said inner stanchion, whereby a plurality of baseplates, inner stanchions, outer stanchions and guard rails are ultimately joined together to form a safety rail disposed about a peripheral portion of an open floor of a building under construction, thereby preventing workers from falling from a floor of the building under construction to the ground below. 
     The invention further provides a reusable safety rail for open floors of a building under construction comprising an inner stanchion secured to a floor portion of a building under construction; an outer stanchion disposed upon and rigidly and detachably secured to said inner stanchion; and multiple guard members removably secured to said outer stanchion, whereby a safety rail is constructed that prevents working personnel from falling from a floor of an open building under construction. 
     The invention also provides a method for construction a guard rail on floors of a building during construction, said method comprising the steps of securing an inner stanchion to a floor portion of a building under construction; disposing an outer stanchion upon said inner stanchion; rigidly and removably securing said outer stanchion to said inner stanchion; and removably securing guard members to adjacent outer stanchions, whereby a height adjustable guard rail is constructed for preventing workers from falling from an elevated floor portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrative embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a safety rail for open floors of a building under construction in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a baseplate with inner stanchions extending therefrom in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front sectional view of portions of two rail sections disposed upon a baseplate in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a modified safety rail in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front sectional view of the modified safety rail of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a baseplate with inner stanchions extending therefrom and joining members disposed above the inner stanchions for the modified safety rail of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a joining member for the modified safety rail of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second modified safety rail in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front sectional view of the second modified safety rail of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a baseplate with inner stanchions extending therefrom for the second modified safety rail of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective exploded and phantom view of a joining member for the second modified safety rail of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  sectional view of an upper portion of the front sectional view of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a third modified safety rail in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a front sectional view of the third modified safety rail of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a baseplate with inner stanchions extending therefrom and joining members disposed above the inner stanchions for the third modified safety rail of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a joining member for the third modified safety rail of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a fourth modified safety rail in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a front sectional view of the fourth modified safety rail of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a baseplate with inner stanchions extending therefrom and joining members disposed above the inner stanchions for the fourth modified safety rail of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a joining member for the fourth modified safety rail of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment for the baseplate of the second modified safety rail of  FIG. 8  in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a front elevation view of the baseplate of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 23  is a side elevation view of the baseplate of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 24  is a top elevation view of the baseplate of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 25  is same perspective view of the baseplate of  FIG. 21 , but with a weight disposed thereupon. 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a clamping base alternative embodiment for the baseplate of the second modified safety rail of  FIG. 8  in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 27  is an exploded view of the clamping base of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 28  is a front elevation view of the clamping base of  FIG. 26 , but with the clamping base being disposed upon a support beam. 
         FIG. 29  is a front elevation view of the clamping base of  FIG. 26 , but without the support beam being depicted. 
         FIG. 30  is a side elevation view of the clamping base of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 31  is a top elevation view of the clamping base of  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a safety rail for the perimeter of an open floor of building under construction is denoted as numeral  10 . The safety rail  10  includes multiple rail sections  11  disposed upon adjacent spatially separated baseplates  12  that are secured to a floor surface  14  via anchor bolts  24  integrally inserted into a floor portion  27 . Cooperating nuts  27  are rotationally secured to the anchor bolts  24  until the nuts  27  forcibly engage the baseplates  12 . The baseplates  12  include a pair of substantially vertical inner stanchions  16  integrally joined to each baseplate  12  via welding or similar means well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The rail sections  11  are secured to the baseplates  12  via substantially vertical outer stanchions  18  integrally formed into the rail sections  11 , the outer stanchions  18  are snugly slid upon cooperating inner stanchions  16  by an individual such that the rail sections  11  are vertically maintained when released by the individual. Top, middle and bottom guard members  20 ,  21 , and  22  are integrally joined to cooperating outer stanchions  18  such that a rail section  11  is fabricated with a predetermined vertical elevation sufficient to protect personnel working on an open floor area in a building under constriction. 
     The vertical or longitudinal dimensions of the inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18  cooperate to provide stability and safety to the rail section  11  when the outer stanchions  18  are disposed over the inner stanchions  16 . The longer the inner stanchion  16 , the more stability provided to the outer stanchion  18 , and the more unlikely the outer stanchion  18  would be accidently elevated from the inner stanchion  16 , which could result in an individual falling from the open floor area. The vertical dimension of the outer stanchions  18  is ultimately determined by the rail section  11  vertical safety elevation required by the individuals working on the open floor area. Once the vertical dimension for the outer stanchions  18  has been selected, a vertical dimension for the inner stanchions  16  is selected that allows a first end  42  of the outer stanchion  18  to rest upon the baseplate  12 , while disposing the second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16  slightly lower in elevation than the second end  44  of the outer stanchion  18 , thereby maximizing stability and safety for the rail section  11 . Obviously, a shorter vertical dimension for the inner stanchion  16  may be selected, however, stability and safety would be comprised. To prevent the outer stanchion  18  from being separated from the inner stanchion  16 , the first end  42  of the outer stanchion  18  may be secured to the first end  30  of the inner stanchion  16  via aperture and cotter pins or similar securing means well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The baseplate  12  is dimensioned to provide a stable attachment between the rail sections  11  and the floor surface  14  irrespective of the force imparted upon the safety rail  10 . Typically, the baseplate  12  is a one-quarter inch thick plate of steel with a length of nine inches and a width of six inches. The baseplate  12  is secured to a floor surface  14  via threaded mounting studs  24  drilled into and integrally joined to a floor portion  26 . Cooperating nuts  27  secure the baseplate  12  to the mounting studs  24  such that the baseplate  12  maintains congruent engagement with the floor surface  14 . The baseplate  12  includes two inner stanchions  16  perpendicularly joined to a top wall  28  of the baseplate  12  via welding or similar means, thereby maintaining the inner stanchions  16  in a substantially vertical position after the baseplate  12  is congruently secured to the floor surface  14 , irrespective of a substantially horizontal force being imparted upon the inner stanchion  16 . The two inner stanchions  16  are spatially separated a distance that allows cooperating outer stanchions  18  to snugly slide upon the two inner stanchions  16  such that the outer stanchions  18  do not engage each other. 
     The inner stanchion  16  includes a two inch diameter, four feet long piece of schedule forty steel pipe having a first end  30  welded to the baseplate  12 . A second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16  may be open or covered. If the outer stanchion  18  is simply slid over the inner stanchion  16  and there is no need to secure the outer stanchion  18  to the inner stanchion, then no joining means is required between the two stanchions  16  and  18 . If increased safety and stability is required for the safety rail  10 , then the outer stanchion  18  is secured to the inner stanchion  16  via a top portion  40  of a threaded joining member  38  engaging a washer  43  which in turn engages a second end  44  of the outer stanchion  18 . The threaded joining member  38  rotationally engages a nut  36  centered and welded inside the second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16  (see  FIGS. 4-7 ). The dimensions of the inner stanchion  16  may vary depending upon the expected maximum magnitude of force ultimately imparted upon the safety rail  10 . The dimensions of the baseplate  12 , outer stanchion  18  and guard members  20  will correspondingly vary. The dimensioning of the safety rail  10  as a function of expected maximum force imparted upon the safety rail  10  is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The nut  36  is orientated to vertically receive the threaded joining member  38 , which can be a bolt, rod or pipe. The top portion  40  of the joining member  38  and the washer  43  ultimately capture and secure the outer stanchion  18  to the inner stanchion  16 . A plurality of drain apertures  37  are provided at the base of the first end  30  of the inner stanchion  16  to allow rain and moisture collected between the baseplate  12  and the first end  30  to exit the inner stanchion  16 . 
     The outer stanchion  18  includes a portion of schedule forty steel pipe having a diameter and length relatively larger than the corresponding diameter and length of the inner stanchion  16  to promote the snug disposition of the outer stanchion  18  over the inner stanchion  16 . The relatively larger outer stanchion  18  slides over the inner stanchion  16  until a first end  42  of the outer stanchion  18  engages the top wall  28  of the baseplate  12 . If the outer stanchion  18  must be secured to the inner stanchion  16 , then a shaft portion  39  of the joining member  38  is inserted into an open second end  44  of the outer stanchion  18  until a threaded bottom portion  41  of the shaft portion  39  engages nut  36  in the inner stanchion  16  (see  FIGS. 4-7 ). The joining member  38  is then rotated via manual or tool means such that the threaded bottom portion  41  inserts into the nut  36  until the top or knob portion  40  of the joining member  38  engages the second end  44  of the outer stanchion  18 , thereby forcibly securing the outer stanchion  18  to the inner stanchion  16 , resulting in a rigid, stable stanchion assembly capable of supporting the guard members  20  such that workers are prevented from falling from a floor of a building under construction to the ground below. A plurality of drain apertures  48  are provided at the base of the first end  42  of the outer stanchion  18  to allow rain and moisture collected between the baseplate  12  and the first end  42  of the outer stanchion  18 , and rain and moisture exiting the inner stanchion  16  to exit the outer stanchion  18  and flow upon the floor surface  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-12 , an alternative design for securing the outer stanchion  18  to the inner stanchion  16  via the joining member  38  in accordance with the present invention is depicted. The alternative design includes a metal cylindrical sleeve  52  integrally joined via welding or similar means to an upper arcuate portion  53  of the outer stanchion  18 . A bottom portion  54  of the sleeve  52  is configured to congruently engage the upper arcuate portion  53  such that the sleeve  52  is axially aligned with the outer stanchion  18  and with an aperture  56  in the upper arcuate portion  53 , thereby providing access to the outer stanchion  18  and the inner stanchion  16  therein for a threaded joining member  38  to rotationally engage a cooperatively threaded funnel member  55  that is secured to an upper collar  57  which is integrally joined to the second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16 . The upper collar  57  provides increased surface area for improving the weld maintaining the position of the funnel member  55  relative to the inner stanchion  16 . 
     The baseplate  12  includes a steel reinforcing bar  58  welded to the baseplate  12  and disposed between lower securing collars  59  that integrally join the inner stanchions  16  to the baseplate  12 . The reinforcing bar  58  prevents the baseplate  12  from deforming when a person leans against or otherwise imparts a force upon the assembled safety rail  10 . A deformed baseplate  12  allows corresponding rail sections  11  to “bend” opposite to the direction of the imparted force, which could cause a person to fall from the floor area being guarded by the safety rail  10 . The securing collars  59  provide increased surface area for securing the inner stanchions  16  to the baseplate  12  via welding or similar means, thereby maintaining the inner stanchions  16  in a substantially vertical position irrespective of the force imparted to the outer stanchions  18  via the rail sections  11 . 
     The joining member  38  includes a threaded rod  61  having a blunt upper end  63  that inserts through a sleeve engagement washer  65  and rotationally inserts through a retaining nut  67  and into a handle  69 . The joining member  38  further includes a relatively “pointed” lower end  71  that “finds” and is inserted into a threaded aperture  74  in the funnel member  55 , then promotes rotational engagement between the rod  61  and the funnel member  55  to ultimately secure the joining member  38  and the outer stanchion  18  to the inner stanchion  16 . A retaining washer  73  is welded to an upper portion of the threaded rod  61  to prevent the joining member  38  from being extracted or otherwise removed from the outer stanchion  18 , thereby preventing the joining member from being lost or damaged which would eventually occur should the joining member  38  be separated from the outer stanchion  18 . The retaining washer  73  includes a diameter dimensioned slightly larger than the diameter of the sleeve  52  to prevent the washer  73  from being manually urged through the sleeve  52  and extracted from the outer stanchion  18 . The sleeve engagement washer  65  promotes the forcible rotation of the retaining nut  67  against the sleeve  52  to “lock-in” the position of the outer stanchion relative to the joining member  38  and the inner stanchion  16  without excessive wear to cooperating surfaces of the retaining nut  67  and the sleeve  52 . 
     The joining member  38  is secured to the outer stanchion  18  by inserting the upper end  63  of the rod  61  (without the washer  65 , retaining nut  67  or handle  69  attached) through the first end  42  of the outer stanchion  18 , which is separated from the inner stanchion  16 , and through the sleeve  52 ; whereupon, the washer  65 , retaining nut  67  and handle  69  are secured to the upper end  63  of the rod  61 . The removable handle  69 , nut  67  and washer  65  cooperate with the fixed location of the retaining washer  73  upon the rod  61  to secure the joining member  38  to the outer stanchion  18 , while allowing the rod  61  to axially slide within the sleeve  52  a longitudinal distance determined by distance between the retaining washer  73  and the bottom portion  54  of the sleeve  52  when the retaining nut  67  urges the washer  65  into engagement with the sleeve  52 . 
     The safety rail  10  is assembled by disposing the outer stanchion  18  upon the inner stanchion  16 . As the outer stanchion  18  is lowered upon the inner stanchion  16 , the pointed lower end  71  of the rod ultimately engages a “downwardly” sloping funnel wall  75  of the funnel member  55  which urges the lower end  71  into the threaded aperture  74 ; whereupon, the handle  69  is manually rotated to secure the outer stanchion  18  upon the inner stanchion  16 . In the event that the lower end  71  of the rod  61  did not slide upon the funnel wall  75 , but was instead “locked” in place due to misalignment between the rod  61 , outer stanchion  18  and/or inner stanchion  16 , then the rod  61  could be bent or otherwise damaged such that structural integrity of the assemble safety rail  10  would be compromised. 
     To prevent damage to the rod  61 , the retaining washer  73  is positioned upon the rod  61  such that sufficient longitudinal movement of the rod within the outer stanchion  18  is provided to allow the lower end  71  of the rod to “rest” upon the funnel wall  75  without any weight or manual force from the outer stanchion  18  transferred to the rod  61 . To remove the outer stanchion  18  from the inner stanchion  16 , the handle  69  is manually rotated to extract the rod  61  from the funnel member  55 ; whereupon, the rail section  11  and outer stanchion  18  is separated from the inner stanchion  16 . The joining member  38  will remain with the outer stanchion  18  until the handle  69 , retaining nut  67  and washer  65  are removed from the rod  61 , thereby allowing the rod  61  to be manually pulled from the first end  42  of the outer stanchion  18 . 
     Multiple guard members  20 ,  21  and  22  having a length not exceeding eight feet are integrally joined to adjacent outer stanchions  18  to form one rail section  11 . Alternatively, the guard members  20 ,  21  and  22  may be detachably secured to the outer stanchion  18  via clamp assemblies (manufactured by I B&amp;M tubular Products, located at 1919 W. 19 th  St., Broadview, Ill. 60155) that provide a relatively fast attachment to form the rail sections  11  about a predetermined periphery of an open floor of a building under construction. The guard members  20 ,  21  and  22  include a myriad of configurations including, but not limited to steel cables, angle iron, steel flat bars, chain linked fence and combinations thereof. The selection of any particular guard member  20 ,  21  and  22  must be capable of resisting an expected maximum force that might be imparted upon safety rail  10 . 
     A completed safety rail  10  extending about the perimeter of an open floor generally includes a height of about four feet. However, during the construction or after the completion of the safety rail  10 , it may be determined that a safety rail  10  is required that is greater than four feet in height. The height of the safety rail  10  is quickly increased by rotationally removing the joining member  38  from the inner stanchion  16 , then slidably lifting the outer stanchion  18  from the inner stanchion  16 . An outer stanchion  18  having a length and guard members  20 ,  21  and  22  attached thereto that results in a safety rail  10  having the required height, is slidably disposed upon the inner stanchion  16 . The joining member  38  is then reinserted into the longer outer stanchion  18  until rotationally engaging the inner stanchion  16 , thereby securing the longer outer stanchion  18  to the inner stanchion  16 . The replacement process is repeated for all the outer stanchions  18 . In the event that the shaft portion  39  of the joining member  38  is not sufficiently long to have the threaded bottom portion  41  rotationally engage the centered nut  36 , then a replacement joining member is provided with a shaft portion  39  having sufficient length to rotationally insert the threaded bottom portion  41  into the nut  36 . 
     In the event that the lengthened outer stanchion  18  promotes and unstable or relatively “weak” force resistant outer stanchion and safety rail  10 , a coupling member  50  ( FIG. 5 ) such as a pipe or similar structure is disposed between the second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16  and the top portion  40  of the joining member  38 . The coupling member  50  may be used with an open or covered second end  44  of the outer stanchion, so long as the ends of the coupling member  50  are designed to be removably secured to cooperating second ends  32  and  44  of the inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18 . The pipe coupling member  50  allows the shaft portion  39  of the joining member  38  to longitudinally extend therethrough, thereby enabling the coupling member  50  to be quickly inserted or removed from the separated inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18 . The coupling member  50  effectively “fills” the void between the second end  44  of an elevated outer stanchion  18 , and the second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16 , resulting in increased stability and force resistance for the outer stanchion  18  as well as the entire safety rail  10 . 
     In operation, a safety rail  10  is constructed having a predetermined length substantially equal to the perimeter of an open floor of a building under construction. A quantity of baseplates  12 , inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18 , and guard members  20  are selected to provide a length of safety rail  10  sufficient to enclose the perimeter of a selected open floor. Further, the baseplates  12 , inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18 , and guard members  20  are selected and dimensioned to provide the required strength and stability required to contain an expected maximum force that might be imparted upon the safety rail  10  by a worker or machine. The baseplates, and the inner stanchions  16  integrally joined thereto, are disposed upon a floor surface  14  and spatially separated a predetermined distance. The baseplates are then joined to a floor portion  26  via anchor bolts  24  and nuts  27 . An outer stanchion  18  is manually slid over the inner stanchion  16 . If enhanced safety and stability is not required, then the outer stanchion  18  is not secured to the inner stanchion. If enhanced safety and stability is required, then the outer stanchion  18  is secured to the inner stanchion  16  via a threaded bottom portion  41  of a shaft portion  39  of a joining member  38  rotationally inserted into a nut  36  integrally joined to the second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16 . The threaded bottom  41  is manually rotated into the nut  36  until a top portion  40  of the joining member  38  forcibly engages a second end  44  of the outer stanchion  18 , such that the outer stanchion  18  is stable relative to the inner stanchion  16  irrespective of the magnitude and direction of force imparted upon the safety rail  10 . The cooperating inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18  result in a rigid safety rail  10  that is relatively easy to assemble and disassemble, that is height adjustable after completely being assembled, and that is rigid, stable and designed to withstand forces of predetermined magnitudes and direction such that workers and materials are prevented from falling from an elevated floor of a building under construction to the ground below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13-16 , an alternative configuration for the joined inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18  is depicted. The inner stanchion  16  includes a metal cap or cover  60  integrally joined to a second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16 , the cap  60  including a centered nut  62  integrally joined to the cap  60 . The outer stanchion  18  includes a metal cap or cover  64  integrally joined to a second end  44  of the outer stanchion  18 , the cap  64  including a centered aperture  66  that allows a washer  68  to be disposed upon a top edge portion  70  of the aperture  66 . A bolt  72  is ultimately inserted through the washer  68  and rotationally inserted into the nut  62  until the outer stanchion  18  is rigidly secured to the inner stanchion  16 . In the event longer outer stanchions  18  are required to fabricate a safety rail  10 , longer bolts  72  and coupling members  50  may be required to secure and stabilize the outer stanchion  18  to the inner stanchion  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 17-20 , another alternative configuration for the joined inner and outer stanchions  16  and  18  is depicted. The inner stanchion  16  includes a metal cap  80  integrally joined to a second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16 , the cap  80  including a centered stud  82  integrally joined to and extending upward from a top wall  81  of the cap  80 . The outer stanchion  18  includes a metal cap  84  integrally joined to a second end  44  of the outer stanchion  18 , the cap  84  including a centered aperture  86  that allows a washer  88  to be disposed upon a top edge portion  90  of the aperture  86 . A nut  92  is rotationally secured to a threaded end  94  of the stud  82  until the outer stanchion  18  is rigidly secured to the inner stanchion  16 . The ultimate length selected for the outer stanchion  18  is limited to the cooperating length of the stud  82  extending upward from the cap  80  covering the second end  32  of the inner stanchion  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 21-24 , an alternative baseplate or anchor base  110  is depicted. The anchor base  110  is a relatively heavy object with a relatively large rectangular configuration and is included as an element of the safety rail  10  described above when the safety rail  10  cannot be secured to the floor surface  14  via the baseplate  12 , but instead, the safety rail  10  must be set upon the floor surface  14  without using attaching components. The anchor base  110  is fabricated from a relatively heavy metal such as carbon steel and includes substantially cylindrical carbon steel inner stanchions  116  perpendicularly and integrally joined to the surface of the anchor base  110 . The inner stanchions  116  function substantially the same as the inner stanchions  16  that removably receive the outer stanchions  18  of the safety rail  10  described above. More specifically, the inner stanchions  116  slidably receive the outer stanchions  18  thereupon such that the safety rail  10  is vertically disposed in a substantially rigid position thereby protecting workers proximate to the safety rail  10 . The configuration and dimensions of the anchor base  110  cooperate with the configuration and dimensions of the baseplate  12  such that the baseplate  12  and anchor base  110  can be adjacently disposed to receive opposing outer stanchions  18  of the same rail section  11 , thereby allowing the baseplate  12  to be attached to one portion of the floor surface  14  and allowing the anchor base  110  to be disposed upon an adjacent second portion of the floor surface  14  that cannot have intrusive anchor bolts  24  forcibly inserted into the second portion of the floor surface  14 . 
     Funnel members  117  are integrally secured to open top ends  118  of the inner stanchions  116 . The funnel members  117  include central threaded apertures  121  that rotationally receive cooperating threaded end portions of threaded rods  61  that ultimately secured rail sections  11  to the inner stanchions  116 . A gripping member  123  fabricated from a relatively dense, rigid rubber material is secured to a bottom wall of the anchor base  110  to prevent the anchor base  110  from sliding upon the floor surface  14  after the safety rail  10  has been assembled. To increase the force maintaining the relative position of the anchor base  110  upon the floor once the safety rail  10  has been assembled, two opposing apertures  125  are provided to receive relatively small securing screws (not depicted) having sufficient length to insert through the anchor base  110  and into the floor surface  14 , thereby securing the anchor base  110  to the floor without damaging the floor surface  14 . 
     The anchor base  110  further includes a carbon steel guiding stanchion  129  vertically and integrally joined to the surface of the anchor base  110 . The guiding stanchion  129  is vertically dimensioned and configured to removably receive a relatively heavy dense rubber weight  131  via an aperture  132  (see  FIG. 25 ) such that the weight  131  is maintained upon the upper surface of the anchor base  110  in a predetermined position. The weight  131  increases the force for maintaining the relative position of the anchor base  110  upon the floor surface  14  after the safety rail  10  as been assembled. The guiding stanchion  129  includes a threaded cap  133  disposed upon a threaded end of the guiding stanchion  129 . The cap  133  provides a cover to keep water from accumulating inside the stanchion  129 , and upon removing the cap  133 , an extension of pipe can be secured to the threaded end of the stanchion  129  via a coupling (not depicted) should added weights  131  be required to be stacked to further increase the force impressing the base  110  upon the floor surface  14 , thereby increasing the vertical stability of the assembled safety rail  10  and the friction of the gripping member  123  upon the floor surface  14  to maintain the relative position of the anchor base  110  upon the floor surface  14 . 
     The weight  131  includes a gap  135  to allow cooperating portions of the weight  131  to separate to promote the insertion of the cap  133  through the aperture  132  when disposing one or more weights  131  upon the anchor base  110 . The weight  131  further includes a second aperture  137  that exposes a corresponding aperture  125  in the base to allow the aperture  125  to receive a securing screw when the weight  131  is disposed upon the anchor base  110 . The second aperture  137  includes a semi-circle configuration that allows a persons hand to comfortably insert therethrough to manually lift and carry the weight  131 . A second gap  139  is provided in the weight  131  to promote the removal of the weight  131  from the anchor base  110  by a person grasping one of the two “fingers”  141  formed by the second gap  139 , then elevating the weight  131  from the surface of the anchor base  110  or a lower weight  131  when multiple weights  131  are disposed upon the anchor base  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 26-31 , yet another alternative baseplate or clamping base is depicted and denoted as numeral  150 . Instead of using the baseplate  12  or the anchor base  110  described above, the clamping base  150  is depicted as an element of the safety rail  10  when the safety rail  10  cannot be secured to and/or set upon the floor surface  14 . The clamping base  150  is ultimately secured to a support beam  152  or similar support structure as depicted in  FIG. 28 . The clamping base  150  includes a clamping arm  154 , an extension arm  156 , a stanchion base  158 , a locking member  160  and locking pins  162 . All portions of the clamping base  150  are fabricated from carbon steel except for the locking pins  162 , which are fabricated from stainless steel. The stanchion base  158  includes inner stanchions  164  having substantially the same configurations and functions as the inner stanchions  16  described above. The inner stanchions  164  are integrally joined, via welding or similar means, to an outer top wall  166  of a base member or first “U” configured channel  168  (when taking a front elevation ( FIG. 28 ) view of the clamping base  150 ). The inner stanchions  164  are dimensioned and disposed upon the top wall  166  to cooperatively receive outer stanchions  18  of corresponding rail sections  11  in substantially the same manner as depicted in  FIG. 9 . The first U configured channel  168  maintains its configuration via angle arms  170  integrally joined to inner top wall  172  and inner side wall  174 , irrespective of the amount of force imparted upon the outer top wall  166  by the rail sections  11 , which are ultimately secured to the inner stanchions  164 . 
     The configuration and dimensions of the clamping base  150  cooperate with the configurations and dimensions of the baseplate  12  and/or the anchor base  110  such that the baseplate  12  or the anchor base  110  can be adjacently disposed to the clamping base  150  to receive opposing outer stanchions  18  of the same rail section  11 , thereby allowing the baseplate  12  or anchor base  110  to be attached to one portion of the floor surface  14 , and allowing the clamping base  150  to be disposed upon an adjacent support beam  152  that supports a second portion of the floor surface  14 . 
     The stanchion base  158  further includes vertical and horizontal channel bars  176  and  178  integrally joined together to form a “T” configuration, such that the horizontal channel bar  178  is disposed and dimensioned to snugly and slidably receive a horizontal channel portion  180  of the clamping arm  154  through a central aperture  182 . The vertical channel bar  176  is integrally secured to the outer top wall  166  and an inner bottom wall  184  of the first U channel  168  via cooperating recesses  183  that allow the vertical channel bar  176  to snugly slide into cooperative engagement with the first U channel  168 . Welding or similar means are used to integrally secure the vertical channel bar  176  to the U channel  168 , thereby maintaining the vertical channel bar  176  in a substantially vertical position, irrespective of the force imparted upon the clamping base  150  by rail sections  11 . The first U channel  168  includes an outer side wall  185  having a first retaining pad  187  integrally joined via glue or similar means to the outer side wall  185 . The first retaining pad  187  is fabricated from rubber or similar “gripping” material capable of maintaining the position of the clamping base  150  relative to the support beam  152 , irrespective of the force imparted upon the clamping base  150  by the rail sections  11 . 
     The clamping arm  154  includes a vertical channel bar portion  186  integrally joined to the horizontal channel bar portion  180  such that a substantially right angle is formed, thereby vertically disposing an outer side wall  188  of a second U channel  189 , which is integrally joined to the vertical portion  186  in substantially the same manner as the first U channel  168  is integrally joined to the vertical channel bar  176  of the stanchion base  158 . A second rubber retaining pad  190  is integrally joined to the outer side wall  188 . The second rubber pad  190  is oppositely disposed to the first retaining pad  187  when the clamping arm is slidably inserted through the horizontal channel bar  178  of the stanchion base  158 . The first and second rubber pads  187  and  190  ultimately engage corresponding side walls  191  of the support beam  152  with sufficient force to maintain the initial position of the clamping base  150  upon the support beam  152  irrespective of the force imparted upon the clamping base  150  by the rail sections  11  secured to the inner stanchions  164 . 
     The relative positions of the clamping arm  154  and the stanchion base  158  are detachably secured via the locking member  160 . The locking member  160  includes upper and lower portions  192  and  194  that form an obtuse angle that promotes the securing of the clamping arm  154  relative to the stanchion base  158 . The upper portion  192  includes a substantially square configured aperture  198  that snugly and slidably receives the horizontal portion  180  of the clamping arm  154 . The lower portion  194  includes a threaded aperture that rotationally receives a threaded rod  200  having a handle  202  secured to a first end and a threaded cap  204  secured to a second end. Upon manually inserting the horizontal portion  180  through the horizontal channel bar  178  such that the first and second retaining pads  187  and  190  are disposed upon corresponding side walls  191  of the support beam  152 , the locking member  160  is manually slid until the cap  204  engages a side wall  206  of the vertical channel bar  176 . The lower portion  194  of the locking member is angularly disposed relative to the side wall  206 , resulting in the threaded rod  200  being angularly disposed relative to the side wall  206  when the rod  200  is perpendicularly urged through the lower portion  194 . The handle  202  is then rotated such that the threaded rod forcibly urges the cap  204  into the side wall  206  at an angle determined by the longitudinal axis of the threaded rod  200  relative to the side wall  206 . As the handle  202  rotates, the lower portion  194  of the locking member  160  is urged in a corresponding direction substantially opposite from the side wall  206 , resulting in the upper portion  192  of the locking member  160  pivoting upon the horizontal portion  180  of the clamping arm  154  and driving edges  208  of the aperture  198  into the surfaces of the horizontal portion  180  to ultimately secure the locking member  160  to the horizontal portion  180  and correspondingly “pull” the horizontal portion  180  continuously through the horizontal channel bar  178  as the handle  202  is rotated, until the first and second retaining pads  187  and  190  are forcibly compressed against corresponding side walls  191  of the support beam  152 . The compressed pads  187  and  190  provide sufficient grasping force to maintain the position of the clamping base  150 , irrespective of the weight of the rail sections  11  secured to the inner stanchions  164 , and irrespective of the elevation of the clamping arm  154  above a top wall  196  of the support beam  152 . A locking pin  162  is then inserted through pin aperture  169  to prevent the locking member  160  from sliding off the horizontal portion  180  of the clamping arm  154  when the handle  202  is rotated to “unlock” the locking member  160  to ultimately remove the clamping base  150  from the support beam  152 . 
     In the event that the dimensions of the support beam  152  or structure are such that the longitudinal dimension of the horizontal portion  180  of the clamping arm  154  is to short to span the support beam  152 , an extension arm channel  156  having a predetermined longitudinal dimension is used to span the beam  152  and ultimately disposed the pads  187  and  190  upon cooperating side walls  191  of the beam  152 . The extension arm  156  includes an insertion portion  209  having a cross sectional area that allows the insertion portion  209  to be snugly inserted into the horizontal portion  180  via an aperture  212 . The extension arm further includes an end portion  210  having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the horizontal portion  180 . The dimensions and configurations of the insertion and end portions  209  and  210  cooperate with the dimensions and configuration of the horizontal portion  180  to promote the insertion of the insertion portion  209  until the end portion  210  engages the horizontal portion  180 , thereby positioning a pin aperture  165  in the insertion portion  209  in axial alignment with a pin aperture  163  in the horizontal portion  180 , and disposing aperture  167  in the end portion  210  past a corresponding side wall  191  of the support beam  152  due to the predetermined longitudinal dimension of the end portion  210 . A locking pin  162  is then inserted through the aligned apertures  163  and  165  to maintain the position of the extension arm  156  relative to the clamping arm  154 , and the horizontal channel bar  178  of the stanchion base  158  is slid upon the end portion  210  until the first pad  187  engages a side wall  191  of the beam  152 . 
     The locking member  160  is then slid upon the end portion  210  until the cap  204  engages the side wall  206  of the vertical channel bar  176 , whereupon the first and second pads  187  and  190  are disposed to engage respective side walls  191  of the support beam  152 , and the handle  202  is tightened as described above until the first and second pads  187  and  190  are compressed against the side walls  191 , thereby providing the same gripping force to maintain the position of the clamping base  150  upon the support beam  152 , irrespective of the weight of the of the rail sections  11  secured to the inner stanchions  164 , and irrespective of the elevation of the clamping arm  154  above a top wall  196  of the support beam  152 . A locking pin  162  is then inserted through pin aperture  167  to prevent the locking member  160  from sliding off the end portion  210  when the handle  202  is rotated to “unlock” the locking member  160  to ultimately remove the clamping base  150  from the support beam  152 . 
     The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.