Patent Publication Number: US-2017356203-A1

Title: Temporary Safety Barrier System

Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view for a TEMPORARY SAFETY BARRIER SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a detail perspective view of the vertical post for a TEMPORARY SAFETY BARRIER SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a detail view of the horizontal socket for a TEMPORARY SAFETY BARRIER SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a detail perspective view of the vertical post and base plate for a TEMPORARY SAFETY BARRIER SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is intended to enable someone skilled in the prior art to make and use this invention, but is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , the invention described herein is a temporary safety barrier system  100  comprising a vertical post  110 , where a base plate  120  is pivotally attached to the bottom distal end of said vertical post via a hinge  170 , where an at least one horizontal socket  130  is located in the top half of said vertical post  110 , where an angled brace first end  140  is pivotally secured to said base plate  120  and an angled brace second end  150  is configured to removably connect to said vertical post  110 ; and where an at least one horizontal safety rail  160  is removably secured within said at least one horizontal socket  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the vertical post  210  preferably comprises a c-channel cross-section. Preferably, the vertical post comprises a series of through holes  220  on either side of the vertical post  210  toward the bottom distal end, where the series of through holes  220  on each side are preferably designed to be in-line with the series of through holes  220  on the opposite side. The angled brace second end  230  is preferably comprised of a t-shaped assembly configured to fit the ends of the t-shaped assembly into the corresponding set of through holes  220  in the vertical post  210 . 
     Preferably, the position of the angled brace second end  230  when removably secured to the series of through holes  220  in the vertical post  210  defines the angle at which the base plate sits in relation to the vertical post  210 . When the angled brace second end  230  is removably secured to the vertical post series of through holes  220  in the lowest position closest to the bottom distal end of the vertical post  210 , the angle of the base plate is more obtuse in relation to the vertical post. The position of the angled brace second end  230  when removably secured to a middle series of through holes  220  in the vertical post  210  sets the base plate at a ninety-degree right angle in relation to the vertical post  210 . The position of the angled brace second end  230  when removably secured to the highest series of through holes  220  toward the middle of the vertical post  210  sets the base plate at a more acute angle in relation to the vertical post  210 . The number of series of through holes  220  on each side of the vertical post  210  is preferably between 3 and 8 to allow for a number of angles the base plate may be set in relation to the vertical post. 
     Normally, the angle of the base plate relative to the vertical post  210  is ninety degrees for most situations; however, other angles may be obtained by adjusting the angled brace second end  230  relative to the vertical post  210  such that the vertical post is oriented vertically from the surface the temporary safety barrier system is placed upon. For example, if the base plate is secured to an angled roof, the angled brace second end may be adjusted to allow the temporary safety barrier system to remain in a vertical position. The pivotal attachment of the base plate to the vertical post also preferably allows the base plate to be folded against the vertical post when the temporary safety barrier system is not in use, or is being transported. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the temporary safety barrier system vertical post  310  preferably comprises at least one horizontal socket  320  configured to accept a horizontal safety rail  330 . The at least one horizontal socket  320  is preferably integrated into the vertical post  310  and comprises a preferably rectangular opening extending through the entire length of the horizontal socket  320 . The horizontal safety rail  330  is preferably inserted into the at least one horizontal socket  320  and secured in place using a securing means. The securing means is preferably comprised of a spring-loaded quick disconnect fastener commonly used in the construction industry. 
     Preferably, the at least one horizontal socket  320  is fixed in place along the vertical post  310 . Alternately preferably, the at least one horizontal socket  320  preferably further comprises an adjustment means  340  configured to adjust the at least one horizontal socket  320  up or down along the vertical post  310 . The adjustment means  340  is preferably in the form of a fastener extending through the face of the horizontal socket  320  and into the vertical post  310 . However, other adjustment means not described herein may be contemplated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the horizontal safety rail  430  preferably fits into the at least one horizontal socket  420  on the vertical post  410  and preferably extends out to either side of the vertical post  410 . Preferably, the horizontal safety rail would span the distance from one vertical post  110  to another as shown in  FIG. 1 . The horizontal safety rail  430  is preferably comprised of a material designed to be strong enough to stop a fully grown human being from falling. The horizontal safety rails are preferably comprised of various items commonly found in the construction industry, such as wood planks, metal bars, and pipes. 
     The base plate  440  preferably further comprises a first end and a second end. The base plate first end  450  is located directly against the vertical post  410  bottom distal end and preferably comprises a hinge assembly which is preferably configured to attach to the bottom distal end of the vertical post. The base plate hinge assembly preferably allows the base plate  440  to pivot up and down through a range of 0 degrees to 180 degrees from horizontal in relation to the vertical post  410 . The base plate second end  460  is preferably located opposite the base plate first end  450  and preferably comprises an attachment to pivotally fasten the angled brace. The attachment of the angled brace  470  is preferably a swiveling hinge to allow the angled brace  470  to move in any direction needed to attach to the vertical post  410 , thereby setting the angle of the base plate  440  in relation to the vertical post  410 . Additionally, the base plate  440  preferably comprises an attachment means to securely engage a surface for the temporary safety barrier to be securely attached to. The attachment means preferably comprises bolts or screws, but may encompass other means such as construction glues. Common surfaces for the base plate to be secured include a roof&#39;s edge and a second, or higher, floor in a multi-story building. 
     The angled brace  470  is preferably a length of tubular steel and further comprises a first end and a second end. The angled brace  470  first end is preferably pivotally attached to the base plate second end  460  in a manner where the angled brace  470  can swivel and pivot in relation to the base plate  440 . The angled brace  470  second end preferably comprises a t-shaped pin assembly  480  preferably configured to removably securely fit into the evenly spaced holes located in the vertical post  410 . The attachment of the angled brace second end onto the vertical post preferably defines the angle of the base plate in relation to the vertical post. The series of holes in the vertical post will preferably define angles of the base plate related to at least 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 degrees to horizontal in relation to the vertical post. However, other combinations can be achieved not enumerated herein. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the temporary safety barrier system preferably comprises a fence barrier  490 . The fence barrier  490  is preferably removably attached to the vertical post  410  bottom distal end on the opposite side of the base plate  440 . The fence barrier  490  is preferably configured to prevent tools and other typical construction hardware from falling off the surface the temporary safety barrier system is removably secured to. The fence barrier  490  is preferably configured to span the distance between two of the vertical posts, however, the fence barrier may also be preferably attached to only one vertical post and extend to either side of the vertical post. The fence barrier  490  is preferably comprised of a wood plank, but may also be comprised of typical construction netting attached to two vertical posts and spanning the distance between them. Alternately, the fence barrier may be comprised of any material that can be removably secured to the vertical post. 
     The temporary safety barrier system is preferably comprised of at least one temporary safety barrier, but would commonly comprise multiple temporary safety barriers spaced evenly along the edge of a roof or other surface where a person would be likely to get injured if they fell. To effectively use the temporary safety barrier system, a user would adjust the base plate angle such that the vertical post is upright, then secure multiple temporary safety barrier base plates to the surface of the roof or upper floor of the building workers are on, and then install the horizontal safety rails by inserting and securing into the horizontal sockets. The horizontal safety rails would preferably span the distance between each of the temporary safety barriers installed to provide maximum safety to the workers. 
     The temporary safety barrier system vertical post, at least one horizontal socket, and base plate is preferably constructed from stainless steel. Alternately, the temporary safety barrier system vertical post, at least one horizontal socket, and base plate may be constructed of other materials such as fiber-reinforced composite materials, aluminum and/or other plastics.