Abstract:
A safety barrier system, for placement along roadways and pedestrian paths, consisting of railing components that can be changed in elevation without the need for adjusting or resetting the posts or other type vertical support components.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to safety barrier for vehicular and pedestrian traffic paths. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A number of guardrail and other type safety barriers are currently available for protecting motorists and pedestrians from obstacles and other hazards present along roadways. However, when elevation change associated with actions such as repaving, rehabilitation, reconditioning or settlement of the roadway prism takes place, existing guardrail or barrier has to be replaced, reconstructed or rebuilt in order to meet vertical height requirements. There is a need for a guardrail or barriers system that allows for vertical adjustment of the railing or cross-members without having to adjust, re-set or relocate the posts and/or vertical support component. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,515, by Krage, et al., describes a highway barrier with a collapsible assembly and rotatable beam for reacting under impact to redirect a vehicle. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,548, by Ochoa, describes a highway safety structure with a releasable fastener. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,944, by McMillian et al., describes an adjustable rail barricade for working on a roof that can be pivoted at the base to allow for vertical orientation on a pitched roof. 
         [0008]    The above inventions, nor any other known invention or market available device or system, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The instant invention is a guardrail or safety barrier system that includes a component that allows for adjustment in elevation of attached railing or similar or similar horizontal component. 
         [0010]    The principal object of the invention is to allow railing and other attachments of the barrier to be adjusted vertically without the need to adjust, move or reset the posts or vertical support members. 
         [0011]    Another significant object of the invention is to provide a barrier system that protects vehicles and pedestrians from impacting obstacles and other hazards that may be present along a roadway. 
         [0012]    Another significant object of the invention is to reduce costs associated with having guardrail and other barrier system meet vertical height requirements after originally placed. 
         [0013]    Other objects of the invention are to be non-complex and low-maintenance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, frontal view of all components of the system and relative position in order to make a completed construction. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1A  is a rear view of the post, sleeve and clamp components. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of for purpose of displaying an optional tool for use in making vertical adjustments to the sleeve component. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 1A , the present invention, consists of, a vertical support  100 , a sleeve  200 , an optional spacer  300  and railing component  400 . The sleeve  200  is of a shape, dimension and interior hollow area that allows the vertical support  100  to fit through. The optional spacer is located between the sleeve  200  and railing component  400 . The sleeve  200 , optional spacer  300  and railing component  400  can be secured together and to the vertical post component  100  by means of a bolt  500  extending through holes in the railing component  400  and optional spacer  300 , bolt stud  210  on the front face of the sleeve  200 , slotted area  110  through the vertical support  100  and mated to a threaded nut  220 . The nut  220  can be tightened to the bolt  500  so that the sleeve component remains at a chosen elevation. In addition to or in lieu of the elevation hold created by the nut  220  and bolt  500  combination, a band  600  can be moved to be directly beneath the sleeve  200  and secured to the vertical support  100  by tightening the clamp  610 . The sleeve  200  can be made with dimensions to retro-fit the vertical supports and attach spacers and railing of existing guardrail (not shown) and other barrier systems. For a vertical support made of wood (not shown), the bolt  500  is of screw-type design and can hold the sleeve  200 , spacer  300 , and railing components  400  at an elevation by tightening into the wooden vertical support without extending through a slotted area  100  or mating with a nut  220 . The railing components  400  can have ends  410  that are flat to allow the railing components to rotate in a plane that is normal to the axis of the fastener  500 . Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 2 , an independent tool, consisting of a lever  800 , fulcrum housing  810  and fulcrum axis  820 , can be placed on the vertical support  100  and used to raise and lower the sleeve  200 , while in an untightened state, by a connecting arm  830  attached to an end of the lever  800  and a hook loop  700  located on the back the sleeve. 
         [0018]    All of the parts and components described above can be made of any type material that will function adequately for its intended application (metal, plastic, wood, composite, etc.) The dimensions of the components and parts are based on intended application, design standard or manufacturer guidelines.