Patent ID: 8573550

Claim:
A safety brace for supporting a radar antenna platform movable to an elevated tilted position by a drive shaft having a movable first member and a second member, wherein the first member is movable toward and away from the second member, comprising: an elongated generally cylindrical tube formed of a separable first half tube portion and a second half tube portion, said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion each being generally C shaped in cross section and forming longitudinal first and second seams when positioned alongside each other to form the generally cylindrical tube, said elongated generally cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end; at least one separable coupling bracket secured to the first half tube portion and said second half tube portion and disposed across said first seam to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when said separable coupling bracket is in a closed position and to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in an open seam configuration when said separable coupling bracket is opened; at least one hinged coupling bracket secured to said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion and disposed across said second seam to maintain said first half tube and said second half portions in a generally closed seam configuration when said hinged coupling bracket is in a closed position and to allow for opening of the second seam as the hinged coupling bracket is opened; a first flange disposed at said first end of said elongated generally cylindrical tube and being configured to abut against the movable first member of the drive shaft; a second flange disposed at said second end of said elongated generally cylindrical tube and being configured to abut against the second member of the drive shaft; a plurality of first gussets disposed between said first flange and adjacent outer surface portions of said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion; and a plurality of second gussets disposed between said second flange and adjacent outer surface portions of said first half tube portion and said second half tube portion; and at least one generally C shaped handle secured to one of said separable first half tube portion and said second half tube portion.