1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to support apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a support bracket for safety barriers used at building construction sites.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally safety barriers, including fences and/or railings, are temporary structures employed at building construction sites. The barriers are erected around the perimeter of the building floors to provide safety for the workers and also to prevent tools and other construction paraphernalia from being accidentally pushed over the edges of the floor. Usually the barriers comprise upright rods that have their lower ends received in recesses drilled or otherwise provided in the building floor. Alternatively, the upright rods are received in clamps, which clamps are mounted along the edges of the floor. Heretofore, erecting these temporary barriers has required a relatively great deal of time and such barriers have afforded less than adequate protection for the working personnel and equipment. This scenario often resulted in loss revenue due to equipment damage and injuries. The construction industry would certainly welcome a reliable mounting device for safety barriers, which device is easy to install and remove. Thus, a guardrail post base solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The guardrail post base is designed to bolt to the plywood floor of a building under construction. The post base is provided with a tube adapted to receive conventional guardrail posts. All parts of the post base are fabricated from steel having a minimum yield stress of 36 KSI (kilo-pounds per square inch). The post base includes a plate for attaching a kick board thereto.
Accordingly, the invention presents a support base that is rugged and easy to install, thereby saving time and money. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
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In use, the guard rail post bases are mounted on a sheathing having a minimum thickness of ¾″. Lag screws having a minimum size of five-sixteenths of an inch diameter and two inch length are utilized to secure the bases to the sheathing. The bases may be located either between the floor joists or centered above the floor joists (maximum joist spacing is 2′-0″). Employing the above criteria, calculations have shown that the guardrail post base will meet or exceed the loading requirements as set out in OSHA Section 1926.502(b)(3).
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.