Guardrail System

Abstract

A guardrail support comprising a base having a first side with attachment holes suitable for attachment to a surface beneath the base using one or more fasteners at a penetrating angle, and a second side one or more attachment holes suitable for attachment to the surface beneath the base using one or more fasteners at a penetrating angle, a post extending vertically from the base, a support member extending at an angle from the first side of the base to the post, where an upper portion of the post is positioned at a distance of between 48 inches and 60 inches from the base, and wherein when the base of the guardrail support is attached to the surface beneath the base, the guardrail support will withstand a 200 pound outward or downward force applied to the upper portion of the post.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A guardrail support comprising:
 a base having a first side that includes a first set of one or more attachment holes suitable for attaching the first side of the base to a surface beneath the base, and a second side opposite the first side having a second set of one or more attachment holes suitable for attaching the second side of the base to the surface beneath the base;   a post extending vertically from the base;   a support member extending at an angle from the first side of the base to the post;   wherein an upper portion of the post is positioned at a distance of between 48 inches and 60 inches from the base;   and wherein when the base of the guardrail support is attached to the surface beneath the base, the guardrail support will withstand a 200 pound force applied to the upper portion of the post in a direction perpendicular to the post and in a direction from the second side of the base to the first side of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The guardrail support of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of one or more attachment holes on the first side of the base are adapted so that one or more fasteners may extend through the one or more attachment holes at a penetrating angle to attach the first side of the base to the surface beneath the base. 
     
     
         3 . The guardrail support of  claim 2 , wherein the penetrating angle provides an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees between the one or more fasteners and the base. 
     
     
         4 . The guardrail support of  claim 3 , wherein the penetrating angle provides an angle of 45 degrees between the one or more fasteners and the base. 
     
     
         5 . The guardrail support of  claim 2 , wherein the second set of one or more attachment holes on the second side of the base are adapted so that one or more fasteners may extend through the second set of one or more at attachment holes at a penetrating angle to attach the second side of the base to the surface beneath the base. 
     
     
         6 . The guardrail support of  claim 5 , wherein the penetrating angle provides an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees between the one or more fasteners extending through the second set of one or more attachment holes and the base. 
     
     
         7 . The guardrail support of  claim 6 , wherein the penetrating angle provides an angle of 45 degrees between the one or more fasteners extending through the second set of one or more attachment holes and the base. 
     
     
         8 . The guardrail support of  claim 1 , wherein a first angle member is positioned on the first side of the base having a third set of one or more attachment holes that correspond to the first set of attachment holes positioned on the first side of the base, and
 wherein the third set of attachment holes on the first angle member are positioned on a surface of the first angle member at an angle such that one or more fasteners may extend through the first set of attachment holes on the first side of the base and the third set of attachment holes on the first angle member at a penetrating angle of between 30 and 60 degrees from the base.   
     
     
         9 . The guardrail support of  claim 8 , wherein the penetrating angle between the one or more fasteners and the base is 45 degrees from the base. 
     
     
         10 . The guardrail support of  claim 8 , wherein a second angle member is positioned on the second side of the base having a fourth set of one or more attachment holes that correspond to the second set of attachment holes positioned on the second side of the base, and wherein the fourth set of attachment holes on the second angle member are positioned on a surface of the second angle member at an angle such that one or more fasteners may extend through the second set of one or more attachment holes on the second side of the base and the fourth set of attachment holes on the second angle member at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees from the base. 
     
     
         11 . The guardrail support of  claim 10 , wherein the angle between the one or more fasteners extending through the fourth set of one or more attachment holes on the second angle member and the base is 45 degrees from the base. 
     
     
         12 . The guardrail support of  claim 1 , wherein when the base of the guardrail support is attached to the surface beneath the base, the guardrail support will withstand a 200 pound force applied to the upper portion of the post at a distance of 60 inches from the base in a direction perpendicular to the post and in a direction from the second side of the base to the first side of the base. 
     
     
         13 . The guardrail support of  claim 1 , wherein the support member extends at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees from the base. 
     
     
         14 . The guardrail support of  claim 13 , wherein the support member extends at an angle of 45 degrees from the base. 
     
     
         15 . The guardrail support of  claim 1 , wherein a first fence rail holder is positioned on the upper portion of the vertical post that is adapted to retain a top rail of a fence. 
     
     
         16 . The guardrail support of  claim 15 , wherein the first fence rail holder is capable of withstanding a 200 pound downward force. 
     
     
         17 . The guardrail support of  claim 15 , wherein the guardrail support will stand on its own before it is secured to a surface beneath the base. 
     
     
         18 . A guardrail support comprising:
 a base having a first side that includes a first set of one or more attachment holes suitable for attaching the first side of the base to a surface beneath the base by inserting one or more fasteners through the first set of attachment holes at a penetrating angle, and a second side opposite the first side having a second set of one or more attachment holes suitable for attaching the second side of the base to the surface beneath the base by inserting one or more fasteners through the second set of attachment holes at a penetrating angle;   a post extending vertically from the base;   a support member extending at an angle from the first side of the base to the post;   wherein an upper portion of the post is positioned at a distance of between 48 inches and 60 inches from the base.   
     
     
         19 . The guardrail support of  claim 18 , wherein when the base of the guardrail support is attached to the surface beneath the base, the guardrail support will withstand a 200 pound force applied to the upper portion of the post in a direction perpendicular to the post and in a direction from the second side of the base to the first side of the base. 
     
     
         20 . The guardrail support of  claim 18 , wherein one of the first set of one or more attachment holes on the first side of the base is positioned at least 14.5 inches from one of the second set of one or more attachment holes on the second side of the base. 
     
     
         21 . The guardrail support of  claim 20 , where a second one of the first set of one or more attachment holes on the first side of the base is positioned at least 14.5 inches from one of the second set of one or more attachment holes on the second side of the base. 
     
     
         22 . The guardrail support of  claim 18 , wherein the vertical post has a 1½ in×1½inch square cross section. 
     
     
         23 . The guardrail support of  claim 18 , wherein the base is no more than 16 inches long and 8 inches wide and no more than one quarter of an inch thick. 
     
     
         24 . The guardrail support of  claim 20 , wherein a first side of the vertical post is positioned at least 7 inches from one of the first set of attachment holes positioned on the first side of the base. 
     
     
         25 . The guardrail support of  claim 24 , wherein a second side of the vertical post is positioned at least 4½ inches from one of the second set of attachment holes positioned on the second side of the base. 
     
     
         26 . The guardrail support of  claim 18 , wherein the support member is attached to a first side of the post at a distance of 8½ inches from the base. 
     
     
         27 . The guardrail support of  claim 26 , wherein the support member is comprised of an angle member having a length of 12 inches and two 1-inch long members having a thickness of ⅛ of an inch. 
     
     
         28 . The guardrail support of  claim 18 , wherein a first fence rail holder is positioned on the upper portion of the vertical post and is adapted to retain a top rail of a fence. 
     
     
         29 . The guardrail support of  claim 28 , wherein the first fence rail holder is capable of withstanding a 200 pound downward force. 
     
     
         30 . The guardrail support of  claim 28 , wherein the first fence rail holder is formed from an angle member that extends 2¼ inches and is 1½ inch wide and ¼ inch thick. 
     
     
         31 . The guardrail support of  claim 28 , wherein the first fence rail holder is positioned to retain a top rail of a fence 60 inches above the base. 
     
     
         32 . The guardrail support of  claim 28 , wherein the fence rail holder has a hole positioned therein that is adjacent a hole positioned in the upper portion of the post and the hole on the fence rail holder and the post are adapted to receive a retention pin therethrough to retain a top rail of a fence. 
     
     
         33 . A guardrail system comprising:
 a first guardrail support comprising:   a base having a first side that includes a first set of one or more attachment holes and a second side opposite the first side having a second set of one or more attachment holes;   a post extending vertically from the base; and   a support member extending at an angle from the first side of the base to the post;   wherein an upper portion of the post is positioned at a distance of between 48 inches and 60 inches from the base; and   wherein the base is attached to a surface beneath the base by one or more fasteners inserted through one or more of the first set of one or more attachment holes on the first side of the base at a penetrating angle, and one or more fasteners inserted through one or more of the second set of attachment holes on the second side of the base at a penetrating angle;   a second guardrail support comprising:   a base having a first side that includes a first set of one or more attachment holes and a second side opposite the first side having a second set of one or more attachment holes;   a post extending vertically from the base; and   a support member extending at an angle from the first side of the base to the post;   wherein an upper portion of the post is positioned at a distance of between 48 inches and 60 inches from the base; and   wherein the base is attached to a surface beneath the base by one or more fasteners inserted through one or more of the first set of one or more attachment holes on the first side of the base at a penetrating angle, and one or more fasteners inserted through one or more of the second set of attachment holes on the second side of the base at a penetrating angle; and   a span of fence extending from the first guardrail support to the second guardrail support and retained by the first guardrail support and the second guardrail support wherein a top rail of the span of fence is between 48 and at least 60 inches above the base.   
     
     
         34 . The guardrail system of  claim 33 , wherein at least two of the second set of one or more attachment holes on the second side of the base have a fastener extending therethrough at a penetrating angle into the surface beneath the base and at least one of the first set of one or more attachment holes on the first side of the base have a fastener extending therethrough at a penetrating angle into the surface beneath the base. 
     
     
         35 . The guardrail system of  claim 34 , wherein the at least two attachment holes on the second side of the base are positioned at least 14.5 inches from the at least one attachment hole positioned on the first side of the base. 
     
     
         36 . The guardrail system of  claim 34 , wherein the guardrail system will withstand a 200 pound outward or downward force applied anywhere along the top rail. 
     
     
         37 . The guardrail system of  claim 36 , wherein the vertical posts in the first and second guardrail supports have a 1½ in×1½ inch square cross section. 
     
     
         38 . The guardrail system of  claim 36 , wherein the support member extends at a 45 degree angle from the base and is 12 inches in length. 
     
     
         39 . The guardrail system of  claim 36 , wherein the vertical post in the first and second guardrail supports is positioned closer to the two attachment holes on the second side of the base than the one attachment hole on the first side of the base. 
     
     
         40 . The guardrail system of  claim 38 , wherein the support member is comprised of an angle member having a length of 12 inches and two 1-inch long members having a thickness of ⅛ of an inch. 
     
     
         41 . The guardrail system of  claim 36 , wherein the span of fence is positioned within a first fence rail holder located on the upper portion of the vertical post on the first guardrail support, and also positioned within a second fence rail holder that is located on the upper portion of the vertical post of the second guardrail support. 
     
     
         42 . The guardrail system of  claim 36 , wherein the top rail of the fence is positioned 60 inches above the base. 
     
     
         43 . The guardrail system of  claim 36 , wherein the top rail of the fence is comprised of ¾ inch by ¾ inch steel tube having a wall thickness of ⅛ of an inch. 
     
     
         44 . The guardrail system of  claim 43 , wherein the span fence has a height of five feet and includes the top rail, a middle rail, and a bottom rail that are parallel to one another and attached to a first vertical member on a first side and a second vertical member on a second side. 
     
     
         45 . The guardrail system of  claim 36 , wherein the fasteners are inserted into the surface beneath the base at a penetrating angle of 45 degrees from the base.