Rail Padding

Abstract

A protective padding for covering the upper portion of a barrier of the character found in sports venues, such as baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields and the like. The protective padding uniquely includes a plurality of padding assemblies, each padding assembly covering a section of the barrier and each including an elongate structural channel positioned over the top rail of the barrier. The elongate channel includes longitudinally spaced apart pairs of inwardly extending support brackets. A plurality of securement members span the support brackets with each securement member having a central portion provided with a threaded bore that threadably receives a threaded screw having a first end moveable into engagement with the top rail of the barrier. An elongate foam member is superimposed over the elongate channel and a vinyl covering covers the elongate foam member.

1 . A protective padding covering the upper portion of a barrier having a top rail, said protective padding comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart padding assemblies, each said padding assembly comprising:
 (a) an elongate structural channel having a top wall and transversely spaced sidewalls connected to said top wall, each of said transversely spaced apart side walls having an inwardly extending support bracket;   (b) a securement member including a central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion in engagement with one of said inwardly extending support brackets and a second end portion in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets; and   (c) a threaded screw threadably received within said threaded bore of said securement member for movement between a first position and a second position, said threaded screw having a first end portion movable into engagement with the top rail of the barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The protective padding as defined in  claim 1  in which said top wall of said elongate channel includes inwardly extending, spaced apart centering fingers for engagement with the top rail of the barrier. 
     
     
         3 . The protective padding as defined in  claim 1  further including an elongate foam channel superimposed over said elongate structural channel. 
     
     
         4 . The protective padding as defined in  claim 1  in which each of said first and second end portions of said securement member includes a downwardly extending bracket engaging finger movable into pressural engagement with said inwardly extending support brackets upon advancement of said threaded screw from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         5 . The protective padding as defined in  claim 4  in which each of said inwardly extending support brackets is generally L-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The protective padding as defined in  claim 4  in which said first end portion of said threaded screw is tapered. 
     
     
         7 . A padding assembly covering a section of a barrier having a top rail, said padding assembly comprising:
 (a) an elongate structural channel positioned over the top rail of the barrier, said elongate channel having a top wall including spaced apart inwardly extending centering fingers and transversely spaced sidewalls connected to said top wall, each of said transversely spaced apart side walls having an inwardly extending support bracket;   (b) a securement member including a curved central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion in engagement with one of said inwardly extending support brackets and a second end portion in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets;   (c) a threaded screw threadably received within said threaded bore of said securement member for advancement between a first position and a second position, said threaded screw having a first tapered end portion disposed in engagement with the top rail of the barrier; and   (d) an elongate foam channel superimposed over said elongate structural channel.   
     
     
         8 . The padding assembly as defined in  claim 7  further including a vinyl covering superimposed over said elongate foam channel. 
     
     
         9 . The padding assembly as defined in  claim 7  in which each of said first and second end portions of said securement member includes a downwardly extending bracket engaging finger movable into pressural engagement with said inwardly extending support brackets upon advancement of said threaded screw from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         10 . The padding assembly as defined in  claim 9  in which each of said inwardly extending support brackets is generally L-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . A padding assembly covering a section of a barrier having a top rail, said padding assembly comprising:
 (a) an elongate metal channel positioned over the top rail of the barrier, said elongate metal channel having a top wall including spaced apart inwardly extending centering fingers and transversely spaced sidewalls connected to said top wall, each of said transversely spaced apart side walls having an inwardly extending support bracket;   (b) a securement member including a curved central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion in engagement with one of said inwardly extending support brackets and a second end portion in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets, each of said first and second end portions of said securement member including a downwardly extending bracket engaging finger movable into pressural engagement with said inwardly extending support brackets;   (c) a threaded screw threadably received within said threaded bore of said securement member for movement between a first position and a second position, said threaded screw having a first tapered end portion movable into engagement with the top rail of the barrier;   (d) an elongate foam channel superimposed over said elongate structural channel; and   (e) a vinyl covering superimposed over said the elongate foam channel.   
     
     
         12 . The padding assembly as defined in  claim 11  in which each of said inwardly extending support brackets is generally L-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . A method for installing a protective padding over a barrier having a top rail, said protective padding including a padding assembly comprising an elongate structural channel having transversely spaced sidewalls each said sidewall having an inwardly extending support bracket; a securement member including a central portion having a threaded bore, a first end portion and a second end portion; and a threaded screw having a first end and being threadably receivable within said threaded bore of said securement member for advancement between a first position to a second advanced position wherein the first end of the screw is in engagement with the top rail of the barrier and to a third advanced position, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) positioning the elongate structural channel over the top rail of the barrier;   (b) positioning the securement member over the inwardly extending support brackets so that the first end portion thereof is in engagement with one of the inwardly extending support brackets and the second end portion is in engagement with the other of said inwardly extending support brackets; and   (c) threadably engaging the threaded screw with the threaded bore of the securement member and advancing the threaded screw from the first position to the second advanced position.   
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 13  in which both the first and second end portions of the securement member include bracket engaging fingers and in which the method includes the further step of advancing the threaded screw from the second advanced position to a third advanced position to cause the bracket engaging fingers to controllably move into pressural engagement with the support bracket. 
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 13  in which the padding assembly further includes an elongate foam channel and in which the method further includes the step of superimposing the elongate foam channel over the elongate structural channel. 
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 15  in which the padding assembly further includes a vinyl covering and in which the method further includes the step of superimposing the final covering over the elongate foam channel.