Support bracket and method for temporary guard railing

Abstract

The present invention provides a support bracket and method of use of a plurality of support brackets in order to construct a temporary guard railing that is easily assembled and removed. The support bracket comprises a support base, support walls upstanding from the base defining therebetween an upwardly opening socket for receipt of a post, and at least one concrete reinforcement member fixedly attached to and laterally extending at an outward angle from one of the support walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support bracket for temporary guard railing, comprising:
 (a) a support base;   (b) support walls upstanding from the base defining therebetween an upwardly opening socket for receipt of a post; and   (c) at least one concrete reinforcement member fixedly attached to and laterally extending at an outward angle from one of the support walls.   
     
     
         2 . The support bracket of  claim 1 , wherein there are four support walls arranged to define a rectangular cross section to the socket. 
     
     
         3 . The support bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the rectangular cross section to the socket is sized to receive a post made of a dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         4 . The support bracket of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangular cross section is sized to receive a two-by-four sized dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         5 . The support bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the concrete reinforcement member is a thin elongated vertical strip having an angled flat end portion. 
     
     
         6 . The support bracket of  claim 1 , wherein there are four such support walls comprise a rear wall, a front wall, and opposing sidewalls, and wherein each opposing sidewall has at least one concrete reinforcement member. 
     
     
         7 . The support bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the opposing sidewalls each having two concrete reinforcement members. 
     
     
         8 . The support bracket of  claim 7 , wherein the concrete reinforcement member is a thin elongated vertical strip having an angled flat end portion and wherein the concrete reinforcement member horizontally extend forward and outward from the opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         9 . The support bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the two concrete reinforcement members on each of the opposing sidewalls are aligned vertically in respect to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The support bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one attachment member fixedly attached thereto for supporting the support bracket onto a flat surface. 
     
     
         11 . The support bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment member has a hole for receipt of a connection means in order to connect the support bracket to a flat surface. 
     
     
         12 . The support bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment member has a rear surface and wherein the rear surface is generally positioned flush with the surface of the rear wall. 
     
     
         13 . A support bracket for temporary guard railing, comprising:
 (a) a support base;   (b) support walls having a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing sidewalls upstanding from the support base defining an upwardly opening socket having a rectangular cross section for receipt of a post having a rectangular cross section;   (c) at least two concrete reinforcement members fixedly attached to and laterally extending at an angle from each of the opposing sidewalls; and   (d) at least one attachment member positioned to attach the support bracket to a flat surface.   
     
     
         14 . The support bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the concrete reinforcement is a thin elongated vertical strip having an angled flat end portion. 
     
     
         15 . The support bracket of  claim 14 , wherein the concrete reinforcement members horizontally extend forward and outward from the opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         16 . The support bracket of  claim 14 , wherein the concrete reinforcement members horizontally extend forward and outward from the opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         17 . A method for constructing temporary guard railing, comprising:
 (a) providing one or more support bracket comprising a support base, support walls having a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing sidewalls upstanding from the base defining an upwardly opening socket having a rectangular cross section for receipt of a post having a rectangular cross section, and at least one concrete reinforcement member fixedly attached to and laterally extending at an outward angle from one of the support walls;   (b) affixing the support bracket to a sidewall of concrete formwork such that the top perimeter of the support bracket is aligned with the top of the concrete formwork;   (c) pouring concrete into the formwork and around the support bracket in order to create a concrete slab;   (d) providing a post having a rectangular cross section; and   (e) inserting the post into the socket.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of providing a barrier means for connecting two or more posts in order to create a temporary guard rail. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each opposing sidewall has at least two concrete reinforcement members fixedly attached to and horizontally extend forward and outward from each of the opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the concrete reinforcement member is a thin elongated vertical strip having an angled flat end portion. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the concrete reinforcement member is a thin elongated vertical strip having an angled flat end portion.