Barrier with cable system

Abstract

A protective barrier includes a first end piece configured to be anchored and secured to a surface, a second end piece configured to be anchored and secured to the surface, a rail extending between the first end piece and the second end piece, and a cable extending through the rail and having a first end attached to the end piece and a second end attached to the second end piece. The rail has a first end mechanically coupled to the first end piece and a second end mechanically coupled to the second end piece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective barrier comprising:
 a first end piece configured to be anchored and secured to a surface;   a second end piece configured to be anchored and secured to the surface;   a rail extending between the first end piece and the second end piece, the rail having a first end mechanically coupled to the first end piece and a second end mechanically coupled to the second end piece;   a cable extending through the rail and having a first end attached to the end piece and a second end attached to the second end piece.   
     
     
         2 . The protective barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first end piece includes a first opening and the second end piece includes a second opening, the cable extending through the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         3 . The protective barrier of  claim 2 , wherein the first end piece includes a first anchoring member and the second end piece includes a second anchoring member, the first anchoring member and the second anchoring member configured to be anchored and secured to the surface opening. 
     
     
         4 . The protective barrier of  claim 3 , wherein the cable includes a first fastener at the first end and a second fastener at the second end, the first fastener being coupled to the first anchoring member and the second fastener being coupled to the second anchoring member. 
     
     
         5 . The protective barrier of  claim 4  the first end of the cable includes a first hook for fastening the first end of the cable to the first fastener and the second end of the cable includes a second hook for fastening the second end of the cable to the second fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The protective barrier of  claim 4  wherein the first anchoring member is a shock absorbing anchoring member and the second anchoring member is a shock absorbing anchoring member. 
     
     
         7 . The protective barrier of  claim 4  wherein the first fastener forms a part of the first anchoring member and the second fastener forms a part of the second anchoring member. 
     
     
         8 . The protective barrier of  claim 1  wherein the cable is a braided steel cable. 
     
     
         9 . The protective barrier of  claim 1  wherein the cable is a nylon cable. 
     
     
         10 . The protective barrier of  claim 1  wherein the rail is formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The protective barrier of  claim 1  wherein the rail has a cavity running along its length. 
     
     
         12 . The protective barrier of  claim 1  wherein the cable extends through the cavity running along the length of the rail. 
     
     
         13 . The protective barrier of  claim 4  wherein the first end of the cable is fastened to the first fastener by welding and the second end of the cable is fastened to the second fastener by welding. 
     
     
         14 . The protective barrier of  claim 3  wherein
 the first anchoring member and the first fastener are disposed inside of the first end piece, and 
 the second anchoring member and the second fastener are disposed inside of the second end piece. 
 
     
     
         15 . The protective barrier protective barrier of  claim 4  wherein the first end of the cable includes a first attachment member coupled to the first fastener and the second end of the cable includes a second attachment member coupled to the second fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The protective barrier of  claim 12  further comprising a first pin coupling the first attachment member to the first fastener and a second pin coupling the second attachment member to the second fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The protective barrier of  claim 13  wherein the first fastener includes a first eye hook, the second fastener includes a second eye hook, the first attachment member includes a first loop of cable, and the second attachment member includes a second loop of cable, wherein the first pin extends through the first eye hook and the first loop of cable and the second pin extends through the second eye hook and the second loop of cable.