Guardrail apparatus and system

Abstract

Systems and methods for a guardrail system are described. Embodiments of the present disclosure installing a guardrail on a wall element, the guardrail having a first post, a second post at a post spacing distance from the first post, and at least one rail connecting the posts, comprising the steps of clamping a first post support device to a top end of the wall element, clamping a second post support device to the top end of the wall element at the guardrail spacing distance from the first post support device, and installing the guardrail on the wall element by receiving of one guardrail post by the first post support device receptacle and receiving of the other guardrail post by the second support device receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guardrail system comprising:
 a guardrail including a plurality of guardrail members, wherein each guardrail member has a tubular cross-section, the plurality of guardrail members comprising:   two guardrail posts spaced a post-spacing distance apart;   a top rail consisting of a single piece of material and rigidly connected to and spanning continuously over a top end of each guardrail post, wherein each end of the top rail is connected to a middle portion of the proximal guardrail post of the two guardrail posts by that end of the top rail extending continuously outward past the top end of the proximal guardrail post, turning continuously downward, and then extending continuously inward towards the proximal guardrail post such that that end of the top rail is juxtaposed with and connected to a mid-portion of the proximal guardrail post; and   two post support devices, each post support device comprising:
 an adjustable locking clamp including a generally horizontal cross-member; and 
   a receptacle adapted to receive and support one of the two guardrail posts, the receptacle rigidly coupled to a top side of the cross-member and extending upward from the cross-member, wherein the guardrail system further comprises the guardrail coupled to the post support devices by each guardrail post being received by one receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the top end of each guardrail post is coped to match an outside curvature of the top rail tubular cross-section and each end of the top rail is coped to match an outside curvature of the guardrail post tubular cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The guardrail system of  claim 2 , wherein each connection including one end of one guardrail member connected to another guardrail member comprises a welded connection. 
     
     
         4 . The guardrail system of  claim 3 , wherein each welded connection is an all-around welded connection. 
     
     
         5 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein each guardrail member connection is a rigid connection. 
     
     
         6 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , the guardrail members further comprising a bottom rail, wherein the bottom rail is interposed between the two guardrail posts and each end of the bottom rail is connected to one guardrail post such that the bottom rail is axially aligned with both ends of the top rail at the middle portion of the guardrail posts. 
     
     
         7 . The guardrail system of  claim 6 , wherein each end of the bottom rail is coped to match an outside curvature of the connected guardrail post tubular cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The guardrail system of  claim 6 , wherein each connection including one end of one guardrail member connected to another guardrail member comprises a welded connection. 
     
     
         9 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , the guardrail further including a first guardrail locking device coupled to one downward portion of the top rail, and a second guardrail locking device coupled to another downward portion of the top rail, wherein the first guardrail locking device is configured for locking to the second guardrail locking device and the second guardrail locking device is configured for locking to the first guardrail locking device. 
     
     
         10 . The guardrail system of  claim 9 , wherein the first guardrail locking device is a first part of a hinge, and the second guardrail locking device is a second part of a hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The guardrail system of  claim 10 , whereby the first guardrail locking device and the second guardrail locking device together form a hinge knuckle configured to receive a hinge pin. 
     
     
         12 . A method for installing a guardrail on a wall element, comprising the steps of:
 providing the guardrail including a plurality of guardrail members, wherein each guardrail member has a tubular cross-section, the plurality of guardrail members comprising two guardrail posts spaced a post-spacing distance apart and a top rail consisting of a single piece of material and rigidly connected to and spanning continuously over a top end of each guardrail post, wherein each end of the top rail is connected to a middle portion of the proximal guardrail post of the two guardrail posts by that end of the top rail extending continuously outward past the top end of the proximal guardrail post, turning continuously downward, and then extending continuously inward towards the proximal guardrail post such that the end of the top rail is juxtaposed with the middle portion of the proximal guardrail post;   clamping a first post support device to a top end of the wall element, the first post support device comprising:
 a first adjustable locking clamp including a generally horizontal first cross-member; and 
 a first receptacle adapted to receive and support a post end of one guardrail post, the first receptacle rigidly coupled to a top side of the first cross-member and extending upward from the first cross-member; 
   clamping a second post support device to the top end of the wall element at the post-spacing distance from the first post support device, the second post support device comprising:
 a second adjustable locking clamp including a generally horizontal second cross-member; and 
 a second receptacle adapted to receive and support a post end of the other guardrail post, the second receptacle rigidly coupled to a top side of the second cross-member and extending upward from the second cross-member; and 
   installing the guardrail on the wall element by receiving of the one guardrail post by the first post support device receptacle and receiving of the other guardrail post by the second support device receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 12 , wherein the top end of each guardrail post is coped to match an outside curvature of the top rail tubular cross-section and each end of the top rail is coped to match an outside curvature of the proximal guardrail post. 
     
     
         14 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 13 , wherein each connection including one end of one guardrail member connected to another guardrail member comprises a welded connection. 
     
     
         15 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 12 , wherein each guardrail member connection is a rigid connection. 
     
     
         16 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 12 , the guardrail members further comprising a bottom rail wherein the bottom rail is interposed between the two guardrail posts and each end of the bottom rail is connected to one guardrail post such that the bottom rail is axially aligned with both ends of the top rail at the middle portion of the guardrail posts. 
     
     
         17 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 16 , wherein each end of the bottom rail is coped to match an outside curvature of the connected guardrail post tubular cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 locking, to an adjacent guardrail, one of the portions of the top rail extending downward.   
     
     
         19 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 18 , wherein the downward portion of the top rail includes a first guardrail locking device for locking to a second guardrail locking device of the adjacent guardrail. 
     
     
         20 . The method for installing the guardrail on the wall element of  claim 19 , wherein the first guardrail locking device is a first part of a hinge.