Pillar attachment assembly

Abstract

A pillar attachment assembly includes a pillar attachment device comprising a pillar mounting bracket and a strap mount rotatably coupled to the pillar mounting bracket, the pillar attachment device configured to attach the pillar attachment assembly to a guardrail post; and a flexible pillar attachment strap rolled up around the strap mount of the pillar attachment device, the flexible pillar attachment strap configured to wrap around a pillar to secure the guardrail post to the pillar.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pillar attachment assembly comprising:
 a pillar attachment device comprising a pillar mounting bracket and a strap mount rotatably coupled to the pillar mounting bracket, the pillar attachment device configured to attach the pillar attachment assembly to a guardrail post; and   a flexible pillar attachment strap rolled up around the strap mount of the pillar attachment device, the flexible pillar attachment strap configured to wrap around a pillar to secure the guardrail post to the pillar.   
     
     
         2 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pillar attachment device further comprises a post attachment member configured to attach the pillar attachment assembly to the guardrail post, the post attachment member coupled to the pillar mounting bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the post attachment member comprises a tubular member portion configured to receive a guardrail rod of the guardrail post. 
     
     
         4 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the tubular member portion is parallel to the strap mount. 
     
     
         5 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the post attachment member comprises a wall member, the wall member defines an inner member edge, and the wall member is bent at the inner member edge to define the tubular member portion. 
     
     
         6 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular member portion defines an elongated slit extending along a length of the tubular member portion. 
     
     
         7 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the wall member defines an upper member arm and a lower member arm opposite the upper member arm;   a mounting notch is defined between the upper member arm and the lower member arm opposite the tubular member portion; and   the pillar mounting bracket is mounted within the mounting notch of the wall member.   
     
     
         8 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pillar mounting bracket comprises an upper bracket arm and a lower bracket arm opposite the upper bracket arm; and   the strap mount extends between and is rotatably coupled to each of the upper bracket arm and the lower bracket arm.   
     
     
         9 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the pillar mounting bracket further comprises a bracket mounting wall extending between the upper bracket arm and the lower bracket arm. 
     
     
         10 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting bracket is monolithically formed, the upper bracket arm is bent relative to the bracket mounting wall to be oriented substantially perpendicular relative thereto, and the lower bracket arm is bent relative to the bracket mounting wall to be oriented substantially perpendicular relative thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the upper bracket arm defines an upper mounting opening, the lower bracket arm defines a lower bracket opening, and the strap mount rotatably engages each of the upper mounting opening and the lower mounting opening. 
     
     
         12 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the upper bracket arm further defines an upper arm opening configured to reduce the amount of material required to form the mounting bracket, and wherein the lower bracket arm further defines a lower arm opening configured to reduce the amount of material required to form the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the strap mount comprises an inner mounting tube and an outer mounting tube; and   the inner mounting tube defines:
 a tube body extending between the upper mounting opening and the lower mounting opening; 
 an upper engagement portion rotatably engaging the upper mounting opening; and 
 a lower engagement portion rotatably engaging the lower mounting opening. 
   
     
     
         14 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the outer mounting tube defines an outer tube slot; and   a restrained end of the pillar attachment strap is received through the outer tube slot and clamped between the inner mounting tube and the outer mounting tube.   
     
     
         15 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the inner mounting tube defining an inner tube slot aligned with the outer tube slot. 
     
     
         16 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pillar attachment device further comprises a ratchet coupled to the strap mount and a pawl pivotably coupled to the pillar mounting bracket;   the ratchet defining a plurality of ratchet teeth and a plurality of ratchet recesses; and   the pawl is selectively engaged with a corresponding one of the plurality of ratchet recesses.   
     
     
         17 . The pillar attachment assembly of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the pillar attachment device further comprises a pawl spring; and   the pawl is biased into engagement with the corresponding one of the plurality of ratchet recesses by the pawl spring in an engaged position to prohibit the flexible pillar attachment strap from unrolling on the strap mount.