Guardrail post assembly and post frame therefor

Abstract

A post frame for guardrail post assembly includes a substantially vertical first mounting post arranged proximate a first lateral side of the post frame; a substantially vertical second mounting post arranged proximate a second lateral side of the post frame, opposite the first lateral side; an attachment housing coupled to and extending between the first mounting post and the second mounting post, the attachment housing configured to engage a guardrail attachment assembly; and a first wheel configured to permit the post frame to be rolled across a support surface.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post frame for a guardrail post assembly, the post frame comprising:
 a substantially vertical first mounting post arranged proximate a first lateral side of the post frame;   a substantially vertical second mounting post arranged proximate a second lateral side of the post frame, opposite the first lateral side;   an attachment housing coupled to and extending between the first mounting post and the second mounting post, the attachment housing configured to engage a guardrail attachment assembly; and   a first wheel configured to permit the post frame to be rolled across a support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The post frame of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first wheel is mounted to a first wheel bracket proximate the first lateral side; and   the post frame further comprises a second wheel mounted to a second wheel bracket proximate the second lateral side.   
     
     
         3 . The post frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle bar configured to be gripped by an operator to facilitate guiding the post frame across the support surface on the first wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The post frame of  claim 3 , wherein the handle bar is arranged proximate a top end of the post frame. 
     
     
         5 . The post frame of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one substantially vertical spine post positioned about centrally between the first lateral side and the second lateral side and configured to reinforce the post frame. 
     
     
         6 . The post frame of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one spine post comprises an extruded metal post. 
     
     
         7 . The post frame of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one spine post extends through the attachment housing. 
     
     
         8 . The post frame of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one spine post comprises a first spine post and a second spine post substantially parallel with the first spine post. 
     
     
         9 . The post frame of  claim 8 , wherein the handle bar comprises a first handle portion extending laterally outward from the at least one spine post towards the first lateral side of the post frame and a second handle portion extending laterally outward from the at least one spine post towards the second lateral side of the post frame. 
     
     
         10 . The post frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting plate coupled to and extending between the first mounting post and the second mounting post, wherein the mounting plate and the attachment housing are configured to retain the guardrail attachment assembly therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The post frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first mounting post and the second mounting post is formed as an extruded metal post. 
     
     
         12 . The post frame of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer sleeve mounted to each of the first mounting post and the second mounting post. 
     
     
         13 . A guardrail post assembly comprising:
 a post frame;   a pillar strap system mounted to the post frame and configured to couple the post frame to
 a first pillar, the pillar strap system comprising: 
 a pillar attachment strap configured to wrap around the first pillar; and 
 a ratchet assembly comprising a ratchet and a mounting tube, the pillar attachment strap mounted on the mounting tube; and 
   a guardrail strap system mounted to the post frame and comprising:
 a guardrail strap configured to extend between the first pillar and a second pillar; and 
 a second ratchet assembly comprising a second ratchet and a second mounting tube, the guardrail strap mounted on the second mounted tube. 
   
     
     
         14 . The guardrail post assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the ratchet strap system further comprises a crank assembly comprising a pawl, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet to crank the ratchet in a winding direction, and wherein the pillar attachment strap is wound up on the mounting tube as the ratchet is cranked in the winding direction to tension the pillar attachment strap around the first pillar. 
     
     
         15 . The guardrail post assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the crank assembly comprises a crank body rotatably mounted to the ratchet assembly, and wherein the pawl is coupled to the crank body. 
     
     
         16 . The guardrail post assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the crank body defines a handle portion, and wherein the handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user to facilitate rotating the crank assembly between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         17 . The guardrail post assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the guardrail post assembly further comprises:
 an attachment frame coupling the ratchet strap system to the post frame; and 
 a secondary mounting tube rotatably coupled to the attachment frame; and 
   the pillar attachment strap is wound up on the second mounting tube.   
     
     
         18 . The guardrail post assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the pillar attachment strap defines a free strap end;   the free strap end is connected to a pillar attachment hook;   a strap attachment bracket is mounted to the post frame; and   the pillar attachment hook engages the strap attachment bracket to secure the pillar attachment strap around the first pillar.   
     
     
         19 . The guardrail post assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second ratchet assembly further comprises a pawl, the pawl pivotably biased into engagement with the second ratchet to prohibit the second ratchet from rotating. 
     
     
         20 . The guardrail post assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second ratchet assembly further comprises a pawl spring biasing the pawl into engagement with the second ratchet.