Guardrail mounted on posts and associated methods

Abstract

A guardrail and associated methods preferably having plurality of support posts that are spaced around an area to be defined by rebar or other posts already associated with a construction site are provided. The plurality of support posts preferably support at least one crossbar spanning the length between each of the support posts. The guardrail apparatus also preferably includes a sleeve that slides over an upper portion of each of support posts at the ends of the guardrail which can hold the beams or crossbars of the guardrail. Preferably, the sleeve can be positioned and secured to the post at a desired height. Supports are positioned on the plurality of support posts between the ends of the guardrail at desired heights in order to hold and support the crossbars spanning the length of the guardrail.

That claimed is:  
     
         1 . A guardrail adapted to be mounted on a row of rebar posts that are positioned in a surface, the row having at least a beginning end post and an ending end post, the guardrail comprising: 
 a pair of end post sleeves adapted so that one of the end post sleeves receives the upper end of the beginning end post and the other end post sleeve receives the upper end of the ending end post;    a pair of first crossbar connectors each positioned on one of the pair of end post sleeves at a first elevation above the surface;    a pair of second crossbar connectors each positioned on one of the pair of end post sleeves at a second elevation above the surface, the second elevation being closer to the surface than the first elevation;    a first crossbar extending between each of the pair of end post sleeves, a first end of the first crossbar connecting to one of the pair of first crossbar connectors and a second end of the first crossbar connecting to the other one of the pair of first crossbar connectors; and    a second crossbar extending between each of the pair of end post sleeves, a first end of the second crossbar connecting to one of the pair of second crossbar connectors and a second end of the second crossbar connecting to the other one of the pair of second crossbar connectors.    
     
     
         2 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the row of posts have at least one additional rebar post positioned between the beginning end post and the ending end post, and the guardrail further comprises 
 a pair of supports, each having a support opening extending therethrough and positioned on the distal end of each of the at least one additional posts, each of the at least one additional posts having a pair of supports positioned thereon defining a support post, and one of the pair of supports positioned at the first elevation defining a first support on each support post and the other of the pair of supports positioned at the second elevation defining a second support on each support post.    
     
     
         3 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each of the pair of supports comprises a ledge positioned adjacent the support openings of each of the pair of supports, and a lip extending from each ledge, parallel to the support post and away from the surface, and wherein portions of the first crossbar rests on the ledge of the first support, and portions of the second crossbar rest on the ledge of the second supports.  
     
     
         4 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the first and second crossbars each comprise a pair of end bars each having a first opening and at least one intermediate bar, and wherein the circumference around the outer surface of the at least one intermediate bar is smaller than the inner circumference of the first opening of each of the pair of end bars, and wherein the first opening of each of the end bars is adapted to receive a portion of the at least one intermediate bar.  
     
     
         5 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one intermediate bar comprises a plurality of small intermediate bars alternatingly positioned with at least one large intermediate bar, and wherein each of the at least one large intermediate bars has a third opening with an inner circumference that is larger than the outer circumference of each of the small intermediate bars to receive a portion of each of the small intermediate bars, and each of the pair of end bars is adapted to receive a portion of at least two of the plurality of the small intermediate bars.  
     
     
         6 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one intermediate bar comprises a plurality of small intermediate bars positioned alternatingly with a plurality of large intermediate bars, and wherein each of the plurality of large intermediate bars has a third opening with an inner circumference that is larger than the outer circumference of each of the plurality of small intermediate bars that receives a portion of each of the plurality of small intermediate bars, and wherein the portion of each small intermediate bar received in each third opening is adjusted so that the ends of the at least one intermediate bar include small intermediate bars, and wherein each of the pair of end bars each receives one of the ends of the at least one intermediate bar.  
     
     
         7 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the row of posts have a plurality of additional rebar posts positioned between the beginning end post and the ending end post, and the guardrail further comprises: 
 at least one corner sleeve adapted to receive the upper end of at least one of one of the plurality of additional rebar posts to thereby define a corner post, and wherein each corner post has another pair of first crossbar connectors positioned at the first elevation on the outer surface of the corner sleeve, extending radially away from the corner sleeve in different directions, defining an angle between the pair of crossbar connectors, and wherein each corner post has another pair of second crossbar connectors positioned at the second elevation on the outer surface of the corner sleeve, extending radially away from the corner sleeve in different directions and at substantially the same angle;    a pair of supports adapted to slide over rebar posts, each having a support opening extending therethrough and positioned on the distal end of the remaining plurality of additional rebar posts, each of the remaining plurality of additional rebar posts having a pair of supports positioned thereon defining a support post, and one of the pair of supports positioned at the first elevation defining a first support on each support post and the other of the pair of supports positioned at the second elevation defining a second support on each support post, each of the pair of supports comprising a ledge positioned adjacent the support openings of each of the pair of supports, and a lip extending from each ledge, parallel to the support post and away from the surface, and portions of the first crossbar resting on the ledge of the first supports, and portions of the second crossbar resting on the ledge of the second support, and    wherein the first and second crossbars each comprise: 
 an end bar connected to each crossbar connector, each having a first opening;  
 a plurality of small intermediate bars positioned between the end bars connected to the beginning end post and the corner post and between end bars connected to the corner post and the ending end post, the circumference around the outer surface of each of the small intermediate bars being smaller than the inner circumference of the first openings of each of the pair of end bars, and wherein the first opening of each of the end bars receives a portion of the at least one intermediate bar; and  
 a plurality of large intermediate bars alternatingly positioned with the plurality of small intermediate bars, each of the plurality of large intermediate bars having a third opening with an inner circumference that is larger than the outer circumference of each of the plurality of small intermediate bars that receives a portion of each of the plurality of small intermediate bars, the portion of each small intermediate bar received in each third opening being adapted so that each of the end bars each receives one of the plurality of small intermediate bars.  
   
     
     
         8 . A guardrail comprising: 
 a plurality of posts associated with a construction site, each post having a lower end fixedly secured to a substantially horizontal support region so that each distal end portion of each of the plurality of posts extends upwardly in a substantially vertical direction from the support region;    at least one end post sleeve positioned on the distal end portion of one of the plurality of posts so that the post defines a end post, the at least one end post sleeve having at least one crossbar connector associated with the outer surface of the end post sleeve;    at least one support having a support opening extending therethrough and positioned on the distal end of another one of the plurality of posts so that the post defines a support post, the support also having a ledge positioned adjacent the support opening and extending outwardly from the support post;    a lip extending outwardly from the ledge substantially parallel to the support post; and    at least one crossbar extending between the end post and the support post, at least one crossbar having a portion of the crossbar positioned on the ledge between the support post and the lip and a crossbar opening formed in an end portion of the crossbar adjacent the end post and connected to the crossbar connector.    
     
     
         9 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 8  wherein each of the plurality of posts comprises a rebar post.  
     
     
         10 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the support has a passageway extending radially from the support opening to an outer surface of the support and means for securing the support to the support post through the support opening, the means for securing the support to the support post extending through the passageway from the outer surface of the support towards the support opening and engaging the support post.  
     
     
         11 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one crossbar comprises a first crossbar which connects to the first crossbar connector and extends away from the end post at substantially the first elevation; and the at least one crossbar further comprises a second crossbar which connects to the second crossbar connector and extends away from the end post at substantially the second elevation.  
     
     
         12 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the crossbar further has at least one end bar connected to the at least one end post sleeve, the end bar having a first end opening, and wherein the crossbar further has at least one small intermediate bar having a second end opening, the outer circumference of the outer surface surrounding the second end opening of the small intermediate bar being less than the inner circumference of the first end opening of the end bar so that the end bar slideably receives a portion of the small intermediate bar, and wherein a portion of the small intermediate bar rests on the ledge, between the lip and the support post.  
     
     
         13 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one crossbar further has at least one large intermediate bar having a third end opening, the inner circumference of the third end opening being greater than the outer circumference of the outer surface surrounding the second end opening so that the large intermediate bar slideably receives a portion of the small intermediate bar on the opposite end of the small intermediate bar from the portion being received by the end bar.  
     
     
         14 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 13 , wherein another support post is positioned adjacent the support post adjacent the end post, defining a second support post; and a portion of the large intermediate bar rests on the ledge of the support on the second support post.  
     
     
         15 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 14 , wherein another support post is positioned adjacent the second support post, defining a third support post; 
 the crossbar further has another small intermediate bar, and the large intermediate bar slideably receives a portion of the another small intermediate bar at the opposite end of large intermediate bar that slideably received a portion of the small intermediate bar resting on the ledge of the support positioned on the support post adjacent the end post; and    the another small intermediate bar rests on the ledge of the support positioned on the third support post.    
     
     
         16 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 15 , wherein another end post is positioned at the end of the guardrail opposite from the other end post; 
 additional support posts are positioned adjacent one another between the third support post and the another end post;    the at least one crossbar further has additional large and small intermediate bars alternatingly added to the crossbar and resting on the ledges of each of the supports on each of the support posts, wherein each end of the additional large intermediate bars slidingly receives portions of adjacent small intermediate bars, the portions of the additional small intermediate bars being received by each of the additional large intermediate bars is adjusted so that one of the additional small intermediate bars rests on the ledge of the support of the support post adjacent to the another end post; and    the at least one crossbar further has another at least one end bar connected to the at least one end post sleeve defining the another end post, which slideably receives a portion of the additional small intermediate bars resting on the ledge of the ledge of the support positioned on the support post adjacent the another end post.    
     
     
         17 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one crossbar connector comprises a first crossbar connector positioned at a first elevation above the support region, wherein the at least one crossbar connector further has a second crossbar connecter positioned at a second elevation above the support region, the first elevation being higher than the second elevation, wherein each of the first and second cross bar connectors is positioned on an outer surface of the end post sleeve, and wherein the crossbar is connected to, and extends radially outward from substantially the same outer surface of the end post sleeve.  
     
     
         18 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the at least on crossbar comprises a first crossbar which connects to the first crossbar connector and extends away from the end post at substantially the first elevation; and the at least one crossbar further comprises a second crossbar which connects to the second crossbar connector and extends away from the end post at substantially the second elevation.  
     
     
         19 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one support comprises a first support positioned at the first elevation; and the at least one support further comprises a second support positioned at the second elevation.  
     
     
         20 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the at least one end bar comprises a first end bar that attaches to the first crossbar connector, the at least one end bar comprises a second end bar that attaches to the second crossbar connector; 
 the at least one small intermediate bar comprises a first small intermediate bar that is slideably received by the first end bar, and a second small intermediate bar that is slideably received by the second end bar;    the first small intermediate bar rests on the ledge of the first support and the second small intermediate bar rests on the ledge of the second support.    
     
     
         21 . A guardrail as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one corner post sleeve positioned on the distal end portion of one of the plurality of posts so that the post defines a corner post, the at least one corner post sleeve having at least two crossbar connectors positioned on the outer surface of the corner post sleeve at substantially the same elevation above the surface, and the connectors extend radially outward from the surface of the corner post sleeve at an angle to each other, 
 and wherein the at least one crossbar extends from the end post, beyond the support post, to the corner post, the at least one crossbar connects to one of the at least two crossbar connectors on the corner post sleeve, and wherein the crossbar continues from the other one of the at least two crossbar connectors towards another at least one end post and connects to one of the at least one crossbar connectors associated with the other end post sleeve, and wherein the crossbar extends from the corner post towards the another end post at the angle.    
     
     
         22 . The guardrail of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the at least one crossbar connector on each end post sleeve comprises a pair of crossbar connectors extending radially from the surface of the end post sleeve in substantially the same direction, wherein one of the pair of crossbar connectors is positioned at a first elevation above the surface, thereby defining a first crossbar connector, and wherein the other one of the pair of crossbar connectors is positioned at a second elevation above the surface that is closer to the surface than the first crossbar connector, thereby defining a second crossbar connector; and wherein    the at least one support comprises a pair of supports on each support post, wherein one of the pair of supports is positioned at the first elevation, thereby defining a first support, and wherein the other one of the pair of supports is positioned at the second elevation, thereby defining a second support; and wherein    the at least two crossbar connectors on the corner post sleeve comprises a pair of at least two crossbar connects on the corner post sleeve, wherein one of the pair of at least two crossbar connectors is positioned at the first elevation, thereby defining a first set of corner crossbar connectors, and wherein the other one of the pair at least two crossbar connectors is positioned at the second elevation, thereby defining a second set of corner crossbar connectors; and wherein    the at least one crossbar comprises a pair of crossbars, wherein one of the pair of crossbars is positioned at the first elevation, defining a first crossbar, and extends from the first crossbar connector, beyond the support post, with a portion of the first crossbar positioned on the ledge of the first support, and continuing to the corner post where the first crossbar connects to one of the first set of corner crossbar connectors, and wherein the first crossbar continues from the other one of the first set of corner crossbar connectors towards the another at least one end post and connects to the first crossbar connector on end post sleeve of the another at least one end post; and wherein    the other one of the pair of crossbars is positioned at the second elevation, defining a second crossbar, and extends from the second crossbar connector, beyond the support post, with a portion of the second crossbar positioned on the ledge of the second support, and continuing to the corner post where the second crossbar connects to one of the second set of corner crossbar connectors, and wherein the second crossbar continues from the other one of the second set of corner crossbar connectors towards the another at least one end post and connects to the second crossbar connector on end post sleeve of the another at least one end post.    
     
     
         23 . A method of mounting a guardrail on a plurality of rebar posts that are positioned in a surface, comprising the steps: 
 (a) connecting an end post sleeve having a pair of crossbar connectors respectively positioned at a first elevation above the surface and at a second elevation above the surface to each of the outermost and spaced-apart posts of the plurality of rebar posts; and    (b) connecting a crossbar to each of the end post sleeves at the connectors at the first elevation, and a crossbar to each of the end post sleeves at the connectors at the second elevation.    
     
     
         24 . A method of mounting a guardrail on a plurality of rebar posts that are positioned in a surface, comprising the steps: 
 (a) connecting an end post sleeve to each of the outermost posts of the plurality of rebar posts;    (b) connecting a pair of supports at a first elevation above the surface, and a second elevation that is above the first elevation, to each of the plurality rebar posts between the outermost rebar posts;    (c) connecting a first crossbar on the first supports and connecting the first crossbar to each of the end post sleeves; and    (d) connecting a second crossbar on the second supports and connecting the second crossbar to each of the end post sleeves.    
     
     
         25 . A method as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the first and second crossbars are connected to fthe first and second supports in steps (c) and (d) by resting the first and second crossbars on the first and second supports, respectively.