Safety barrier

Abstract

The base ( 2 ) includes a base portion ( 4 ), a socket means on the base portion ( 4 ) for securely receiving an upright ( 8 ) and at least one lug extending from the base portion ( 4 ). The at least one lug including a first portion ( 7 ) extending parallel to the base portion ( 4 ) and a second portion ( 7 ) to the base portion ( 4 ) in an offset alignment. The at least one lug is adapted for substantially flush arrangement with an underside of a floor ( 12 ). In the absence of other means fixing the base ( 2 ) to the floor ( 12 ), the at least one lug prevents the barrier post ( 2, 8 ) from falling over by contacting the underside of the floor ( 12 ) when a force is applied to the upright ( 8 ) in a direction toward or oblique to the void ( 11 ).

1 . A base for a barrier post, the base including: 
 a) a base portion located near an opening in a floor in a construction site; and    b) at least one lug on the base portion passing downwardly through an aperture in the floor, the lug including a portion adjacent an underside of the floor and arranged for engagement therewith when a force is applied to an upright mounted on the base portion.    
     
     
         2 . A barrier post assembly, including a base according to  claim 1 , and an upright mounted on the base portion.  
     
     
         3 . A barrier post assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the upright includes means for mounting railing support elements.  
     
     
         4 . A barrier post assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the means for mounting railing support elements includes a member engageable with the post to provide a rest for supporting railing support elements.  
     
     
         5 . A barrier post assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the means for mounting railing support elements further includes apertures formed in the upright such that the member engages the apertures to project therefrom, thereby providing the rest for supporting the railing support elements.  
     
     
         6 . A barrier post assembly according to  claim 3  further including railing support elements mounted on the upright.  
     
     
         7 . A barrier, comprising: 
 a) two or more barrier posts, where each barrier post includes: 
 i) a base portion; and  
 ii) at least one lug on the base portion including a first portion extending generally parallel to the base portion and a second portion connecting the first portion to the base portion in an offset alignment;  
 iii) an upright mounted on the base portion;  
   wherein the at least one lug is shaped for substantially flush arrangement with an underside of the floor for engagement therewith when a force is applied to the respective upright;    b) railing support elements on each of the barrier posts; and    c) one or more railings supported by the railing support elements to extend between adjacent barrier posts.    
     
     
         8 . A barrier according to  claim 7 , wherein the railing support elements include a channel in which a railing is placed.  
     
     
         9 . A barrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the channel is U-shaped to receive a width dimension of the railing vertically.  
     
     
         10 . A barrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the channel is T-shaped to receive a T-shaped railing.  
     
     
         11 . A barrier according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the railing support elements includes engaging means for enabling selected directional positioning of the respective railing support element around the respective upright to accommodate non-linear barrier configurations.  
     
     
         12 . A barrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the engaging means comprises a pair of spaced rings shaped to permit rotational movement of the railing support elements relative to the upright.  
     
     
         13 . A barrier according to  claim 7 , wherein each barrier post includes means for mounting the respective railing support element thereon.  
     
     
         14 . A barrier according to  claim 13 , wherein the means for mounting railing support elements includes a member engageable with the respective barrier post to provide a rest for supporting said respective railing support element.  
     
     
         15 . A barrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the means for mounting railing support elements further includes apertures formed in the upright such that the member engages the apertures to project therefrom thereby providing the rest for supporting the railing support elements.  
     
     
         16 . A barrier according to  claim 7 , wherein each barrier post is located near an opening in a floor in a construction site such that the at least one lug on each barrier post passes through an aperture in the floor, the barrier thereby disabling access to the opening.  
     
     
         17 . A barrier post apparatus including: 
 a) a base having a base portion and at least one lug on the base portion, the at least one lug for passing downwardly through an aperture in a floor, which lug includes a first portion extending generally parallel to the base portion and a second portion connecting the first portion to the base portion in an offset alignment;    b) an upright for mounting on the base portion and for supporting railings; and    c) means for mounting railing support elements on the upright;    wherein the at least one lug is adapted, when in said aperture, to be substantially flush with an underside of the floor for engagement therewith when the upright is mounted on the base portion and when a force is applied to the upright.    
     
     
         18 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the means for mounting railing support elements includes a member engageable with the upright to provide a rest for supporting the railing support elements.  
     
     
         19 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the means for mounting railing support elements further includes apertures formed in the upright such that the member is engageable with the apertures to project therefrom, thereby providing the rest for supporting the railing support elements.  
     
     
         20 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 17 ,  18  or  19 , further including railing support elements for mounting on the upright.  
     
     
         21 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein each of the railing support elements includes a channel in which a railing may be placed.  
     
     
         22 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the channel is U-shaped to receive a width dimension of the railing vertically.  
     
     
         23 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the channel is T-shaped to receive a T-shaped railing.  
     
     
         24 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein each of the railing support elements includes engaging means shaped to enable selected directional positioning of the channel around the upright to accommodate non-linear barrier configurations.  
     
     
         25 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the engaging means comprises a pair of spaced rings dimensioned to permit rotational movement of the railing support elements relative to the upright.  
     
     
         26 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said upright is mounted on said base portion as a assembly.  
     
     
         27 . A method of disabling access to an opening in a floor, in a construction site, the method comprising: 
 erecting a barrier in accordance with  claim 7 , near the opening;    wherein the railings of the barrier disable access to the opening.    
     
     
         28 . Support elements for railings in a barrier, the support elements including: 
 railing receiving means; and    means associated with the railing receiving means for engaging a barrier post;    wherein the engaging means is shaped to enable selected directional positioning of the support elements around the post to accommodate non-linear barrier configurations.    
     
     
         29 . Support elements according to  claim 28 , wherein the engaging means comprises a pair of spaced rings shaped to permit rotational movement of the support elements relative to the upright.  
     
     
         30 . Support elements according to  claim 28 , wherein the railing receiving means comprises a channel formed as a T-shape or U-shape.  
     
     
         31 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 18 , further including railing support elements for mounting on the upright.  
     
     
         32 . A barrier post apparatus according to  claim 19 , further including railing support elements for mounting on the upright.