Guardrail system and associated methods

Abstract

A guardrail system includes a plurality of posts and at least one rail member detachably connected to and extending between the plurality of posts. Each of the plurality of posts includes a first post member, and a second post member that slidably engages the first post member. The second post member includes a first cable connector connected to a lower portion thereof, and a second cable connector connected to an upper portion thereof and including a pair of inverted and opposing J-shaped second cable connector members.

1 . A guardrail system comprising: 
 a plurality of posts, each of said plurality of posts comprising 
 a first post member, and  
 a second post member that slidably engages said first post member, said second post member comprising a first cable connector connected to a lower portion thereof, and a second cable connector connected to an upper portion thereof and including a pair of inverted and opposing J-shaped second cable connector members, and  
   at least one rail member detachably connected to and extending between said plurality of posts.    
   
   
       2 . A guardrail system according to  claim 1  wherein the first cable connector comprises a pair of spaced-apart opposing first cable connector members connected to the lower portion of said second post member; and wherein said at least one rail member is detachably connected to said second post member and extends between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       3 . A guardrail system according to  claim 2  wherein each of the pair of first cable connector members has a passageway formed therethrough; and further comprising a locking pin member that matingly engages the passageways to retain said at least one rail member between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       4 . A guardrail system according to  claim 3  wherein said at least one rail member comprises a first rail member detachably connected to said second post member adjacent the first cable connector, and a second rail member detachably connected to said second post member adjacent the second cable connector.  
   
   
       5 . A guardrail system according to  claim 1  wherein said second post member has at least one passageway formed therethrough; and further comprising a height fastener to matingly engage the passageway and contact said first post member to fix a height of said second post member with respect to said first post member.  
   
   
       6 . A guardrail system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one rail member is at least one steel cable.  
   
   
       7 . A guardrail system according to  claim 1  wherein said first post member and said second post member are polygonally shaped tubes.  
   
   
       8 . A guardrail system according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of bases, each base connected to a bottom portion of said respective first post member, said base having a plurality of passageways formed therethrough for receiving a respective plurality of fasteners to fasten said base to a surface.  
   
   
       9 . A guardrail system according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of bases; and wherein each of said plurality of bases includes a plurality of passageways formed therethrough for receiving a respective plurality of fasteners to fasten said base to a surface; and wherein each of said plurality of bases includes a sleeve to receive a bottom portion of said respective first post member.  
   
   
       10 . A guardrail system comprising: 
 a plurality of posts, each of said plurality of posts comprising 
 a first post member, and  
 a second post member that slidably engages said first post member, said second post member comprising a first cable connector connected to a lower portion thereof and including a pair of spaced-apart opposing first cable connector members, and a second cable connector connected to an upper portion thereof and including a pair of inverted and opposing J-shaped second cable connector members, and  
   a first rail member detachably connected to said second post member adjacent the first cable connector; and    a second rail member detachably connected to said second post member and extending between the pair of first cable connectors;    wherein said first and second post members are polygonally shaped tubes.    
   
   
       11 . A guardrail system according to  claim 10  wherein each of the pair of first cable connector members comprises a passageway formed through a main body portion thereof; and further comprising a locking pin member that matingly engages the passageway to retain said first rail member between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       12 . A guardrail system according to  claim 10  wherein said second post member has at least one passageway formed in a main body portion thereof; and further comprising a height fastener to matingly engage the passageway and contact a main body portion of said first post member to fix a height of said second post member with respect to said first post member.  
   
   
       13 . A guardrail system according to  claim 10  wherein said first and second rail members are steel cables.  
   
   
       14 . A guardrail system according to  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of bases, each base connected to a bottom portion of said respective first post member, said base having a plurality of passageways formed therethrough for receiving a respective plurality of fasteners to fasten said base to a surface.  
   
   
       15 . A guardrail system according to  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of bases; and wherein each of said plurality of bases includes a plurality of passageways formed therethrough for receiving a respective plurality of fasteners to fasten said base to a surface; and wherein each of said plurality of bases includes a sleeve to receive a bottom portion of said respective first post member.  
   
   
       16 . A post for a guardrail system comprising: 
 a first post member; and    a second post member that slidably engages said first post member, said second post member having an upper portion and a lower portion, and comprising 
 a first cable connector connected to the lower portion of said second post member, and  
 a second cable connector connected to the upper portion of said second post member and comprising a pair of inverted and opposing J-shaped second cable connector members.  
   
   
   
       17 . A post for a guardrail system according to  claim 16  wherein said first cable connector comprises a pair of spaced-apart opposing first cable connector members.  
   
   
       18 . A post for a guardrail system according to  claim 17  wherein each of the pair of first cable connector members comprises a passageway formed therethrough for receiving a locking pin member to retain a rail member between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       19 . A post for a guardrail system according to  claim 16  wherein said second post member has at least one passageway formed therein; and further comprising a height fastener to matingly engage the passageway and contact said first post member to thereby fix a height of said second post member with respect to said first post member.  
   
   
       20 . A post for a guardrail system according to  claim 16  wherein said first post member and said second post member are polygonally shaped tubes.  
   
   
       21 . A method of installing a guardrail system comprising a plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts comprising a first post member having a base connected to a bottom portion thereof, and a second post member, the method comprising: 
 fastening the base of the first post member to a surface;    slidably engaging the second post member with the first post member, the second post member comprising a first cable connector connected to a lower portion thereof, and a second cable connector connected to an upper portion thereof, the second cable connector including a pair of inverted and opposing J-shaped second cable connector members; and    detachably connecting at least one rail member to each of the plurality of posts so that the at least one rail member extends between each of the plurality of posts.    
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the first cable connector comprises a pair of spaced-apart opposing first cable connector members connected to the lower portion of the second post member; and wherein the at least one rail member is detachably connected to the second post member and extends between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein each of the pair of first cable connector members comprises a passageway formed therethrough; and further comprising matingly engaging a locking pin member with the passageway to retain the at least one rail member between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the at least one rail member comprises a first rail member and a second rail member; and wherein detachably connecting the at least one rail member further comprises detachably connecting the first rail member to the second post member adjacent the first cable connector, and detachably connecting the second rail member to the second post member adjacent the second cable connector.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the second post member has at least one passageway formed therein; and further fixing the height of the second post member with respect to the first member by matingly engaging a height fastener with the passageway to contact the first post member.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the at least one rail member is at least one steel cable.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the first post member and the second post member are polygonally shaped tubes.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the base comprises a plurality of passageways formed therethrough; and wherein fastening the base to the surface further comprises passing a respective plurality of fasteners through the respective plurality of passageways and into the surface.  
   
   
       29 . A method of installing a guardrail system comprising a plurality of bases, and a respective plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts comprising a first post member, and a second post member, the method comprising: 
 fastening the plurality of bases to a surface;    slidably engaging the first post member of each of the posts with a respective base;    slidably engaging the second post member with the first post member, the second post member comprising a first cable connector connected to a lower portion thereof, and a second cable connector connected to an upper portion thereof, the second cable connector including a pair of inverted and opposing J-shaped second cable connector members; and    detachably connecting at least one rail member to each of the plurality of post members so that the at least one rail member extends between each of the plurality of posts.    
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein the first cable connector comprises a pair of spaced-apart opposing first cable connector members connected to the lower portion of the second post member; and wherein the at least one rail member is detachably connected to the second post member and extends between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein each of the pair of first cable connector members comprises a passageway formed therethrough; and further comprising matingly engaging a locking pin member with the passageway to retain the at least one rail member between the pair of first cable connector members.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the at least one rail member comprises a first rail member and a second rail member; and wherein detachably connecting the at least one rail member further comprises detachably connecting the first rail member to the second post member adjacent the first cable connector, and detachably connecting the second rail member to the second post member adjacent the second cable connector.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein the second post member has at least one passageway formed therein; and further fixing the height of the second post member with respect to the first member by matingly engaging a height fastener with the passageway to contact the first post member.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein the at least one rail member is at least one steel cable.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein the first post member and the second post member are polygonally shaped tubes.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein each of the plurality of bases includes a plurality of passageways formed therethrough, and wherein each of the plurality of bases includes a sleeve to receive a bottom portion of the respective first post members; and wherein fastening the bases to the surface comprises passing a respective plurality of fasteners through the respective plurality of passageways and into the surface.