Reusable temporary safety rail post

Abstract

There is described a post assembly for a safety fence for bordering an elevated work area, the work area including a wall section supporting an elevated floor section to be bordered by the safety fence, the post assembly comprising a stanchion having upper and lower sections, the lower section having a first upper and a second lower plate fixedly connected thereto, the first and second plates being vertically spaced apart by a pre-determined distance, the upper portion having one or more brackets connected thereto for supporting horizontal safety rails which extend between adjacent post assemblies, and a third plate connectable to the wall section at a selected location, the third plate including means for a torque-resistant connection to the first plate to hold the stanchion in a vertically upright position relative to the wall section, wherein the second plate is connectable to the wall section when the first plate is connected to the third plate, thereby securing the stanchion to the wall section.

1 . A post assembly for a safety fence for bordering an elevated work area, the work area including a wall section supporting an elevated floor section to be bordered by the safety fence, said post assembly comprising:
 a stanchion member having upper and lower sections, said lower section having a first upper and a second lower plate fixedly connected thereto, said first and second plates being vertically spaced apart by a pre-determined distance, said upper portion having one or more brackets connected thereto for supporting horizontal safety rails which extend between adjacent post assemblies; and   a third plate connectable to the wall section at a selected location, said third plate including means for a torque-resistant connection to said first plate to hold said stanchion in a vertically upright position relative to the wall section;   wherein said second plate is connectable to the wall section when said first plate is connected to said third plate, thereby securing said stanchion to the wall section.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said third plate is formed with a slot to slidably receive said first plate thereinto. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said slot is vertically aligned so that said first plate slides vertically into said slot to connect said stanchion to said third plate and slides vertically out of said slot to disconnect said stanchion from said third plate. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said third plate is connectable to the wall section by means of fasteners. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein said second plate is connectable to the wall section by means of fasteners. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein a lower edge of said second plate includes one or more vertically extending slots formed therein. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein said fasteners connecting said second plate to the wall section extend through said one or more vertically extending slots. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein said stanchion can be disconnected from the wall portion by lifting it vertically to withdraw said first plate from said slot in said third plate and to pull said second plate past said fasteners inserted through said one or more vertical slots. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein said third plate includes a plurality of holes preformed therein for the insertion of fasteners to connect said third plate to the wall portion. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said stanchion includes a bend between said upper and lower sections so that said upper section slopes away from said elevated work area. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein said bend is about five degrees. 
   
   
       12 . A method for connecting a safety fence around an elevated work surface supported by an underlying wall section, the method comprising the steps of:
 fixedly connecting first and second vertically spaced apart plate members to a lower section of a stanchion member;   fixedly connecting a third plate member adjacent an upper edge of the wall section, the third plate member being adapted for a temporary, load bearing connection to the first plate on said stanchion;   connecting said first and third plates together, whereby said second plate is automatically positioned in opposed relation to the wall section for connection thereto, said first, second and third plate members cooperating to secure said stanchion in a vertically upright position relative to the wall section to provide a torque resistant connection between the stanchion and the wall section.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the second plate is vertically slidable into and out of slot means formed in said third plate for connecting and disconnecting the stanchion to the wall section. 
   
   
       14 . A post assembly for a safety fence for bordering an elevated work area, the work area including wall portions supporting an elevated outwardly cantilevered floor portion to be bordered by the safety fence, the wall portion including vertical studs topped by a header and the floor portion including horizontal joists surrounded by a fascia; the post assembly comprising:
 a stanchion member having an upper portion and a lower end, said upper portion including one or more brackets thereon to support horizontal safety rails which extend between adjacent post assemblies; and   a yoke member connected to said lower end of said stanchion, said yoke member connecting said stanchion to the header of the wall portion to be in horizontally spaced apart relation to the fascia of the floor portion.   
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said yoke member comprises a bracket portion shaped to fit over the header of the wall portion and a plate member connected to extend horizontally outwardly from the bracket portion to pass beneath the fascia of the floor portion. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein said stanchion is fixedly connected adjacent an outer edge of said plate member to extend vertically upright relative to the wall portion and to be horizontally spaced apart from the fascia of the floor portion. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein said bracket portion is an inverted U-shape to closely fit over and engage the header of the wall portion. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein said bracket portion includes an upper surface and two downwardly depending side surfaces that define said inverted U-shape, the height of said side surfaces being selected to prevent separation of said bracket portion from the header when a load is applied to said stanchion. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said plate member is resiliently flexible whereby outwardly acting torque applied to said stanchion causes the plate member to flex downwardly relative to said bracket portion. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein said plate member is reinforced against flexing when loaded. 
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 20  wherein said plate member is reinforced with a stiffening rib fixedly connected thereto.