Safety rail assembly

Abstract

A safety rail assembly for mounting on a deck of a transport carrier which transports and supports thereon at least one automobile having at least one of passenger and driver-side doors. The portable safety rail assembly includes a handrail extending horizontally relative to the upper surface of the deck and support posts for supporting the handrail. Each support post may be removeably mounted to the deck to permit selective vertical displacement of the handrail relative to the upper surface of the deck for positioning the handrail at a desired height above the upper edge of a door of the transported vehicle. The desired height permits unobstructed opening and closing of the doors and safe entrance into and egress from the interior of the automobile.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A rail assembly including a plurality of safety rails for mounting on a deck of a transport carrier for transporting and supporting at least one automobile having passenger and driver-side doors, each one of the safety rails comprising:
 first and second support posts supported on the deck and spaced apart from each other and a handrail extending between the first and second support posts; and   a retaining assembly which receives the first and second support posts, respectively, to permit selective vertical displacement of the handrail to a predetermined level of at least 66 inches relative to the upper surface of the deck.   
   
   
       24 . The rail assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the retaining assembly is removably attached to the outer periphery of the deck. 
   
   
       25 . The rail assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the retaining assembly is removably attached to the top surface of the deck. 
   
   
       26 . The rail assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the retaining assembly is removably attached to the outer periphery of the deck. 
   
   
       27 . The rail assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the retaining assembly is securely attached to the outer periphery of the deck. 
   
   
       28 . The rail assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the retaining assembly is securely attached to the top surface of the deck. 
   
   
       29 . The rail assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the retaining assembly is securely attached to the outer periphery of the deck. 
   
   
       30 . The rail assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second support posts are removably received by the retaining assembly. 
   
   
       31 . A safety rail for mounting on a deck of a transport carrier which transports and supports at least one automobile having passenger and driver-side doors, the safety rail comprising:
 first and second support posts supported on the deck and spaced apart from each other a predetermined lateral distance of between 102 to 108 inches; and   a handrail extending between the first and second support posts to form an opening having a vertical distance relative to the upper surface of the deck that is adjustable to a predetermined vertical distance of at least 66 inches.   
   
   
       32 . The safety rail of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a first retaining assembly provided at the deck to receive the first support post; and   a second retaining assembly provided at the deck to the second support post, wherein the first and second retaining assemblies to permit the selective vertical displacement of the handrail to the predetermined vertical distance.   
   
   
       33 . The safety rail of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second support posts are telescopically moveable relative to the deck. 
   
   
       34 . The safety rail of  claim 33 , wherein the first and second support posts each comprise:
 a first post section having a first upper end adjacent to the handrail and a first lower end spaced from the first end,   a second post section having a second upper end sized to receive the first lower end of the first post section and a second lower section received by the deck.   
   
   
       35 . The safety rail of  claim 34 , wherein the first post section is selectively moveable relative to the second post section to facilitate the selective vertical displacement of the handrail to the predetermined level. 
   
   
       36 . The safety rail of  claim 32 , wherein the first and second support posts are supported at one of the outer periphery and the top surface of the deck. 
   
   
       37 . A safety rail assembly mounted on a deck of a transport carrier which facilitates the transport and support of automobiles having at least one of passenger and driver-side doors, the safety rail assembly comprising:
 first and second support posts laterally spaced apart on the deck a predetermined lateral distance; and   a handrail extending between the first and second support posts, the handrail being adjustably spaced a vertical distance relative to the upper surface of the deck to a predetermined vertical distance,   wherein the predetermined lateral distance and the predetermined vertical distance combine to form an opening permitting unobstructed opening and closing of the passenger and driver-side doors.   
   
   
       38 . The safety rail assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the predetermined lateral distance comprises between 102 to 108 inches. 
   
   
       39 . The safety rail assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the predetermined vertical distance comprises at least 66 inches. 
   
   
       40 . The safety rail assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the predetermined lateral distance comprises between 102 to 108 inches and the predetermined vertical distance comprises at least 66 inches. 
   
   
       41 . The safety rail assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second support posts are each pivotally mounted to the deck. 
   
   
       42 . The safety rail assembly of  claim 37 , further comprising a retaining assembly which receives the first and second support posts, respectively, to permit the adjustable spacing of the handrail to the predetermined vertical distance.