Construction Safety Handrail and Toeboard System

Abstract

A versatile handrail and toeboard safety system that provides flexible solutions for the implementation of improved construction site safety barriers using specialized brackets to mount standard wooden members. The brackets of the handrail and toeboard safety system is formed of multiple orthogonally arranged plates creating spaces to receive and secure wooden construction members as a handrail for personnel safety in addition to a toeboard for equipment and material safety. The parallel plates are formed with several mounting points for wooden members and several mounting points for anchoring the bracket to a base floor. The brackets are formed to withstand a minimum two-hundred (200) pound force exerted at the top of a forty-five (45) inch tall handrail attached to the anchored bracket. The brackets provide the versatility to be used in various system arrangements and the expeditious setup and removal of the handrail and toeboard safety system.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A bracket for a handrail and toeboard system comprising:
 four walls arranged orthogonally and extending vertically defining a support rail receiver having an open top and an open bottom;   a first vertical member and a second vertical member spaced apart and in parallel arrangement extending outwardly from a first of said four walls defining a first toe board receiver having an open top, an open bottom, and an open side;   a first rectangular flange attached to and extending outwardly from said first vertical member;   a second rectangular flange attached to and extending outwardly from said second vertical member;   a third vertical member and a fourth vertical member spaced apart and in parallel arrangement extending outwardly from a third of said four walls, opposite said first of said four walls, defining a second toe board receiver having an open top, an open bottom, and an open side;   a third rectangular flange attached to and extending outwardly from said third vertical member; and   a fourth rectangular flange attached to and extending outwardly from said fourth vertical member.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 1 , wherein said first rectangular flange extends a length of said first vertical member, said second rectangular flange extends a length of said second vertical member, said third rectangular flange extends a length of said third vertical member, and said fourth rectangular flange extends a length of said fourth vertical member. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of equally spaced holes formed in said first of four walls and said third of four walls. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 3 , wherein said first vertical member and said second vertical member includes a first pair of axially aligned holes and said third vertical member and said fourth vertical member includes a second pair of axially aligned holes. 
     
     
         5 . A bracket for a handrail and toeboard system comprising:
 a first vertical plate formed with a u-frame having a first vertical member extending from a first end of said u-frame and a second vertical member extending from a second end of said u-frame;   a second vertical plate formed with a u-frame having a first vertical member extending from a first end of said u-frame and a second vertical member extending from a second end of said u-frame;   a first support plate connected between said first end of said first vertical plate u-frame and said first end of said second vertical plate u-frame;   a second support plate connected between said second end of said first vertical plate u-frame and said second end of said second vertical plate u-frame;   a support rail receiver formed by said u-frame of said first vertical plate, said u-frame of said second vertical plate, said first support plate, and said second support plate, wherein said support rail receiver has an open top and an open bottom;   a first toe board receiver formed by said first vertical member of said first vertical plate, said first support plate, and said first vertical member of said second vertical plate, wherein said first toe board receiver has an open top, an open bottom and an open side; and   a second toe board receiver formed by said second vertical member of said first vertical plate, said second support plate, and said second vertical member of said second vertical plate, wherein said second toe board receiver has an open top, an open bottom and an open side.   
     
     
         6 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said first vertical member of said first vertical plate;   a second rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said first vertical member of said second vertical plate;   a third rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said second vertical member of said first vertical plate; and   a fourth rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said second vertical member of said second vertical plate.   
     
     
         7 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 1 , wherein said first rectangular flange extends a length of said first vertical member of said first vertical plate, said second rectangular flange extends a length of said first vertical member of said second vertical plate, said third rectangular flange extends a length of said second vertical member of said first vertical plate, and said fourth rectangular flange extends a length of said second vertical member of said second vertical plate. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of holes formed into said first support plate and said second support plate. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of holes formed into said first vertical plate and said second vertical plate. 
     
     
         10 . A bracket for a handrail and toeboard system comprising:
 a first vertical plate having a u-shaped plate with a first bend forming a first vertical member, a second bend forming a second vertical member, and a u-frame between said first bend and said second bend;   a second vertical plate having a u-shaped plate with a first bend forming a first vertical member, a second bend forming a second vertical member, and a u-frame between said first bend and said second bend;   a first support plate connected between said first bend of said first vertical plate and said first bend of said second vertical plate;   a second support plate connected between said second bend of said first vertical plate and said second bend of said second u vertical plate;   a support rail receiver formed by said u-frame of said first vertical plate, said u-frame of said second vertical plate, said first support plate, and said second support plate, wherein said support rail receiver has an open top and an open bottom;   a first toe board receiver formed by said first vertical member of said first vertical plate, said first support plate, and said first vertical member of said second vertical plate, wherein said first toe board receiver has an open top, an open bottom and an open side; and   a second toe board receiver formed by said second vertical member of said first vertical plate, said second support plate, and said second vertical member of said second vertical plate, wherein said second toe board receiver has an open top, an open bottom and an open side.   
     
     
         11 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said first vertical member of said first vertical plate;   a second rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said first vertical member of said second vertical plate;   a third rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said second vertical member of said first vertical plate; and   a fourth rectangular flange formed with a hole attached to and extending outwardly from said second vertical member of said second vertical plate.   
     
     
         12 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 11 , wherein said first rectangular flange extends a length of said first vertical member of said first vertical plate, said second rectangular flange extends a length of said first vertical member of said second vertical plate, said third rectangular flange extends a length of said second vertical member of said first vertical plate, and said fourth rectangular flange extends a length of said second vertical member of said second vertical plate. 
     
     
         13 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 12 , further comprising a first row of holes formed in said first support plate and a second row of holes formed in said second support plate. 
     
     
         14 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 13 , further comprising
 a first pin hole formed in an outside upper corner of said first vertical member of said first vertical plate and a second pin hole formed in an outside upper corner of said first vertical member of said second vertical plate, wherein said first pin hole and said second pin hole are axially aligned;   a third pin hole formed in an outside upper corner of said second vertical member of said first vertical plate and a fourth pin hole formed in an outside upper corner of said second vertical member of said second vertical plate, wherein said third pin hole and said fourth pin hole are axially aligned.   
     
     
         15 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 14 , wherein said first vertical plate, said second vertical plate, said first support plate, and said second support plate is steel. 
     
     
         16 . The bracket for a handrail and toeboard system of  claim 15 , wherein said first support plate and said second support plate are attached to said first vertical plate and said second vertical plate by welds.