Railing system

Abstract

A railing system having a number of spaced apart support bases and a railing is provided. The railing includes a number of vertically extending stanchions connected to the support bases and a number of horizontally extending members extending between the vertically extending stanchions. The railing is configured to be shifted relative to the support bases between a stored position and an erected position. The railing is automatically secured in the erected position when the railing is shifted from the stored position to the erected position.

1 . A guardrail system comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart support bases; and   a railing including:
 a plurality of vertically extending stanchions connected to the support bases; and 
 a plurality of horizontally extending members extending between the plurality of vertically extending stanchions, the railing being configured to be shifted relative to the bases between a stored position and an erected position wherein the railing is automatically secured in the erected position when the railing is shifted from the stored position to the erected position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the railing is configured to be shifted from the erected position to the stored position only via an initial vertical force exerted on the railing. 
     
     
         3 . The guardrail of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the support bases includes a catch and at least one of the vertically extending stanchions includes a latch configured to hook over the catch when the railing is shifted to the erected position, the railing not being able to be shifted to the stored position until the latch vertically clears the catch. 
     
     
         4 . The guardrail of  claim 3 , wherein the latch includes an angled front side configured to slide against the catch as the railing is shifted from the stored position. 
     
     
         5 . The guardrail of  claim 3 , wherein the catch is at least partially formed from sheet metal. 
     
     
         6 . The guardrail of  claim 2 , wherein the railing further comprises a slotted connection between at least one of the support bases and at least one of the vertically extending stanchions such that the at least one of the vertically extending stanchions is configured to pivot and vertically translate relative to the at least one support base. 
     
     
         7 . The guardrail of  claim 6 , wherein the support bases each include a vertically extending slot aligned with a hole in one of the stanchions for receiving a fastener therethrough such that the fastener is configured to vertically translate in the slot. 
     
     
         8 . The guardrail of  claim 6 , wherein the stanchions each include a vertically extending slot aligned with a hole in one of the support bases for receiving a fastener therethrough such that the fastener is configured to vertically translate in the slot. 
     
     
         9 . The guardrail of  claim 6 , wherein the vertically extending stanchions are at least partially formed of tube metal and the support bases include a vertically extending anchor formed of tube metal, each vertically extending stanchion and vertically extending anchor including identical hinge sections positioned on or in ends thereof, each hinge section including a tab having a slot for receiving a fastener therethrough for connecting two hinge sections together and an open-ended cavity for receiving a tab of a corresponding hinge section therein when a corresponding vertically extending stanchion is shifted to the erected position. 
     
     
         10 . The guardrail of  claim 1 , wherein the railing is further configured to automatically translate via gravity into the erected position from an intermediate position in which the vertically extending stanchions are oriented vertically. 
     
     
         11 . A guardrail and base assembly comprising:
 a support base; and   a railing including:
 a plurality of vertically extending stanchions connected to the support bases; and 
 a plurality of horizontally extending members extending between the plurality of vertically extending stanchions, the railing being configured to be shifted relative to the base between as stored position and an erected position wherein the railing is automatically secured in the erected position when the railing is shifted from the stored position to the erected position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The guardrail system of  claim 11 , wherein the railing is configured to be shifted from the erected position to the stored position only via an initial vertical force exerted on the railing. 
     
     
         13 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the support bases includes a catch and at least one of the vertically extending stanchions includes a latch configured to hook over the catch when the railing is shifted to the erected position, the railing not being able to be shifted to the stored position until the latch vertically clears the catch. 
     
     
         14 . The guardrail of  claim 13 , wherein the latch includes an angled front side configured to slide against the catch as the railing is shifted from the stored position. 
     
     
         15 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein the railing further comprises a slotted connection between at least one of the support bases and at least one of the vertically extending stanchions such that the at least one vertically extending stanchion is configured to pivot and vertically translate relative to the at least one support base. 
     
     
         16 . The guardrail of  claim 15 , wherein the support bases each include a vertically extending slot aligned with a hole in one of the stanchions for receiving a fastener therethrough such that the fastener is configured to vertically translate in the slot. 
     
     
         17 . The guardrail of  claim 15 , wherein the stanchions each include a vertically extending slot aligned with a hole in one of the support bases for receiving a fastener therethrough such that the fastener is configured to vertically translate in the slot. 
     
     
         18 . The guardrail of  claim 15 , wherein the vertically extending stanchions are at least partially formed of tube metal and the support bases include a vertically extending anchor formed of tube metal, each vertically extending stanchion and vertically extending anchor including identical hinge sections positioned on or in ends thereof, each hinge section including a tab having a slot configured to receive a fastener therethrough for connecting two hinge sections together and a cavity for receiving a tab of a corresponding hinge section therein when a corresponding vertically extending stanchion is in the erected position. 
     
     
         19 . The guardrail of  claim 11 , wherein the railing is further configured to automatically translate via gravity into the erected position from an intermediate position in which the vertically extending stanchions are oriented vertically. 
     
     
         20 . A hinge for a guardrail system, the hinge comprising:
 a first section configured to be rigidly connected to a stanchion of the guardrail system, the first section including:
 a first base; 
 a first tab extending from the first base, the first tab including a first slot; and 
 a first open-ended cavity extending into the first base; and 
   a second section configured to be rigidly connected to a support base of the guardrail system, the second section including:
 a second base; 
 a second tab extending from the second base, the second tab including a second slot; and 
 a second open-ended cavity extending into the second base, 
   the first open-ended cavity being configured to receive the second tab of the second section therein and the second open-ended cavity being configured to receive the first tab of the first section therein when the first section and the second section are axially aligned with each other, the first section and the second section being unable to pivot relative to each other when the first tab is in the second open-ended cavity and the second tab is in the first open-ended cavity,   the first section and the second section being identically shaped.