Reconfigurable stanchion and guardrail system

Abstract

A reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface has a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail, a mounting arm configured to reversibly receive the guardrail support and an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the mounting arm. The ability to reversibly mount the guardrail support on different portions of the mounting arm and the ability to relocate and reconfigure the fastening assembly on the mounting arm permits the use of the same stanchion in a guardrail system for a variety of different support surfaces, including balconies, open-hole ledges, flat roofs and parapet roofs.

1 . A reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface, the reconfigurable stanchion comprising:
 a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail;   a mounting arm, the mounting arm comprising a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, the first elongated portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the second elongated portion, the first elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive the guardrail support, the second elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive the guardrail support, the guardrail support received by and reversibly secured to either the first elongated portion or the second elongated portion, the second elongated portion comprising a first external support engagement surface configured to engage a first surface of a supporting structure for the stanchion; and,   an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly releasably attachable to the first elongated portion in a plurality of configurations and at a plurality of locations along a length of the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly having a second support engagement surface configured to engage a second surface of the supporting structure when the fastening assembly is attached to the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly further having a flange comprising spaced-apart portions forming a channel in the fastening assembly between the spaced-apart portions, the second support engagement surface situated on the adjustable fastening assembly outside the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the guardrail support is adjustable along at least a portion of a length of the elongated portion to which the guardrail support is reversibly secured, and the guardrail support is reversibly securable to the elongated portion at a plurality of locations along the elongated portion to which the guardrail support is reversibly secured. 
     
     
         3 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated portion comprises a first tube and the second elongated portion comprises a second tube, wherein the first ends of the tubes are configured to be able to receive the guardrail support therein. 
     
     
         4 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the guardrail support comprises at least one rail bracket reversibly secured thereto, the rail bracket comprising a first aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a polygonal cross-section and a second aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a circular and/or ellipsoidal cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the guardrail support comprises at least one rail bracket reversibly secured thereto, the rail bracket comprising a first aperture configured to receive and support a guardrail having a rectangular cross-section and a second aperture configured to receive and support two guardrails having substantially cylindrical cross-sections, wherein the two guardrails having substantially cylindrical cross-sections are secured within the second aperture in a side-by-side configurations by a bolt tightened against a side of one of the two guardrails. 
     
     
         6 . The stanchion of  claim 4 , wherein the rail bracket is securable to the guardrail support at a plurality of locations along a length of the guardrail support. 
     
     
         7 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening assembly is a clamp and the clamp comprises a clamp bolt threadingly mated in a nut, the clamp bolt comprising the second support engagement surface that engages the second surface of the supporting structure when the clamp bolt is tightened against the second surface of the supporting structure. 
     
     
         8 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises a c-bracket to which the first elongated portion is releasably attached when the fastening assembly is attached to the first elongated portion. 
     
     
         9 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure is a balcony, an open-hole ledge, a flat roof or a parapet roof. 
     
     
         10 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure is a balcony or an open-hole ledge, and wherein the channel in the fastening assembly is configured to receive and contain an elongated rail. 
     
     
         11 . The stanchion of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated rail is a toe board. 
     
     
         12 . The stanchion of  claim 1 , wherein the first external support engagement surface and/or the second support engagement surface comprise a plurality of apertures through which fasteners may deployed to further secure the stanchion to the supporting structure. 
     
     
         13 . A kit comprising:
 a plurality of elongated guardrail supports;   a plurality of mounting arms, each mounting arm comprising a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, the first elongated portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the second elongated portion, the first elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive one of the guardrail supports, the second elongated portion having a first end configured to be able to securably and reversibly receive one of the guardrail supports, the second elongated portion comprising a first external support engagement surface configured to engage a first surface of a supporting structure;   a plurality of adjustable fastening assemblies, each adjustable fastening assembly releasably attachable to the first elongated portion of one of the mounting arms in a plurality of configurations and at a plurality of locations along a length of the first elongated portion, the fastening assembly having a second support engagement surface configured to engage a second surface of the supporting structure, the fastening assembly further having a flange comprising spaced-apart portions forming a channel in the fastening assembly between the spaced-apart portions, the second support engagement surface situated on the adjustable fastening assembly outside the channel; and,   instructions for assembling the elongated guardrail supports, mounting arms and fastening assemblies into stanchions for a guardrail system supported on the supporting structure.   
     
     
         14 . The kit according to  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of rail brackets releasably securable to the guardrail supports. 
     
     
         15 . The kit according to  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further describe how the rail brackets are secured to the guardrail supports and how the rail brackets support guardrails on the stanchions. 
     
     
         16 . A reconfigurable stanchion for supporting a guardrail on a support surface, the reconfigurable stanchion comprising a substantially vertically oriented elongated guardrail support configured to support a guardrail, a mounting arm configured to reversibly receive the guardrail support and an adjustable fastening assembly releasably attached to the mounting arm.