Breakdown Safety Rail System for Scaffold

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a safety rail system for a scaffold that is designed to break down for shipment and storage. The breakdown safety rail system enables more compact packaging so as to significantly reduce shipping and operational expenses for manufacturers and sellers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety rail system for a scaffold, the safety rail system comprising:
 at least two vertical posts, each including a lower member mountable to the scaffold and an upper member configured to detachably connect to the lower member in both a first rotational orientation and a second rotational orientation;   a first stud post adjacent an upper end of the lower member of the vertical post;   a second stud post adjacent a lower end of the upper member of the vertical post and configured such that the second stud post extends generally perpendicular to the first stud post in both the first and second rotational orientations respectively;   a side rail extending between the vertical posts and configured such that opposite ends of the side rail are selectively engageable with either the first stud posts on respective ones of the vertical posts or the second stud posts on respective ones of the vertical posts.   
     
     
         2 . The safety rail system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third stud post extending from an upper end of the upper member of the post, and wherein opposing ends of the side rail are selectively engageable with the third stud post. 
     
     
         3 . The safety rail system of  claim 2 , wherein the third stud posts extend axially from the upper ends of the upper members of the vertical posts. 
     
     
         4 . The safety rail system of  claim 1 , wherein each side rail comprises configured to engage respective ones of the vertical posts and a connecting member detachably connected to the two end segments to from a single rail. 
     
     
         5 . The safety rail system of  claim 4 , wherein each end segment includes a flattened outer end having an opening therein for engagement with one of the first, second or third stud posts, and a straight tubular end insertable into one end of the connecting member. 
     
     
         6 . The safety rail system of  claim 5 , wherein each end segment further comprising a button lock on the straight tubular end and engageable with an opening in the connecting member. 
     
     
         7 . The safety rail system of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting member further comprises an internal stop disposed within each end of the connecting member to limit axial movement of the connecting member relative to the end segments in the event of a failure of the button lock. 
     
     
         8 . The safety rail system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third stud posts includes a latch to prevent the side rails from disengaging with the stud posts. 
     
     
         9 . A safety rail system for a scaffold, the safety rail system comprising:
 at least two vertical posts configured to be mounted to a scaffold;   a rail extending between the vertical posts and configured such that opposite ends of the side rail are selectively engageable with either the first stud posts on respective ones of the vertical posts or the second stud posts on respective ones of the vertical posts;   wherein the rail comprises two end segments configured to engage respective ones of the vertical posts and a connecting member detachably connected to the two end segments to from a single rail.   
     
     
         10 . The safety rail system of  claim 4 , wherein each end segment includes a flattened outer end having an opening therein for engagement with one of the first, second or third stud posts, and a straight tubular end insertable into one end of the connecting member. 
     
     
         11 . The safety rail system of  claim 5 , wherein each end segment further comprising a button lock on the straight tubular end and engageable with an opening in the connecting member. 
     
     
         12 . The safety rail system of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting member further comprises an internal stop disposed within each end of the connecting member to limit axial movement of the connecting member relative to the end segments in the event of a failure of the button lock. 
     
     
         13 . The safety rail system of  claim 9 , wherein the rail extends generally horizontally between the vertical posts. 
     
     
         14 . The safety rail system of  claim 9 , wherein the rail extends diagonally between the vertical posts. 
     
     
         15 . A scaffold comprising:
 at least two vertical posts;   a cross-brace extending between the vertical posts and configured such that opposite ends of the side rail are selectively engageable with either the first stud posts on respective ones of the vertical posts or the second stud posts on respective ones of the vertical posts;   wherein the cross-brace comprises two end segments configured to engage respective ones of the vertical posts and one or more intermediate members connected between the two end segments to form a single structural member.   
     
     
         16 . The scaffold of  claim 15 , wherein each end segment includes a flattened outer end having an opening therein for engagement with one of the first, second or third stud posts, and a straight tubular end insertable into one end of an intermediate member. 
     
     
         17 . The scaffold of  claim 16 , wherein each cross-brace comprises a single connecting member connected between two end segments. 
     
     
         18 . The scaffold system of  claim 17 , wherein the connecting member further comprises an internal stop disposed within each end of the connecting member to limit axial movement of the connecting member relative to the end segments in the event of a failure of the button lock. 
     
     
         19 . The scaffold of  claim 16 , wherein each cross-brace comprises a central member and two connecting members connected in series between two end segments. 
     
     
         20 . The scaffold of  claim 15 , wherein the cross-brace extends diagonally between the vertical posts.