Trailer safety handrail system and methods

• US 6,857,677 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integris Metals Corporation
• Original Assignee: Integris Metals Corporation
• Inventors: Sundberg, Thomas C., Giles, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/804,611
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 296/3, 296/36, 296/43
• US Class Current: 296/43
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/033 removable B62D33/0273 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable safety rail arrangement is sized to be selectively mounted and removed from a flatbed trailer. A flatbed trailer includes a deck and at least one safety rail arrangement that is selectively mountable and removable from the trailer. In certain preferred implementations, there are a plurality of safety rail arrangements provided for the flatbed trailer, which can be arranged to form a continuous fence around the perimeter of the trailer. A method for providing a safety arrangement for a flatbed trailer includes mounting a single-piece safety rail onto the trailer.

Claims

1. A portable safety rail arrangement sized to be selectively mounted and removed from stake pockets in a flatbed trailer;

the safety rail arrangement comprising;

(a) a first post having a first post base defining a first free end;

(i) the first post base being sized and configured for the first free end to be selectively insertable and removable from a stake pocket of a flatbed trailer;

(b) a second post, spaced from the first post, and having a second post base and defining a second free end;

(i) the second post base being sized and configured for the second free end to be selectively insertable and removable from a stake pocket of a flatbed trailer;

(c) a closed loop handrail secured to the first post and the second post to form an assembly;

the handrail being spaced from the first post base and second post base;

(i) the handrail, the first post, and the second post being co-planar; and

(d) a retaining mechanism selectively engageable to secure the first post, second post, and handrail assembly to a flatbed trailer.

2. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a first stop lug secured to the first post adjacent to the first post base and between the first post base and the handrail; and

(b) a second stop lug secured to the second post adjacent to the second post base and between the second post base and the handrail.

3. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the retaining mechanism comprises first and second pins;

(i) the first pin being selectively insertable and removable from an aperture through the first post base; and

(ii) the second pin being selectively insertable and removable from an aperture through the second post base.

4. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the retaining mechanism comprises a bungee cord selectively securing the handrail to a portion of the flatbed trailer.

5. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a plate secured to the first post and the second post at a position between the handrail and the first post base and second post base.

6. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the handrail is rectangular-shaped with rounded corners.

7. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) the first post has a first rail end opposite of the first free end;

(b) the handrail has first and second parallel bars;

(i) the first bar being secured to the first post at the first rail end; and

(ii) the second bar being secured to the first post at a position between the first post base and the first rail end;

(b) the second post has a second rail end opposite of the second free end;

(i) the first bar being secured to the second post at the second rail end; and

(ii) the second bar being secured to the second post at a position between the second post base and the second rail end.

8. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) the first post and second post are spaced apart by a distance of 1.75-2.25 feet;

(b) the first bar of the handrail is spaced a distance of 3.5-4.5 feet from the first free end and second free end; and

(c) the first bar and second bar of the handrail are spaced apart by a distance of 1.5-2.0 feet.

9. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) the first post, second post, and handrail comprise aluminum extrusions; and

(b) the arrangement has a weight not greater than 20 lbs.

10. A portable safety rail arrangement according to claim 9 wherein:

(a) the retaining mechanism comprises first and second pins;

(i) the first pin being selectively insertable and removable from an aperture through the first post base;

(ii) the second pin being selectively insertable and removable from an aperture through the second post base.

11. A flatbed trailer comprising:

(a) a wheel-supported deck having a frame;

the frame defining a plurality of spaced stake pockets; and

(b) at least one safety rail arrangement being selectively mountable and removable from the stake pockets;

the safety rail arrangement comprising;

(i) a first post having a first post base defining a first free end;

(A) the first post base being sized and configured for the first free end to be selectively insertable and removable from one of the stake pockets;

(ii) a second post, spaced from the first post, and having a second post base and defining a second free end;

(A) the second post base being sized and configured for the second free end to be selectively insertable and removable from another one of the stake pockets;

(iii) a closed loop handrail secured to the first post and the second post to form an assembly;

the handrail being spaced from the first post base and second post base;

(A) the handrail, the first post, and the second post being co-planar; and

(iv) a retaining mechanism selectively engageable to secure the first post, second post, and handrail assembly to the frame.

12. A flatbed trailer according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) the safety rail arrangement further includes;

(i) a first stop lug secured to the first post adjacent to the first post base and between the first post base and the handrail;

(A) the first stop lug engaging the frame and preventing the first post from slipping through the respective stake pocket;

(i) a second stop lug secured to the second post adjacent to the second post base and between the second post base and the handrail;

(B) the second stop lug engaging the frame and preventing the second post from slipping through the respective stake pocket.

13. A flatbed trailer according to claim 12 wherein:

(a) the retaining mechanism includes first and second pins;

(i) the first pin being selectively insertable and removable from an aperture through the first post base;

(A) the frame being between the first stop lug and the first pin;

(ii) the second pin being selectively insertable and removable from an aperture through the second post base;

(A) the frame being between the second stop lug and the second pin.

14. A flatbed trailer according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) the retaining mechanism comprises a bungee cord extending between the handrail and the frame.

15. A flatbed trailer according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) the safety rail arrangement further includes;

(i) a plate secured to the first post and the second post at a position between the handrail and the first post base and second post base.

16. A flatbed trailer according to claim 11 further wherein:

(a) the at least one safety rail arrangement includes a plurality of safety rail arrangements forming a continuous fence along the frame of the deck;

each safety rail arrangement being selectively mountable and removable from respective stake pockets;

each of the safety rail arrangements comprising;

(i) a first post having a first-post base defining a first free end;

(A) the first post base being sized and configured for the first free end to be selectively insertable and removable from one of the stake pockets;

(ii) a second post, spaced from the first post, and having a second post base and defining a second free end;

(A) the second post base being sized and configured for the second free end to be selectively insertable and removable from another one of the stake pockets;

(iii) a closed loop handrail secured to the first post and the second post to form an assembly;

the handrail being spaced from the first post base and second post base;

(A) the handrail, the first post, and the second post being co-planar; and

(iv) a retaining mechanism selectively engageable to secure the first post, second post, and handrail assembly to the frame.

17. A method for providing a safety arrangement for a flatbed trailer;

the trailer having a plurality of stake pockets;

the method comprising;

(a) mounting a single-piece safety rail onto the flatbed trailer by inserting a first post into one stake pocket and a second post into a second stake pocket until stop lugs on the safety rail engage a portion of the flatbed trailer;

(i) the safety rail including a closed loop handrail secured to the first post and the second post;

(ii) the handrail, the first post, and the second post being co-planar; and

(b) releasably fastening the safety rail to the flatbed trailer.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the step of releasably fastening includes inserting a pin into each of the first post and second post.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the step of releasably fastening includes attaching a bungee cord to the safety rail and the flatbed trailer.

20. A method according to claim 17 further comprising:

(a) mounting a plurality of single-piece safety rails onto the flatbed trailer to form a fence around an edge of the flatbed;

each of the single-piece safety rails being mounted by inserting a respective first post into one stake pocket and a respective second post into a second stake pocket until stop lugs on each respective safety rail engage a portion of the flatbed trailer;

(i) each of the safety rails including a closed loop handrail secured to a respective first post and second post;

(ii) the handrail, the first post, and the second post of each respective safety rail being co-planar; and

(b) releasably fastening each of the safety rails to the flatbed trailer.