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US 11,535,160 B2Granted
Fall protection system for flatbed trailers
AssigneeSafety Rail Company, LLC
InventorCraig Erickson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety rail system for a flatbed. The system is portable, installs and dismantles in minutes, and is adaptable to any flatbed trailer or truck having post mounting side pockets. The system collapses into a compact package for stowing and transport. The system utilizes existing post mounting side pockets to establish a fence line that supports one or more cable rails. The cable(s) of the cable rails are drawn taut to provide a firm barrier to protect equipment and personnel from falling off the edge of the flatbed.
Claims14
A safety rail for a flatbed trailer, comprising:
- a proximal end post assembly defining a proximal end of the safety rail;
- a distal end post assembly defining a distal end of the safety rail;
- a plurality of intermediate posts, each defining a first aperture and a second aperture;
- a cable that passes through said first aperture of each of said plurality of intermediate posts and is coupled to said proximal end post assembly and said distal end post assembly;
- and
- a cable reel configured to spool and unspool said cable,
- wherein said proximal end post assembly, said distal end post assembly, and said plurality of intermediate posts are configured for insertion into pockets defined along a perimeter of the flatbed trailer, and
- wherein said cable reel is mounted to said proximal end post.
5 more elements
A safety rail for a flatbed trailer, comprising:
- a proximal end post assembly defining a proximal end of the safety rail;
- a distal end post assembly defining a distal end of the safety rail;
- a plurality of intermediate posts, each defining a first aperture and a second aperture;
- a cable that passes through said first aperture of each of said plurality of intermediate posts and is coupled to said proximal end post assembly and said distal end post assembly;
- a cable reel configured to spool and unspool said cable;
- and
- a storage frame, said proximal end post being a member of said storage frame, said cable reel being mounted to said storage frame,
- wherein said proximal end post assembly, said distal end post assembly, and said plurality of intermediate posts are configured for insertion into pockets defined along a perimeter of the flatbed trailer.
5 more elements
A safety rail for a flatbed trailer, comprising:
- a proximal end post assembly defining a proximal end of the safety rail;
- a distal end post assembly defining a distal end of the safety rail;
- a plurality of intermediate posts, each defining a first aperture and a second aperture;
- a cable that passes through said first aperture of each of said plurality of intermediate posts and is coupled to said proximal end post assembly and said distal end post assembly;
- a cable reel configured to spool and unspool said cable;
- a cable lock for selectively locking said cable to stop spooling of said cable and fixing a length of unspooled cable;
- a cable ratchet coupled to said cable for tightening said cable,
- wherein said proximal end post assembly, said distal end post assembly, and said plurality of intermediate posts are configured for insertion into pockets defined along a perimeter of the flatbed trailer, and
- wherein said cable ratchet is coupled to an unspooled end of said cable.
6 more elements
A safety rail for a flatbed trailer, comprising:
- a proximal end post assembly defining a proximal end of the safety rail;
- a distal end post assembly defining a distal end of the safety rail;
- a plurality of intermediate posts, each defining a first aperture and a second aperture;
- a cable that passes through said first aperture of each of said plurality of intermediate posts and is coupled to said proximal end post assembly and said distal end post assembly;
- and
- a cable reel configured to spool and unspool said cable,
- wherein said proximal end post assembly, said distal end post assembly, and said plurality of intermediate posts are configured for insertion into pockets defined along a perimeter of the flatbed trailer, and
- wherein said cable passes sequentially through said first aperture of each intermediate posts and said distal end post assembly, and sequentially thorough said second aperture of said distal end post assembly and each of said intermediate posts.
5 more elements
A safety rail for a flatbed trailer, comprising:
- a proximal end post assembly defining a proximal end of the safety rail;
- a distal end post assembly defining a distal end of the safety rail;
- a plurality of intermediate posts, each defining a first aperture and a second aperture;
- a cable that passes through said first aperture of each of said plurality of intermediate posts and is coupled to said proximal end post assembly and said distal end post assembly;
- a cable reel configured to spool and unspool said cable,
- a second cable that passes through said second aperture of each of said plurality of intermediate posts and is coupled to said proximal end post assembly and said distal end post assembly;
- and
- a second cable reel configured to spool and unspool said second cable,
- wherein said proximal end post assembly, said distal end post assembly, and said plurality of intermediate posts are configured for insertion into pockets defined along a perimeter of the flatbed trailer, and
- wherein said second cable reel is mounted to said proximal end post.
7 more elements
A method for installing a safety rail system on a flatbed trailer, comprising:
- providing a safety rail system;
- and
- providing operating instructions on a tangible, non-transitory medium, said operating instructions including:
- inserting a proximal end post assembly of said safety rail system into a first side pocket of the flatbed trailer;
- inserting a distal end post assembly of said safety rail system into a second side pocket of the flatbed trailer;
- tightening a cable that is coupled to said proximal end post assembly and said distal end post assembly;
- inserting an intermediate post of said safety rail system into an intermediate side pocket, said intermediate side pocket being located between said first side pocket and said second side pocket and
- removing said intermediate post from a storage frame of said safety rail system prior to the step of inserting said intermediate post in said intermediate side pocket.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.