Hand rail system

Claim 2

A knockdown hand rail system comprising: at least two spaced apart vertical rails; means for supporting said vertical rails in an upright position; at least two spaced apart horizontal rails removably engaged with said vertical rails and positioned above said supporting means; removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said vertical rails, having an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of said vertical rails and extending the height of the vertical rails; removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said horizontal rails, said sheathing having an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of each of said horizontal rails and extending the length of said horizontal rails; and a plurality of slip-on structural fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rails to said vertical rails, each fitting having a securing mechanism that releasably secures said polymerized sheathing with said rails to said securing mechanism by forming a press fit between them by penetrating said polymerized sheathing without penetrating said rails.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 , wherein said fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rails to said vertical rails comprise a T-shaped member; wherein each leg of said T-shaped member has an interior profile identical to the exterior profile of said horizontal rails and said vertical rails; said interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of said polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said horizontal rails and said vertical rails.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1 , wherein said fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rails to said vertical rails comprise an L-shaped member; wherein each leg of said L-shaped member has an interior profile identical to the exterior profile of said horizontal rails and said vertical rails; said interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of said polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said horizontal rails and said vertical rails.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 1 , further comprising: a third vertical rail; means for supporting said third vertical rail in an upright position; said at least two spaced apart horizontal rails removably engaged with said third vertical rail and positioned above said supporting means; removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing surrounding said third vertical rail, said sheathing having an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of said third vertical rail and extending the height of said third vertical rail; and slip-on structural fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rails to said third vertical rail.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 4 , wherein one of said fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rails to said third vertical rail comprises a cross-shaped member; wherein each leg of said cross-shaped member has an interior profile identical to the exterior profile of said horizontal rails and said third vertical rail; said interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of said polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said horizontal rails and said third vertical rail.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 4 , wherein one of said fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rails to said vertical rails comprises a T-shaped member; wherein each leg of said T-shaped member has an interior profile identical to the exterior profile of said horizontal rails and said vertical rails; said interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of said polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said horizontal rails and said vertical rails.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 1 , including three spaced apart vertical rails.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 1 , wherein said spaced-apart vertical rails and said spaced-apart horizontal rails define an infill area, the invention further including: an infill member having an area which substantially consumes said infill area; and means for mounting said infill member within said infill area.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 8 , wherein said means for mounting said infill member within said infill area includes one or more sections of U-channel affixed to each of said vertical and said horizontal rails.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 8 , wherein said infill member is a mesh screen.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 8 , wherein said infill member is a solid panel.

Claim 13

A knockdown handrail system for protecting people and directing traffic, said knockdown handrail system being formed of at least one modular unit, said modular unit comprising: a first vertical rail; means for supporting said vertical rail in an upright position; a first horizontal rail removably engaged with said vertical rail and positioned above said supporting means; wherein said vertical rail extends arcuately around said horizontal rail to form a second horizontal rail above said first horizontal rail and to form a second vertical rail opposite said first vertical rail; a removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing surrounding said vertical rail, said sheathing having an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of said vertical rail and extending between said supporting means; removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing surrounding said horizontal rail, said sheathing having an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of said horizontal rail and extending the length of said horizontal rail; and a plurality of slip-on structural fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rail to said vertical rails, said structural fittings having a securing mechanism that releasably secures said polymerized sheathing with said rails to said securing mechanism by forming a press fit between them by penetrating said polymerized sheathing without penetrating said rails.

Claim 14

A knockdown handrail system for protecting people and directing traffic, said knockdown handrail system being formed of at least one modular unit, said modular unit comprising: a first vertical rail; means for supporting said vertical rail in an upright position; a first horizontal rail removably engaged with said vertical rail and positioned above said supporting means; wherein said vertical rail extends arcuately around said horizontal rail to form a second horizontal rail above said first horizontal rail and to form a second vertical rail opposite said first vertical rail; a removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing surrounding said vertical rail, said sheathing having an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of said vertical rail and extending between said supporting means; removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing surrounding said horizontal rail, said sheathing having an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of said horizontal rail and extending the length of said horizontal rail; and a plurality of slip-on structural fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rail to said vertical rails, said structural fittings having a securing mechanism that releasably secures said polymerized sheathing with said rails to said securing mechanism by forming a press fit between them by penetrating said polymerized sheathing without penetrating said rails.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 12 , wherein said fittings for removably engaging said horizontal rail to said vertical rails each comprise a T-shaped member; wherein each leg of said T-shaped member has an interior profile identical to the exterior profile of said horizontal rail and said vertical rail; said interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of said polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said horizontal rail and said vertical rail.

Claim 16

The invention as defined in claim 12 , wherein said knockdown hand rail system further comprises a third vertical rail extending from said supporting means between said first and second vertical rails.

Claim 17

The invention as defined in claim 14 , further comprising a slip-on structural fitting for removably engaging said horizontal rail to said third vertical rail; said fitting comprising a cross-shaped member having a hollow interior; wherein each leg of said cross-shaped member has an interior profile identical to the exterior profile of said horizontal rail and said vertical rail; said interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of said polymerized sheathing surrounding each of said horizontal rail and said vertical rail.

Claim 18

The invention as defined in claim 12 , wherein said spaced-apart vertical rails and said spaced-apart horizontal rails define an infill area, the invention further including: an infill member having an area which substantially consumes said infill area; and means for mounting said infill member within said infill area.

Claim 19

The invention as defined in claim 16 , wherein said means for mounting said infill member within said infill area includes one or more sections of U-channel affixed to each of said vertical and said horizontal rails.

Claim 20

The invention as defined in claim 16 , wherein said infill member is a mesh screen.

Claim 21

The invention as defined in claim 16 , wherein said infill member is a solid panel.

Claim 22

The invention as defined in claim 12 , wherein said knockdown hand rail system extends from four to twelve feet in length in even-foot increments.

Claim 23

The invention as defined in claim 12 , wherein said supporting means for said vertical rail comprises a base plate extending between said rails and removably fixed to the ground, said base plate having an arm extending from said plate into said vertical rail.