US 12,421,743 B2
Fall protection system
Charles J. MacKarvich, Atlanta, GA (US); and Justin Hikaru Alcober, Smyrna, GA (US)
Assigned to Tie Down, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Tie Down, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/227,199.
Application 18/227,199 is a division of application No. 17/578,295, filed on Jan. 18, 2022, granted, now 11,753,836.
Prior Publication US 2023/0399863 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. E04G 21/32 (2006.01)
CPC E04G 21/3219 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fall protection system comprising:
a guardrail support frame comprising:
a substantially vertical first guardrail post;
a substantially vertical second guardrail post; and
a substantially vertical reinforcement post disposed between the first and second guardrail posts and defining a front post side and a rear post side;
a first pillar attachment assembly comprising a first pillar attachment device comprising a first pillar mounting bracket fastened to the first guardrail post and a first strap mount received within the first pillar mounting bracket, the first pillar attachment assembly configured to secure the first guardrail post to a first structural component;
a second pillar attachment assembly comprising a second pillar attachment device comprising a second pillar mounting bracket fastened to the second guardrail post and a second strap mount received within the second pillar mounting bracket, the second pillar attachment assembly configured to secure the second guardrail post to a second structural component; and
a flexible lower guardrail strap and a flexible upper guardrail strap, each of the flexible lower and upper guardrail straps coupled to and extending laterally between the first guardrail post and the second guardrail post;
wherein:
the reinforcement post engages each of the flexible lower and upper guardrail straps;
the reinforcement post is configured to be freestanding;
the fall protection system further comprises a strap clamp coupled to the reinforcement post and defining a clamp wall and a pair of opposing connector walls;
the clamp wall confronts the rear post side and the pair of opposing connector walls extend from the clamp wall towards the front post side;
a strap channel is defined between the clamp wall and the reinforcement post;
the flexible upper guardrail strap extends through the strap channel and is clamped between the strap clamp and the reinforcement post;
the strap clamp is coupled to the reinforcement post by an adjustable clamp fastener operable to adjust a width of the strap channel;
the adjustable clamp fastener comprises a threaded bolt and a threaded adjustment knob, the threaded bolt coupled to and rotationally fixed relative to the strap clamp, the threaded bolt further extending into the reinforcement post at the rear post side, the threaded adjustment knob arranged at the front post side and threadably engaging a distal end of the threaded bolt;
the strap clamp is further coupled to the reinforcement post by a securing fastener;
the securing fastener comprises a pin extending through each of the opposing connector walls of the strap clamp and laterally through the reinforcement post; and
the strap clamp is pivotable relative to the reinforcement post about the pin.