FR2960249A1 - Self-supporting posts assembly for safety balustrade of flat roof of building, has fixing unit including parallel tabs located respectively at two sides of groove for blocking part of arm in groove - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has an offset arm (3) integrated to a post (1). A counterweight (4) is fixed to a part of the arm by a fixing unit for permitting the post to be maintained at a ground at a working position. A body of the counterweight is provided with a rectilinear groove (8) formed externally from an external face of a lower wall (6) of the body of the counterweight. The fixing unit comprises parallel tabs respectively located at two sides of the groove for blocking the part of the arm in the groove. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a safety balustrade comprising a guideshoe forming runner connecting self-supporting posts assembly (2) a method for installing a self-supporting posts assembly.

Description

The present invention relates to an assembly constituting a self-supporting post for a self-supporting safety railing including roof-terraces of buildings.

Safety railings are used on the terraces to border the periphery of the terrace and provide protection against falls from height. There are two types of safety railings: - the safety railings that are permanently attached to a peripheral parapet of the terrace, and the self-supporting safety railings used in the absence of a peripheral parapet. the roof terrace. The advantage of self-supporting safety railings is that they not only secure the entire terrace, but it does not require any drilling of the roof terrace to fix the elements of the guardrail. A self-supporting safety railing comprises several sets evenly spaced along the peripheral edge of the roof-terrace of a building, each set comprising a right post, inclined or curved, a supporting base of the post resting on the ground of the roof terrace, a horizontal offset arm secured to the post at the lower end thereof being disposed in the same vertical plane as the post, and a counterweight attached to a portion of the offset arm opposite the bollard. The sets of the railing are connected to each other by at least one series of rails forming a handrail integral with the posts. Generally, the attachment of the counterweight to the part of the offset arm is effected by means of at least one fastening screw passing through the body of the counterweight and anchored in a threaded hole of the part of the offset arm by extending perpendicular to the latter.

This method of fixing the counterweight to the offset arm does not facilitate the in situ mounting of the counterweight to the offset arm since such mounting must be done blind. In addition, the length of the offset arm that is under the counterweight is relatively large, about two-thirds of the length of the counterweight. Finally, according to this known solution, the offset arm is placed directly on the floor of the terrace, which has the disadvantage that detritus, such as dead leaves, and rainwater accumulate along this arm. The present invention aims to overcome the above disadvantages of known safety railings.

For this purpose, the invention proposes an assembly constituting a self-supporting post for a self-supporting safety railing, in particular roof-terraces of buildings, comprising an integral offset arm of the post near one of its ends and a counterweight fixed by means of attachment to a part of the offset arm opposite the post to allow the post to be held on the ground at a service position, and which is characterized in that the body of the counterweight comprises a rectilinear groove opening outwardly of the outer face of a wall of the counterweight body and in which is housed the part of the offset arm and the fixing means comprise at least two parallel tongues located respectively on both sides of the groove and shaped to lock in the groove the part of the offset arm. Preferably, each tongue comprises at its free end directed towards the outer face of the counterweight body a hook-shaped portion resting on the part of the offset arm.

Advantageously, each tongue is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the offset arm.

According to a first variant embodiment, the fastening means comprise two elongated tongues facing one another and each extending in the same plane as that of the corresponding side of the groove, so that the free end of the groove the tongue defines a portion of the edge of the groove, the remaining portion is located at the outer face of the body of the counterweight. According to a second variant embodiment, the fastening means comprise a plurality of parallel tabs arranged staggered on both sides of the groove, the tabs spaced apart on each side of the groove being arranged in the same plane as this side to define on both sides of the groove. groove portions of spaced and staggered sides of the groove whose longitudinally spaced edges are at the same level as the outer planar face of the bottom wall of the counterweight. The hook-free end portions of the tabs are recessed relative to the outer planar face of the counterweight body and from which the groove opens. The body of the counterweight comprises an internal stop located in the vicinity of one end of the groove and on which bears the free end of the offset arm. The outer planar surface of the body of the counterweight from which the grooves open outwardly is that intended to rest on the ground so that the offset arm is located horizontally in a spaced manner and above the ground. The part of the offset arm is axially fixed in the groove by a nail integral with a wall of the body of the counterweight opposite to the groove wall and anchored through the part of the offset arm perpendicularly thereto in a hole of the grooved wall.

Preferably, the groove extends over a length substantially equal to half the length of the counterweight. The invention also proposes a safety railing, in particular of roof-terraces of buildings, comprising a plurality of sets of self-supporting posts connected to each other by handrail rails, and which is characterized in that each set of self-supporting post is as previously described. The invention further proposes a counterweight for an assembly constituting a self-supporting post comprising a housing-shaped body provided with two upper and lower walls connected to one another by a peripheral wall, the lower wall being intended to be resting on the ground by its flat outer face, and which is characterized in that it comprises a rectilinear groove opening outwardly from the face of the lower wall of the body of the counterweight and through a portion of the peripheral wall of this body, and at least two parallel tabs respectively located on both sides of the groove, the tongues comprising at their free ends directed towards the face of the lower wall of the body of the counterweight of the hook-shaped portions directed towards each other. Each tongue is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the sides of the groove. According to a first embodiment, the counterweight comprises two elongated tongues facing one another and each extending in the same plane as that of the corresponding side of the groove so that the free end of the tongue define a portion of the edge of the groove, the remaining portion of which is located at the plane face of the bottom wall of the body of the counterweight.

According to a second embodiment, the counterweight comprises a plurality of parallel tabs arranged staggered on both sides of the groove, the tabs spaced on each side of the groove being arranged in the same plane as this side to define on both sides of the groove of the groove. parts of spaced and staggered sides of the groove, whose longitudinally spaced edges are at the same level as the planar face of the bottom wall of the counterweight.

The free hook-shaped end portions of the tongues are recessed relative to the flat face of the bottom wall of the body of the counterweight. The body of the counterweight comprises an internal stop located in the vicinity of one end of the groove opposite the portion of the peripheral wall of this body to which the other end of the groove opens. The groove extends over a length substantially equal to half the length of the body-shaped body of the counterweight which comprises a second rectilinear groove perpendicular to the groove comprising the tabs and opening outwardly from the face of the lower wall of the body of the counterweight and through two opposite parts of the peripheral wall of the body of the counterweight. The box-shaped body is made of a rigid molded plastic material and is filled with a ballast material, such as concrete. Finally, the invention proposes a method of installing an assembly constituting a self-supporting post for a self-supporting safety railing including roof-terraces of buildings, together as defined above, characterized in that it consists in ground in a vertical plane the post and the offset arm, position the counterweight above the end portion of the offset arm so that the tongue groove is in line with this end portion, release the counterweight for embed the end portion of the offset arm in the groove and lock it in the groove by the hook-shaped ends of the tabs enclosing the end portion of the offset arm, bring the free end of the support arm back on the internal stop of the counterweight and axially block the end portion of the offset arm in the groove by a nail. The invention will be better understood, and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the explanatory description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing two embodiments of the invention and in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly constituting a self-supporting post according to a first embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1 assembled; FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of the assembly of FIG. 2; - Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the counterweight of Figure 3 without the starting arm; - Figure 5 is a bottom view similar to that of Figure 3 and showing the offset arm abutting the counterweight; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the circled portion VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 2 provided with a second counterweight; Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of Figure 7; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an assembly constituting a self-supporting post according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10 is a perspective view from below of FIG. 9; Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the circled portion XI of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a bottom perspective view of the counterweight alone of the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 is a bottom perspective view similar to that of Figure 10 and showing the offset arm abutting in the counterweight; Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the circled portion XIV of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 9 equipped with a second counterweight; and FIG. 16 is a perspective view from below of FIG. 15. FIGS. 1 to 8 show a first embodiment of an assembly constituting a self-supporting post of the invention for a self-supporting safety railing used in particular on terraces of 20 roofs of buildings. This assembly thus comprises a post 1 at the lower end of which is fixed, for example by welding, a rectangular flat soleplate 2 intended to rest on the floor of a terrace to support the post 1 in a vertical plane on the ground , the sole 2 can be provided with its bearing surface on the ground of a non-slip pad, not shown. The post 1 is shown bent, but may be straight to occupy a vertical service position or inclined relative to the vertical in the service position. The self-supporting post assembly also comprises an offset arm 3, one end of which is secured, for example by welding, to the lower end of the post 1 while resting on the soleplate 2 in the service position of the post 1. Where appropriate , the end of the offset arm 3 may also be fixed, for example by welding, on the sole 2. The arm 3 may be constituted by a square cross section tube. The post 1 and the offset arm 3 are arranged in the same vertical plane when occupying their service position to which the offset arm 3 extends horizontally. The assembly further comprises a counterweight 4 fixed on a portion of the offset arm 3 opposite the post 1 to allow the post 1 to be maintained on the ground at its service position. The self-supporting security railing disposed on the terrace of the roof of the building thus consists of a plurality of sets of self-supporting posts shown in Figure 2, regularly spaced from each other along an edge of the terrace and assembled to each other by at least one horizontal rail forming a handrail, not shown, perpendicularly crossing the parallel posts 1.

As shown, each post 1 has two upper and intermediate holes that can be crossed respectively by two upper and intermediate horizontal rails. The counterweight 4 of each set of self-supporting post has a general shape of housing or box comprising an upper planar wall 5, a lower flat wall 6 parallel to the top wall 5 and a side or peripheral wall 7 connecting one to the other. other the upper and lower walls 5 and 6.

A weighting product, such as for example concrete, fills the housing or box of the counterweight 4. The counterweight 4 has a generally octagonal prismatic shape with eight parallel two-by-two peripheral wall portions 7a defining the peripheral wall 7. This form of the Counterweight 4, seen from above, is writable in a rhombus.

However, the counterweight 4 may have a different shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped shape shown in the second embodiment of FIGS. 9 to 16.

According to the invention, the counterweight 4 comprises a rectilinear groove 8 of U-shaped general cross-section formed in the bottom wall 6 of the counterweight 4 and opening outwardly from the outer face 6a of this wall, the groove 8 opening outwardly through the outside. one of its ends through one of the peripheral wall portions 7a perpendicular to the small diagonal of the diamond in which can register the counterweight housing 4. The groove 8 extends perpendicularly from the corresponding wall 7a along this small diagonal substantially to the large diagonal of this rhombus. In other words, the groove 8 extends over a length substantially equal to half the small diagonal of the rhombus corresponding to a half length of the counterweight 4 covering the part of the offset arm 3 when the counterweight 4 is fixed thereto . The casing of the counterweight 4 further comprises two parallel tongues 9 located respectively on the two parallel inner sides or faces 10 of the groove 8. More precisely, the two tongues 9 have an elongate shape facing each other in each extending in the same plane as the corresponding side 10 of the groove 8. Each tongue 9 protrudes from the bottom 11 of the groove so that its free end is recessed, that is to say underneath, of the face 6a of the upper wall 6 of the counterweight 4. The elongated end of each tongue 9 extends from the wall 7a to somehow define a portion of the edge of the groove 8 and is an extension of the part remaining edge 12 of the groove 8 opposite the wall 7a and located at the same level as the face 6a of the bottom wall 6 of the counterweight 4. The two parallel edges 12 of the groove 8 located near the large diagonal the diamond in which the counterweight can be defined and define two sides or internal side faces 10 of the groove 8 from a height relative to the bottom 11 of the groove 8 greater than the height of the tongues 9 relative to the bottom 11 of the groove 8.

The two lateral sides 10 of greater height of the groove 8 guide the portion of the offset arm 3 in the groove 8 before this portion is introduced between the two tongues 9. Each tongue 9 comprises at its free end 15 a hook-shaped portion 9a extending along the tongue 9. Each hook-shaped portion 9a has a cross-sectional shape of a right-angled triangle whose hypotenuse extends from the free end of the tongue 9 to the cross-section. opposite other tongue 9 and is connected to the inner face of the tongue by a face perpendicular to the tongue and which is intended to bear on the part of the offset arm 3 embedded in the groove 8. Thus, the two parts in The hooks 9a of the tongues 9 are arranged opposite one another. A slender notch 14 is formed in the bottom wall 6 behind each tongue 9 opposite the hook-shaped portion 9a of this tongue. Each elongated cut 14 constitutes a clearance allowing the tongue 9 to be elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the groove 8. The groove 8 opens, opposite the tongues 9, in a second straight groove 16 formed in the lower wall 6 and opening outwardly from the outer face 6a of this wall extending along the large diagonal of the diamond in which can register the counterweight 4. As shown in Figure 4, the groove 16 s therefore extends perpendicularly to the groove 8, the bottom 11 is hollowed out to substantially end in the middle of the bottom of the groove 16 and define a stop face 15 of the free end of the part of the remote arm 3. The second groove 16 opens at its two ends respectively in two cavities 17 formed in the lower wall 6 and each constituting a gripping handle of the counterweight 4. The assembly of the assembly constituting a freestanding post on the roof terrace of a building is already apparent from the foregoing description and will now be explained. Firstly, an operator disposes the post 1 and the offset arm 3 in the standing position where the sole 2 rests on the ground of the terrace near the edge thereof with the post 1 and the arm 3 located in a vertical plane perpendicular to the edge of the terrace. Then, the operator grasps through the cavities 17 the counterweight 4 which is disposed above the part of the offset arm 3 opposite the post 1 so as to position the groove 8 in line with the part of the offset arm 3. L operator then releases the counterweight 4 on the arm 3 so that the two edges 12 of the groove 8 are first supported on each side of the portion of the arm 3 to guide the latter in the groove 8. Then, under the action of the counterweight, the part of the offset arm 3 bears on the hook-shaped end portions 9a of the tongues 9 in order to elastically separate the tabs in opposite directions to the arm 3 in the notches 14.

The end portion of the offset arm 3 then fully penetrates into the groove 8 and the hook-shaped end portions 9a of the tongues 9 bear against the corresponding face of the rear part of the offset arm 3 relative to the post 1 in order to retain this part in the groove 8. In this locking position of the part of the offset arm 3 in the groove 8 of the counterweight 4, the lower face 6a thereof is resting on the ground and the tongues 9 retain the arm 3 in the counterweight 4 so that the arm 3 is disposed horizontally on the ground being spaced from it, the thickness of the sole 2 being such that it allows the arm 3 to be spaced relative to the ground a constant distance.

If necessary, the operator can move the offset arm 3 relative to the counterweight 4 in order to bring the end of the arm 3 in abutment against the inner abutment wall 15 of the counterweight. The operator then introduces a nail 18 with a head 19 in a bore 5a of the upper wall 5 of the counterweight so that the rod 20 of the nail 18 engages in a bore 21 made through the arm 3 and in a bore, no shown at the bottom 11 of the groove 8 transverse to the bottom wall 6. In this way, the arm 3 is axially locked in the groove 8. The nail 8 may be made of a plastic material and the rod 20 of this nail may be longitudinally split with its free end the frustoconical so that the rod 20 can engage in the bore 21 passing through the arm 3 until the frustoconical end of the nail 18 engages in the drilling of the bottom of the groove 8 through the bottom wall 6 for anchoring to this wall and block the arm 3 in the groove 8 with the head 19 of the nail 18 resting on the upper wall 5 of the counterweight 4. Thus, the height offset, relative to the bottom 11 of the groove 8, edges 12 d e the groove and hooked end portions 9a of the tongues 9 prevents the destruction of these tongues when releasing the counterweight 4 on the rear part of the offset arm 3 since the parallel edges of the arm 3 bear on the parts of the 9a ends of the tongues 9 only after these parallel edges have been introduced guided in the groove 8 by the two edges 12 of this groove. Thus, the counterweight 4 can be easily mounted and locked to the end portion of the offset arm 3 by engaging this portion for a length of only half the length of the counterweight 4 considered in the direction of the small diagonal of the diamond in which can register the counterweight.

If necessary, the counterweight 4 can be arranged on the offset arm 3 so as to engage the arm in the large groove 16 to increase the stability of the post 1. In the case where a single counterweight attached to the end portion of the arm 3 by the locking tongues 9 and the nail 18 would not be sufficient to ensure such stability, a second counterweight 4, identical to that previously described, is disposed between the post 1 and the end counterweight 4 so that the remaining part of the arm 3 is disposed in the large groove 16 of the counterweight as shown in Figures 7 and 8 which show that the two counterweights 4 are arranged perpendicular to each other by their respective large and small diagonals.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the groove 8 has no internal stop 15 as in the variant described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 and the free end of the offset arm 3 can be brought into abutment directly against the lateral face 13a of the groove of greater length 16 and located opposite the two edges 12 of the groove 8.

The upper wall 5 of each counterweight 4 of FIGS. 1 to 8 may constitute a cover that is removably attached to the body of the counterweight housing for introducing the ballast product.

The second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9 to 16 differs from the first embodiment described above that the shape of the counterweight 4 and the attachment means of the end portion of the offset arm 3 in the groove 8 of the counterweight 4. In this second embodiment, the counterweight 4 has a general shape of flat rectangular paréllélépipède thus comprising four perpendicular walls 7a defining the peripheral wall 7 of the counterweight 4. In addition, the fastening means of the part of the end of the offset arm 3 in the groove 8 comprise a plurality of parallel tongues 9 staggered on both parallel sides 10 of the groove 8, the spaced tongues 9 on the same side 10 of the groove 8 being arranged in the same plane as this the side protruding perpendicularly from the bottom 13 of the groove 8. As shown, four tongues 9 are provided, two tongues spaced apart being located on one side of the groove 8 and the two other spaced tongues being located on the opposite side of the groove 8 being staggered with respect to one another so as to also define spaced apart portions of spaced sides on each side of the groove 8. The hook-shaped free end portions 9a of the tongues 9, which are in alignment on each side of the groove 8 with the spaced upper edges 12 of the groove 8, are set back from at the outer planar face 6a of the lower wall 6 of the counterweight 4, that is to say they are situated at a level below the level of the edges 12 of the groove 8.

Cavities 14 are made in the lower wall 6 of the counterweight 4 behind the tongues 9, opposite their hook-shaped end portions 9a, to allow each tongue 9 to move apart elastically during the introduction. of the end portion of the offset arm 3 in the groove 8. Because the edges 12 of the staggered side portions of the groove 8 are located at the face 6a of the wall 6 and at a level higher than parts of free ends in the form of hooks 9a of the tongues 9, during the installation of the counterweight 4 on the end portion of the offset arm 3, the edges 12 firstly bear against each side of the arm 3 before each side of this arm contacts the free hook-shaped end portions 9a to elastically separate the tabs 9 from one another and allow the portion of the arm 3 to be inserted into the groove 8 and lock it in this groove by the end portions in the form of hooks 9a bearing on the face of this arm portion opposite to that bearing against the bottom 11 of the groove 8. Figures 9 to 11 show that the free end of the offset arm 3, during the installation of this arm in the groove 8, is not in abutment against the internal stop which may be constituted by the side face 16a of the large groove 16 perpendicular to the groove 8 or by the abutment face 15 as shown in FIG. 4. In this case, it suffices to axially move the arm 3 in the groove 8 to bring it into abutment on the face 16a or the face 15. Of course, in this second embodiment, the nail 18 allows to axially fix the portion of the offset arm 3 in the groove 8 as in the first embodiment described above.

The groove 8 opens outwardly from its end opposite to the groove 16 through one of the walls 7a of the peripheral wall 7 while the groove 16 opens at its two ends respectively through the two parallel walls 7a of the counterweight 4 perpendicular to the wall 7a into which the groove 8 opens.

As for the first embodiment, the upper wall 5 of the counterweight 4 may constitute a cover for casting in the body of the counterweight 4 a ballast product, such as concrete. As for the first embodiment, a single counterweight 4 of the second embodiment can be simply placed on the end portion of the offset arm 3 by engaging it in the groove of greater length 16 for the purpose of to increase the stability of the post 1 at its service position.

Figures 15 and 16 show that two identical counterweights 4 have been placed on the offset arm 3 to increase the stability of the post at its operating position, one of the counterweight 4 being fixed to the end portion of the arm 3 by the staggered tongues 9 of this counterweight 4 while the other counterweight is simply placed on the remaining part of the arm 3 which is engaged in the groove 16. The counterweight 4 as described in the two embodiments of the invention can be made of a rigid plastic material, for example based on PVC, integrally molded apart, of course, the upper wall 5 when it constitutes a closure cover of the counterweight housing 4. The assembly and assembly of the counterweight 4 or support arm 3 is extremely easy since it is sufficient to position the groove 8 of the counterweight 4 above the end portion of the arm 3 and release the counterweight so that this part of end is first guided in the groove and then locked in it by the tongues 9. The latter, from their ends in the form of hooks recessed from the face 6a of the counterweight 4 resting on the ground, allow to maintain horizontally the offset arm 3 at a determined distance relative to the ground. For example, the offset arm 3 is maintained at a constant distance relative to the ground of a value of about 5 millimeters. Finally, each counterweight 4 can not be extracted from the offset arm 3 by the presence of the nail 18 for fixing the counterweight to this arm.

Claims (20)

REVENDICATIONS1. Assembly constituting a self-supporting post for a self-supporting security railing including roof-terraces of buildings, comprising an offset arm (3) secured to the post (1) in the vicinity of one of its ends and a counterweight (4) secured by means of attachment to a part of the offset arm (3) opposite the post (1) to allow the post (1) to be held on the ground at a service position, characterized in that the body counterweight (4) comprises a rectilinear groove (8) emerging externally from the outer face (6a) of a wall (6) of the body of the counterweight (4) and in which is housed the part of the offset arm (3) and the fastening means comprise at least two parallel tongues (9) located respectively on both sides (10) of the groove (8) and shaped to lock in the groove (8) the part of the offset arm (3). 2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each tongue (9) comprises at its free end directed towards the outer face (6a) of the body of the counterweight (4) a hook-shaped portion (9a) bearing on the part of the offset arm (3). 3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each tongue (9) is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the offset arm (3). 4. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means comprise two elongated tongues (9) located opposite one another and each extending in the same plane as that of the corresponding side. (10) of the groove (8) so that the free end of the tongue (9) defines a portion of the edge of the groove (8) whose remaining portion is located at the plane face (6a) of the body counterweight (4). 5. An assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fastening means comprise a plurality of parallel tongues (9) staggered on both sides (10) of the groove (8), the spaced tabs (9). on each side (10) of the groove (8) being arranged in the same plane as this side to define on both sides (10) of the groove (8) portions of spaced and staggered sides of the groove (8) of which the longitudinally spaced edges (12) are at the same level as the flat face (6a) of the wall (6) of the counterweight (4). 6. Assembly according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the free hook-shaped end portions (9a) of the tongues (9) are recessed relative to the outer planar face (6a) of the body counterweight (4) and from which opens the groove (8). 7. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body of the counterweight (4) comprises an inner stop (15) located in the vicinity of one end of the groove (8) and on which is supported the free end of the offset arm (3). 8. An assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer planar face (6a) of the body of the counterweight (4) from which opens out the groove (8) is the one intended to rest on the ground so the offset arm (3) is horizontally spaced above the ground. 9. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portion of the offset arm (3) is axially fixed in the groove (8) by a nail (18) integral with a wall (5) of the body of the counterweight (4) opposed to the groove wall (6) (8) and anchored through the portion of the offset arm (3) perpendicular thereto in an orifice of the grooved wall (6). 10. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the groove (8) extends over a length substantially equal to half the length of the counterweight (4). 11. Safety guardrail including roof terraces of buildings, comprising a plurality of sets of self-supporting posts connected to each other by rails forming a handrail, characterized in that each set of self-supporting post is in accordance with the any of claims 1 to 10. Counterweight (4) for an assembly constituting a self-supporting post, comprising a housing-shaped body provided with two upper (5) and lower (6) walls connected to each other by a peripheral wall (7), the lower wall (6) being intended to rest on the ground by its flat outer face (6a), characterized in that it comprises a rectilinear groove (8) emerging externally from the face (6a) of the lower wall ( 6) of the body of the counterweight (4) and through a portion (7a) of the peripheral wall (7) of the body, and at least two parallel tongues (9) respectively located on both sides (10) of the groove ( 8), the tabs (9) comprising at their free ends directed towards the face (6a) of the bottom wall (6) of the body of the counterweight (4) hook-shaped portions (9a) directed towards each other. 13. counterweight according to claim 12, characterized in that each tongue (9) is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the sides (10) of the groove (8). 14. counterweight according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises two parallel elongated tongues (9) facing each other and each extending in the same plane as that of the corresponding side (10). ) of the groove (8) so that the free end of the tongue (9) defines a part of the edge of the groove (8), the remaining part of which is situated at the plane face (6a) of the lower wall ( 6) of the body of the counterweight (4). 15. Counterweight according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of parallel tabs (9) staggered on both sides (10) of the groove (8), the spaced tabs (9) on each side (10). ) of the groove (8) being arranged in the same plane as this side to define on both sides (10) of the groove (8) of the staggered side portions of the groove (8) whose edges (12) longitudinally spaced are at the same level as the outer planar face (6a) of the bottom wall (6) of the counterweight (4). 16. counterweight according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the hook-shaped free end portions (9a) of the tongues (9) are recessed relative to the flat face (6a) of the wall lower (6) of the body of the counterweight (4). 17. Counterweight according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the body of the counterweight (4) comprises an inner stop (15) located in the vicinity of one end of the groove (8) opposite the part (7a) of the peripheral wall (7) of this body to which opens the other end of the groove (8). 18. Counterweight according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the groove (8) extends over a length substantially equal to half the length of the body-shaped body of the counterweight and in that it comprises a second rectilinear groove (16) perpendicular to the groove (8) comprising the tongues (9) and opening outwardly from the face (6a) of the bottom wall (6) of the body of the counterweight (4) and through two parts opposed (7a) of the peripheral wall (7) of the body of the counterweight (4). 19. Counterweight according to one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that the box-shaped body is made of a molded rigid plastic material and is filled with a ballast material, such as concrete. 20. A method of installing an assembly constituting a self-supporting post for a self-supporting safety railing including roof-terraces of buildings, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it consists in placing the post (1) and the offset arm (3) on the ground in a vertical plane, positioning the counterweight (4) above the end portion of the offset arm (3) so that the groove (8) with tabs (9) in line with this end portion, releasing the counterweight (4) for embedding the end portion of the offset arm (3) in the groove (8) and locking it in the groove by the hook-shaped ends (9a) of the tongues (9) enclosing the end portion of the offset arm (3), bringing the free end of the offset arm bearing against the internal stop (15) of the counterweight ( 4) and axially locking the end portion of the offset arm (3) in the groove (8) by a nail (18).