Telescoping guardrail/flip door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11512477-B2
Application number	US-201916693012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2019
Priority date	Nov 22, 2019
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure relates systems and methods involving movable/adjustable platforms and/or guardrails. An example system a bracket configured to be coupled to a fixed structure having a walking surface and a flip door portion rotatably coupled to the bracket. The system also includes a guardrail portion extendibly coupled to the flip door portion and a telescopic linkage further coupling the flip door portion to the guardrail portion. The system additionally includes a locking mechanism with a locking pin. The locking pin is configured to maintain the flip door portion in a raised configuration. The system is configured to be adjusted between the raised configuration and a platform configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a bracket configured to be coupled to a fixed structure having a walking surface;
a flip door portion rotatably coupled to the bracket;
a guardrail portion extendibly coupled to the flip door portion;
a telescopic linkage further coupling the flip door portion to the guardrail portion; and
a locking mechanism with a locking pin, wherein the locking pin is configured to maintain the flip door portion in a raised configuration, wherein the system is configured to be adjusted between the raised configuration and a platform configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walking surface defines a reference plane, wherein the raised configuration comprises the flip door portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the reference plane and the guardrail portion being extended away from the flip door portion.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walking surface defines a reference plane, wherein the platform configuration comprises the flip door portion extending substantially parallel along the reference plane and the guardrail portion being stowed under a top surface of the flip door portion.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guardrail portion comprises:
a top rail; and
a plurality of extendible posts coupled to the top rail and the flip door portion.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the telescopic linkage comprises a plurality of gas springs that are configured to provide an extending force between the guardrail portion and the flip door portion.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is operable through a groove opening of a top surface of the flip door portion.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a guardrail release mechanism configured to operably maintain the guardrail portion in a retracted guardrail configuration or release the guardrail portion to an extended guardrail configuration, wherein the guardrail release mechanism is operable by way of a guardrail release handle, wherein the guardrail release handle is operable from a top surface of the flip door portion.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a guardrail retention device, wherein the guardrail retention device is configured to retain the guardrail portion in the retracted guardrail configuration, wherein the guardrail release mechanism is configured to operably release the guardrail retention device.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a latching device, wherein the latching device is configured to allow operation of the locking mechanism only if the guardrail portion is in a retracted guardrail configuration.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a flip door actuation mechanism configured to move the flip door portion between the raised configuration and the platform configuration.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the flip door actuation mechanism comprises:
a link arm coupled to the flip door portion;
a push rod coupled to the link arm; and
gearing coupled to the push rod.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the flip door actuation mechanism further comprises a hand crank coupled to the gearing, wherein the hand crank is accessible from a top surface of the flip door portion.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the flip door actuation mechanism further comprises an electric motor coupled to the gearing.

14. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a controller having at least one processor and a memory, wherein the at least one processor executes program instructions stored in the memory so as to carry out operations, the operations comprising:
causing the flip door actuation mechanism to controllably move the flip door portion between the raised configuration and the platform configuration.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
causing the guardrail portion to controllably move between a retracted guardrail configuration and an extended guardrail configuration.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a remote unit configured to control a configuration of the system, wherein the remote unit comprises a wired remote controller having a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises at least one button.

17. A deck platform comprising:
a fixed deck platform portion comprising a walking surface;
a movable deck platform portion comprising:
a bracket configured to be coupled to the fixed deck platform portion;
a flip door portion rotatably coupled to the bracket;
a guardrail portion extendibly coupled to the flip door portion;
a telescopic linkage further coupling the flip door portion to the guardrail portion; and
a locking mechanism with a locking pin, wherein the locking pin is configured to maintain the flip door portion in a raised configuration, wherein the movable deck platform portion is configured to be adjusted between the raised configuration and a platform configuration.

18. The deck platform of claim 17 , wherein the walking surface defines a reference plane, wherein the raised configuration comprises the flip door portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the reference plane and the guardrail portion being extended away from the flip door portion, and wherein the platform configuration comprises the flip door portion extending substantially parallel along the reference plane and the guardrail portion being stowed under a top surface of the flip door portion.

19. A method comprising:
receiving, from a remote unit, information indicative of a desired configuration or a desired movement of a flip door portion and a guardrail portion with respect to a fixed structure having a walking surface, wherein the flip door portion is rotatably coupled to a bracket attached to the fixed structure, wherein the guardrail portion is rotatably coupled to the flip door portion;
determining, based on the received information, that the desired configuration or the desired movement comprises at least one of: a raised configuration or a platform configuration with respect to the walking surface; and
moving the flip door portion and the guardrail portion according to the desired configuration or the desired movement.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising at least one of:
i) in response to determining the desired movement comprises the raised configuration:
rotating the flip door portion upward with respect to the walking surface of the fixed structure;
releasing a guardrail release mechanism; and
extending the guardrail portion with respect to the flip door portion; or
ii) in response to determining the desired movement comprises the platform configuration:
retracting the guardrail portion with respect to the flip door portion;
engaging a guardrail retention device; and
rotating the flip door portion downward with respect to the walking surface of the fixed structure.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Restivo Justin A

Classifications

• E04G5/14

  Railings · CPC title

• E04F11/18 Primary

  Balustrades; Handrails (guard-rails on ships B63B; for bridges E01D19/10; for roads E01F13/00, E01F15/00; fences E04H17/00 {; safety measures for persons during the construction of buildings E04G21/32}) · CPC title

• E06B11/00

  Means for allowing passage through fences, barriers or the like, e.g. stiles (general features of doors E06B1/00 - E06B9/00; {cattle grids A01K3/002; features peculiar to electrified wire fencing A01K3/005}) · CPC title