Collapsible guardrail

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12442205-B2
Application number	US-202117449104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2021
Priority date	Nov 26, 2018
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods involving collapsible guardrails. An example system includes a top rail, a mid rail, an enclosure, and at least two posts. Each post includes an upper primary member, a lower primary member, an upper secondary member, and a lower secondary member. The upper primary member and the lower primary member are slidably coupled to at least one slot in the mid rail. The upper secondary member is rotatably coupled to the upper primary member and the lower secondary member is rotatably coupled to the lower primary member. The upper primary member is further coupled to the top rail and the lower primary member is coupled to the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a controller, information indicative of a desired configuration or a desired movement of a collapsible rail system that is positioned proximate a movable deck platform, wherein the collapsible rail system comprises a top rail, a mid rail, primary members that are connected to outer sections of the top rail and the mid rail, and secondary members that are connected to the primary members, the collapsible rail system further comprising at least one actuator and locking elements, wherein the movable deck platform includes a walking surface, and wherein the controller is configured to use the at least one actuator to extend or retract the collapsible rail system relative to the walking surface;
modifying, by the controller and based on the information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement, a position of the locking elements to enable adjustment of the collapsible rail system;
while the collapsible rail system is unlocked, extending the collapsible rail system from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration by unfolding upper and lower arms of the primary members and unfolding upper and lower arms of the secondary members;
locking in the extended configuration a first one of the primary members to a first one of the secondary members by engaging along the mid rail a first one of the locking elements that is connected to the first primary member to the first secondary member;
locking in the extended configuration a second one of the primary members to a second one of the secondary members by engaging along the mid rail a second one of the locking elements that is connected to the second primary member to the second secondary member;
after using the collapsible rail system while in the extended configuration, disengaging the locking elements from the first and second secondary members;
while the locking elements are disengaged, moving the collapsible rail system to the retracted configuration; and
wherein the controller uses the at least one actuator to foldably adjust the collapsible rail system according to the desired configuration or the desired movement.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement comprises receiving a signal from a user interaction,
wherein the user interaction comprises at least one of: a user pressing a button, touching a touchscreen, moving a switch, or speaking a voice command.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement comprises receiving the information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement from a computing system, wherein the information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement comprises an automated retraction command or an automated extension command.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein receiving the information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement comprises receiving the automated retraction command or the automated extension command according to a predetermined schedule, a personnel shift change, or a planned movement of an aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement comprises receiving the information from a remote unit, wherein the remote unit comprises a remote controller.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement comprises receiving the information indicative of the desired configuration or the desired movement from at least one of: a footswitch, a pedal, a mobile computing device, a tablet device, a smartphone, or a laptop computer.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving the information comprises receiving a raise command or a lower command from the remote controller.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein foldably adjusting the collapsible rail system comprises, in response to receiving the raise command or the lower command, causing the at least one actuator to raise or lower the collapsible rail system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein foldably adjusting the collapsible rail system comprises at least one of:
raising the top rail of the collapsible rail system by unfolding the upper and lower arms of the primary members; or
lowering the top rail of the collapsible rail system by folding the upper and lower arms of the primary members.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
after fully lowering the top rail of the collapsible rail system into an enclosure, closing a cover door of the enclosure.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
prior to or while raising the top rail of the collapsible rail system from the enclosure, opening a cover door of the enclosure.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from at least one limit switch, information indicative of the collapsible rail system reaching a position limit or the actuator reaching a position limit.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving information indicative of the collapsible rail system reaching the position limit or the actuator reaching the position limit, stopping movement of the collapsible rail system or the actuator.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
disengaging the locking elements so as to release the collapsible rail system from the retracted configuration or the extended configuration.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
opening a cover door prior to or while the collapsible rail system is adjusting to the extended configuration.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
closing a cover door while the collapsible rail system is adjusting to the retracted configuration.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible rail system is configured to extend from the walking surface, and wherein the moveable deck platform is configured to provide personnel access to elevated portions of an aircraft.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein unfolding the upper and lower arms of the primary members comprises pivoting the upper and lower arms of the primary members about a pin that connects the upper and lower arms to the mid rail.

19. A method comprising:
while a collapsible rail system is unlocked, positioning the collapsible rail system in a retracted configuration, the retracted configuration comprising:
posts folded together with each of the posts comprising upper and lower primary members and upper and lower secondary members;
a top rail that is connected to the upper primary members that that is positioned in proximity to a mid rail; and
pins that connect together the upper and lower primary members and the pins are positioned at inner portions of slots in the mid rail;

while the collapsible rail system is unlocked, moving the collapsible rail system from the retracted configuration to an extended configuration comprising:
sliding the pins along the slots away from the inner portions;
unfolding the upper and lower primary members;
unfolding the upper and lower secondary members;
moving the top rail away from the mid rail; and

locking the collapsible rail system by engaging first locking elements on the upper and lower primary members with second locking elements on the upper and lower secondary members thereby preventing the pins from sliding towards the inner portions of the slots and preventing the upper and

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Phan Tuan-Vu T

Classifications

• E04G5/142

  extensible or telescopic · CPC title

• B64F5/60

  Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems · CPC title

• E04G21/3228 Primary

  Folding railings for flat roof edge, e.g. to hide the railings from view when not in use · CPC title

• B64F5/10 Primary

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title