US 11,761,216 B2Granted

Folding guardrail

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsTuan-Vu T. Phan, Tyler J. Shelton, Scott L. Rost

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The present disclosure relates systems and methods involving movable/adjustable guardrails. An example system includes a frame weldment and a rail assembly attached to the frame weldment. The rail assembly includes a first post and a second post. The base portion of the first post is rotatably coupled to a first pivot point of the frame weldment and the base portion of the second post is rotatably coupled to a second pivot point of the frame weldment. The system also includes a top rail rotatably coupled between a top portion of the first post and a top portion of the second post. The system yet further includes an actuator configured to controllably adjust a configuration of the rail assembly between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration with respect to the frame weldment.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving information indicative of a desired configuration of a rail assembly;
determining, based on the received information, that the desired configuration comprises at least one of an extended configuration or a retracted configuration of the rail assembly with respect to a walking surface, wherein the walking surface defines a reference plane;
responsive to determining that the desired configuration comprises the extended configuration, causing an actuator to foldably adjust the rail assembly into the extended configuration with respect to the reference plane, wherein causing the actuator to foldably adjust the rail assembly into the extended configuration comprises causing a cover door to rotate about a hinge and out of the reference plane such that the cover door provides a kick plate;
and
responsive to determining that the desired configuration comprises the retracted configuration, causing the actuator to foldably adjust the rail assembly into the retracted configuration with respect to the reference plane, wherein causing the actuator to foldably adjust the rail assembly into the retracted configuration comprises causing the cover door to rotate about the hinge and into the reference plane such that the cover door covers the retracted rail assembly.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/328,725Filed 24 May 2021 · division
Priority: 13 Sep 2018
Published: US 2021/0293029 A123 Sep 2021
Granted: 19 Sep 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

E04G 5/142
Railings: extensible or telescopic
B64F 5/10
Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing…
B66F 11/04
Lifting devices specially adapted for particular uses not otherwise provided for: for movable platforms or cabins, e.g. on vehicles, permitting…
E04F 11/1865
Balustrades; Handrails: collapsible or portable balustrades

Family

Application16/129,823Parent of this division · filed 13 Sep 2018
US 2021/0293029 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Sep 2021
US 11,035,135 B2Parent of this division
US 2020/0087932 A1Published application
US 11,761,216 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.