Guardrail formed from folded sheet metal

A guardrail comprising:

• a sheet metal blank comprising a plurality of fold lines defining:
• a top panel;
• a face panel extending from the top panel, the face panel configured to extend perpendicular relative to the top panel;
• a return panel opposing the face panel, the return panel configured to extend perpendicular relative to the top panel;
• an end panel extending from a side edge of the face panel, the end panel configured to extend perpendicular relative to the face panel;
• wherein the end panel defines an upper portion and a lower portion having a greater width than the upper portion;
• wherein the top panel, the face panel, and the return panel are configured to define a channel;
• wherein the channel is configured to receive the upper portion of the end panel;
• wherein the upper portion of the end panel is configured to move between a flat state and an installed state independently from the top panel;
• wherein the end panel defines a recessed portion adjacent the return panel between the upper portion and the lower portion of the edge panel;
• and
• wherein an end portion of the return panel is configured to nest within the recessed portion of the end panel.

A guardrail formed of folded sheet metal comprising:

• a vertically disposed face panel having a top edge, a side edge, and a front surface,
• a top panel extending rearwardly from the top edge of the face panel, the top panel having a return edge opposite the top edge of the face panel,
• a return panel extending vertically from the return edge of the top panel and parallel with the face panel, the return panel having a back surface and a bottom edge,
• an end panel extending rearwardly from the side edge of the face panel, the end panel having the same width as the distance between the front surface of the face panel and back surface of the return panel, the end panel including an upwardly extending upper portion having an end surface,
• a bend relief disposed along the side edge of the face panel at a distance from the top edge thereof, the end panel bent rearwardly from the face panel along the side edge at the bend relief, the distance from the bottom edge of the return panel to the top panel substantially the same as the distance from the bend relief of the face panel to the top panel,
• the face, top and return panels having end edges, the end surface of the upper portion of the end panel flush with the end edges of the face, top and return panels, and
• the face, top and return panels forming a U-shaped channel, the upper portion of the end panel freely received in the channel;
• wherein the upper portion of the end panel is configured to move between a flat state and an installed state independently from the top panel;
• wherein the end panel defines a recessed portion adjacent the return panel between the upper portion and the lower portion of the edge panel;
• and
• wherein an end portion of the return panel is configured to nest within the recessed portion of the end panel.