Collapsible guardrails

A collapsible guardrail, comprising:

• a base comprising a base left-end region and a base right-end region opposite the base left-end region;
• a mid rail positioned above the base, wherein the mid rail comprises a mid-rail left-end region and a mid-rail right-end region opposite the mid-rail left-end region, and wherein the mid-rail left-end region is positioned above the base left-end region and the mid-rail right-end region is positioned above the base right-end region;
• a top rail positioned above and parallel to the mid rail, wherein the top rail comprise a top-rail left-end region and a top-rail right-end region opposite the top-rail left-end region, and wherein the top-rail left-end region is positioned above the mid-rail left-end region and the top-rail right-end region is positioned above the mid-rail right-end region;
• a lower left-side leg comprising a lower-left-side-leg lower-end region and a lower-left-side-leg upper-end region opposite the lower-left-side-leg lower-end region, wherein the lower-left-side-leg lower-end region is pivotally coupled to the base left-end region, and wherein the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the mid rail;
• an upper left-side leg positioned above the lower left-side leg and comprising an upper-left-side-leg upper-end region and an upper-left-side-leg lower-end region opposite the upper-left-side-leg upper-end region, wherein the upper-left-side-leg upper-end region is pivotally coupled to the top-rail left-end region, and wherein the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the mid rail;
• a lower right-side leg comprising a lower-right-side-leg lower-end region and a lower-right-side-leg upper-end region opposite the lower-right-side-leg lower-end region, wherein the lower-right-side-leg lower-end region is pivotally coupled to the base right-end region, and wherein the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the mid rail;
• and
• an upper right-side leg positioned above the lower right-side leg and comprising an upper-right-side-leg upper-end region and an upper-right-side-leg lower-end region opposite the upper-right-side-leg upper-end region, wherein the upper-right-side-leg upper-end region is pivotally coupled to the top-rail right-end region, and wherein the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the mid rail;
• wherein the collapsible guardrail has a deployed configuration, in which the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region are adjacent the mid-rail left-end region, and in which the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region are adjacent the mid-rail right-end region;
• and
• wherein the collapsible guardrail has a collapsed configuration, in which the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region are spaced-away from the mid-rail left-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region, and in which the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region are spaced-away from the mid-rail right-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region;
• wherein the mid rail defines:
• a mid-rail lower-left track extending from the mid-rail left-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region, wherein the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region is configured to translate along the mid-rail lower-left track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• a mid-rail upper-left track extending from the mid-rail left-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region, wherein the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region is configured to translate along the mid-rail upper-left track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• a mid-rail lower-right track extending from the mid-rail right-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region, wherein the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region is configured to translate along the mid-rail lower-right track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• and
• a mid-rail upper-right track extending from the mid-rail right-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region, wherein the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region is configured to translate along the mid-rail upper-right track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• wherein the collapsible guardrail further comprises:
• a left-leg connecting block operatively coupling together the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region;
• and
• a right-leg connecting block operatively coupling together the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region;
• wherein the mid rail defines:
• a mid-rail left-central track extending from the mid-rail left-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region, wherein the left-leg connecting block is configured to translate along the mid-rail left-central track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• and
• a mid-rail right-central track extending from the mid-rail right-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region, wherein the right-leg connecting block is configured to translate along the mid-rail right-central track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• wherein the left-leg connecting block is operatively engaged with the mid-rail lower-left track, the mid-rail upper-left track, and the mid-rail left-central track in a left-side triangular pattern;
• wherein the right-leg connecting block is operatively engaged with the mid-rail lower-right track, the mid-rail upper-right track, and the mid-rail right-central track in a right-side triangular pattern;
• wherein when the collapsible guardrail is in the deployed configuration:
• the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region is laterally left of the lower-left-side-leg lower-end region;
• the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region is laterally left of the upper-left-side-leg upper-end region;
• the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region is laterally right of the lower-right-side-leg lower-end region;
• and
• the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region is laterally right of the upper-right-side-leg upper-end region;
• wherein at least one of the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region is biased toward the mid-rail left-end region;
• wherein at least one of the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region is biased toward the mid-rail right-end region;
• wherein the collapsible guardrail further comprises:
• a left-side spring operatively coupled between the base and the lower left-side leg and configured to bias the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region, or between the top rail and the upper left-side leg and configured to bias the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region;
• right-side spring operatively coupled between the base and the lower right-side leg and configured to bias the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region, or between the top rail and the upper right-side leg and configured to bias the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region;
• and
• one or more motive sources configured to selectively translate the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region, and the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region;
• wherein the one or more motive sources comprise:
• a left-side motive source configured to selectively translate the lower-left-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-left-side-leg lower-end region toward the mid-rail left-end region;
• and
• a right-side motive source configured to selectively translate the lower-right-side-leg upper-end region and the upper-right-side-leg lower-end region toward the mid-rail right-end region;
• wherein the collapsible guardrail further comprises a controller operatively coupled to the one or more motive sources and configured to operate the one or more motive sources responsive to a user input;
• wherein in the deployed configuration, the collapsible guardrail has a height;
• wherein each of the lower left-side leg, the upper left-side leg, the lower right-side leg and the upper right-side leg has a width;
• wherein the width is at least 5% of the height;
• wherein the collapsible guardrail further comprises a lattice structure operatively coupled between the base and the top rail and configured to operatively support the top rail relative to the base;
• wherein the lattice structure is further operatively coupled to the mid rail and configured to support the mid rail relative to the top rail and the base;
• wherein the lattice structure comprises:
• a lower-left lattice member pivotally coupled to the base;
• an upper-left lattice member pivotally coupled to the lower-left lattice member and pivotally coupled to the top rail;
• a lower-right lattice member pivotally coupled to the base;
• and
• an upper-right lattice member pivotally coupled to the lower-right lattice member and pivotally coupled to the top rail;
• wherein the lower-left lattice member, the upper-left lattice member, the lower-right lattice member, and the upper-right lattice member define a parallelogram;
• wherein the lattice structure further comprises:
• a first angled member comprising a first-angled-member lower-end region and a first-angled-member upper-end region opposite the first-angled-member lower-end region, wherein the first-angled-member lower-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the base, and wherein the first-angled-member upper-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the top rail;
• and
• a second angled member comprising a second-angled-member lower-end region (108) and a second-angled-member upper-end region opposite the second-angled-member lower-end region, wherein the second-angled-member lower-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the base, and wherein the second-angled-member upper-end region is pivotally and translationally coupled to the top rail;
• wherein the base defines:
• a base left-side track extending from the base left-end region toward the base right-end region, wherein the first-angled-member lower-end region is configured to translate along the base left-side track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• and
• a base right-side track extending from the base right-end region toward the base left-end region, wherein the second-angled-member lower-end region is configured to translate along the base right-side track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• wherein the top rail defines:
• a top-rail left-side track extending from the top-rail left-end region toward the top-rail right-end region, wherein the second-angled-member upper-end region is configured to translate along the top-rail left-side track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• and
• a top-rail right-side track extending from the top-rail right-end region toward the top-rail left-end region, and wherein the first-angled-member upper-end region is configured to translate along the top-rail right-side track when the collapsible guardrail transitions between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration;
• wherein the first angled member is pivotally coupled to the second angled member;
• wherein the first angled member and the second angled member are pivotally coupled to the mid rail;
• wherein the first angled member and the second angled member define an X shape;
• wherein the first angled member is pivotally coupled to the lower-left lattice member and is pivotally coupled to the upper-right lattice member;
• wherein the second angled member is pivotally coupled to the upper-left lattice member and is pivotally coupled to the lower-right lattice member;
• wherein the collapsible guardrail further comprise at least one screen operatively coupled between the base and the top rail and configured to restrict access to the mid rail;
• and
• wherein each of the lower left-side leg, the upper left-side leg, the lower right-side leg, and the upper right-side leg comprises a C-channel.