INTEGRATED SAFETY RAIL PROTECTION SYSTEM

• US 20110017967A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rooftop Anchor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Safepro
• Inventors: Whiting, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 256/59
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/122 Steps or handrails for shafts
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/127 with devices for impeding fall or injuries of persons
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1418 with implements to assist in lifting, e.g. counterweights, springs lifting devices for covers B66F19/005
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0335 Skylight guards, security devices protecting skylights or preventing objects or persons from falling through skylight openings
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3204 against falling down
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/006 Devices for preventing access
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/182 situated at the top of the ladder

Abstract

A unique safety rail system with integrated ergonomically effective hand-grip projections, structures for affixing said system for the safe and easy egress and ingress through an opening, such as roof or floor access holes. Said safety rail system is designed to reduce the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access hole while providing additional protection and prevention of personnel accidentally falling through an open access. A self-closing gravity gate may be provided acting as additional hand-grip, support, and barrier. This invention may employ cost effective methods of construction and assembly using a unique continuous tubular structure of converging vertical and angular upright post with horizontal upper safety rail, forward protruding ergonomically effecting hand-grip and opposing directionally horizontal lower attachment support means reducing lateral motion and allows efficient installation for new construction or retro fitting of existing openings.

Claims

1. A railing system that may be positioned adjacent to a portal, the railing system comprising:

a hinged gate having an opening operable to open outwardly;

a first side rail with a first side gate projection, wherein said first side gate projection extends at least partially into the hinged gate opening; and

a second side rail with a second side gate projection, wherein said second side gate projection extends at least partially into the hinged gate opening.

2. The railing system of claim 1, further comprising a back rail member positioned substantially between the first side rail and the second side rail.

3. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the hinged gate couples with the first side gate projection at an interface.

4. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the hinged gate couples with the second side gate projection at an interface.

5. The railing system of claim 3, further comprising a hinge structure positioned adjacent to the interface of the hinged gate and the first side gate projection.

6. The railing system of claim 3, further comprising a biasing structure positioned adjacent to the interface of the hinged gate and the first side gate projection.

7. The railing system of claim 4, wherein the interface comprises a latching structure positioned adjacent the hinged gate and the second side gate projection.

8. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the first side rail further comprises a first side hand-grip projection.

9. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the second side rail further comprises a second side hand-grip projection.

10. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the railing system is at least partially knurled.

11. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the first side rail and the second side rail each further comprise a cross rail member.

12. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the first side rail and the second side rail each are formed from a continuous tube.

13. The railing system of claim 1, wherein said hinged gate has an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position the hinged gate interfaces with the first side gate projection and the second side gate projection, wherein in said open position the hinged gate interfaces with only one of the first side gate projection and the second side gate projection, and whereupon releasing the hinged gate from said open position, it returns, via gravity, to said closed position.

14. The railing system of claim 13, wherein said hinged gate can be fixed in the open position.

15. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the hinged gate is formed from a single continuous tube.

16. The railing system of claim 1, further comprising a second hinged gate.

17. The railing system of claim 16, wherein the hinged gate interfaces with the first side rail, and the second hinged gate interfaces with the second side rail.

18. The railing system of claim 17, wherein the hinged gate interfaces with the second hinged gate at a position between said first side rail and said second side rail.

19. The railing system of claim 18, further comprising a latching structure positioned adjacent to the interface of said hinged gate and said second hinged gate.

20. The railing system of claim 17, further comprising a hinge structure positioned adjacent to the interface of the second hinged gate and the second side gate projection.

21. The railing system of claim 17, further comprising a biasing structure positioned adjacent to the interface of the second hinged gate and the second side gate projection.

22. The railing system of claim 16, wherein said second hinged gate is at least partially knurled.

23. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the first side rail further comprises a front mounting projection and a rear mounting projection.

24. The railing system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the front mounting projection and the rear mounting projection extend substantially perpendicular to the first side rail in at least one plane.

25. The railing system of claim 23, further comprising a mounting structure, for attachment adjacent to the portal, having an opening for receiving at least one of a portion of the front mounting projection and the rear mounting projection.

26. The railing system of claim 25, wherein the mounting structure is a generally hollow tube.

27. The railing system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the front mounting projection and the rear mounting projection are mounted adjacent to the portal using a fastener.

28. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the second side rail further comprises a front mounting projection and a rear mounting projection.

29. The railing system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the front mounting projection and the rear mounting projection extend substantially perpendicular to the second side rail in at least one plane.

30. The railing system of claim 28, further comprising a mounting structure, for attachment adjacent to the portal, having an opening for receiving at least one of a portion of the front mounting projection and the rear mounting projection.

31. The railing system of claim 30, wherein the mounting structure is a generally hollow tube.

32. The railing system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the front mounting projection and the rear mounting projection are mounted adjacent to the portal using a fastener.

33. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the hinged gate is not operable to open inwardly into a volume formed between the first side rail and the second side rail.

34. The railing system of claim 5, wherein the hinge structure comprises a hinge housing having a generally cylindrical shaft opening with at least one recess, and a generally cylindrical hinge shaft having at least one protrusion, wherein at least a portion of said shaft is positioned within said shaft opening, and wherein said protrusion interfaces with said recess to limit the rotation of the shaft within the hinge housing.

35. The railing system of claim 5, wherein the hinge structure comprises a hinge housing having an external housing protrusion and a generally cylindrical shaft opening, a generally cylindrical hinge shaft, and a shaft cap mounted to one end of the hinge shaft, wherein the shaft cap further comprises an external protrusion, wherein at least a portion of said shaft is positioned within said shaft opening, and wherein the external housing protrusion interfaces with the external shaft cap protrusion to limit the rotation of the shaft within the hinge housing.

36. The railing system of claim 6, where the biasing structure is a coil spring.

37. The railing system of claim 7, wherein the latching structure is a gravity rocker latch.

38. The railing system of claim 1, wherein a primary plane of said hinged gate is positioned at an acute angle from vertical.

39. The railing system of claim 38, wherein said hinged gate operates at least partially using gravity.

40. The railing system of claim 1, wherein said hinged gate does not open past a set distance from a closed resting position of said hinged gate.

41. A railing system that may be positioned adjacent to a portal, the railing system comprising:

a hinged gate having an opening operable to open outwardly;

a front left corner rail with a first front left corner mounting projection, a second front left corner mounting projection, and a front left corner gate projection, wherein said first front left corner mounting projection is positioned substantially perpendicular to said second front left corner mounting projection in at least one plane, and wherein said front left corner gate projection extends at least partially into the hinged gate opening; and

a front right corner rail with a first front right corner mounting projection, a second front right corner mounting projection, and a front right corner gate projection, wherein said first front right corner mounting projection is positioned substantially perpendicular to said second front right corner mounting projection in at least one plane, and wherein said front right corner gate projection extends at least partially into the hinged gate opening.

42. The railing system of claim 41, further comprising a third corner rail with a first corner mounting projection and a second corner mounting projection, wherein said first corner mounting projection of the third corner rail is positioned substantially perpendicular to said second corner mounting projection of the third corner rail in at least one plane.

43. The railing system of claim 42, further comprising a fourth corner rail with a first corner mounting projection and a second corner mounting projection, wherein said first corner mounting projection of the fourth corner rail is positioned substantially perpendicular to said second corner mounting projection of the fourth corner rail in at least one plane.

44. The railing system of claim 43, further comprising a back rail member positioned substantially between the third corner rail and the fourth corner rail.

45. The railing system of claim 41, wherein the hinged gate interfaces with at least one of the front left corner gate projection and the front right corner gate projection.

46. The railing system of claim 45, further comprising a hinge structure positioned adjacent to the interface of the hinged gate and at least one of the corner gate projections.

47. The railing system of claim 45, further comprising a biasing structure positioned adjacent to the interface of the hinged gate and at least one of the corner gate projections.

48. The railing system of claim 45, further comprising a latching structure positioned adjacent to the interface of the hinged gate and at least one of the corner gate projections.

49. The railing system of claim 41, wherein the front left corner rail further comprises a first left corner hand-grip projection.

50. The railing system of claim 41, wherein the front right corner rail further comprises a first right corner hand-grip projection.

51. The railing system of claim 43, further comprising a cross rail member positioned substantially between the front left corner rail and the third corner rail.

52. The railing system of claim 43, further comprising a cross rail member positioned substantially between the front right corner rail and the fourth corner rail.

53. The railing system of claim 41, wherein at least one of the front left corner rail, the front right corner rail, the third corner rail, the fourth corner rail, and the hinged gate is formed from a single continuous tube.

54. The railing system of claim 41, further comprising a second hinged gate.

55. The railing system of claim 41, further comprising at least one mounting structure, for attachment adjacent to the portal, having an opening for receiving at least one of the first front left corner mounting projection, second front left corner mounting projection, first front right corner mounting projection, and second front right corner mounting projection.

56. The railing system of claim 55, wherein the mounting structure is a tube with at least one hollow portion.

57. The railing system of claim 41, wherein at least one of the first front left corner mounting projection, second front left corner mounting projection, first front right corner mounting projection, and second front right corner mounting projection are mounted adjacent to the portal using a fastener.

58. The railing system of claim 41, wherein the hinged gate is not operable to open inwardly into a volume formed between the front left corner rail and the front right corner rail.

59. The railing system of claim 46, wherein the hinge structure comprises a hinge housing having a generally cylindrical shaft opening with at least one recess, and a generally cylindrical hinge shaft having a at least one protrusion, wherein at least a portion of said shaft is positioned within said shaft opening, and wherein said protrusion interfaces with said recess to limit the rotation of the shaft within the housing.

60. The railing system of claim 46, wherein the hinge structure comprises a hinge housing having an external housing protrusion and a generally cylindrical shaft opening, a generally cylindrical hinge shaft, and a shaft cap mounted to one end of the hinge shaft, wherein the shaft cap further comprises an external protrusion, wherein at least a portion of said shaft is positioned within said shaft opening, and wherein the external housing protrusion interfaces with the external shaft cap protrusion to limit the rotation of the shaft within the housing.

61. The railing system of claim 41, wherein said hinged gate is positioned at an acute angle from vertical.

62. The railing system of claim 61, wherein said hinged gate operates at least partially using gravity.

63. The railing system of claim 41, wherein said railing system is at least partially knurled.

68. The railing system of claim 41, wherein a plane passing through said hinged gate and the opening of said hinged gate is positioned at an acute angle from vertical.

69. The railing system of claim 41, wherein said hinged gate does not open past a set distance from a closed resting position of said hinged gate.

70. The railing system of claim 41, wherein said hinged gate has an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position the hinged gate interfaces with the front left corner gate projection and the front right corner gate projection, wherein in said open position the hinged gate interfaces with only one of the front left corner gate projection and the front right corner gate projection, and whereupon releasing the hinged gate from said open position, it returns, via gravity, to said closed position.

71. The railing system of claim 70, wherein said hinged gate can be fixed in its open position.

64. A railing system that may be positioned adjacent to a portal, the railing system comprising:

a corner rail with a first corner mounting projection and a second corner mounting projection.

65. The railing system of claim 64, wherein said first corner mounting projection is positioned substantially perpendicular to said second corner mounting projection in at least one plane.

66. The railing system of claim 64, wherein said first corner mounting projection is positioned substantially parallel to said second corner mounting projection in at least one plane.

67. The railing system of claim 64, wherein said railing system is formed from a single piece of tubing.