US 12,442,205 B2
Collapsible guardrail
Tuan-Vu T. Phan, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/449,104.
Application 17/449,104 is a division of application No. 16/199,474, filed on Nov. 26, 2018, granted, now 11,156,008.
Prior Publication US 2022/0018146 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. E04G 21/32 (2006.01); E04G 5/14 (2006.01)
CPC E04G 21/3228 (2013.01) [E04G 5/142 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.