Guardrail for an elevated working platform

摘要

A collapsible structure is described that can be erected to provide an elevated working platform having two ends and two sides. Two telescopically collapsible ladder frames (10, 12) are disposed above the level of the platform, one on each end of the platform. Each ladder frame (10, 12) is formed of two stiles (20, 22) having telescopically collapsible sections, rungs each extending between respective sections of the two stiles and latch mechanisms for locking the stile sections in the extended position of the ladder frame. Each of the ladder frames (10, 12) further incorporates a guardrail (30, 32) that lies parallel to the rungs (24) when the ladder frame is collapsed. The guardrail (30, 32) is mounted for rotation about a first stile and releasably secured to the second stile. After release from the second stile of the same ladder frame and rotation about the first stile each guardrail is connectable to the second stile of the other ladder frame to lie parallel to a side of the platform.

主权项

1. A collapsible structure configured to be erected on an elevated working platform having two ends and two sides, the collapsible structure comprising:
a first telescopically collapsible ladder frame; a second telescopically collapsible ladder frame, wherein each of the first and second telescopically collapsible ladder frames comprises
a first stile and a second stile, each of the first and second stiles having telescopically collapsible sections,a plurality of rungs, each rung extending between a telescopically collapsible section of the first stile and a corresponding telescopically collapsible section of the second stile, anda plurality of latch mechanisms configured for locking the telescopically collapsible sections of each of the first and second stiles in an extended position of the first and second ladder frames; anda guardrail mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the first stile, wherein the guardrail is selectively movable between
a first position in which the guardrail is releasably secured to the second stile of one of the first and second ladder frames to which the guardrail is mounted such that the guardrail lies parallel to the rungs of the first and second ladder frames, anda second position in which the guardrail is releasably secured to the second stile of the other of the first and second ladder frames to which the guardrail is not mounted such that the guardrail lies perpendicular to the rungs of the first and second ladder frames, and wherein the guardrail is connected to two tubes, each tube being slidably received in an uppermost section of a respective stile of the first and second ladder frames.