Adjustable Guardrail Receiver for Corner Gap Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guardrail receivers for trench boxes and parapet walls lack versatility and effectiveness in securely attaching guardrails and ladder rails, particularly at corners, leading to potential gaps that compromise safety.

Innovation Solution

A guardrail receiver system with sliding base portions and perpendicularly extending engaging and connecting portions, along with female and male connectors, allows for secure attachment of guardrails and ladder rails, and optional toe board connectors, ensuring minimal gaps, especially at corners, by accommodating varying widths and forming a corner gap of no more than 7.0 inches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional guardrail receivers are used for trench boxes and parapet walls, then guardrails can be attached to provide fall protection, but the receivers lack versatility in accommodating varying widths and fail to securely attach at corners, resulting in gaps that compromise safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate varying widths of trench boxes and parapet wallsVSAvoidsecurity of guardrail attachment and gap minimization at corners

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guardrail receiver incorporates sliding base portions that can move relative to each other along the width of the trench box or parapet wall. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the receiver to accommodate varying widths while maintaining secure attachment. The sliding portions enable the engaging portions to be positioned at different distances apart, ensuring reliable guardrail attachment across different width configurations without creating unsafe gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If fixed-position guardrail receivers are used, then the structure is simple, but they cannot accommodate varying widths of trench boxes and parapet walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of guardrail receiver structureVSAvoidability to accommodate varying widths

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guardrail receiver is divided into multiple base portions (first base portion and second base portion) that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation allows each portion to be independently positioned along the width of the trench box or parapet wall, enabling the receiver to adapt to different widths while maintaining overall structural simplicity. The modular sliding design provides adjustability without requiring a completely complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If guardrail receivers are positioned at corners, then fall protection can be provided at corner locations, but traditional receivers create gaps between adjacent walls that compromise safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefall protection effectiveness at cornersVSAvoidgap size between safety devices at corners

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

At corner locations, the sliding base portions enable the engaging portions to be dynamically positioned to minimize gaps between adjacent safety devices. The first and second base portions can slide to adjust the distance between engaging portions on adjacent walls, ensuring that the gap between safety devices does not exceed 7.0 inches while maintaining secure attachment to both walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If multiple separate connectors are used for guardrails and ladder rails, then specific attachment points are provided, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attaching guardrails and ladder railsVSAvoidnumber of connectors and attachment mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guardrail receiver is designed with multiple engaging portions that can universally attach to different safety devices including both guardrails and ladder rails. The sliding base portions with multiple engaging portions allow a single receiver to serve multiple attachment functions, eliminating the need for separate specialized connectors for different safety devices and simplifying the overall attachment system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240209981A1Trench box or parapet wall guardrail receiver

Publication Date: 2024.06.27 PURE SAFETY GROUP INC

AI summary

A guardrail receiver comprises first and second base portions. The first base portion includes a first engaging portion and a first connecting portion, and the second base portion includes a second engaging portion and a second connecting portion. A female connector is operatively connected to one of the first base portion or the second base portion, and a male connector is operatively connected to one of the first base portion or the second base portion. The female and male connectors are configured and arranged to be operatively connected to a variety of safety devices selected from a group consisting of a guardrail leg and a ladder rail, wherein during use one of the female and male connectors is used with one of the guardrail leg or the ladder rail.