Guardrail Handrail Bracket With Underside Groove Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handrail devices for guardrails obstruct hand passage due to wrapping around the upper rail portion and require complex assembly processes, especially in confined spaces, and involve machining that is not always feasible.
Innovation Solution
A handrail device with a bracket that fixes the rail to an upright using articulated jaws with longitudinal grooves on the rail's underside, allowing the top to remain continuous and enabling easy assembly without machining, by using a stirrup with two jaws that can be configured to grip the rail securely without obstructing hand passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the stirrup envelops or clamps the rail largely on its upper portion, then the rail is securely fixed to the upright, but the stirrup hinders the passage of the hand
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the clamping location from the upper portion of the rail to the lower portion by introducing longitudinal grooves below the second median plane. This dimensional relocation allows the stirrup jaws to grip the rail at a position that does not interfere with hand passage while maintaining secure fixation through the groove engagement mechanism
2Strength
If the rail is fixed using conventional stirrups that clamp the upper portion, then secure fixation is achieved, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires sliding movements that are impossible in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal grooves are pre-formed on the rail before installation, allowing the stirrup jaws to directly engage with the grooves without requiring sliding movements during assembly. The grooves act as pre-prepared reception features that guide and secure the jaws in place, eliminating the need for complex sliding assembly operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the clamping function from the upper portion of the rail where it causes operational interference and relocates it to the lower portion with the longitudinal grooves. This separation allows the fixation mechanism to operate independently at the bottom while leaving the upper handrail portion clear and accessible
3Strength
If conventional fixation methods are used, then the rail can be secured, but machining (riveting, drilling) on the upright and rail is required which is not always feasible
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal grooves are self-forming features on the rail that engage with the stirrup jaws without requiring additional machining operations on either the rail or upright. The grooves serve as built-in reception features that enable mechanical engagement through the bracket system alone, eliminating the need for riveting, drilling, or other machining processes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Handrail device (2) for guardrail (1), comprising a rail (4) forming a handrail and a stirrup (5) for fixing to a post (3), the rail (4) has an external peripheral face having a lower portion (41) and an upper portion (42), and has two median planes which are, when the rail is horizontal, a first vertical median plane and a second horizontal median plane above which the upper portion extends and below which the lower portion extends; the rail has two longitudinal grooves in the lower portion and arranged on either side of the first median plane, below the second median plane, and the stirrup comprises two jaws (51, 52) engaged at least partially inside the longitudinal grooves without protruding above the second median plane.