Ladder Guardrail Locking System with Rotatable Hinges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ladders lack effective guardrail locking systems to prevent accidental falls, and there is a need for a design that enhances user safety by providing comprehensive protection and easy operation.

Innovation Solution

A ladder with rotatable side rails and guardrails featuring a locking system that includes rotatable areas with locking points and keys, allowing for secure attachment and adjustment of guardrails, along with a foldable stand for enhanced stability and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If guardrails are made rotatable to allow easy opening and closing, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the guardrails may freely move and fail to provide consistent protection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of opening and closing guardrailsVSAvoidreliability of guardrail positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guardrail is designed with rotatable capability to transition between fixed and movable states. The joining hinges enable the guardrail to rotate for easy opening and closing operations, while maintaining structural integrity during movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guardrail system is divided into multiple segments connected by joining hinges. These hinges create discrete rotatable areas that allow the guardrail to be divided into movable sections, enabling easy operation while maintaining overall structural coherence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If locking points are distributed on the edges of rotatable areas, then reliability is improved by preventing arbitrary opening and closing, but device complexity increases due to multiple locking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of arbitrary opening and closingVSAvoidcomplexity of locking system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Locking points are pre-positioned on the edges of rotatable areas before the guardrail reaches them. This preliminary positioning allows the locking mechanism to engage automatically or with minimal user action, preventing arbitrary opening while avoiding complex real-time control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking system is designed to engage automatically when the guardrail reaches predetermined positions during rotation. The locking points and locking keys work together without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms, allowing the system to self-regulate its positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a second guardrail is added to provide 360-degree protection, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional locking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety protection coverageVSAvoidcomplexity of multiple guardrails and locks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second guardrail is nested within or adjacent to the first guardrail structure, sharing common joining hinges and locking mechanisms. This nested configuration provides 360-degree protection while utilizing the same structural components, thereby avoiding proportional increases in complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The joining hinges and locking keys are designed as universal components that serve multiple functions across both guardrails. The same hinge design and locking mechanism are reused throughout the structure, reducing the variety of unique parts and simplifying manufacturing and assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If guardrails are securely locked during use, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates when adjustment is needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of locked guardrailsVSAvoidease of adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism replaces complex mechanical fastening systems with simpler locking keys that engage with locking points. This substitution maintains secure locking during use while enabling quick release and adjustment when needed, improving both reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11225833B2Ladder with a guardrail

Publication Date: 2022.01.18 YOO THOMAS

AI summary

A ladder with a first guardrail locking system having a first pair of side rails with a first set of steps and a second pair of side rails with a second set of steps. The two sets of side rails are rotatably joined together by a pair of hinges at a first pair joining sections and a second pair joining sections. The first pair joining sections and the second pair joining sections have joint points such as indentations which engage the locking key of a first guardrail so that the first guardrail may be fixedly attached to the joining sections.The ladder may also have a second guardrail, wherein the second guardrail is attached to the first guardrail so that two guardrails form a ring around a user standing on a foldable stand of the ladder.