BACKGROUND
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to building construction and more particularly to guardrails and guard barriers formed from folded sheet metal.
Description of Related Art
Guard barriers and guardrails may be formed by folding top and edge panels relative to a face panel from a single piece of sheet metal to form a corner as seen in FIG. 1. The result is somewhat unrefined and unsightly and can present a rough edge to the hand at the corner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the upper corners of a prior art guardrail.
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of multiple sections of a guardrail according to the invention interconnected to form a barrier.
FIG. 3 is an upper left perspective view of a corner of a guardrail according to the invention.
FIG. 4 is an upper right perspective view thereof.
FIG. 5 is a bottom right perspective view thereof.
FIG. 6 is an end view thereof.
FIG. 7 is an elevation view thereof.
FIG. 8 is an upper right perspective view of the upper corners of two adjoining guardrails according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
A guardrail 10 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 2-8. Multiple sections of a guardrail 10 when interconnected form a guard barrier as seen in FIG. 2. Each guardrail section in the illustrated embodiment is formed by folding a unitary blank of sheet metal. Each guardrail 10 includes abutting edges 11 for attachment of two adjacent guardrails, and each edge 11 may also form a presentation end as shown. As seen in FIG. 2, abutting sections of the guardrail may both be rectangular, as at 10A, may both be angled, as at 10B, or may be a combination of horizontal and angled as at 10C and 10D.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, according to the invention a guardrail 10 comprises a face panel 12, a top panel 14, a return panel 16, and an end panel 18. The face panel 12 is vertically disposed and generally extends from or near a ground surface such as a floor, walkway, or stairs, but could extend downward any lesser distance from the top panel 14. It may have a pattern such as the hole pattern seen in FIGS. 3-7, may have a surface embellishment, or may be unadorned. In the illustrated embodiment all the panels 12, 14, 16, 18 are formed by folding a sheet metal blank (not illustrated) which has been laser cut to specification. However, the scope of the invention includes guardrails formed by methods other than folding.
The top panel 14 extends horizontally from the top edge 20 of the face panel 12 and the return panel 16 extends downwardly from the return edge 22 of the top panel. The top part of the face panel 12 together with the top panel 14 and return panel 16 form a downwardly oriented channel 24 as seen in FIG. 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the top panel 14 is perpendicular to the face panel 12, and the return panel is parallel with the face panel 12, but other angular relationships are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.
The end panel 18 extends from the side edge 26 of the face panel 12 as best seen in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the end panel 18 is perpendicular to the face panel 12, but other angles are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.
With additional reference to FIG. 6, the end panel 18 has a width Wi that is the same as the distance Di between the front surface 28 of the face panel 16 and the back surface 30 of the return panel.
In FIG. 7 it is seen that the end panel 18 has an upper portion 32 having a width W2 that is narrower than the width Wi of the rest of the end panel below it and is narrower than the distance D2 between the face panel 12 and the return panel 16. In addition, the top edge 34 of the upper portion 32 is spaced from the top panel 14. The upper portion is thus dimensioned to be freely received in the channel 24 formed by the face, top and return panels 12, 14, 16 as shown.
As seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the end surface 34 of the upper portion 32 of the end panel 18 is coplanar with end edges 36 of the face, top and return panels 12, 14, 16 to present a uniformly dimensioned substantially flush end face that is aesthetically pleasing but also facilitates secure attachment together of abutting sections of guardrails 10 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 8.
As can perhaps best be seen in FIGS. 3-5, end panel 18 is formed by bending along the side edge 26 of face panel 12 below bend relief 38, above which the upper portion 32 of the end panel 18 is spaced from face panel 12. As seen in FIG. 6, the bend relief 38 is located below the top surface 40 of top panel 14 a distance E1 that is substantially the same as the vertical dimension E2 from the top surface 40 of top panel 14 to the bottom edge 42 of return panel 16, thereby giving the visual impression of a hand-holdable guard rail formed together by the top part of face panel 12 and the return panel 16.
Although the discussion above focuses primarily on guardrails having a horizontal top panel, by forming the top panel at an angle with respect to the end panel guardrail sections can be formed for use with angled structures such as stairs and ramps as seen in FIG. 2.
A guardrail as described above essentially moves the location of the bend relief downward from the corner, as it is found in the prior art, to a distance below the top panel that is matched by the vertical width of the return panel. The location of the bend relief together with the width of the return panel give the impression of a handrail. Moving the bend relief down from the top panel and tucking the upper part of the end panel in the channel formed by the face, top and return panels provides a smooth transition between adjoining corners and, by minimizing the bend relief, is more aesthetically pleasing than a prior art guardrail. Manufacturing of a guardrail according to the invention is simple once the sheet metal blank has been cut to specifications, and installation is quick and easy because each guardrail needs merely to be bolted down to pre-installed bolts in a support surface.
There have thus been described and illustrated certain embodiments of a guardrail formed from folded sheet metal according to the invention. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it should be clearly understood that the disclosure is illustrative only and is not to be taken as limiting, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Patent Application
20230144870
