Aerial work platform and pinless guardrail

Abstract

An aerial work platform and guardrail system having a deck which may include a deck frame; vertically extending guardrail supports affixed to the deck or deck frame; and guardrail sections at the periphery of the deck. The sections have legs receivable in the guardrail supports with spaced upper and lower guides affixed to the legs, the guides being receivable in said guardrail supports and having surfaces for engaging inner surfaces of the guardrail supports. Retainers retain the lower guides in the guardrail supports whereby the guardrail sections may be individually lifted from a lower operative position to an upper pivot position at which the sections are retained in the supports by engagement of lower guides with the retainers and may be pivoted about the lower guides to a horizontal position for storage.

1 . An aerial work platform and guardrail system comprising: a work platform having a deck; vertically extending guardrail supports affixed to said deck; and guardrail sections at the periphery of said deck, said sections having legs receivable in said guardrail supports, said guardrail supports each having a vertically extending opening above and facing said deck, spaced upper and lower guides affixed to at least some of said legs, said guides being receivable in said guardrail supports, said guides being spaced a length less than the vertically extending length of said guardrail supports, said guides having contact surfaces engageable with inner surfaces of said guardrail supports, and retainers for retaining the lower ones of said guides in said guardrail supports whereby said guardrail sections may be lifted from operative position to an upper pivot position at which said sections are retained in said supports by engagement of lower ones of said guides with said retainers and may be pivoted about said lower ones of said guides through said openings in said supports to a horizontal position for storage. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said contact surfaces of said guides comprise flat or arcuate surfaces engageable with said guardrail supports. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said retainers comprise elongated members affixed to and extending between spaced sides of said guardrail supports. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said elongated members comprise removable threaded members. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said lower ones of said guides are rotatably affixed to said legs of said guardrail sections. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said deck includes side and end frame members having upper and lower horizontally extending flanges, said guardrail supports having lower ends supported on said lower horizontally extending flanges and said supports being received in apertures or cutouts in said upper horizontally extending flanges. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said guides are made of lubricious material. 
     
     
         8 . A guardrail system for an aerial work platform comprising: a plurality of guardrail supports for attachment in vertical orientation to a deck frame of a work platform; at least one guardrail section having legs receivable in said guardrail supports, said guardrail supports comprising channels each having a vertically extending opening facing said platform, spaced upper and lower guides affixed to opposite sides of each of said legs, said guides being receivable in said guardrail supports and being spaced along said legs a length less than the length of said guardrail supports, said guides having contact areas engageable with inner surfaces of said guardrail supports, and retainers for retaining the lower ones of said guides in said guardrail supports whereby said guardrail section may be lifted from operative position to an upper pivot position at which said section may be retained in said supports by engagement of lower ones of said guides with said retainers and may be pivoted about said lower ones of said guides to a horizontal position for storage. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said contact surfaces of said guides comprise flat surfaces engageable with said guardrail support. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said retainers comprise elongated members affixed to and extending between spaced sides of said guardrail supports. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said elongated members comprise removable threaded members. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said lower ones of said guides are rotatably affixed to said legs of said guardrail section. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said guides are made of lubricious material.