Sliding guardrail systems and methods of utilizing sliding guardrail systems

Abstract

Sliding guardrail systems and methods of utilizing the sliding guardrail systems comprise at least one track defining a channel extending longitudinally through the at least one track and at least one sliding guardrail operatively coupled to the at least one track. The at least one sliding guardrail is configured to be selectively translated along a longitudinal length of the at least one track. The at least one sliding guardrail is configured to be selectively locked in place at a selected position along the longitudinal length of the at least one track.

1 . A guardrail system comprising:
 at least one track defining a channel extending longitudinally through the at least one track; and   at least one sliding guardrail configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one track, wherein the at least one sliding guardrail is configured to be selectively translated along a longitudinal length of the at least one track, and wherein the at least one sliding guardrail is configured to be selectively locked in place at a selected position along the longitudinal length of the at least one track.   
     
     
         2 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel defines an internal slot and an upper elongate opening to the internal slot, wherein the upper elongate opening has a first width and the internal slot has a second width, and wherein the first width is less than the second width. 
     
     
         3 . The guardrail system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises a shaft configured to extend downward into the upper elongate opening, and a locking foot fixed to the shaft and configured to be received in the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The guardrail system of  claim 3 , wherein the locking foot comprises an upper portion and a base flange, wherein at least the base flange is configured to be received in the internal slot of the channel, wherein the base flange has a third width greater than the first width of the upper elongate opening, such that the base flange is configured to restrict passage of the base flange through the upper elongate opening. 
     
     
         5 . The guardrail system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one track comprises at least one positioning hole formed in the channel, wherein the at least one positioning hole is configured to selectively receive and retain at least a portion of the locking foot to retain the at least one sliding guardrail in a fixed position relative to the at least one positioning hole. 
     
     
         6 . The guardrail system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises a locking-foot actuator, wherein the locking-foot actuator is configured to transition the locking foot between an extended position, in which the locking foot is positioned to be disposed entirely within the internal slot, and a retracted position in which at least the portion of the locking foot is positioned to be received in the at least one positioning hole. 
     
     
         7 . The guardrail system of  claim 6 , wherein when the locking foot is in the extended position and within the internal slot, the at least one sliding guardrail is configured to be selectively translated along the longitudinal length of the track, and wherein when the locking foot is in the retracted position and in the at least one positioning hole, the at least one sliding guardrail is held in a fixed position relative to the at least one positioning hole. 
     
     
         8 . The guardrail system of  claim 6 , wherein the shaft of the at least one sliding guardrail comprises an upper end and the locking-foot actuator comprises a push-pull clamp operatively coupled to the upper end of the shaft, wherein the push-pull clamp is configured to be selectively toggled to translate the shaft to transition the locking foot between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises at least one wheel configured to contact the at least one track, when the at least one sliding guardrail is operatively coupled to the at least one track. 
     
     
         10 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises a downward extension configured to be received in the channel and to maintain and support the at least one sliding guardrail in an upright position relative to the at least one track. 
     
     
         11 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises a slider configured to extend into the channel and guide selective translation of the at least one sliding guardrail along the longitudinal length of the at least one track. 
     
     
         12 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one track comprises a plurality of tracks each configured to be positioned adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises a plurality of sliding guardrails each configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one track. 
     
     
         14 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail further comprises a handle configured to be pulled or pushed by a user to translate the sliding guardrail along the longitudinal length of the track. 
     
     
         15 . The guardrail system of  claim 1 , further comprising an assembly environment comprising a raised platform comprising an edge at least partially defining an opening. 
     
     
         16 . The guardrail system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one track is operatively coupled to the raised platform and extends longitudinally along the edge. 
     
     
         17 . The guardrail system of  claim 15 , wherein the opening is configured to receive a fuselage of an aircraft. 
     
     
         18 . A method of utilizing the guardrail system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 translating the at least one sliding guardrail to the selected position along the longitudinal length of the at least one track; and   locking the at least one sliding guardrail in the selected position relative to the at least one track.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises a locking foot and the at least one track comprises at least one positioning hole, wherein the locking foot is configured to be transitioned into a retracted position in which the locking foot is positioned to be received in the at least one positioning hole, and wherein the locking the at least one sliding guardrail in the selected position relative to the track comprises:
 aligning the locking foot of the at least one sliding guardrail with the at least one positioning hole of the at least one track; and   transitioning the locking foot into the retracted position such that at least a portion of the locking foot is received within the at least one positioning hole.   
     
     
         20 . A guardrail system comprising:
 at least one track defining a channel extending longitudinally through the at least one track, wherein the channel defines an internal slot and an upper elongate opening to the internal slot, and wherein the channel comprises at least one positioning hole formed in the upper elongate opening; and   at least one sliding guardrail configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one track, wherein the at least one sliding guardrail is configured to be selectively translated along a longitudinal length of the at least one track, and wherein the at least one sliding guardrail comprises a locking foot configured to be selectively transitioned between an extended position, in which the locking foot is positioned to be disposed entirely within the internal slot, and a retracted position in which at least a portion of the locking foot is positioned to be received and retained in the at least one positioning hole, such that the at least one sliding guardrail is locked in place relative to the at least one track.