Patent · US10501942B2 · B2 · US

Telescoping rail assembly

(11) Publication number

US10501942B2

(21) Application number

15/788,221

(22) Filing date

2017-10-19

(30) Priority date

2016-10-21

(43) Publication date

2019-12-10

(45) Date of grant

2019-12-10

(51) IPC

E04B 7/18; E04D 13/035; E04F 11/18; E04H 17/14; E04H 17/22; E06B 11/02; E04D 13/03; F24F 7/02

(52) CPC

E04F Finishing work on buildings, e.g. stairs, floors: 11/1836, 2011/187
E04B General building constructions; walls, e.g. partitions; roofs; floors; ceilings; insulation or other protection of buildings: 7/18
E04D Roof coverings; sky-lights; gutters; roof-working tools: 13/0335, 13/0354
E04H Buildings or like structures for particular purposes; swimming or splash baths or pools; masts; fencing; tents or canopies, in general: 17/1413, 17/22
E06B Fixed or movable closures for openings in buildings, vehicles, fences or like enclosures in general, e.g. doors, windows, blinds, gates: 11/022
F24F Air-conditioning; air-humidification; ventilation; use of air currents for screening: 7/02

(73) Assignee

Air Distribution Technologies IP LLC

(72) Inventors

Steven R. Palasek; Joshua Munger

(54) Title

Telescoping rail assembly

(57) Abstract

A telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch includes a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, where the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, a post coupled to the bracket and configured to extend from the roof hatch and outward from the roof, and a telescoping rail having a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and where the telescoping rail is disposed along a portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the telescoping rail assembly to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch.

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Claims (25)

A telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch, comprising: a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, wherein the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, wherein the bracket includes a mounting post having a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, a first bracket portion configured to couple to the first side of the mounting post, and a second bracket portion configured to couple to the second side of the mounting post, wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are coupled to one another at a joint, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion extend away from the joint, away from one another, and along the first and second sides of the mounting post, respectively, the bracket is disposed at a corner of the roof hatch, and the mounting post extends vertically from the roof hatch; a post having an opening extending therethrough, wherein the post is configured to slidably receive the mounting post of the bracket via the opening, and wherein the post is configured to extend from the roof hatch and outward from the roof; and a telescoping rail coupled to the post, wherein the telescoping rail comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and wherein the telescoping rail is disposed along a portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the telescoping rail assembly to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are welded to the mounting post.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket portion, or the second bracket portion, or both, comprise a slot configured to receive a fastener.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 3, comprising a clip configured to be disposed over a lip of the roof hatch, wherein the first bracket portion comprises the slot configured to receive the fastener, and wherein a first opening of the clip is configured to be aligned with the slot of the first bracket portion and a second opening of the lip of the roof hatch.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the first opening of the clip comprises threads for securing the bracket to the roof hatch with a fastener threaded into the first opening.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, comprising a telescoping gate, wherein the telescoping gate comprises an additional telescoping rail, wherein the additional telescoping rail comprises a third portion and a fourth portion that are slidably adjustable with respect to one another.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the telescoping gate is coupled to the post via hinges.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the telescoping gate comprises a frame member coupled to the additional telescoping rail.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the frame member comprises a stop device configured to block rotation of the telescoping gate at the stop device.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the post, or the telescoping rail, or both comprise steel tubing.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the post, or the telescoping rail, or both comprise tubing with a substantially square-shaped cross-section.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the telescoping rail is coupled to the post via a weld.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the telescoping rail comprises a first diameter, wherein the second portion of the telescoping rail comprises a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter to enable the second portion to slide along an internal surface of the first portion.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, comprising the roof hatch, wherein the roof hatch comprises a lid configured to enable access to the roof from an interior of the building, and wherein the lid of the roof hatch is disposed along an additional portion of the roof hatch when in an open position.
The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening of the post includes a diameter that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the mounting post.
A rail system for a roof hatch, comprising: a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, wherein the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, wherein the bracket includes a mounting post having a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, a first bracket portion configured to couple to the first side of the mounting post, and a second bracket portion configured to couple to the second side of the mounting post, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are coupled to one another at a joint, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion extend away from the joint, away from one another, and along the first and second sides of the mounting post, respectively, the bracket is disposed at a corner of the roof hatch, and the mounting post extends vertically from the roof hatch; a post having an opening extending therethrough, wherein the post is configured to slidably receive the mounting post of the bracket via the opening, and wherein the post is configured to extend vertically from the roof hatch with respect to the roof; a first telescoping rail comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and wherein the first telescoping rail is disposed along a first portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the rail system to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch; and a telescoping gate comprising a second telescoping rail, wherein the second telescoping rail comprises a third portion and a fourth portion that are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and wherein the telescoping gate is disposed along a second portion of the perimeter of the roof hatch.
The system of claim 16, wherein the telescoping gate is coupled to the post via hinges.
The system of claim 16, wherein the telescoping gate comprises a frame member coupled to the additional telescoping rail.
The system of claim 18, wherein the frame member comprises a stop device configured to block rotation of the telescoping gate at the stop device.
The system of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the telescoping rail comprises a first diameter, wherein the second portion of the telescoping rail comprises a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter to enable the second portion to slide along an internal surface of the first portion.
The system of claim 16, wherein the opening of the post includes a diameter that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the mounting post.
A method of assembling a telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch, comprising: coupling a bracket of the telescoping rail assembly to the roof hatch, wherein the bracket includes a mounting post having a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, a first bracket portion configured to couple to the first side of the mounting post, and a second bracket portion configured to couple to the second side of the mounting post, and wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are coupled to one another at a joint, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion extend away from the joint, away from one another, and along the first and second sides of the mounting post, respectively, and the bracket is disposed at a corner of the roof hatch; mounting a post to the mounting post of the bracket by sliding the mounting post into an opening extending through the post; adjusting a telescoping rail of the telescoping rail assembly to a predetermined length by sliding a first portion of the telescoping rail with respect to a second portion of the telescoping rail; and coupling the telescoping rail to the post.
The method of claim 22, wherein coupling the telescoping rail to the post comprises welding the telescoping rail to the post.
The method of claim 22, comprising coupling a telescoping gate to the post via hinges.
The method of claim 22, wherein coupling the bracket of the telescoping rail assembly to the roof hatch comprises: disposing a clip over a lip of the roof hatch; aligning a first opening of the clip with a slot of the bracket and a second opening of the roof hatch; disposing a fastener through the slot of the bracket, the first opening of the clip, and the second opening of the roof hatch; and threading the fastener into the first opening of the clip to secure the bracket to the roof hatch.

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to roof hatches, and more particularly, to a rail assembly for a roof hatch to enable access to an HVAC unit.

Roof hatches provide access to a rooftop or outdoor area of a structure from an inside portion of the structure, such as a stairwell. In some cases, rail assemblies may enclose an area surrounding the roof hatch, such that immediate access to the rooftop is substantially blocked. Accordingly, a person entering the rooftop from the roof hatch may utilize the rail assembly for support to facilitate entry onto the rooftop. In some embodiments, the rail assembly may include a gate that enables the person to enter the rooftop portion not enclosed by the rail assembly. Unfortunately, roof hatches may include a variety of sizes, such that multiple custom-sized rails may be manufactured to fit a particular roof hatch and form the rail assembly.

In one embodiment, a telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch includes a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, where the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, a post coupled to the bracket and configured to extend from the roof hatch and outward from the roof, and a telescoping rail having a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and where the telescoping rail is disposed along a portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the telescoping rail assembly to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch.

Citations (34)

US1826419A
US3901481A
US3995833A
USRE39842E1
US6053281A
US6167659B1
US6629391B1
US6272800B1
US6467230B1
US6679482B2
EP1365087B1
US6681528B1
US20040104382A1
US20050115173A1
US6931793B2
US20040154241A1
US7516575B2
US7063186B1
US20100264390A1
US9464440B2
US20110017967A1
US8925904B2
US20110083376A1
US8256164B2
USD620131S1
US8555555B2
US20130219790A1
US20160362934A1
USD725792S1
US20140217346A1
US8806815B1
US9045906B1
US9500000B2
US10100576B1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US10501942B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Telescoping rail assembly",
  "abstract": "A telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch includes a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, where the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, a post coupled to the bracket and configured to extend from the roof hatch and outward from the roof, and a telescoping rail having a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and where the telescoping rail is disposed along a portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the telescoping rail assembly to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch, comprising: a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, wherein the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, wherein the bracket includes a mounting post having a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, a first bracket portion configured to couple to the first side of the mounting post, and a second bracket portion configured to couple to the second side of the mounting post, wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are coupled to one another at a joint, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion extend away from the joint, away from one another, and along the first and second sides of the mounting post, respectively, the bracket is disposed at a corner of the roof hatch, and the mounting post extends vertically from the roof hatch; a post having an opening extending therethrough, wherein the post is configured to slidably receive the mounting post of the bracket via the opening, and wherein the post is configured to extend from the roof hatch and outward from the roof; and a telescoping rail coupled to the post, wherein the telescoping rail comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and wherein the telescoping rail is disposed along a portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the telescoping rail assembly to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch.",
    "2. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are welded to the mounting post.",
    "3. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket portion, or the second bracket portion, or both, comprise a slot configured to receive a fastener.",
    "4. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 3, comprising a clip configured to be disposed over a lip of the roof hatch, wherein the first bracket portion comprises the slot configured to receive the fastener, and wherein a first opening of the clip is configured to be aligned with the slot of the first bracket portion and a second opening of the lip of the roof hatch.",
    "5. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the first opening of the clip comprises threads for securing the bracket to the roof hatch with a fastener threaded into the first opening.",
    "6. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, comprising a telescoping gate, wherein the telescoping gate comprises an additional telescoping rail, wherein the additional telescoping rail comprises a third portion and a fourth portion that are slidably adjustable with respect to one another.",
    "7. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the telescoping gate is coupled to the post via hinges.",
    "8. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the telescoping gate comprises a frame member coupled to the additional telescoping rail.",
    "9. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the frame member comprises a stop device configured to block rotation of the telescoping gate at the stop device.",
    "10. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the post, or the telescoping rail, or both comprise steel tubing.",
    "11. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the post, or the telescoping rail, or both comprise tubing with a substantially square-shaped cross-section.",
    "12. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the telescoping rail is coupled to the post via a weld.",
    "13. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the telescoping rail comprises a first diameter, wherein the second portion of the telescoping rail comprises a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter to enable the second portion to slide along an internal surface of the first portion.",
    "14. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, comprising the roof hatch, wherein the roof hatch comprises a lid configured to enable access to the roof from an interior of the building, and wherein the lid of the roof hatch is disposed along an additional portion of the roof hatch when in an open position.",
    "15. The telescoping rail assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening of the post includes a diameter that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the mounting post.",
    "16. A rail system for a roof hatch, comprising: a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, wherein the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, wherein the bracket includes a mounting post having a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, a first bracket portion configured to couple to the first side of the mounting post, and a second bracket portion configured to couple to the second side of the mounting post, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are coupled to one another at a joint, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion extend away from the joint, away from one another, and along the first and second sides of the mounting post, respectively, the bracket is disposed at a corner of the roof hatch, and the mounting post extends vertically from the roof hatch; a post having an opening extending therethrough, wherein the post is configured to slidably receive the mounting post of the bracket via the opening, and wherein the post is configured to extend vertically from the roof hatch with respect to the roof; a first telescoping rail comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and wherein the first telescoping rail is disposed along a first portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the rail system to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch; and a telescoping gate comprising a second telescoping rail, wherein the second telescoping rail comprises a third portion and a fourth portion that are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and wherein the telescoping gate is disposed along a second portion of the perimeter of the roof hatch.",
    "17. The system of claim 16, wherein the telescoping gate is coupled to the post via hinges.",
    "18. The system of claim 16, wherein the telescoping gate comprises a frame member coupled to the additional telescoping rail.",
    "19. The system of claim 18, wherein the frame member comprises a stop device configured to block rotation of the telescoping gate at the stop device.",
    "20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the telescoping rail comprises a first diameter, wherein the second portion of the telescoping rail comprises a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter to enable the second portion to slide along an internal surface of the first portion.",
    "21. The system of claim 16, wherein the opening of the post includes a diameter that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the mounting post.",
    "22. A method of assembling a telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch, comprising: coupling a bracket of the telescoping rail assembly to the roof hatch, wherein the bracket includes a mounting post having a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, a first bracket portion configured to couple to the first side of the mounting post, and a second bracket portion configured to couple to the second side of the mounting post, and wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are coupled to one another at a joint, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion extend away from the joint, away from one another, and along the first and second sides of the mounting post, respectively, and the bracket is disposed at a corner of the roof hatch; mounting a post to the mounting post of the bracket by sliding the mounting post into an opening extending through the post; adjusting a telescoping rail of the telescoping rail assembly to a predetermined length by sliding a first portion of the telescoping rail with respect to a second portion of the telescoping rail; and coupling the telescoping rail to the post.",
    "23. The method of claim 22, wherein coupling the telescoping rail to the post comprises welding the telescoping rail to the post.",
    "24. The method of claim 22, comprising coupling a telescoping gate to the post via hinges.",
    "25. The method of claim 22, wherein coupling the bracket of the telescoping rail assembly to the roof hatch comprises: disposing a clip over a lip of the roof hatch; aligning a first opening of the clip with a slot of the bracket and a second opening of the roof hatch; disposing a fastener through the slot of the bracket, the first opening of the clip, and the second opening of the roof hatch; and threading the fastener into the first opening of the clip to secure the bracket to the roof hatch."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to roof hatches, and more particularly, to a rail assembly for a roof hatch to enable access to an HVAC unit.\n\nRoof hatches provide access to a rooftop or outdoor area of a structure from an inside portion of the structure, such as a stairwell. In some cases, rail assemblies may enclose an area surrounding the roof hatch, such that immediate access to the rooftop is substantially blocked. Accordingly, a person entering the rooftop from the roof hatch may utilize the rail assembly for support to facilitate entry onto the rooftop. In some embodiments, the rail assembly may include a gate that enables the person to enter the rooftop portion not enclosed by the rail assembly. Unfortunately, roof hatches may include a variety of sizes, such that multiple custom-sized rails may be manufactured to fit a particular roof hatch and form the rail assembly.\n\nIn one embodiment, a telescoping rail assembly for a roof hatch includes a bracket configured to couple to the roof hatch, where the roof hatch is configured to provide access to a roof of a building, a post coupled to the bracket and configured to extend from the roof hatch and outward from the roof, and a telescoping rail having a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion are slidably adjustable with respect to one another, and where the telescoping rail is disposed along a portion of a perimeter of the roof hatch to enable the telescoping rail assembly to enclose an area that includes the roof hatch.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04F 11/1836",
    "E04B 7/18",
    "E04D 13/0335",
    "E04D 13/0354",
    "E04F 2011/187",
    "E04H 17/1413",
    "E04H 17/22",
    "E06B 11/022",
    "F24F 7/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04B 7/18",
    "E04D 13/035",
    "E04F 11/18",
    "E04H 17/14",
    "E04H 17/22",
    "E06B 11/02",
    "E04D 13/03",
    "F24F 7/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Air Distribution Technologies IP LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Steven R. Palasek",
    "Joshua Munger"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-10-19",
  "publication_date": "2019-12-10",
  "grant_date": "2019-12-10",
  "priority_date": "2016-10-21",
  "application_number": "US-201715788221-A",
  "family_id": "61970967",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
  "citations": [
    "US1826419A",
    "US3901481A",
    "US3995833A",
    "USRE39842E1",
    "US6053281A",
    "US6167659B1",
    "US6629391B1",
    "US6272800B1",
    "US6467230B1",
    "US6679482B2",
    "EP1365087B1",
    "US6681528B1",
    "US20040104382A1",
    "US20050115173A1",
    "US6931793B2",
    "US20040154241A1",
    "US7516575B2",
    "US7063186B1",
    "US20100264390A1",
    "US9464440B2",
    "US20110017967A1",
    "US8925904B2",
    "US20110083376A1",
    "US8256164B2",
    "USD620131S1",
    "US8555555B2",
    "US20130219790A1",
    "US20160362934A1",
    "USD725792S1",
    "US20140217346A1",
    "US8806815B1",
    "US9045906B1",
    "US9500000B2",
    "US10100576B1"
  ]
}

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