IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,305,411
Granted Patent B2
US 12,305,411 · App. 17/286,299 · Granted May 20, 2025

System for accessing and/or allowing safe movement on a unit mounted on a structural support

Inventors: Nathan Brian Sollenberger (Charlotte, NC); Ryan Charles Kerfein (Huntersville, NC)
Assignee: Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc.
E04G5/14E04G7/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,305,411
App. No.
17/286,299
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments and features of railing systems are provided. For example, the railing system may be disposed around industrial/commercial equipment (e.g., rooftop condensing unit) that includes a baserail near the bottom of the industrial/commercial equipment and may be disposed on a structural support. The railing system may include a plurality of vertical supports extending from the baserail or structural support to above a top portion of the industrial/commercial equipment; railing extending between the vertical supports; and an attachment system to attach the vertical supports to the baserail or structural support so that the vertical supports are configured to distribute any weight received directly to the baserail or structural support via the attachment system.

Claims (18)

1. A railing system to be disposed around industrial/commercial equipment, the industrial/commercial equipment comprising a base rail near the bottom of the industrial/commercial equipment, the railing system comprising:

a plurality of vertical supports extending from the base rail to above a top portion of the industrial/commercial equipment;

railings extending directly between the vertical supports such that a first vertical support of the plurality of vertical supports extends to a top portion of the railings;

at least one attachment clip corresponding to the first vertical support of the plurality of vertical supports and being configured to be attached to the base rail so that the first vertical support is configured to distribute any weight received directly to the base rail via the at least one attachment clip; and

a tie off point that is connected to the first vertical support and is configured to support a 5000 lb fall load through the first vertical support directly to the base rail.

2. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vertical supports comprises a support bracket, and wherein the at least one clip comprises a plurality of attachment clips, each of the attachment clips comprising a second base defining first holes in the second base that are configured to allow for the support bracket of a corresponding vertical support to attach to the at least one clip.

3. The railing system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one clip comprises a plurality of attachment clips, each of the attachment clips comprising a base defining holes in the second base to allow for the base to attach to corresponding attachment holes in the base rail.

4. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment clip has holes that allow for connection of the vertical support to the base rail via the at least one attachment clip, the holes extending to allow for a position of the vertical support to be moved along a lengthwise direction of the railings.

5. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the railings extend in a same direction as a lengthwise direction of the one clip, thereby allowing an attachment of the first vertical support to be adjustable along the same direction as the railings.

6. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment clip comprises a plurality of attachment clips that correspond to respective vertical supports of the plurality of vertical supports, and wherein the plurality of vertical supports are configured to distribute any weight received directly to the base rail via the plurality of attachment clips.

7. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the industrial/commercial equipment comprises one of a heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning (HVAC) unit, an air cooled water chiller, a remote condensing unit, a fuel tank, a cooling tower, or a rooftop unit (RTU).

8. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the industrial/commercial equipment comprises a rooftop condensing unit (RTU) that comprises the base rail.

9. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the base rail comprises a structural support portion of the industrial/commercial equipment that is configured to support a 5000 lb fall load.

10. The railing system of claim 1 , further comprising an anchorage point positioned at a top of each vertical support.

11. The railing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

two horizontal top rails comprising a first horizontal top rail and a second horizontal top rail disposed on a side opposed of the first horizontal top rail; and

a floating floor comprising slats that are each configured to be supported via a two horizontal top rails and which is configured to extend over the two horizontal top rails and also over the industrial/commercial equipment.

12. The railing system of claim 11 , further comprising support brackets that are configured to be attached to interior portions of the two horizontal top rails, wherein the floating floor is configured to be disposed on the support brackets.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2021
From: SOLLENBERGER, NATHAN BRIAN; KERFEIN, RYAN CHARLES
To: HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN, INC.
Reel/Frame 057012/0176 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63002800 · Mar 31, 2020
Related Publication 20230151621A1 · May 18, 2023
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