Assembly for clamping and grounding objects
AssigneeIronRidge, Inc.
InventorsShawn Meine, Jon Ash, Bryan Lester
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various representative aspects, an apparatus for clamping and grounding solar panel frames to a mounting rail is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a fastener with an enlarged end, and a shank, with the enlarged end having one or more sharp protrusions that resemble teeth, and a washer with one or more sharp protrusions, and an opening. When installed, the shank is inserted through the opening of the washer, the sharp protrusions of the enlarged end penetrate either the lower or upper surface of the mounting rail and the sharp protrusions of the washer penetrate the other surface of the solar panel frames while at the same time creating a grounding path through the apparatus.
Claims17
A clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising:
- a. a fastener,
- i. the fastener including a male and a female member, the members being releasably interlocking,
- ii. the male member being electrically conductive and having:
- (1) an enlarged end further comprising at least one raised portion configured to penetrate a surface of a first object;
- and
- (2) an externally-threaded elongated male element extending from the enlarged end;
- iii. the female member having:
- (1) a nut end;
- and
- (2) an internally-threaded elongated female element extending from the nut end threadably engaging the elongated male element for interlockable connection;
- b. a washer adjacent to the nut end comprising:
- (1) a bottom surface and at least one electrically conductive piercing member on the bottom surface of the washer directed toward the enlarged end,
- (2) the piercing member configured to penetrate the surface of a second object independent of the orientation of the washer relative to the second object;
- and
- (3) the washer having a central opening allowing the elongated female element to pass therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the piercing member is angularly arranged around the central opening.
A clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising:
- a. a fastener,
- i. the fastener comprising a male and a female member, the members being releasably interlocking;
- ii. the male member being electrically conductive and having:
- (1) an enlarged end further comprising at least one raised portion configured to penetrate the surface of a first object;
- and
- (2) an externally-threaded elongated male element extending from the enlarged end;
- iii. a female member defining a mid-clamp having:
- (1) a nut end;
- (2) a rounded washer adjacent the nut end having a central opening;
- the washer having at least one electrically conductive raised portion configured to penetrate the surface a second object that defines an electrical grounding path between the washer and the enlarged end, wherein the at least one electrically conductive raised portion of the rounded washer extends downward toward the enlarged end, and annularly around the central opening on a portion of the bottom surface of the rounded washer;
- and
- (3) an internally-threaded elongated female element extending from the nut end that threadably engages the elongated male element for an adjustable connection, the elongated female element passing through the central opening of the washer.
A clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising:
- a. a fastener, the fastener comprising:
- i. a male member, the male member being electrically conductive and comprising:
- (1) an enlarged end, the enlarged end comprising at least one raised portion configured to penetrate a surface of a first object;
- and
- (2) an externally-threaded elongated male element extending from the enlarged end;
- ii. a female member, the female member comprising:
- (1) a nut end;
- (2) an internally-threaded elongated female element extending from the nut end;
- (3) a washer:
- (A) the washer comprising an annular ring having a central opening being coupled to the elongated female element so that the annular ring may freely move along the surface of the elongated female element beneath the nut end, the elongated female element passing through the central opening of the washer;
- (B) the annular ring further comprising an electrically conductive piercing member extending downward toward the enlarged end and is configured to penetrate surface of a second object, wherein the piercing member extends annularly around the central opening;
- and
- iii. the male and female member configured to threadably interconnect with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.