L-foot adapter for rail-based solar panel racking systems
AssigneeSunmodo Corporation
InventorRoland Jasmin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described are supports with devices or brackets, that are specially mounted, such as L-foot adapters, that help mount solar panel racking systems to roofs. The L-foot adapter assembly may include an L-foot adapter body and a spacer that is removable and positionable between the two sides of the L-foot adapter body. A threaded fastener extends through the first of the two sides of the L-foot adapter body, through the spacer, and threadedly engages the second side of the L-foot adapter body. The spacer limits how much the two sides of the L-foot adapter body can be squeezed together and therefore prevents overtightening.
Claims25
A device for securing and attaching to a rail, the rail including a rail bottom surface, and for securing a solar panel racking system to a roof, comprising:
- an L-foot adapter assembly including:
- an L-foot adapter body including a bottom, a first side and a second side each extending upward from the bottom;
- a spacer including a spacer front facing the first side, a spacer back facing the second side, and an aperture extending through the spacer front and the spacer back, the spacer front and the spacer back are removably positioned between the first side and the second side;
- a threaded fastener extends through the first side, through the aperture in the spacer, and threadedly engages the second side;
- the first side includes a first clamping portion and the second side includes a second clamping portion;
- and
- the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are structured to secure and prevent upward movement of the rail, the first side, the second side, the first clamping portion, and the second clamping portion are spaced apart and positioned so that the rail bottom surface seats directly against the spacer.
A device for securing and attaching to a rail, the rail including a rail bottom surface, and for securing a solar panel racking system to a roof, comprising:
- an L-foot adapter assembly including:
- an L-foot adapter body including a bottom, a first side and a second side each extending upward from the bottom;
- a spacer including a spacer front facing the first side, a spacer back facing the second side, and an aperture extending through the spacer front and the spacer back, the spacer front and the spacer back are removably positioned between the first side and the second side;
- a threaded fastener extends through the first side, through the aperture in the spacer, and threadedly engages the second side;
- and
- the spacer includes a spacer top surface that is planar, the spacer, the first side and the second side are structured and positioned to seat the rail bottom surface directly seats against the spacer.
A device for securing and attaching to a rail, the rail including a rail bottom surface, and for securing a solar panel racking system to a roof, comprising:
- an L-foot adapter assembly including:
- an L-foot adapter body including a bottom, a first side and a second side each extending upward from the bottom;
- a spacer including a spacer front facing the first side, a spacer back facing the second side, and an aperture extending through the spacer front and the spacer back, the spacer front and the spacer back are removably positioned between the first side and the second side;
- a threaded fastener extends through the first side, through the aperture in the spacer, and threadedly engages the second side;
- the spacer includes a spacer bottom surface;
- and
- the L-foot adapter body includes a platform, the platform extends inward from the first side and is sized, shaped, and position to seat the spacer bottom surface and prevent the spacer from rotating.
A device for securing and attaching to a rail, the rail including a rail bottom surface, and for securing a solar panel racking system to a roof, comprising:
- an L-foot adapter assembly including:
- an L-foot adapter body including a bottom, a first side and a second side each extending upward from the bottom;
- a spacer, removably positioned between the first side and the second side, the spacer, the first side, and the second side, are structured and positioned to seat the rail bottom surface directly against the spacer;
- a threaded fastener extends through the first side, through the spacer, and threadedly engages the second side;
- the first side includes a first clamping portion and a second side includes a second clamping portion;
- and
- the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are structured to secure and prevent upward movement of the rail, the first side, the second side, the first clamping portion, and the second clamping portion are spaced apart and positioned so that the rail bottom surface seats directly against the spacer.
A device for securing and attaching to a rail, the rail and for securing a solar panel racking system to a roof, comprising:
- the rail including a rail bottom surface;
- and
- an L-foot adapter assembly including:
- an L-foot adapter body including a bottom, a first side and a second side each extending upward from the bottom;
- a spacer, removably positioned between the first side and the second side, the rail bottom surface is seated directly against the spacer;
- and
- a threaded fastener extends through the first side, through the spacer, and threadedly engages the second side;
- the spacer includes a spacer front facing the first side, a spacer back facing the second side, and an aperture extending through the spacer front and the spacer back, the spacer front and the spacer back are removably positioned between the first side and the second side;
- and
- the threaded fastener extends through the aperture in the spacer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.