Torque actuated rail assembly
AssigneeRMH Tech LLC
InventorsJonathon Moss, Nikolaus Jo Holley, Dustin M. M. Haddock, Robert M. M. Haddock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system to connect a structure, such as a photovoltaic module, to a rib of a metal panel of a building surface. The system includes a torque actuated rail assembly comprises a lag clip or a lag foot and a rail. The lag clip or lag foot includes a lag catch and an aperture to receive a fastener to selectively couple the lag clip or lag foot to the rib. The rail includes a hook. When the rail is in a first configuration, the rail is disengaged from the lag clip or lag foot. When a force is applied to the rail, it transitions to a second configuration in which the hook is coupled to the catch and the rail is engaged to the lag clip or lag foot.
Claims20
A torque actuated rail assembly selectively securable to a building surface, comprising:
- a rail, comprising:
- a rail base;
- two rail arms extending in a first latitudinal direction from the rail base, each rail arm including a sloped rail surface proximate to a rail protrusion, each rail protrusion including an exterior rail surface, wherein the two rail arms are operable to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration following an application of a force to the sloped rail surfaces causing the rail base to bend;
- and
- two rail legs extending in a second latitudinal direction from the rail base, each rail leg including a rail hook, each rail hook extending inwardly;
- and
- a lag clip, comprising:
- an endwall;
- and
- a first lag clip member and a second lag clip member extending in the first latitudinal direction from the endwall, each lag clip member including a lag catch, each lag catch extending outwardly,
- wherein the rail hooks are operable to couple to the lag catches, wherein the rail is disengageable from the lag clip when the two rail arms are in the first configuration, and wherein the rail is engaged to the lag clip when the two rail arms are in the second configuration and the rail hooks move inwardly and press into the lag catches.
A system to couple a photovoltaic module to a rib of a building surface, comprising:
- a rail with a rail hook;
- a lag clip with an aperture and a lag catch configured to couple to the rail hook, wherein the lag clip is configured to couple to the rib of the building surface when a building fastener is extended through the aperture and into a fastener aperture in the rib;
- and
- a grab assembly configured to cause the rail hook to engage with the lag catch following an application of a force,
- wherein the grab assembly and the rail are configured to position the photovoltaic module a select distance above the building fastener.
A torque actuated rail assembly selectively securable to a surface of a building, comprising:
- a rail, comprising:
- a rail base;
- two rail arms extending in a first latitudinal direction from the rail base, each rail arm including a sloped rail surface proximate to a rail protrusion, each rail protrusion including an exterior rail surface, wherein the two rail arms are configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration following an application of a force to the sloped rail surfaces causing the rail base to bend;
- and
- two rail legs extending in a second latitudinal direction from the rail base, each rail leg including a rail hook, each rail hook extending inwardly;
- and
- a lag foot, comprising:
- a lag plate;
- and
- a lag body extending from the lag plate and including:
- a first surface with a first lag catch facing in a first longitudinal direction;
- and a second surface with a second lag catch facing in a second longitudinal direction opposite to the first longitudinal direction;
- wherein the rail hooks are operable to couple to the lag catches, wherein the rail is disengaged from the lag foot when the two rail arms are in the first configuration and the rail hooks disengage from the lag catches, and wherein the rail is engaged to the lag foot when the two rail arms are in the second configuration and the rail hooks move inwardly and press into the first and second lag catches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.