Back to results
US 12,519,418 B2Granted
PV module mounting assembly with clamp / standoff arrangement
AssigneeRMH Tech LLC
InventorsJonathon Moss, Dustin M. M. Haddock, Mark Gies
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mounting assembly for use in mid-grab and/or edge-grab applications may include a clamp secured to a stanchion by a clamp fastener. The mounting assembly may also include a mounting plate and a base plate that may be secured to a mounting device by the stanchion. The mounting assembly may be used, for example, to secure photovoltaic modules (or other devices or structures) of varying heights to a roof or other building surface and to provide increased lift-off resistance.
Claims20
A mounting system to secure a photovoltaic module to a building surface, comprising:
- a clamp, comprising:
- an upper wall comprising a fastener aperture, a first long edge on one side of the fastener aperture, and a second long edge approximately parallel to the first long edge and on an opposite side of the fastener aperture;
- a first sidewall extending from a lower surface of the upper wall, the first sidewall spaced from the first long edge to form a first clamping section configured to engage the photovoltaic module, the first clamping section comprising a lower clamp surface;
- a plurality of teeth formed in the lower clamp surface, wherein the teeth increase in size from an inner portion of the lower clamp surface proximate to the first sidewall to a distal end of the lower clamp surface such that an innermost tooth has a minimum height measured in a vertical dimension and an outermost tooth has a maximum height measured in the vertical dimension, the maximum height being greater than the minimum height;
- and
- a second sidewall extending from the lower surface of the upper wall, the first and second sidewalls defining a stanchion receptacle therebetween;
- a stanchion comprising a body, a first threaded shaft extending from a first end of the body, and a first threaded hole extending through a second end of the body, the first end of the body being opposite the second end of the body;
- a base plate, comprising:
- a body with a first narrow end and a second narrow end opposite to the first narrow end;
- a first surface of the body;
- a second surface of the body opposite to the first surface, the first and second surfaces extending in a longitudinal dimension from the first narrow end to the second narrow end;
- a first flange and a second flange extending from the first surface between the first and second narrow ends, the first flange comprising a first inner surface facing a second inner surface of the second flange, wherein the first inner surface is separated from the second inner surface by a first interior width measured in a lateral dimension that is orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension;
- a third flange and a fourth flange extending from the second surface between the first and second narrow ends, the third flange comprising a third inner surface facing a fourth inner surface of the fourth flange, wherein the third inner surface is separated from the fourth inner surface by a second interior width measured in the lateral dimension that is greater than the first interior width;
- and
- a plate aperture extending through the first and second surfaces, the plate aperture comprising a diameter sufficient to receive the first threaded shaft of the stanchion;
- a mounting device comprising a second hole configured to receive the first threaded shaft of the stanchion to releasably secure the base plate between the stanchion and the mounting device, the mounting device configured to engage a projection extending from the building surface;
- and
- a clamping fastener comprising a second threaded shaft configured to threadably engage the first threaded hole of the stanchion, wherein the fastener aperture of the clamp and the first threaded hole of the stanchion are configured to receive the second threaded shaft of the clamping fastener to selectively secure the clamp to the stanchion with at least a portion of the stanchion body extending into the stanchion receptacle.
15 more elements
A clamp for a mounting system to secure a photovoltaic module to a building surface, comprising:
- an upper wall comprising a fastener aperture, a first long edge on one side of the fastener aperture, and a second long edge approximately parallel to the first long edge, the second long edge on an opposite side of the fastener aperture, the first and second long edges extending in a longitudinal dimension;
- a first sidewall extending from a lower surface of the upper wall, the first sidewall positioned between the fastener aperture and the first long edge to form a first clamping section configured to engage the photovoltaic module, the first clamping section comprising a lower clamp surface;
- a plurality of teeth formed in the lower clamp surface, wherein the teeth increase in size from an inner portion of the lower clamp surface proximate to the first sidewall to a distal end of the lower clamp surface such that:
- an innermost tooth has a minimum height measured in a vertical dimension between a base and a distal point of the innermost tooth, the vertical dimension being perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension;
- and
- an outermost tooth has a maximum height measured in the vertical dimension, the maximum height being greater than the minimum height;
- and
- a second sidewall extending from the lower surface of the upper wall, the first and second sidewalls defining a stanchion receptacle therebetween.
5 more elements
A base plate for a mounting system to secure a photovoltaic module to a building surface, comprising:
- a body with a first narrow end and a second narrow end opposite to the first narrow end;
- a first surface of the body;
- a second surface of the body opposite to the first surface, the first and second surfaces extending in a longitudinal dimension from the first narrow end to the second narrow end;
- a first flange and a second flange extending from the first surface between the first and second narrow ends, the first flange comprising a first inner surface facing a second inner surface of the second flange, wherein the first inner surface is separated from the second inner surface by a first interior width measured in a lateral dimension that is orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension;
- a third flange and a fourth flange extending from the second surface between the first and second narrow ends, the third flange comprising a third inner surface facing a fourth inner surface of the fourth flange, wherein the third inner surface is separated from the fourth inner surface by a second interior width measured in the lateral dimension that is greater than the first interior width, and wherein a portion of one or more of the first inner surface, the second inner surface, the third inner surface, and the fourth inner surface comprises serrations;
- and
- a plate aperture extending through the first and second surfaces.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.