Reach Free Mid-Clamps for Attaching Solar Panel Frames to Rails

A clamp for attaching a solar panel module frame to a rail, comprising:

• an upper clamp portion;
• a lower clamp portion;
• a fastener connecting the upper clamp portion with the lower clamp portion,
• the upper clamp portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, and further having male and female portions;
• a resilient element positioned in said female portion adjacent and in contact with said male portion;
• the lower clamp portion being configured to engage with a rail,
• wherein when a first solar panel module frame is inserted between the upper clamp portion and the rail, and said fastener is tightened to a desired torque, the bottom surface of the male portion of the upper clamp portion moves to a position creating a clearance below the bottom surface, which clearance is less than a height of the second solar module frame;
• and further wherein when the second solar panel module frame is inserted between the upper clamp portion and the rail on a side of said fastener which is opposite the first solar panel module frame, said solar panel module frame exerts an upward force on the male portion of the upper clamp portion, thereby causing an equal and opposite force imparted by said resilient element, and
• the compressive forces of the male portion of the upper clamp portion and the height of the second solar module frame cooperate to secure the second solar panel module frame in the clamp without further tightening of the fastener.

A method for attaching solar panel modules to a rail, using a mid-clamp, comprising the steps of:

• (a) securing a first solar panel module to a rail at a first module edge frame;
• (b) positioning a mid-clamp on said first solar panel at a second module edge frame opposite said first module edge frame;
• (c) tightening said mid-clamp to a desired torque, thereby securing said mid-clamp to the rail and tilting a mid-clamp surface opposite said rail to create a clearance between said surface and said rail, said clearance being more narrow than a height of said second module edge frame;
• (d) inserting a second solar panel module into said clearance, by rocking-in a third module edge frame so that said third module edge frame exerts an upward force on said mid-clamp surface, thereby bringing said surface into a plane which is coincident with horizontal, and
• the compressive forces of the mid-clamp surface and the height of the third module edge frame cooperating to secure the second solar panel module edge frame in the mid-clamp without further tightening of the mid-clamp.