Flexible mount system
AssigneeWells Cargo, Inc.
InventorJim Kinkaide
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a mounting system and method of mounting at least one thermally dynamic sheet to at least one structure, which includes an elongated track affixed to the thermally dynamic sheet or the structure, and an elongated flexible mounting bracket affixed to the other of the thermally dynamic sheet or the structure. The elongated flexible mounting bracket has a foot portion adapted to slidably mount in the elongated track to provide sliding movement of the elongated flexible mounting bracket along a first axis of the thermally dynamic sheet or the structure. The system of the invention can accommodate thermal expansion/contraction in the first axis by movement of the foot in the track and in the direction transverse to the first axis by flexing of the flexible mounting bracket.
Claims30
A mounting system for mounting a thermally dynamic sheet to a structure comprising:
- an elongated track affixed to at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure;
- an elongated flexible mounting bracket affixed to at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure, the elongated flexible mounting bracket having (a) a foot portion adapted to slidably mount in the elongated track to provide sliding movement of the elongated flexible mounting bracket along an axis of at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure and (b) a clamping portion for encompassing an edge of at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure.
A mounting system for mounting a thermally dynamic covering to a trailer comprising:
- a trailer side wall;
- a trailer end wall;
- a thermally dynamic covering;
- an elongated track affixed to a least one of the trailer side wall, the trailer end wall, and the thermally dynamic covering;
- an elongated flexible mounting bracket affixed to at least one of the trailer side wall, the trailer end wall, and the thermally dynamic covering, the elongated flexible mounting bracket having a foot portion adapted to slidably mount in the elongated track.
A mounting system for mounting a thermally dynamic sheet to a plurality of structures comprising:
- a thermally dynamic sheet having a plurality of sides;
- a first structure adjacent to one of the plurality of sides;
- a second structure adjacent to another of the plurality of sides;
- an elongated track affixed to at least one of the plurality of sides of the thermally dynamic sheet, the first structure, and the second structure;
- an elongated flexible mounting bracket affixed to at least one of the plurality of sides of the thermally dynamic sheet, the first structure, and the second structure, the elongated flexible mounting bracket having (a) a foot portion adapted to slidably mount in the elongated track to provide sliding movement of the elongated flexible bracket along at least one axis of the plurality of sides of the thermally dynamic sheet and (b) a clamping portion for encompassing at least one of the adjacent sides of the thermally dynamic sheet, the first adjacent structure, and the second adjacent structure.
A method of mounting a thermally dynamic sheet to a structure with a elongated flexible mounting bracket having a clamping portion and a foot portion comprising:
- adhering the clamping portion of an elongated flexible mounting bracket to at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure to form an adhered assembly;
- placing the adhered assembly in contact with the at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and structure which lacks an adhered flexible mounting bracket;
- positioning an elongated track along the at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and structure which lacks the adhered flexible mounting bracket such that the foot portion of the flexible elongated mounting bracket is slidably retained within the elongated track;
- and
- mounting the elongated track to the at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and structure which lacks the adhered flexible mounting bracket such that the foot portion is slidably mounted within the elongated track.
A mounting system for mounting a thermally dynamic sheet to a structure comprising:
- an elongated track affixed to at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure;
- an elongated flexible mounting bracket affixed to at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure, the elongated flexible mounting bracket having (a) a foot portion adapted to slidably mount in the elongated track to provide sliding movement of the elongated flexible mounting bracket along an axis of at least one of the thermally dynamic sheet and the structure;
- and (b) a hinge portion for flexing in a direction substantially transverse to the axis.
A mounting system for mounting a thermally dynamic sheet to a plurality of structures comprising:
- a thermally dynamic sheet having a plurality of sides;
- a first structure adjacent to one of the plurality of sides;
- a second structure adjacent to another of the plurality of sides;
- an elongated track affixed to at least one of the plurality of sides of the thermally dynamic sheet, the first structure, and the second structure;
- an elongated flexible mounting bracket affixed to at least one of the plurality of sides of the thermally dynamic sheet, the first structure, and the second structure, the elongated flexible mounting bracket having (a) a foot portion adapted to slidably mount in the elongated track to provide sliding movement of the elongated flexible bracket along at least one axis of the plurality of sides of the thermally dynamic sheet, and (b) a hinge portion for flexing in a direction substantially transverse to the at least one of the opposing axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.