US 6,986,494 B2Granted

Self-aligning mounting bracket and system for mounting a planar structure to a fixed structure

AssigneeDyneter Industries Ltd.

InventorDaniel G. Strasser

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Abstract

A self-aligning bracket for use in mounting a planar surface such as a roof to a fixed structure such as a bank of fuel cylinders mounted to the roof of a vehicle frame. The bracket provides a locating block on a saddle mount which co-operates with a depression formed on the inner surface of the roof to align fasteners depending from the roof with a coupling fastener on the bracket. The coupling fastener is laterally moveable within an oversized hole in the bracket and engages the locating block to permit co-rotation. An anchor is attached to an end of the coupling fastener so that when the roof fastener is actuated in the coupling fastener, the anchor is drawn towards the coupling fastener, tightening the locating block, coupling fastener and anchor to the saddle mount, preventing further lateral movement.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A self-aligning bracket, in combination with a planar structure, adapted for mounting the planar structure over a fixed structure, the planar structure having a fastener extending from an inner surface, the self-aligning bracket comprising:

a saddle mount having first and second ends adapted for attachment to the fixed structure, the planar alignment surface adapted to be spaced from a fixed structure and an oversized hole formed in the planar alignment surface;
coupling means for engaging the fastener extending from the planar structure, the coupling means extending through the oversized hole in the planar alignment surface;
an anchor connected to the coupling means, the anchor acting to retain the coupling means in the oversized hole;
first alignment means positioned on the inner surface of the planar structure adjacent the extending fastener;
and
second alignment means mounted about the oversized hole in the planar alignment surface of the saddle mount and moveable thereon in co-operating engagement with the first alignment means;
wherein the first alignment means moves the second alignment means attached to the coupling means laterally within the oversized hole to align the second alignment means with the first alignment means for engaging alignment of the fastener and coupling means.

4 more elements

A system adapted for mounting a planar roof structure to a vehicle frame having a plurality of faxed fuel cylinders mounted thereon, the system comprising a planar roof struture:

a plurality of self-aligning brackets adapted for attachment to at feast some of the fuel cylinders;
and
a plurality of corresponding fasteners and alignment means extending from an inner surface of the planar roof structure;
wherein each of the self-aligning brackets independently aligns with a corresponding alignment means on the planar roof struture and engages a corresponding fastener therein.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.