Patent Application
20080244881
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fasteners, and more particularly to shaped metal fasteners configured to function as clips or clamps, and still more particularly to a C-shaped flexible height metal fastener.
2. Discussion of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR ยงยง1.97, 1.98
Metal angles, clips and straps are well known in the art and have long served as construction connectors for such purposes as post caps, hangers, angled connectors, ridge rafter connectors, stiffener clips, foundation anchors, header hangers, shoe stops, mending plates, strap ties, tie plates, and so forth. Formed metal clamps are also quite well known, and numerous shapes have been devised and adapted for use in myriad fastener applications. Clips and clamps in particular are routinely denominated according to the resemblance their profile view bears to a letter in the alphabet. Thus, we have T-clips, L-clips, Z-clips, and so on. Exemplary apparatus are shown in
In the context of photovoltaic module (solar panel) installation, panels are customarily attached to building rooftops and other surfaces using some kind of clamping method. The method is generally selected to provide a variety of clamping characteristics, including ease of installation, ease of replacement and adjustment, sufficient binding power to resist high wind loads, and so on. The clamping methods commonly practiced employ edge clamps that bolt into structural members, such as common commercial strut channels.
At present, there are a variety of clamps employed in such conventional methods. Referring now to
These views show that a T-clip grips the interior edges 24, 26 of adjacent panels. The T-clip is sized to be slightly shorter than the height of the panel to ensure proper clamping action.
Referring now to
Alternatively, panel edges may be clamped using an inverted L-clip 22, such as that shown in
In summary, due to variations in solar panel module thickness it is difficult to provide uniform clamping using the conventional apparatus. Simply stated, the clamps do not squarely clamp the module and provide poor gripping or impose potentially damaging stress concentrations.
The foregoing prior art devices reflect the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, these devices is intended to aid in discharging Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention, when such claims are submitted in a successor application. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated clamping devices anticipate or render obvious C-shaped clamping apparatus of the present invention as described herein.
There remains a need, therefore, for a clamp that has a degree of height adjustability without sacrificing clamping effectiveness.
The present invention is a flexible C-clamp for clamping the outside edges solar panels. The C-clip includes a lower horizontal leg and an upper horizontal leg, and a flexible arcuate portion disposed therebetween. The upper horizontal leg extends integrally in a beveled terminal, and a vertical flange depending downwardly from the underside of the upper horizontal leg forms a corner in which to secure the upper edge of a solar panel side.
A bolt is passed through the upper and lower horizontal legs to attach the clip to a strut channel or other support structure. The exterior side of the vertical flange aligns with the outside edge of the lower horizontal leg, and both cooperate to work as stops against which the panel side is approximated. This brings the clip into vertical alignment, such that while the C-clip flexes when tightened down, it maintains engagement with the solar panel side.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved clamp adapted for clamping planar panels to support structures.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pre-loaded clip which facilitates the rapid installation of panels on support rails.
A further object or feature of the present invention is a new and improved clamp that is placed into a perpendicular relationship with a support surface when engaging the side of a panel and which includes structure to maintain the perpendicular orientation during clamp tightening.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device that greatly reduces the potential for damage to solar panel modules caused by faulty clamping procedures.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a novel flexible height-adjustable C-clip that is inexpensive in manufacture.
The foregoing summary broadly sets out the more important features of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
Accordingly, before explaining the preferred embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventive apparatus described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the terminology and phraseology employed herein are for descriptive purposes only, and not limitation. Where specific dimensional and material specifications have been included or omitted from the specification or the claims, or both, it is to be understood that the same are not to be incorporated into the appended claims.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based may readily be used as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims are regarded as including such equivalent constructions as far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Rather, the fundamental aspects of the invention, along with the various features and structures that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present invention, its advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated the preferred embodiment.
The invention will be better understood and the objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Referring now to
Referring now specifically to
Referring next to
The inventive C-clip allows the flexibility needed to provide uniform force on solar panel module edges. The arcuate portion of the C-clip flexes to adjust to the height of the module, yet has sufficient rigidity to ensure that the flat edge of the clamp remains parallel with the module edge. Further, the C-clip is pre-loaded to a degree so that it will stay tight during motion of the system much like a spring washer. Accordingly, the C-clip of the present invention eliminates edge loading, incorrect clamp heights, the requirement of tight tolerances for clamp fabrication, and it maintains a spring loading on a clamped member. Furthermore, when heavy torque loads are placed on a fastener inserted through the C-clip, the arcuate portion of the clip will continue to flex and shift load from the panel surface so as to avoid damaging the panel by over-tightening.
The principal intended use for the C-clip is for solar panel module installation. However, any of a number of other fields will benefit from use of the above-described apparatus. For instance, the C-clip can be employed for: (1) clamping other flat panels that cannot withstand concentrated point or edge loads; (2) clamping in circumstances in which a flexible clamp is needed to adjust to swelling or shrinking of clamped members; (3) clamping articles in dynamic environments where moving parts can cause fixed clamps to loosen; (4) clamping where it is desired to eliminate sharp corners; and (5) clamping where clamped members vary in height.
The inventive C-clip is very inexpensive in manufacture. It can be produced using aluminum extrusion fabrication. However steel, stainless steel, and plastics may also be used for the appropriate applications.
For objects requiring only light clamping, the C-clip may be fabricated with a thin wall thickness and nominal pre-loading, allowing a wide degree of height variation. As the required clamping forces become higher, the C-clip material thickness may be increased to reduce flexibility and increase clamping power. This incidental limitation can also be addressed by providing height sizes adapted to the contemplated use.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that in its first and most essential aspect, the flexible height-adjustable C-clip of the present invention is adapted for securing planar panels to a support surface. This is due to its novel structural elements, which include a clamp body having a lower planar surface-engaging portion (the lower leg) with a lower through hole, an upper planar horizontal clamping portion substantially parallel with the lower planar surface-engaging portion (the underside of the upper leg) and having a lower through hole, and a flexible arcuate portion disposed between the upper and lower planar portions. The C-clip next includes panel-engaging stops, wherein the panel-engaging stops engage a side of the planar panel to be secured, align the C-clip body substantially perpendicular to the support surface prior to clamping, and maintain the substantially perpendicular alignment when tightening the clamp body. This reduces the vigilance and care typically required during clamping operations to ensure proper panel engagement and proper clamp alignment.
The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.
Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/910,201, filed Apr. 4, 2007 (Apr. 4, 2007).
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60910201 | Apr 2007 | US |
