Rib mounting device with pivoting insert

• US 10,053,856 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Inventors: Haddock, Dustin M. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US15/471,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20180044909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 528011, 52 26, 52 24, 52 25, 52545, 521733, 52543, 52463, 527821, 248237, 24822111, 24823171, 24822611, 2482281, 403388, 403168, 403DIG 9, 403256
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/38 Connections for building structures in general
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/389 Brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/38 with attached ribs, flanges, or the like, e.g. framed panels concerned with attaching to other panels or elements to form a structure, see the places for the relevant structure, e.g. E04B2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/14 Junctions of roof sheathings to chimneys or other parts extending above the roof
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0821 the additional fastening elements located in-between two adjacent covering elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/10 using pivoting jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0004 Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship F16B5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0685 Joining sheets or plates to strips or bars F16B5/0692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/615 for fixing to protruding parts of buildings, e.g. to corrugations or to standing seams
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/636 clamping by screw-threaded elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

A mounting device (100) for installation on a hollow rib of a panel is disclosed. The mounting device (100) includes a mounting body (102), an insert (160), and at least one clamping fastener (180). The mounting body (102) includes an upper section or base (104), along with a first leg (112) and a second leg (122) that each extend downwardly from the base (104) in at least generally diverging relation to one another. The first leg (112) includes a first projection (116) positionable in a recess on one sidewall of a rib, while the insert (160) includes a second projection (164) positionable in a recess on the opposite sidewall of this same rib. The clamping fastener(s) (180) extends through the second leg (122) of the mounting body (102) and forces the insert (160) in the direction of the first leg (112) of the mounting body (102).

Claims

1. A mounting device attachable to a rib of a building surface, comprising:

a mounting body comprising a base, a first leg that extends from said base, a second leg that extends from said base and that is spaced from said first leg, and a rib receptacle collectively defined by said base, said first leg, and said second leg, wherein a first reference plane is positioned above said mounting device when said mounting device is disposed in an upright orientation, wherein a second reference plane is perpendicular to said first reference plane and extends through said rib receptacle in an orientation that includes a height and length dimension of said rib receptacle, wherein said first leg extends from said base in a direction that is away from each of said first reference plane and said second reference plane, wherein said first leg comprises a first projection that extends back in a direction of said second reference plane, wherein said second leg comprises a first section that extends from said base and in a direction that is away from each of said first reference plane and said second reference plane, wherein said second leg further comprises a second section that extends from said first section in a direction that is away from said first reference plane and with said second section being disposed in a different orientation than said first section, and wherein said first leg, said base, and said second leg are retained in a fixed position relative to one another;

at least one clamping fastener that is threadably engaged with and extends through said second section of said second leg of said mounting body; and

an insert disposed within said rib receptacle and aligned with said at least one clamping fastener, wherein said insert comprises;

a clamping fastener surface that projects toward said second section of said second leg of said mounting body;

a second projection that extends in a direction of said second reference plane and that is at least generally oppositely disposed from said clamping fastener surface;

a rib alignment surface that extends both toward said first reference plane and toward said second reference plane in proceeding to said second projection;

a third projection that is spaced from said first projection in a direction of said first reference plane and that extends in a direction of said second reference plane;

a concave pocket located between said second projection and said third projection; and

an upper surface that extends both toward said first reference plane and said second reference plane in proceeding from said clamping fastener surface to said third projection.

2. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said mounting body is of a one-piece construction.

3. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said base comprises an upper surface on an opposite side of said base in relation to said rib receptacle, and wherein a threaded attachment fastener hole intersects with said upper surface of said base and extends in a direction of said rib receptacle.

4. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said mounting body further comprises a mounting flange that extends from said base, wherein said mounting flange comprises an un-threaded hole that extends completely through said mounting flange.

5. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first projection also extends at least generally toward said first reference plane.

6. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first section of said second leg of said mounting body is located between said second section of said second leg of said mounting body and said base of said mounting body.

7. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said second section of said second leg for said mounting body is oriented at least substantially parallel with said second reference plane.

8. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said second section of said second leg comprises at least one threaded clamping fastener hole that extends completely through said second leg, and wherein a length dimension of each said threaded clamping fastener hole is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to said second reference plane.

9. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said clamping fastener surface comprises at least one clamping fastener receptacle that projects toward said second section of said second leg of said mounting body.

10. The mounting device of claim 9, wherein said insert comprises a plurality of clamping fastener receptacles that are spaced along a length dimension of said insert.

11. The mounting device of claim 9, wherein each said clamping fastener receptacle is un-threaded.

12. The mounting device of claim 9, wherein each said clamping fastener receptacle comprises a closed end, an open end, and an annular sidewall extending between said closed end and said open end, and wherein said open end is located between said closed end and said second section of said second leg of said mounting body.

13. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said clamping fastener surface is flat.

14. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said second projection of said insert also extends toward said first reference plane.

15. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein a spacing between second projection and said second reference plane is less than a spacing between said third projection and said second reference plane.

16. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said insert projects toward said first section of said second leg of said mounting body.

17. The mounting device of claim 16, wherein said upper surface of said insert is convex.

18. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein a spacing between said second leg of said mounting body and said upper surface of said insert progressively increases in proceeding along said upper surface in a direction of said third projection.

19. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein said rib alignment surface of said insert and said upper surface of said insert are at least generally oppositely disposed.

20. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein a slope of said upper surface of said insert in proceeding in a direction of said third projection of said insert is of a common sign with a slope of said rib alignment surface of said insert in proceeding in a direction of said second projection of said insert.