Trapezoidal rib mounting bracket with flexible legs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An attachment assembly, comprising:
- a trapezoidal rib; and
a mounting bracket positioned on the trapezoidal rib and comprising;
an upper section comprising an upper wall;
a lower section adjoining and extending below the upper section, wherein the lower section comprises first and second legs that each extend downwardly from the upper section in diverging relation to one another, wherein from a first position the first leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the second leg and at least 2°
toward the second leg, and wherein from a second position the second leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the first leg and at least 2°
toward the first leg;
a rib receptacle;
first and second open bracket ends that are spaced from one another along a length dimension of the mounting bracket, wherein the rib receptacle extends between the first and second legs and also extends between the first and second open bracket ends, wherein the first leg of the mounting bracket is positioned alongside a first side of the trapezoidal rib, the second leg of the mounting bracket is positioned alongside a second side of the trapezoidal rib, and the upper wall of the mounting bracket is spaced from an upper rib wall of the trapezoidal rib; and
a first exterior notch on a first side of the mounting bracket, and a second exterior notch on a second side of the mounting bracket, wherein the first and second sides of the mounting bracket are opposite one another, and wherein the first and second exterior notches are opposite of one another;
at least one first fastener that extends through the first leg of the mounting bracket, through the first side of the trapezoidal rib, and terminates in a hollow interior of the trapezoidal rib; and
at least one second fastener that extends through the second leg of the mounting bracket, through the second side of the trapezoidal rib, and terminates in the hollow interior of the trapezoidal rib.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mounting bracket (320) for trapezoidal rib profiles is disclosed. This mounting bracket (320) includes an upper section (330) and a lower section (350). A first leg (352a) in a second leg (352b) extend from a lower portion of the upper section (330) in diverging relation to one another. Each of these legs (352a, 352b) is deflectable through a certain range of motion to accommodate installation of the mounting bracket (320) on a variety of different trapezoidal rib profiles.
465 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An attachment assembly, comprising:
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a trapezoidal rib; and a mounting bracket positioned on the trapezoidal rib and comprising; an upper section comprising an upper wall; a lower section adjoining and extending below the upper section, wherein the lower section comprises first and second legs that each extend downwardly from the upper section in diverging relation to one another, wherein from a first position the first leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the second leg and at least 2°
toward the second leg, and wherein from a second position the second leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the first leg and at least 2°
toward the first leg;a rib receptacle; first and second open bracket ends that are spaced from one another along a length dimension of the mounting bracket, wherein the rib receptacle extends between the first and second legs and also extends between the first and second open bracket ends, wherein the first leg of the mounting bracket is positioned alongside a first side of the trapezoidal rib, the second leg of the mounting bracket is positioned alongside a second side of the trapezoidal rib, and the upper wall of the mounting bracket is spaced from an upper rib wall of the trapezoidal rib; and a first exterior notch on a first side of the mounting bracket, and a second exterior notch on a second side of the mounting bracket, wherein the first and second sides of the mounting bracket are opposite one another, and wherein the first and second exterior notches are opposite of one another; at least one first fastener that extends through the first leg of the mounting bracket, through the first side of the trapezoidal rib, and terminates in a hollow interior of the trapezoidal rib; and at least one second fastener that extends through the second leg of the mounting bracket, through the second side of the trapezoidal rib, and terminates in the hollow interior of the trapezoidal rib. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An attachment assembly, comprising:
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a trapezoidal rib comprising an upper rib wall; and a mounting bracket positioned on the trapezoidal rib and comprising; an upper section comprising an upper wall and a lower end that are oppositely disposed, wherein the lower end is in contact with or in proximity to the upper rib wall; a lower section adjoining and extending below the upper section, wherein the lower section comprises first and second legs that each extend downwardly from the lower end of the upper section in diverging relation to one another, wherein from a first position the first leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the second leg and at least 2°
toward the second leg, wherein from a second position the second leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the first leg and at least 2°
toward the first leg, wherein a first acute angle on a first exterior side of the mounting bracket is defined between intersecting portions of the first leg and the lower end of the upper section, and wherein a second acute angle on a second exterior side of the mounting bracket is defined between intersecting portions of the second leg and the lower end of the upper section;a rib receptacle; first and second open bracket ends that are spaced from one another along a length dimension of the mounting bracket, wherein the rib receptacle extends between the first and second legs and also extends between the first and second open bracket ends, wherein the first leg of the mounting bracket is positioned alongside a first side of the trapezoidal rib, the second leg of the mounting bracket is positioned alongside a second side of the trapezoidal rib, and the upper wall of the mounting bracket is spaced from the upper rib wall of the trapezoidal rib; at least one first fastener that extends through the first leg of the mounting bracket, through the first side of the trapezoidal rib, and terminates in a hollow interior of the trapezoidal rib; and at least one second fastener that extends through the second leg of the mounting bracket, through the second side of the trapezoidal rib, and terminates in the hollow interior of the trapezoidal rib. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A mounting bracket, comprising:
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an upper section comprising an upper wall; a lower section adjoining and extending below the upper section, wherein the lower section comprises first and second legs that each extend downwardly from the upper section in diverging relation to one another to define a rib receptacle, wherein from a first position the first leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the second leg and at least 2°
toward the second leg, and wherein from a second position the second leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°
away from the first leg and at least 2°
toward the first leg;first and second open bracket ends that are spaced from one another along a length dimension of the mounting bracket, wherein the rib receptacle extends between the first and second legs and also extends between the first and second open bracket ends; and a first exterior notch on a first side of the mounting bracket, and a second exterior notch on a second side of the mounting bracket, wherein the first and second sides of the mounting bracket are opposite one another, and wherein the first and second exterior notches are opposite one another. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification