Metal panel electrical bonding clip
First Claim
1. An electrical bonding clip for providing an electrical connection between two or more metal panels that are a part of a panel assembly having a standing seam, the electrical bonding clip comprising:
- a first clip member formed by a plate, the plate having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a first part with a first end, a second part with a second end opposite the first end, and an intermediate portion positioned between and connecting the first part to the second part;
a first clip section formed by the first part of the plate and a second clip member spaced from the first part of the plate, wherein the second clip member is interconnected to the first part of the plate at a first living hinge, the first clip section having two free ends forming a first inlet section opposite the first living hinge, wherein the upper surface of the first part of the plate is facing toward a lower surface of the second clip member, wherein the second clip member lacks a grounding projection such that the lower surface of the second clip member defines a planar surface, and wherein the first clip member has at least one grounding projection extending toward the second clip member from the upper surface of the first part of the plate; and
a second clip section formed by the second part of the plate and a third clip member spaced from the second part of the plate, wherein the third clip member is interconnected to the second part of the plate at a second living hinge that is spaced from the first living hinge by the intermediate portion of the plate, the second clip section having two free ends forming a second inlet section opposite the second living hinge, wherein the upper surface of the second part of the plate is facing toward a lower surface of the third clip member, wherein the third clip member lacks a grounding projection such that the lower surface of the third clip member defines a planar surface, and wherein the first clip member has at least one grounding projection extending toward the third clip member from the upper surface of the second part of the plate;
wherein the electrical bonding clip is formed entirely of an electrically conductive material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A clip for electrically bonding a pair of adjacently-disposed metal panels is disclosed. One embodiment entails such a clip (104) including a first clip member (112) and an oppositely disposed second clip member (116). The surface (114) of the first clip member (112) that faces the second clip member (116) includes at least one grounding projection (128), while the surface (118) of the second clip member (116) that faces the first clip member (112) also includes at least one grounding projection (128). The clip (104) may be installed on a standing seam (102) of a panel assembly (100), with its first clip member (112) engaging one of the metal panels 82″ that define this stand seam (102) and with its second clip member (116) engaging the other of the metal panels 82″ that define this same standing seam (102).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electrical bonding clip for providing an electrical connection between two or more metal panels that are a part of a panel assembly having a standing seam, the electrical bonding clip comprising:
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a first clip member formed by a plate, the plate having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a first part with a first end, a second part with a second end opposite the first end, and an intermediate portion positioned between and connecting the first part to the second part; a first clip section formed by the first part of the plate and a second clip member spaced from the first part of the plate, wherein the second clip member is interconnected to the first part of the plate at a first living hinge, the first clip section having two free ends forming a first inlet section opposite the first living hinge, wherein the upper surface of the first part of the plate is facing toward a lower surface of the second clip member, wherein the second clip member lacks a grounding projection such that the lower surface of the second clip member defines a planar surface, and wherein the first clip member has at least one grounding projection extending toward the second clip member from the upper surface of the first part of the plate; and a second clip section formed by the second part of the plate and a third clip member spaced from the second part of the plate, wherein the third clip member is interconnected to the second part of the plate at a second living hinge that is spaced from the first living hinge by the intermediate portion of the plate, the second clip section having two free ends forming a second inlet section opposite the second living hinge, wherein the upper surface of the second part of the plate is facing toward a lower surface of the third clip member, wherein the third clip member lacks a grounding projection such that the lower surface of the third clip member defines a planar surface, and wherein the first clip member has at least one grounding projection extending toward the third clip member from the upper surface of the second part of the plate; wherein the electrical bonding clip is formed entirely of an electrically conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A panel assembly comprising:
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a panel section comprising; a first metal panel having a first edge portion, an upper surface, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface; a second metal panel having a second edge portion, an upper surface, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface; a standing seam defined by an interconnection of the first edge portion and the second edge portion, the standing seam having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; an exterior side comprising the standing seam and the upper surfaces of each of the first metal panel and the second metal panel; and an underside opposite the exterior side and comprising the lower surfaces of each of the first metal panel and the second metal panel; an electrical bonding clip formed entirely of an electrically conductive material, the electrical bonding clip comprising; a first clip member formed by a plate and having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a first part with a first end, a second part with a second end opposite the first end, and an intermediate portion positioned between and connecting the first part to the second part; a first clip section formed by the first part of the first clip member and a second clip member spaced from the first part of the first clip member, wherein the second clip member is interconnected to the first part of the first clip member at a first living hinge, the first clip section having two free ends forming a first inlet section opposite the first living hinge; a second clip section formed by the second part of the first clip member and a third clip member spaced from the second part of the first clip member, wherein the third clip member is interconnected to the second part of the first clip member at a second living hinge, the second clip section having two free ends forming a second inlet section opposite the second living hinge; and an intermediate section extending between the first clip section and the second clip section, wherein the first living hinge is spaced from the second living hinge by the intermediate section, wherein the first clip section is disposed adjacent the first side of the standing seam and engages the upper and lower surfaces of the first metal panel, and the second clip section is disposed adjacent the second side of the standing seam and engages the upper and lower surfaces of the second metal panel; and wherein the first metal panel is in electrical communication with the second metal panel via the electrical bonding clip. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification