SOLAR PANELS GROUNDING CLIP

• US 20120244729A1
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solar Mounting Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Solar Mounting Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Rivera, Angel M., Mayer, Stanley E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,475,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/97
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/6008 by using toothed elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/13 Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses F24S25/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/16 Arrangement of interconnected standing structures; Standing structures having separate supporting portions for adjacent modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/636 clamping by screw-threaded elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 40/85 Arrangements for protecting solar collectors against adverse weather conditions F24S40/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/24 specially adapted for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A grounding clip for electrically bonding at least three objects in one action. In use, the grounding clip is interposed between at least three objects such that the first and second banks of teeth are configured to penetrate the objects to electrically bond them. The grounding clip has a planar body, a pair of opposingly disposed first banks of teeth that extend downwardly and outwardly from the planar body at an angle. There is also a pair of opposingly disposed second banks of teeth formed of a rotatable plate disposed in a plane at an angle and extending downwardly and outwardly from the planar body. The second banks of teeth terminate in a plurality of second teeth disposed upwardly and in an angled plane with respect to the rotatable plate.

Claims

1. A grounding clip for electrically bonding at least three objects in one action, said grounding clip comprising;

(a) a planar body disposed in a plane;

(b) a pair of opposingly disposed first banks of teeth, wherein each first bank of teeth is disposed in a plane and extending downwardly and outwardly from said planar body at a first angle with respect to said planar body; and

(c) a pair of opposingly disposed second banks of teeth, wherein each second bank of teeth comprises a rotatable plate disposed in a plane and at a second angle with respect to said planar body and extending downwardly and outwardly from said planar body and terminating in a plurality of second teeth disposed upwardly in a plane and at a third angle with respect to said rotatable plate,

wherein said grounding clip is interposed between said at least three objects and said grounding clip is disposed with each of said pair of first banks of teeth facing one of said three objects and when a force is applied substantially perpendicularly to said plane of said planar body, said pair of second banks of teeth is adapted to rotate outwardly from said planar body and cause electrical grounding with the other ones of said at least three objects and said first, second and third angles are configured to prevent relative movement of said at least three objects in said plane of said planar body and said second angle is configured to enable rotation of said rotatable plate.

2. The grounding clip of claim 1, wherein said plurality of second teeth are bent upwardly in a plane disposed at a fourth angle of about 25 degrees with respect to said rotatable plate.

3. The grounding clip of claim 1, wherein said first angle measures about 70 degrees.

4. The grounding clip of claim 1, wherein said second angle measures about 55 degrees.

5. The grounding clip of claim 1, wherein said third angle measures about 67 degrees.

6. The grounding clip of claim 1, wherein said grounding clip is constructed from stainless steel.

7. The grounding clip of claim 1, wherein each of said planar body, said pair of first banks of teeth and said pair of second banks of teeth has a thickness of about 0.02 inch (0.5 mm).

8. The grounding clip of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of first banks of teeth and said plurality of second teeth comprises a tooth density of from about 3 points per inch (25.4 mm) to about 20 points per inch (25.4 mm), and a tooth apex angle of about 46 degrees.

9. A grounding clip for electrically bonding a first object, a second object and a third object, wherein said first and second objects are substantially levelly disposed and are disposed above said third object, said grounding clip comprising:

(a) a main plate having a plurality of edges, wherein said main plate is disposed in a main plane;

(b) a pair of first banks of teeth disposed on two first opposing edges of said main plate, wherein each first bank of teeth comprises a plurality of first teeth extending downwardly and outwardly from one of said two first opposing edges, said plurality of first teeth are disposed in a plane at a first angle with respect to said main plane; and

(c) a pair of second banks of teeth disposed on two second opposing edges of said main plate, wherein each second bank of teeth comprises a rotatable plate disposed in a plane extending downwardly and outwardly from one of said two second opposing edges and a plurality of second teeth affixed to a free edge of said rotatable plate, wherein said plurality of second teeth are disposed in a plane at a second angle with respect to said main plane and said plane of said plurality of second teeth is disposed at a third angle with respect to said plane of said rotatable plate,

wherein said grounding clip is interposed between said first, second and third objects and said pair of first banks of teeth facing said third object and when a force is applied substantially normally to said main plate, said pair of second banks of teeth is adapted to rotate outwardly from said main plate and cause electrical grounding with said first and second objects and said pair of first banks of teeth is adapted to cause electrical grounding with the third object and said first, second and third angles are configured to prevent relative movement of said first, second and third objects in said main plane and said second angle is configured to enable rotation of said rotatable plate.

10. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said plurality of second teeth are bent upwardly in a plane disposed at a fourth angle of about 25 degrees with respect to said rotatable plate.

11. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said first angle measures about 70 degrees.

12. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said second angle measures about 55 degrees.

13. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said third angle measures about 67 degrees.

14. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said grounding clip is constructed from stainless steel.

15. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said grounding clip is configured to cooperate with a retaining clip to prevent relative movement between said first and second objects and ground said first and second objects, said retaining clip comprising a channel having a base and two opposingly disposed flared edges, wherein said retaining clip is affixed at said base to said main plate to form two clamps, wherein each clamp is defined by one of said two flared edges and a second bank of teeth and configured to secure one of said first and second objects.

16. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said main plate is a rectangular plate.

17. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein each of said pair of first banks of teeth and said plurality of second teeth comprises a tooth density of from about 3 points per inch (25.4 mm) to about 20 points per inch (25.4 mm), and a tooth apex angle measures about 46 degrees.

18. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein each of said main plate, said pair of first banks of teeth and said pair of second banks of teeth has a thickness of about 0.02 inch (0.5 mm).

19. The grounding clip of claim 9, wherein said main plate comprises a hole centrally disposed on said main plate.

20. The grounding clip of claim 19, wherein the total number of teeth of said pair of first and second banks teeth is about 26.