TRAPEZOIDAL RIB MOUNTING BRACKET WITH FLEXIBLE LEGS

• US 20180031279A1
• Filed: 07/28/2017
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Inventors: Haddock, Dustin M.M., Haddock, Robert M.M., Holley, Nikolaus J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/018 Means for preventing movements, e.g. stops
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/021 Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/60 Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• 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 10/10 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 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.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for trapezoidal rib panels, comprising:

an upper section comprising an upper wall;

a lower section adjoining and extending below said upper section, wherein said lower section comprises first and second legs that each extend downwardly from said upper section in diverging relation to one another, wherein from a first position said first leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°

away from said second leg and is flexibly deflectable at least 2°

toward said second leg, and wherein from a second position said second leg is flexibly deflectable at least 2°

away from said first leg and is flexibly deflectable at least 2°

toward said first leg;

a rib receptacle; and

first and second open bracket ends that are spaced from one another along a length dimension of said mounting bracket, wherein said rib receptacle extends between said first and second legs and also extends between said first and second open bracket ends.

2. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said first position is an unbiased position for said first leg and said second position is an unbiased position for said second leg.

3. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said first leg and said second leg each elastically deflect relative to said upper section.

4. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein from said first position said first leg is flexibly deflectable up to about 5°

away from said second leg and is flexibly deflectable up to about 5°

toward said second leg, and wherein from said second position said second leg is flexibly deflectable up to about 5°

away from said first leg and is flexibly deflectable up to about 5°

toward said first leg.

5. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said first leg is flexibly deflectable at least generally about a first reference axis that coincides with said length dimension of said mounting bracket, and wherein said second leg is flexibly deflectable at least generally about a second reference axis that is parallel to said first reference axis.

6. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said first leg is flexibly deflectable about an intersection between said first leg and said upper section, and wherein said second leg is flexibly deflectable about an intersection between said second leg and said upper section.

7. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said upper section of said mounting bracket comprises first and second sections, wherein said first section comprises said upper wall and is of a first width, wherein said second section is positioned below said first section when said mounting bracket is in an upright position on a horizontal supporting surface and comprises a second width that is greater than said first width, and wherein a lower end of said second section comprises at least one rib offsetting member.

8. The mounting bracket of claim 7, wherein said first section further comprises a receptacle disposed below said upper wall.

9. The mounting bracket of claim 7, wherein said second section of said upper section comprises a pair of sidewalls that are spaced from one another in parallel relation.

10. The mounting bracket of claim 7, wherein said at least one rib offsetting member comprises first and second rib offsetting members that are spaced from one another, wherein said first leg extends from said first rib offsetting member, and wherein said second leg extends from said second rib offsetting member.

11. The mounting bracket of claim 10, wherein said first rib offsetting member extends past an intersection with said first leg in the direction of said second rib offsetting member and terminates prior to reaching said second rib offsetting member, wherein said second rib offsetting member extends past an intersection with said second leg in the direction of said first rib offsetting member and terminates prior to reaching said first rib offsetting member, and wherein an open space extends between said first and second rib offsetting members.

12. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said upper section of said mounting bracket further comprises first and second sidewalls and at least one rib offsetting member, wherein said first and second sidewalls are located between said upper wall and said at least one rib offsetting member in a vertical dimension when said mounting bracket is in an upright position on a horizontal supporting surface, wherein said first and second sidewalls are disposed in parallel relation and are separated by a spacing that is greater than a width of said upper section, and wherein each of said first and second legs extend from said at least one rib offsetting member.

13. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein a first portion of a lower end of said upper section merges with said first leg at a first location, wherein a second portion of said lower end of said upper section merges with said second leg at a second location, wherein a first acute angle exists between said first leg and said first portion of said lower end of said upper section, and wherein a second acute angle exists between said second leg and said second portion of said lower end of said upper section.

14. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising a first rib offsetting member and a second rib offsetting member that are separated by an open space.

15. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said upper wall defines an uppermost extreme of said mounting bracket when positioned on a trapezoidal rib, wherein an entirety of said upper wall is in the form of a single flat surface that incorporates a mounting aperture, and wherein said single flat surface has a perimeter that defines an area of at least 2.5 in.².

16. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said mounting bracket comprises a wire management space that is open, wherein a vertical extent of said wire management space is at least about 0.75″

when said mounting bracket is disposed in an upright position on a horizontal supporting surface.

17. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising a first exterior notch on a first side of said mounting bracket, and a second exterior notch on a second side of said mounting bracket, wherein said first and second sides are opposite one another, and wherein said first and second exterior notches are opposite of one another.

18. The mounting bracket of claim 17, wherein said first exterior notch comprises two first walls that extend from a first closed notch end of said first exterior notch to a first open notch end of said first exterior notch in diverging relation to one another, wherein said second exterior notch comprises two second walls that extend from a second closed notch end of said second exterior notch to a second open notch end of said second exterior notch in diverging relation to one another, wherein a first reference plane is vertically oriented when said mounting bracket is in an upright position on a horizontal supporting surface, is disposed between said first and second exterior notches, and appears as an edge in an end view of said mounting bracket, wherein each of said first walls extend away relative to a first side of said first reference plane in proceeding from said first closed notch end of said first exterior notch to said first open notch end of said first exterior notch, and wherein each of said second walls extend away relative to a second side of said first reference plane in proceeding from said second closed notch end of said second exterior notch to said second open notch end of said second exterior notch.

19. An attachment assembly comprising the mounting bracket of claim 1, and further comprising:

a trapezoidal rib, wherein said mounting bracket is positioned on said trapezoidal rib such that said first leg of said mounting bracket is positioned alongside a first side of said trapezoidal rib, such that said second leg of said mounting bracket is positioned alongside a second side of said trapezoidal rib, and such that said upper wall of said mounting bracket is spaced from an upper rib wall of said trapezoidal rib;

an attachment;

an attachment fastener that extends at least into said upper wall of said mounting bracket, wherein said attachment is secured relative to said mounting bracket by said attachment fastener;

at least one first fastener that extends through said first leg of said mounting bracket, through said first side of said trapezoidal rib, and that terminates in a hollow interior of said trapezoidal rib; and

at least one second fastener that extends through said second leg of said mounting bracket, through said second side of said trapezoidal rib, and that terminates in said hollow interior of said trapezoidal rib.

20. The attachment assembly of claim 19, wherein no fastener extends through said upper wall of said mounting bracket and through said upper rib wall of said trapezoidal rib.

21. A photovoltaic system, comprising:

a mounting assembly comprising;

the mounting bracket of claim 1;

a mounting plate positioned on said upper wall of said mounting bracket;

a clamping member engageable with a first photovoltaic module when positioned on said mounting plate; and

a clamp fastener that extends through said clamping member, then through said mounting plate, and then at least into said upper wall of said mounting bracket.

22. The photovoltaic system of claim 21, further comprising:

a trapezoidal rib, wherein said mounting bracket is positioned on said trapezoidal rib such that said first leg of said mounting bracket is positioned alongside a first side of said trapezoidal rib, such that said second leg of said mounting bracket is positioned alongside a second side of said trapezoidal rib, and such that said upper wall of said mounting bracket is spaced from an upper rib wall of said trapezoidal rib;

at least one first fastener that extends through said first leg of said mounting bracket, through said first side of said trapezoidal rib, and that terminates in a hollow interior of said trapezoidal rib;

at least one second fastener that extends through said second leg of said mounting bracket, through said second side of said trapezoidal rib, and that terminates in said hollow interior of said trapezoidal rib; and

a first photovoltaic module positioned on said upper surface of said mounting plate of said mounting assembly, wherein said clamping member of said mounting assembly engages said first photovoltaic module.

23. The photovoltaic system of claim 22, wherein said mounting bracket comprises a wire management space that is open, wherein a vertical extent of said wire management space is at least about 0.75″

when said mounting bracket is disposed in an upright position on a horizontal supporting surface, and wherein said photovoltaic system further comprises a plurality of photovoltaic module electrical wires or cables that extend through said wire management space of said mounting bracket along said length dimension of said mounting bracket.

24. A method of installing a mounting bracket on a building surface comprising a plurality of trapezoidal rib panels, wherein said mounting bracket comprises an upper section comprising an upper wall, wherein said mounting bracket further comprises a lower section adjoining and extending from said upper section, wherein said lower section comprises first and second legs that each extend downwardly from said upper section in diverging relation to one another, said method comprising the steps of:

flexing said first and second legs away from first and second positions, respectively, and either toward one another or away from one another;

positioning said first leg of said mounting bracket alongside a first side of a trapezoidal rib;

positioning said second leg of said mounting bracket alongside a second side of said trapezoidal rib;

disposing said upper wall of said mounting bracket in spaced relation to an upper end of said trapezoidal rib;

directing at least one first fastener through said first leg of said mounting bracket and through said first side of said trapezoidal rib; and

directing at least one second fastener through said second leg of said mounting bracket and through said second side of said trapezoidal rib.