METAL PANEL ELECTRICAL BONDING CLIP

• US 20180119423A1
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Inventors: Haddock, Dustin M.M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/00 Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/362 by locking the edge of one slab or sheet within the profiled marginal portion of the adjacent slab or sheet, e.g. using separate connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/363 with snap action E04D3/366 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/366 by closing the space between the slabs or sheets by gutters, bulges, or bridging elements, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/58 characterised by the form or material of the contacting members H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail

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).

Claims

1. A panel assembly, comprising

a first metal panel comprising a first edge portion;

second metal panel comprising a second edge portion;

a standing seam defined by an interconnection of said first edge portion and said second edge portion of said first metal panel and said second metal panel, respectively; and

an electrical bonding clip that engages at least part of said first metal panel and that engages at least part of said second metal panel, wherein said electrical bonding clip provides an electrical connection between said first metal panel and said second metal panel.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip is formed entirely of stainless steel.

3. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip is formed entirely of a conductive metal or metal alloy.

4. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip is of an integral construction.

5. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip comprises a first clip member, a second clip member disposed in opposing relation to said first clip member, and a living hinge between said first clip member and said second clip member.

6. The panel assembly of claim 5, wherein said first clip member is biased toward said second clip member.

7. The panel assembly of claim 5, wherein said first clip member comprises a first surface that faces said second clip member and that comprises a first grounding projection, and wherein said second clip member comprises a second surface that faces said first clip member and that comprises a second grounding projection.

8. The panel assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said first grounding projection and said second grounding projection is configured to break a coating of said panel assembly.

9. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip engages overlapping portions of said first metal panel and said second metal panel that define at least part of said standing seam.

10. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip engages said standing seam.

11. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip engages a section of said standing seam that is disposed orthogonal to a pitch defined by said panel assembly.

12. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical bonding clip comprises first and second clip sections, wherein said first clip section engages only said first metal panel, and wherein said second clip section engages only said second metal panel.

13. The panel assembly of claim 12, wherein said first clip section engages said first metal panel at a location that is spaced from said standing seam and said second clip section engages said second panel at a location that is spaced from said standing seam.

14. The panel assembly of claim 13, wherein said standing seam is located between said first clip section and said second clip section in a lateral dimension that is orthogonal to a length dimension of said standing seam that coincides with a pitch of said panel assembly.

15. The panel assembly of claim 12, wherein each of said first clip section and said second clip section comprise a first clip member, a second clip member disposed in opposing relation to its corresponding said first clip member, and a living hinge between said first clip member and its corresponding said second clip member.

16. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein said first clip member is biased toward its corresponding said second clip member for each of said first and second clip sections.

17. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein said first clip member for each of said first and second clip sections comprises a first surface that faces its corresponding said second clip member and that comprises at least one first grounding projection, wherein said second clip member for each of said first and second clip sections comprises a second surface that faces its corresponding said first clip member, and wherein said second surface of said second clip member for each of said first and second clip sections lacks any type of grounding projection.

18. The panel assembly of claim 17, wherein each said first grounding projection is configured to break a coating of said panel assembly.

19. The panel assembly of claim 17, wherein said first clip member for said first clip section is disposed on and engages an underside of said first metal panel, and wherein said first clip member for said second clip section is disposed on and engages an underside of said second metal panel.

20. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein electrical bonding clip comprises a plate which in comprises said first clip member for said first clip section and said first clip member for said second clip section.

21. The panel assembly of claim 20, wherein said first clip member for said first clip section is disposed at one end of said plate in a lateral dimension that is orthogonal to a length dimension of said standing seam that coincides with a pitch of said panel assembly, wherein said first clip member for said second clip section is disposed at an opposite end of said plate in said lateral dimension, and wherein said plate comprises an intermediate portion that is located between said first clip member for said first clip section and said first clip member for said second clip section in said lateral dimension and that is disposed under said standing seam.

22. The panel assembly of claim 12, wherein said electrical bonding clip comprises a plate, wherein a first part of said plate defines one part of said first clip section, and wherein a second part of said plate defines one part of said second clip section.

23. The panel assembly of claim 22, wherein said plate is disposed on an underside of said panel assembly.

24. The panel assembly of claim 22, wherein said plate further comprises a third part that is located between said first part and said second part in a lateral dimension that is orthogonal to a length dimension of said standing seam that coincides with a pitch of said panel assembly, and wherein said third part of said plate is disposed under said standing seam.