Multi-piece clamp for standing seams

• US 7,013,612 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert M.M. Haddock
• Inventors: Haddock, Robert M. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, YVONNE MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US10/746,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 52/15, 52/24, 52/27, 52/52, 525/28, 525/35, 525/36, 525/38, 525/40, 525/45, 525/12, 526/98, 527/452.1, 525/19, 523/94, 525/68, 525/37, 525/43, 52/25, 525/71
• US Class Current: 52/545
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/103 De-icing devices or snow melters for drainage outlets E04D13/0409, for gutters E04D13/0762, for down pipes E04D13/08
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 3/3608 for double roof covering or overroofing
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3261 Safety-nets; Safety mattresses; Arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines jumping-sheets, jumping-mattresses A62B1/22
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3276 Arrangements on buildings for connecting safety-lines fastening devices for devices for lowering persons from buildings A62B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/3285 fastened to standing seams of the roof covering

Abstract

A multi-piece clamp for installation on a standing seam is disclosed. One component of the clamp is a clamp body with a clamp body slot formed therein. This slot may be mounted on a standing seam without having to slide the clamp body onto an end of the seam. Another component of the clamp is an insert(s) that may be disposed within the clamp body slot between a clamp body slot wall and the standing seam. One or more seam fasteners may be directed through the clamp body and a clamp body slot wall to secure each of the inserts within the clamp body slot by a compression of the same, and further to secure the clamp to the standing seam.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

a panel assembly comprising a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending standing seams; and

a clamp mounted on a first said standing seam and that comprises;

a clamp body that comprises a concave clamp body slot wherein said clamp body slot comprises first and second open ends and first and second slot sidewalls that are disposed in spaced relation and that extend between said first and second open ends, wherein said clamp body slot is disposed on said first said standing seam, and wherein an entirety of said first slot sidewall and said first said standing seam are separated by an open space;

a first insert that is a separate piece than said clamp body and that is positioned between said first said standing seam and said second slot sidewall; and

a first seam fastener that extends through said clamp body, through said first slot sidewall, through said open space, and into engagement with said first said standing seam to force said first said standing seam against said first insert and to in turn force said first insert against said second slot sidewall.

2. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first insert comprises a first recess that projects toward said first said standing seam, wherein said first seam fastener is axially aligned with at least a portion of said recess, and wherein said first seam fastener deforms a portion of said first said standing seam into at least a portion of said recess.

3. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first insert comprises first and second cantilevers, wherein said first seam fastener forces said first said standing seam into engagement with said first and second cantilevers, deflects said first and second cantilevers in a direction of said second slot sidewall, and forces said first insert against said second slot sidewall.

4. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1 ,wherein:

said clamp body slot further comprises a slot base that extends between said first and second open ends and further that extends between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first insert interfaces with a first portion of said second slot sidewall and is spaced from said slot base, wherein a second portion of said clamp body slot extends above where said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall to said slot base, and wherein a distance between said first slot sidewall and a portion of said first insert that is aligned with said first seam fastener is less than a distance between said first and second slot sidewalls in said second portion of said clamp body slot.

5. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

positioning said first insert in said clamp body slot defines a seam profile slot, wherein a first width of said seam profile slot in an area that contains a head of said first said standing seam is greater than a second width of said seam profile slot that is disposed below the head of said first said standing seam and which is defined at least in part by said first insert.

6. An assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

a magnitude of said first width is at least generally about twice a magnitude of said second width.

7. An assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said clamp body slot further comprises a slot base that extends between said first and second open ends and further that extends between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first insert comprises first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface projects at least generally toward said first seam fastener, wherein said second surface projects at least generally toward said slot base, and wherein a portion of said clamp body slot that includes said slot base, along with said second surface of said first insert, collectively define at least a portion of a cavity which at least generally approximates a profile of a head of said first said standing seam.

8. An assembly, comprising:

a panel assembly comprising a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending standing seams; and

a clamp mounted on a first said standing seam and that comprises;

a clamp body that comprises a concave clamp body slot, wherein said clamp body slot comprises first and second open ends and first and second slot sidewalls that are disposed in spaced relation and that extend between said first and second open ends, wherein said clamp body slot is disposed on said first said standing seam;

a first insert that is a separate piece than said clamp body, and further that is disposed between said first said standing seam and said second slot sidewall, wherein said first insert comprises first and second cantilevers that face said first slot sidewall; and

a first seam fastener that extends through said clamp body, through said first slot sidewall, and into engagement with said first said standing seam, wherein said first seam fastener forces said first said standing seam into engagement with said first and second cantilevers, deflects said first and second cantilevers in a direction of said second slot sidewall, and forces said first insert against said second slot sidewall.

9. An assembly, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first standing seam comprises an extension that extends outwardly from adjacent portions of said panel assembly, as well as an end-defining head, wherein said clamp body slot further comprises a slot base that extends between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said head of said first standing seam is disposed in said clamp body slot such that said slot base is disposed beyond said head of said first standing seam, and wherein said first insert is spaced from said slot base.

10. An assembly, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said first insert is disposed below said head of said first standing seam.

11. An assembly, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said first insert comprises a seam extension interface surface, wherein said plurality of panels are of a first wall thickness, wherein a midpoint between said first and second slot sidewalls of said clamp body slot along a path that intersects with said seam extension interface surface of said first insert is spaced from said seam extension interface surface of said first insert by a distance at least generally equal to said first wall thickness of said a plurality of panels.

12. An assembly, comprising:

a panel assembly comprising a plurality of standing seams, wherein each said standing seam comprises an extension that extends outwardly from adjacent portions of said panel assembly, as well as an end-defining head; and

a clamp mounted on a first said standing seam and that comprises;

a clamp body that comprises a concave clamp body slot, wherein said clamp body slot comprises first and second open ends, first and second slot sidewalls that are disposed in spaced relation and that extend between said first and second open ends, and a slot base that extends between said first and second slot sidewalk, wherein said head of said first said standing seam is disposed in said clamp body slot such that said slot base is disposed beyond said head of said first standing seam;

a first insert that is a separate piece than said clamp body, and further that is disposed between said first said standing seam and said second slot sidewall, wherein an entirety of said first insert is disposed below said head of said first standing seam; and

at least one sewn fastener that extends through said clamp body and into said clamp body slot.

13. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

a said clamp body is of one-piece construction.

14. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said at least one seam fastener comprises a first seam fastener, wherein said first seam fastener and said first insert are disposed on opposite sides of said first said standing seam, wherein said first seam fastener extends through said first slot sidewall, engages an aligned portion of said first said standing seam, and forces said aligned portion of said first said standing seam into engagement with said first insert, which in turn forces said first insert into engagement with said second slot sidewall.

15. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said at least one seam fastener comprises a first scan fastener, wherein said first seam fastener and said first insert are disposed on a same side of said first said standing seam, wherein said first seam fastener extends through said second slot sidewall, engages an aligned portion of said first insert, and forces said first insert into engagement with an aligned portion of said first said standing seam, which in turn forces said aligned portion of said first said standing seam into engagement with said first slot sidewall.

16. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a second insert that is at least partially disposed within said clamp body slot, wherein said first and second inserts art disposed on opposite sides of said first said standing seam, wherein said at least one seam fastener comprises a first seam fastener, wherein said first seam fastener extends through said first slot sidewall, engages an aligned portion of said second insert, and forces said second insert into engagement with an aligned portion of said first said standing seam in a direction of an aligned portion of said first insert, which in turn forces said first insert into engagement with said second slot sidewall.

17. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first insert comprises a first aperture that extends within said first insert and intersects with a second aperture, wherein said second aperture extends beyond said first aperture in a first direction which is at least generally parallel with a direction which said clamp body slot extends within said clamp body to define a first deflectable cantilever, and also extends beyond said first aperture in a second direction which is opposite said first direction and which is also at least generally parallel with said direction which said clamp body slot extends within said clamp body to define an oppositely disposed second deflectable cantilever.

18. An assembly, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said first insert comprises a slot and a groove that each extend at least generally along an entire length of said first insert, wherein said slot comprises said first recess and wherein said groove comprises said second recess.

19. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said at least one seam fastener comprises a first seam fastener, wherein a first portion of said clamp body slot extends above where said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall to said slot base, and wherein a distance between said first slot sidewall and a portion of said first insert that is aligned with said first seam fastener is less than a distance between said first and second slot sidewalk in said first portion of said clamp body slot.

20. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall, wherein said second slot sidewall comprises a first registration member and said first insert comprises a second registration member that interfaces with said first registration member.

21. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

a lower surface of said first insert is flush with a lower surface of said clamp body, wherein said clamp body slot is disposed on said lower surface of said clamp body.

22. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first insert interfaces with a portion of said second slot sidewall along at least generally an entire length of said clamp body slot.

23. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first insert comprises a seam extension interface surface, wherein said panel assembly comprises a plurality of panels of a first wall thickness that are interconnected to define said plurality of standing seams, wherein a midpoint between said first and second slot sidewalk of said clamp body slot along a path that intersects with seam extension interface surface of said first insert is spaced from said seam extension interface surface of said first insert by a distance at least generally equal to said first wall thickness of said a plurality of panels.

24. An assembly, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first insert comprises an extension that is disposed within a notch in a portion of a lower surface of said clamp body, wherein said clamp body slot is on said lower surface of said clamp body.

25. An assembly, comprising:

a panel assembly comprising a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending standing seams, that in turn comprises a first standing seam; and

a clamp mourned on said first standing seam and that comprises;

a clamp body that comprises a concave clamp body slot wherein said clamp body slot comprises first and second open ends and first and second slot sidewalls that are disposed in spaced relation and that extend between said first and second open ends, and wherein said clamp body slot is disposed on said first standing seam;

a first insert that is a separate piece than said clamp body, and further that is positioned between said first slot sidewall and said first standing seam within said clamp body slot;

a second insert that is a separate piece than said clamp body and said first insert, and further that is positioned between said first standing seam and said second slot sidewall within said clamp body slot wherein said first and second inserts are thereby disposed on opposite sides of said first standing seam; and

a first seam fastener that extends through said clamp body, through said first slot sidewall, and into engagement with said first insert, wherein said first insert, said first standing seam, and said second insert are compressed between said first seam fastener and said second slot sidewall.

26. An assembly, as claimed in claim 25, wherein;

said first seam fastener engages only an exterior surface of said first insert.

27. An assembly, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

said first insert comprises a first seam fastener receptacle, wherein said first seam fastener is disposed within said first seam fastener receptacle.

28. An assembly, as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

said first insert comprises a protrusion, wherein said second insert comprises a recess, and wherein said protrusion of said first insert deflects an aligned portion of said first standing seam into said recess of said second insert.

29. An assembly, comprising:

a panel assembly comprising a plurality of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending standing seams, that in turn comprises a first standing seam; and

a clamp mounted on said first standing seam and that comprises;

a clamp body that comprises a concave clamp body slot, wherein said clamp body slot comprises first and second open ends and first and second slot sidewalls that are disposed in spaced relation and that extend between said first and second open ends, and wherein said clamp body slot is disposed on said first standing seam;

a first insert that is a separate piece than said clamp body, and further that is positioned between said first slot sidewall and said first standing seam within said clamp body slot, wherein said first insert comprises a first seam fastener receptacle; and

a first seam fastener that extends through said clamp body, through said first slot sidewall, and into said first seam fastener receptacle.