Adjustable bonding washer
First Claim
1. An adjustable bonding washer for making an electrical connection between two metal pieces when the metal pieces are rigidly held together by a fastener with at least a portion of the bonding washer disposed between them, the adjustable bonding washer comprising:
- a metallic female part; and
a metallic male part, said male and female parts being slidable relative to each other along an axis,wherein said female part comprises;
a body having a pair of mutually facing, substantially parallel channels at two opposite sides thereof;
a first set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed on said body and extending therefrom in a first direction substantially perpendicular thereto, each tooth of said first set having a distal edge;
a second set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed on said body and extending therefrom in a second direction substantially opposite said first direction, each tooth of said second set having a distal edge; and
an opening in said body between said channels through which a fastener can extend, andwherein said male part is dimensioned to be slidably embraced by said channels of said female part and comprises;
a first set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed thereon and extending therefrom in a first direction substantially perpendicular thereto, each tooth of said first set having a distal edge;
a second set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed thereon and extending therefrom in a second direction substantially opposite said first direction, each tooth of said second set having a distal edge; and
an opening through which a fastener can extend and alignable with the opening in the body of said female part when said male part is mated with said female part,whereby, when said male part is mated with said female part and a fastener extending through said openings is tightened with said first and second sets of external teeth between the metal pieces, the distal edges of said external teeth are forcibly embedded into the metal pieces to make electrical contact therewith.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable bonding washer for placement between two metal pieces to create an electrical bond between them. The bonding washer has two metallic parts constrained to slide relative to one another along an axis. Each part has oppositely directed teeth that are forcibly embedded into the metal pieces to make electrical contact with them when they are rigidly clamped together. Adjustability enables the bonding washer to be mated with metal pieces having a range of widths and profiles, such as the slotted rails used to support arrays of photovoltaic panels.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An adjustable bonding washer for making an electrical connection between two metal pieces when the metal pieces are rigidly held together by a fastener with at least a portion of the bonding washer disposed between them, the adjustable bonding washer comprising:
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a metallic female part; and a metallic male part, said male and female parts being slidable relative to each other along an axis, wherein said female part comprises; a body having a pair of mutually facing, substantially parallel channels at two opposite sides thereof; a first set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed on said body and extending therefrom in a first direction substantially perpendicular thereto, each tooth of said first set having a distal edge; a second set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed on said body and extending therefrom in a second direction substantially opposite said first direction, each tooth of said second set having a distal edge; and an opening in said body between said channels through which a fastener can extend, and wherein said male part is dimensioned to be slidably embraced by said channels of said female part and comprises; a first set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed thereon and extending therefrom in a first direction substantially perpendicular thereto, each tooth of said first set having a distal edge; a second set of external teeth, numbering one or more, formed thereon and extending therefrom in a second direction substantially opposite said first direction, each tooth of said second set having a distal edge; and an opening through which a fastener can extend and alignable with the opening in the body of said female part when said male part is mated with said female part, whereby, when said male part is mated with said female part and a fastener extending through said openings is tightened with said first and second sets of external teeth between the metal pieces, the distal edges of said external teeth are forcibly embedded into the metal pieces to make electrical contact therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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- 11. An adjustable bonding washer for making an electrical connection between two metal pieces when the metal pieces are rigidly held together by a fastener with at least a portion of the bonding washer disposed between them, the adjustable bonding washer comprising first and second metallic parts each having a fastener opening therethrough and at least one pair of oppositely directed external teeth formed thereon, said parts being slidable relative to each other along an axis and substantially constrained from relative off-axis movement by axially extending guide surfaces formed thereon, whereby, when a fastener extending through said fastener openings is tightened with said external teeth between the metal pieces, said external teeth are forcibly embedded into the metal pieces to make electrical contact therewith.
- 29. An adjustable bonding assembly for making an electrical connection between two metal pieces when the metal pieces are rigidly clamped together with at least a portion of the adjustable bonding assembly disposed between them, the adjustable bonding assembly comprising first and second metallic parts each having at least one pair of oppositely directed external teeth formed thereon, said parts being slidable relative to each other along an axis and substantially constrained from relative off-axis movement by axially extending guide surfaces formed thereon, whereby, when the metal pieces are clamped together with pairs of said external teeth between them, the distal edges of said teeth are forcibly embedded into the metal pieces to make electrical contact therewith.
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39. A method of electrically bonding first and second metal pieces, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an adjustable bonding assembly comprising first and second metallic parts slidable relative to each other along an axis, each of said parts having a primary face with at least one integral tooth projecting therefrom and an opposite secondary face with at least one integral tooth projecting therefrom; (b) placing said first part against said first metal piece such that said at least one external tooth of said primary side thereof contacts said first metal piece; (c) sliding said second part toward said first part so that said at least one external tooth of said primary side of said second part contacts said first metal piece; (d) placing said second metal piece against the bonding assembly so that it contacts said at least one tooth of said secondary side of each of said parts; and (e) clamping said metal pieces together with said bonding assembly therebetween so that said teeth are forcibly embedded into the metal pieces to make electrical contact therewith. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification