Rib mounting device with pivoting insert

• US 9,732,512 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: RMH Tech LLC
• Inventors: Haddock, Dustin M.M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US14/789,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20160153184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 528011, 52 26, 52 24, 52 25, 52545, 521733, 52543, 52463, 527821, 248237, 24822111, 24823171, 24822611, 2482281, 403388, 403168, 403DIG 9, 403256
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/38 Connections for building structures in general
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/389 Brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/38 with attached ribs, flanges, or the like, e.g. framed panels concerned with attaching to other panels or elements to form a structure, see the places for the relevant structure, e.g. E04B2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/14 Junctions of roof sheathings to chimneys or other parts extending above the roof
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0821 the additional fastening elements located in-between two adjacent covering elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/10 using pivoting jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0004 Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship F16B5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0685 Joining sheets or plates to strips or bars F16B5/0692 takes precedence
• 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 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

A mounting device (100) for installation on a hollow rib of a panel is disclosed. The mounting device (100) includes a mounting body (102), an insert (160), and at least one clamping fastener (180). The mounting body (102) includes an upper section or base (104), along with a first leg (112) and a second leg (122) that each extend downwardly from the base (104) in at least generally diverging relation to one another. The first leg (112) includes a first projection (116) positionable in a recess on one sidewall of a rib, while the insert (160) includes a second projection (164) positionable in a recess on the opposite sidewall of this same rib. The clamping fastener(s) (180) extends through the second leg (122) of the mounting body (102) and forces the insert (160) in the direction of the first leg (112) of the mounting body (102).

Claims

1. A method of installing a mounting device on a rib of a building surface, comprising the steps of:

positioning a first projection of a mounting body of a mounting device within a first recess on a first sidewall of a first rib, wherein said mounting body comprises a first leg and a second leg that are spaced from one another in an end view of said mounting body, and wherein said first leg comprises said first projection;

positioning a second projection of an insert of said mounting device within a second recess on a second sidewall of said first rib, wherein said insert and said mounting body are separate parts;

executing a first moving step comprising moving said mounting body either clockwise or counterclockwise about a first reference axis in said end view of said mounting body, relative to each of said first rib and said insert of said mounting device, and with said first projection of said mounting body remaining within said first recess of said first rib throughout said first moving step, wherein said first reference axis coincides with said first projection of said mounting body and a length dimension of said mounting body;

contacting said insert with said mounting body during said first moving step;

executing a second moving step comprising moving said insert about said second projection of said insert and relative to said first rib; and

directing at least one threaded fastener through said mounting body and into engagement with said insert to force said insert against said second sidewall of said first rib;

wherein after said mounting device is in an installed configuration relative to said first rib;

     1) said first leg of said mounting body is positioned alongside at least an upper portion said first sidewall of said first rib;

     2) said second leg of said mounting body is positioned alongside at least an upper portion of said second sidewall of said first rib; and

     3) said insert is located between said second sidewall of said first rib and said second leg of said mounting body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said positioning a first projection step and said positioning a second projection step are executable in any order.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first projection of said mounting body and said second projection of said insert are oppositely disposed relative to said first rib after said positioning steps.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first moving step comprises pivoting said mounting body about said first reference axis and relative to said first rib.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second moving step comprises pivoting said insert about said second projection and relative to said first rib.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second moving steps are executed in opposite directions from a common vantage.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first moving step uses one of said clockwise motion and said counterclockwise motion from said end view, and wherein said second moving step uses another of said clockwise motion and said counterclockwise motion from said end view.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said second moving step is responsive to continued execution of said first moving step and said second leg of said mounting body maintaining contact with said insert.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said second moving step comprises camming said insert relative to said second leg of said mounting body during execution of said first moving step.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said directing step is executed after terminating said first and second moving steps.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said second moving step is responsive to said directing step.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said second moving step is responsive to at least one of said first moving step and said directing step.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said first moving step comprises capturing an upper section of said first rib within said mounting body.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first moving step comprises capturing said insert between said mounting body and said second sidewall of said first rib.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first moving step comprises pressing said insert between said second sidewall of said first rib and said mounting body prior to starting said directing step.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering a position of said insert relative to said second sidewall of said first rib using each of said first and second moving steps.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting an attachment to said mounting body after said directing step.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said mounting body further comprises a base, wherein said first leg and said second leg each extend from said base.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said contacting step comprises said second leg of said mounting body contacting said insert.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said contacting step comprises a rounded end portion of said second leg of said mounting body contacting said insert.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said contacting step comprises said rounded end portion of said second leg of said mounting body contacting an inclined surface of said insert.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said inclined surface extends downwardly and away from said second sidewall of said first rib.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said directing step comprises moving said insert away from said second leg of said mounting body such that said insert and said second leg of said mounting body are spaced from one another after termination of said directing step.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said first moving step comprises progressively changing an orientation of said mounting body relative to said first rib.

25. A mounting device attachable to a rib of a building surface, comprising:

a mounting body comprising a base, a first leg that extends from said base, a second leg that extends from said base and that is spaced from said first leg, and a rib receptacle collectively defined by said base, said first leg, and said second leg, wherein a reference plane extends through said rib receptacle in an orientation that includes a height and length dimension of a rib when said mounting device is installed, wherein said first leg extends downwardly from said base and away from said reference plane, wherein said first leg comprises a first projection that extends back in a direction of said reference plane, wherein said second leg comprises a first section that extends downwardly from said base and away from said reference plane, wherein said second leg further comprises a second section that extends downwardly from said first section and that is disposed in a different orientation than said first section, and wherein said first leg, said base, and said second leg are retained in a fixed position relative to one another;

at least one clamping fastener that is threadably engaged with and extends through said second section of said second leg of said mounting body; and

an insert disposed within said rib receptacle and aligned with said at least one clamping fastener, wherein said insert comprises;

a fastener receptacle surface that projects toward said second section of said second leg of said mounting body and that comprises at least one clamping fastener receptacle, wherein each said clamping fastener receptacle is a blind hole;

a second projection that extends in a direction of said reference plane and that is oppositely disposed from said fastener receptacle surface; and

a rib alignment surface that extends both upwardly and toward said reference plane in proceeding to said second projection.