Roofing grommet forming a seal between a roof-mounted structure and a roof

• US 9,774,291 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Rillito River Solar LLC (Esdec B.V.)
• Inventors: Stearns, Brian Cecil, Lounsbury, Douglas Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): STEPHAN, BETH A
• Application Number:
  US15/229,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20160344332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/66 Sealings damp-proof courses E04B1/644; fire-proof sealings E04B1/948; additions of anti-leak properties to plaster C04B; bituminous sealing masses C08L95/00; sealings for hydraulic engineering work in general E02B3/16; against ground humidity or ground water E02D31/02; coverings against rain or other precipitations of the atmosphere E04D; composition of material or manufacture of sealing foils, see the relevant classes for these foils
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/04 Roof drainage; Drainage fittings in flat roofs, balconies or the likegutter tiles E04D1/30; gutter slabs E04D3/40; vessels for collecting rainwater E03B3/03; street gullies E03F5/04
• 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: E04D 13/1407 for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/147 specially adapted for inclined roofs trays for cavity walls E04B1/70
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/001 for sealing or insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0258 using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts F16B43/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/021 Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/61 for fixing to the ground or to building structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• 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 roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.

Claims

1. A mounting system, comprising:

a flashing;

a bracket installable on the flashing;

a fastener configured to couple the flashing between the bracket and an underlying structure;

a stud coupled to the bracket above and spaced from the flashing and fastener;

a plate portion installed over the stud;

a nut portion installed on the stud and configured to adjust the position of the plate portion on the stud; and

a clamp installable on the stud.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the flashing includes a raised portion.

3. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the clamp and plate portion define a channel.

4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the channel is configured to receive a solar panel.

5. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the clamp and plate portion are configured to engage and retain a solar panel.

6. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the stud is threaded.

7. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the plate portion is configured to engage the stud.

8. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the plate portion defines a hole.

9. The mounting system of claim 8, wherein the hole is threaded and configured to engage the stud.

10. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the nut portion is operatively coupled to the plate portion.

11. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein actuation of the nut portion adjusts the position of the plate portion relative to at least one of the flashing and the bracket.

12. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein the nut portion is formed in the plate portion.

13. The mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a seal positionable between the bracket and the flashing.

14. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein the raised portion is receivable within the bracket.

15. A solar module mounting system, comprising:

a flashing;

a bracket installable on the flashing;

a fastener configured to couple the flashing between the bracket and an underlying structure;

a stud coupled to the bracket above and spaced from the flashing and fastener;

a support plate installed over the stud;

a nut portion operatively coupled to the support plate configured to adjust the position of the support plate on the stud; and

a clamp installable on the stud, wherein the clamp and support plate are configured to define a channel in response to being assembled on the stud, and

wherein the channel is configured to receive a portion of a solar module that is capable of being retained by the support plate and clamp.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the bracket and the flashing are attached to a roof surface with the fastener.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the bracket is slibably adjustable about the fastener to facilitate the mounting of the solar module.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the bracket is a 2-piece assembly.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the bracket is configured with a plurality of serrations that are configured to adjust the height of the bracket.

20. The mounting system of claim 15, wherein the fleshing includes a raised portion.