Assembly for clamping and grounding objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10186791-B2
Application number	US-201514796016-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 5, 2012
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

In various representative aspects, an apparatus for clamping and grounding solar panel frames to a mounting rail is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a fastener with an enlarged end, and a shank, with the enlarged end having one or more sharp protrusions that resemble teeth, and a washer with one or more sharp protrusions, and an opening. When installed, the shank is inserted through the opening of the washer, the sharp protrusions of the enlarged end penetrate either the lower or upper surface of the mounting rail and the sharp protrusions of the washer penetrate the other surface of the solar panel frames while at the same time creating a grounding path through the apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising:
a. a fastener,
i. the fastener including a male and a female member, the members being releasably interlocking,
ii. the male member being electrically conductive and having:
(1) an enlarged end further comprising at least one raised portion configured to penetrate a surface of a first object; and
(2) an externally-threaded elongated male element extending from the enlarged end;
iii. the female member having:
(1) a nut end; and
(2) an internally-threaded elongated female element extending from the nut end threadably engaging the elongated male element for interlockable connection;
b. a washer adjacent to the nut end comprising:
(1) a bottom surface and at least one electrically conductive piercing member on the bottom surface of the washer directed toward the enlarged end,
(2) the piercing member configured to penetrate the surface of a second object independent of the orientation of the washer relative to the second object; and
(3) the washer having a central opening allowing the elongated female element to pass therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the piercing member is angularly arranged around the central opening.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nut end defines an integrated structure with the washer.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sheath of the elongated female element has a solid outside surface.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongated female element defines a sheath having internal threads for engaging the elongated male element.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the elongated male element defines a screw member having external threads compatible with the internal threads of the elongated female element.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the enlarged end of the elongated male element defines a T-shaped head.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nut end and the washer define independent elements.

8. A clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising:
a. a fastener,
i. the fastener comprising a male and a female member, the members being releasably interlocking;
ii. the male member being electrically conductive and having:
(1) an enlarged end further comprising at least one raised portion configured to penetrate the surface of a first object; and
(2) an externally-threaded elongated male element extending from the enlarged end;
iii. a female member defining a mid-clamp having:
(1) a nut end;
(2) a rounded washer adjacent the nut end having a central opening; the washer having at least one electrically conductive raised portion configured to penetrate the surface a second object that defines an electrical grounding path between the washer and the enlarged end, wherein the at least one electrically conductive raised portion of the rounded washer extends downward toward the enlarged end, and annularly around the central opening on a portion of the bottom surface of the rounded washer; and
(3) an internally-threaded elongated female element extending from the nut end that threadably engages the elongated male element for an adjustable connection, the elongated female element passing through the central opening of the washer.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein a threaded lock is positioned between the elongated female and the elongated male elements such that as the male and female members are connected, the threaded lock restricts the movement between the male and female members.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the threaded lock is comprised of nylon.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the nut end, the rounded washer, and the elongated female element define an integrated single piece member.

12. A clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising:
a. a fastener, the fastener comprising:
i. a male member, the male member being electrically conductive and comprising:
(1) an enlarged end, the enlarged end comprising at least one raised portion configured to penetrate a surface of a first object; and
(2) an externally-threaded elongated male element extending from the enlarged end;
ii. a female member, the female member comprising:
(1) a nut end;
(2) an internally-threaded elongated female element extending from the nut end;
(3) a washer:
(A) the washer comprising an annular ring having a central opening being coupled to the elongated female element so that the annular ring may freely move along the surface of the elongated female element beneath the nut end, the elongated female element passing through the central opening of the washer;
(B) the annular ring further comprising an electrically conductive piercing member extending downward toward the enlarged end and is configured to penetrate surface of a second object, wherein the piercing member extends annularly around the central opening; and
iii. the male and female member configured to threadably interconnect with each other.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the elongated female element defines a sheath having internal threads for engaging the elongated male element.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the elongated male element defines a screw member having external threads compatible with the internal threads of the elongated female element.

15. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the enlarged end of the elongated male element defines a T-shaped head.

16. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein a threaded lock lies on either the elongated female or the elongated male elements such that as the male and female members are connected, the threaded lock restricts the movement between the threads of the male and female members.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the threaded lock is comprised of nylon.

Assignees

• Ironridge Inc

Inventors

• Meine Shawn
• Ash Jon
• Lester Bryan

Classifications

• F16B2/12 Primary

  using sliding jaws · CPC title

• H01R13/648

  Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices {, e.g. anti-static shielding}   (coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38) · CPC title

• F16B7/187

  with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels (channel nuts per se F16B37/045) · CPC title

• F16B43/00

  Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24}) · CPC title

• H01R9/18 Primary

  Fastening by means of screw or nut · CPC title