Multi-level mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10816240-B2
Application number	US-201816048152-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2018
Priority date	Jun 26, 2017
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A tiered mounting system includes a base plate including a mounting guide rail having a plurality of mounting grooves that extend along opposing sides of the guide rail. The system also includes an object mount connector having a plurality of mounting ridges. The object mount connector is configured to: slidingly engage the mounting guide rail via insertion of one or more of the plurality of mounting ridges within a corresponding one or more of the plurality of mounting grooves, and lock in place along the mounting guide rail via a bolt placed through the object mount connector and secured tightly to an inner track of the mounting guide rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tiered mounting system, comprising:
a base plate including a mounting guide rail including:
a first rail wall disposed parallel to a second rail wall,
an inner track extending between the first rail wall and the second rail wall, and
a plurality of mounting grooves including a first set of grooves spaced apart on an outer side of the first rail wall and a second set of grooves spaced apart on an outer side of the second rail wall; and

an object mount connector having a plurality of mounting ridges, the object mount connector being configured to:
slidingly engage the mounting guide rail via insertion of one or more of the plurality of mounting ridges within a corresponding one or more of the plurality of mounting grooves, and
lock in place along the mounting guide rail via a fastener placed through the object mount connector and secured tightly to the inner track of the mounting guide rail.

2. The tiered mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the object mount connector includes:
a first portion of the plurality of mounting ridges on a first connection section that protrudes from a first sidewall, and
a second portion of the plurality of mounting ridges on a second connection section that protrudes from a second sidewall that abuts and is substantially orthogonal to the first sidewall.

3. The tiered mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the object mount connector is longer in a length direction than in a width direction, and
wherein the object mount connector is configured to mount to the base plate:
in a first position where the width direction extends vertically, and
in a second position where the length direction extends vertically.

4. The tiered mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate is configured to be mounted on a surface, the base plate further including a planar portion having one or more through-holes sized to accommodate a surface fastener to secure the base plate against the surface, and
wherein the mounting guide rail extends transversely to the planar portion.

5. The tiered mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the inner track includes a gap sized to:
allow passage of a body of the fastener therethrough, and
prevent passage of a head of the fastener therethrough.

6. A tiered mounting system, comprising:
a base plate to secure to against a surface, the base plate including:
a planar portion having one or more through-holes sized to accommodate a surface fastener to secure the base plate against the surface, and
a mounting guide rail extending transversely to the planar portion and including a plurality of mounting grooves that extend along opposing sides of the guide rail; and

an object mount connector having a plurality of mounting ridges, the object mount connector being configured to:
slidingly engage the mounting guide rail via insertion of one or more of the plurality of mounting ridges within a corresponding one or more of the plurality of mounting grooves, and
lock in place along the mounting guide rail via a fastener placed through the object mount connector and secured tightly to an inner track of the mounting guide rail.

7. The tiered mounting system according to claim 6 , wherein the object mount connector includes:
a first portion of the plurality of mounting ridges on a first connection section that protrudes from a first sidewall, and
a second portion of the plurality of mounting ridges on a second connection section that protrudes from a second sidewall that abuts and is substantially orthogonal to the first sidewall.

8. The tiered mounting system according to claim 6 , wherein the object mount connector is longer in a length direction than in a width direction, and
wherein the object mount connector is configured to mount to the base plate:
in a first position where the width direction extends vertically, and
in a second position where the length direction extends vertically.

9. The tiered mounting system according to claim 6 , wherein the mounting guide rail further includes a first rail wall disposed parallel to a second rail wall,
wherein the inner track extends between the first rail wall and the second rail wall, and
wherein the plurality of mounting grooves includes a first set of grooves spaced apart on an outer side of the first rail wall and a second set of grooves spaced apart on an outer side of the second rail wall.

10. The tiered mounting system according to claim 6 , wherein the inner track includes a gap sized to:
allow passage of a body of the fastener therethrough, and
prevent passage of a head of the fastener therethrough.

11. A tiered mounting system, comprising:
a base plate including a mounting guide rail having a plurality of mounting grooves that extend along opposing sides of the guide rail; and
an object mount connector having a plurality of mounting ridges, the object mount connector being configured to:
slidingly engage the mounting guide rail via insertion of one or more of the plurality of mounting ridges within a corresponding one or more of the plurality of mounting grooves, and
lock in place along the mounting guide rail via a fastener placed through the object mount connector and secured tightly to an inner track of the mounting guide rail, wherein the inner track includes a gap sized to:
allow passage of a body of the fastener therethrough, and
prevent passage of a head of the fastener therethrough.

12. The tiered mounting system according to claim 11 , wherein the object mount connector includes:
a first portion of the plurality of mounting ridges on a first connection section that protrudes from a first sidewall, and
a second portion of the plurality of mounting ridges on a second connection section that protrudes from a second sidewall that abuts and is substantially orthogonal to the first sidewall.

13. The tiered mounting system according to claim 11 , wherein the object mount connector is longer in a length direction than in a width direction, and
wherein the object mount connector is configured to mount to the base plate:
in a first position where the width direction extends vertically, and
in a second position where the length direction extends vertically.

14. The tiered mounting system according to claim 11 , wherein the base plate is configured to be mounted on a surface,
wherein the base plate further includes a planar portion having one or more through-holes sized to accommodate a surface fastener to secure the base plate against the surface, and
wherein the mounting guide rail extends transversely to the planar portion.

15. The tiered mounting system according to claim 11 , wherein the mounting guide rail further includes a first rail wall disposed parallel to a second rail wall,
wherein the inner track extends between the first rail wall and the second rail wall, and
wherein the plurality of mounting grooves includes a first set of grooves spaced apart on an outer side of the first rail wall and a second set of grooves spaced apart on an outer side of the second rail wall.

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Robinson Chad

Classifications

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title

• F24S25/33 Primary

  forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles · CPC title

• F24S25/13

  Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses (F24S25/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02S20/23

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title