Mounting device for controlling uplift of a metal roof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11788291-B2
Application number	US-202117353483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2021
Priority date	Mar 17, 2020
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A clamp for controlling uplift of panels of a metal roof is provided where the clamp secures two adjacent panels together. In some embodiments, the clamp has a slot configured to receive a roof joint between adjacent panels, and the clamp has at least one arm that secures the roof joint within the clamp and prevents the clamp from being pulled off of the roof joint. In addition, the clamp may have a channel and at least one protrusion that locate the roof joint within the clamp in a predetermined position to ensure that a bar component such as a bolt or a set screw can secure the roof joint within the clamp. Moreover, further features and arrangements of features can better position the clamp over a center of the roof joint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp configured to engage a joint connecting two metal panels of a surface of a building, comprising:
a first end opposite a second end;
a top surface extending between the first and second ends;
a first arm extending away from the top surface and comprising:
a first outer surface;
a first free end spaced from the top surface; and
a first inner surface;

a second arm opposite to the first arm, the second arm extending away from the top surface and comprising:
a second outer surface;
a second free end spaced from the top surface; and
a second inner surface facing the first inner surface;

a slot defined by the first inner surface of the first arm, the second inner surface of the second arm, and a slot base extending from the first inner surface to the second inner surface;
a channel extending into the second inner surface of the second arm, the channel comprising:
an upper end spaced from the slot base;
a lower end positioned between the upper end of the channel and the second free end of the second arm; and
a cavity within the channel,

wherein the second arm comprises:
a first thickness measured in a horizontal dimension at a first position between the upper and lower ends of the channel; and
a second thickness measured in the horizontal dimension at a second position between the upper end of the channel and the slot base, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness;

an aperture extending through the first arm, the aperture extending along an axis that intersects the cavity within the channel, wherein the aperture is threaded;
a projection extending from the second inner surface of the second arm into the slot, the projection including an upper surface facing away from the second free end of the second arm;
a first protrusion extending from the upper surface of the projection and toward the top surface of the clamp, the first protrusion configured to engage the joint when the joint is positioned in the slot, wherein the first protrusion and the projection are formed of a portion of the second arm, and wherein the first protrusion of the projection is configured to engage a bottom portion of the joint; and
a set screw configured to extend through the aperture and into the slot, the set screw comprising exterior threads.

2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the clamp consists of only one aperture extending through the first arm, and wherein no aperture extends through the second outer surface to the second inner surface of the second arm.

3. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is configured such that a distal end of the set screw can engage a side surface of the joint positioned within the slot.

4. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the axis of the aperture is at least one of:
oriented approximately parallel to the horizontal dimension; and
oriented approximately perpendicular to the first outer surface of the first arm.

5. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first inner surface of the first arm is parallel to at least a portion of the second inner surface of the second arm, and wherein the first outer surface of the first arm is approximately parallel to the second outer surface of the second arm.

6. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein no apertures extend through the top surface or through the slot base such that the slot is inaccessible from the top surface.

7. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the slot base has an arcuate shape, and wherein the clamp is of a one-piece construction.

8. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the channel of the second arm is offset from the second free end of the second arm by a predetermined distance.

9. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the cavity within the channel is centered on the axis of the aperture.

10. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the slot and the channel extend through the clamp from the first end to the second end of the clamp, and wherein the first and second ends of the clamp are approximately perpendicular to the top surface of the clamp.

11. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the channel of the second arm defines a second protrusion on the second arm that is configured to engage an upper portion of the joint when the joint is positioned within the slot.

12. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the second thickness of the second arm is greater than a thickness of the first arm measured in the horizontal dimension at a position between the first free end of the first arm and the slot base.

13. A clamp configured to engage a joint connecting two metal panels of a surface of a building, comprising:
a body with a top surface, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end;
a first arm extending away from the top surface and comprising:
a first outer surface;
a first free end spaced from the top surface; and
a first inner surface;

a second arm opposite to the first arm, the second arm extending away from the top surface and comprising:
a second outer surface;
a second free end spaced from the top surface; and
a second inner surface facing the first inner surface;

a slot that extends from the first end to the second end and which is defined by the first inner surface of the first arm, the second inner surface of the second arm, and a slot base extending from the first inner surface to the second inner surface;
a channel extending into the second inner surface of the second arm and extending from the first end to the second end, the channel comprising:
an upper end spaced from the slot base; and
a lower end positioned between the upper end of the channel and the second free end of the second arm; and

an aperture extending through the first arm, the aperture extending along an axis that intersects the channel, wherein the axis of the aperture intersects a cavity formed within the channel and the cavity is spaced from the first and second ends of the body, wherein only one aperture extends through the first arm, and wherein no hole extends through the second outer surface of the second arm.

14. The clamp of claim 13 , wherein the aperture is threaded.

15. The clamp of claim 13 , further comprising a set screw selectively extendable through the aperture and into the slot, wherein a distal end of the set screw is selectively engageable with a side surface of the joint when the joint is positioned within the slot.

16. The clamp of claim 13 , wherein no apertures extend through the top surface.

17. A clamp configured to engage a joint connecting two metal panels of a surface of a building, comprising:
a body with a top surface;
a first arm extending away from the top surface and comprising:
a first outer surface;
a first free end spaced from the top surface;
a first inner surface; and
an aperture extending through the first arm, the aperture being threaded;

a second arm opposite to the first arm, the second arm extending away from the top surface and comprising:
a second outer surface;
a second free end spaced from the top surface; and
a second inner surface facing the first inner surface;

a slot defined by the first inner surface of the first arm, the second inner surface of the second arm, and a slot base extending from the first inner surface to the second inner surface;
a channel extending into the second inner surface of the second arm, the channel comprising:
an upper end spaced from the slot base; and
a lower end positioned between the upper end of the channel and the second free end of the second arm;

a projection extending from the second inner surface of the second arm into the slot, the projection including

Assignees

• Rmh Tech Llc

Inventors

• Haddock Dustin M M
• Winternitz Jesse Charles

Classifications

• E04D3/362 Primary

  by locking the edge of one slab or sheet within the profiled marginal portion of the adjacent slab or sheet, e.g. using separate connecting elements · CPC title

• E04D3/30

  of metal · CPC title

• E04D3/368 Primary

  by forcing together the marginal portions of adjacent slabs or sheets · CPC title

• E04D3/364

  by folding of the edges · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title