Metal panel electrical bonding clip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11808043-B2
Application number	US-202117398146-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2021
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A clip for electrically bonding a pair of adjacently-disposed metal panels is disclosed. One embodiment entails such a clip ( 104 ) including a first clip member ( 112 ) and an oppositely disposed second clip member ( 116 ). The surface ( 114 ) of the first clip member ( 112 ) that faces the second clip member ( 116 ) includes at least one grounding projection ( 128 ), while the surface ( 118 ) of the second clip member ( 116 ) that faces the first clip member ( 112 ) also includes at least one grounding projection ( 128 ). The clip ( 104 ) may be installed on a standing seam ( 102 ) of a panel assembly ( 100 ), with its first clip member ( 112 ) engaging one of the metal panels 82 ″ that define this stand seam ( 102 ) and with its second clip member ( 116 ) engaging the other of the metal panels 82 ″ that define this same standing seam ( 102 ).

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An electrical bonding clip for providing an electrical connection between two metal panels that are a part of a panel assembly having a standing seam, comprising:
a plate having a first part, a second part, and an intermediate portion positioned between and connecting the first part to the second part;
a first clip section formed by a first clip member disposed in opposing relation to the first part of the plate, the first clip member connected to the first part of the plate by a first hinge, the first clip section comprising a first inlet section opposite the first hinge, wherein the first clip member comprises:
a first edge extending away from the first hinge;
a second edge extending away from the first hinge, the second edge positioned opposite the first edge; and
a third edge positioned opposite the first hinge and extending between the first and second edges; and

a second clip section formed by a second clip member disposed in opposing relation to the second part of the plate, the second clip member connected to the second part of the plate by a second hinge, the second clip section comprising a second inlet section opposite the second hinge, wherein the first edge of the first clip member is a first distance from the second clip member, wherein the second edge of the first clip member is a second distance from the second clip member, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and wherein the second edge of the first clip member extends unbroken between the first hinge and the third edge.

2. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein a first grounding projection extends from the first part of the plate towards the first clip member, wherein the first grounding projection contacts the first clip member prior to installation of the electrical bonding clip on the panel assembly.

3. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein, when the electrical bonding clip is installed on the panel assembly, the first clip section is positioned on a first side of the standing seam and engages a first one of the two metal panels and the second clip section is positioned on a second side of the standing seam and engages a second one of the two metal panels.

4. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion of the plate comprises a first surface facing in a first vertical direction toward the first and second clip members, the first surface defining a first reference plane that intersects the first and second hinges, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a second surface opposite to the first surface and facing in a second vertical direction, the second surface defining a second reference plane that is approximately parallel to the first reference plane, the second reference plane intersecting a portion of the plate, and wherein an end portion of the first part of the plate at the first inlet section is spaced from the first and second reference planes in the second vertical direction.

5. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the first clip member extending from the first hinge to the third edge and facing the first part of the plate is substantially planar.

6. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein the first clip member and the first part of the plate are biased toward each other.

7. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , further comprising a first grounding projection extending from the first part of the plate towards the first clip member, wherein the first grounding projection is spaced from a first end of the plate and spaced from the intermediate portion.

8. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein electrical bonding clip is configured such that at least a portion of the intermediate portion is positioned under the standing seam when the electrical bonding clip is installed on the panel assembly.

9. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein the electrical bonding clip is configured such that, when the electrical bonding clip is installed on the panel assembly, the first hinge is selectively positionable in contact with a first one of the two metal panels, the second hinge is selectively positionable in contact with a second one of the two metal panels, and the plate is in contact with the first and second metal panels.

10. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein the second clip member comprises:
a fourth edge extending away from the second hinge, the fourth edge separated from the first edge of the first clip member by the intermediate portion of the plate;
a fifth edge extending away from the second hinge, the fifth edge positioned opposite the fourth edge; and
a sixth edge positioned opposite the second hinge and extending between the fourth and fifth edges, and wherein the fifth edge of the second clip member extends unbroken between the second hinge and the sixth edge.

11. The electrical bonding clip of claim 10 , wherein the first edge of the first clip member is approximately parallel to the fourth edge of the second clip member.

12. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises:
a first end at the first part of the plate;
a second end at the second part of the plate, the second end positioned opposite the first end; and
a long edge extending between the first and second ends.

13. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein the first hinge is spaced from the second hinge by the intermediate portion.

14. The electrical bonding clip of claim 1 , wherein the electrical bonding clip is formed of a conductive metal or metal alloy, and wherein the electrical bonding clip is of an integral construction.

15. An electrical bonding clip for providing an electrical connection between two metal panels that are a part of a panel assembly having a standing seam, comprising:
a plate having a first end, a second end positioned opposite the first end, a first long side, and a second long side opposite the first long side, a first portion proximate the first end, a second portion proximate the second end, and an intermediate portion between and connecting the first portion and the second portion;
a first clip member connected to the first long side of the plate at a first hinge, the first clip member and the first portion of the plate defining a first clip section; and
a second clip member connected to the first long side of the plate at a second hinge, the second clip member and the second portion of the plate defining a second clip section, wherein the second hinge is spaced from the first hinge by the intermediate portion of the plate, wherein a first surface of the intermediate portion faces the first and second clip members, wherein a second surface of the intermediate portion that is opposite to the first surface faces away from the first and second clip members, and wherein the second surface defines a reference plane that intersects the plate between the first and second long sides.

16. The electrical bonding clip of claim 15 , wherein the first clip member comprises a first free end opposite to the first hinge, and where the first clip member is substantially planar from the first hinge to the first free end.

17. The electrical bonding clip of claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the plate includes a grounding projection that extends towards the first clip member, and wherein the first clip member lacks a grounding projection.

18. The electrical bonding clip of claim 15 , wherein the second long side is spaced in a vertical direction from the reference plane by a distance greater than a thickness

Assignees

• Rmh Tech Llc

Inventors

• Haddock Dustin M M

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

• E04D3/363

  with snap action (E04D3/366 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04D13/00

  Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; {Protection against birds;} Roof drainage {; Sky-lights} (ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00) · CPC title

• H01R4/58

  characterised by the form or material of the contacting members (H01R4/01 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04D3/366

  by closing the space between the slabs or sheets by gutters, bulges, or bridging elements, e.g. strips · CPC title