Assembly for clamping and grounding objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689411-B2
Application number	US-201213542570-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2012
Priority date	Jul 5, 2012
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for clamping and grounding an upper and lower solar panel mounting rail. 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 mounting rail and the sharp protrusions of the washer penetrate the other mounting rail while at the same time creating a grounding path through the apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for affixing a first object to a second object and a third object and providing a grounding path between the objects comprising:
a. first and second frames each comprising an elongated channel for receiving a solar panel;
b. a rail guide;
c. an electrically conductive fastener;
i. the fastener comprising a shank homogeneous with an enlarged end such that the shank terminates at a nut end and the enlarged end further comprises a top and a bottom surface wherein the top surface comprises at least one raised portion for penetrating a surface of the rail guide;

d. an electrically conductive washer comprising:
i. a central opening for allowing the shank to pass through the washer,
ii. a pair of tabs with each respective tab being on a respective edge of the washer such that the pair of tabs extend downward in the direction of the enlarged end, and
iii. at least one raised portion on each respective edge of the washer for penetrating a surface of the first and second frames respectively.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the respective edges are flanges.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the opening of the washer further comprises an internal thread.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shank further comprises an external thread for engaging the opening of the washer.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener and washer are metallic.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises a nut for securing the washer to the first and second frames respectively.

Assignees

• Meine Shawn J
• Ash John S
• Ironridge Inc

Inventors

• Meine Shawn J
• Ash John S

Classifications

• 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

• F16B2/12 Primary

  using sliding jaws · 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

• Y10T403/7062

  Clamped members · CPC title