Clips for connecting panels and cross members without visual reference

Abstract

Self aligned clips connecting panels, such as solar panels, and cross members are disclosed. An upper clip portion has opposed alignment legs extending downwardly from an upper portion surface that are used to align an opening of the upper portion with a wall fastener housing of the lower portion used with a fastener to connect the upper and lower portions. Remaining fastener housings of the lower portion are used with fasteners to connect the lower portion of the clip to a support member. The lower portion has a space in between a pair of arms receiving the support member. A length between the opposed legs is slightly longer than a length of the wall of the lower portion allowing a user to place the pair of opposed legs just past opposed outer ends of the wall. In use, the lower portion is first installed on the support member with fastener housings and fasteners. The panel is butted against the lower portion and clamped into place when the upper portion is connected to the lower portion. The clip allows for connecting panel and cross members in a “blind” manner as the clip is self aligned.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to devices for connecting panels and cross members and, in particular, to clips for connecting panels and cross bars.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Solar energy systems are an environmentally friendly way of generating electricity. To provide such solar energy, typically there are solar panels which comprise a plurality of solar modules. The solar panels are typically coupled together and secured to a roof of a building, ground, or other structure via supporting cross members using clips or other securing mechanisms.[0003]Since solar panel output is dependent on the amount of sunlight exposure, it is critical that solar panels are positioned properly. Thus installation of the solar system can be difficult. Typically, the solar panels are connected to each other as well as to supporting cross members which generally are supported on a roof or other surface. Alignment of the solar panels to each other and to the supporting cross members is time consumin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A self aligned clip connecting panels, such as solar panels, and cross members is disclosed. An upper portion of the clip has a space on either side shaped to receive and align with a portion of a panel. The upper portion also has a channel formed from a flat bottom surface and first and second opposed walls perpendicular to the flat bottom surface, and a pair of opposed ledges, each ledge extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from one of the perpendicular walls and away from the channel to form the panel receiving spaces. The upper portion also has a pair of opposed alignment legs extending downwardly from the upper portion that are used to align an opening of the upper portion with a fastener housing of a wall of the lower portion used to connect the upper and lower portions at a desired height to accommodate panels of varying heights. A fastener, such as a screw or a bolt, inserted within the opening / through hole and fastened at a desired location within the fastener housing (for example, with a floating nut) connects the upper and lower portions. Remaining fastener housing(s) of the lower portion are used in conjunction with fasteners, such as self drilling / tapping screws to connect the lower portion of the clip to the support member. The lower portion has at least one pair of opposed arms extending downwardly from an upper surface that spans a width of the support member. A space in between the arms receives a portion of the support member. A length between the opposed legs of the upper portion is slightly longer than a length of the wall of the lower portion allowing the pair of opposed legs to extend just past opposed outer ends of the wall when a user engages the upper portion with the lower portion. Typically, the opposed legs contact or abut against opposed outer ends of the wall when the upper portion engages the lower portion. Thus vertical alignment of the opening and one of said fastener housings occurs when the upper portion engages the lower portion as opposed wall ends prevent opposed alignment legs from being laterally moved a distance that positions the opening and the fastener housing out of vertical alignment when the opposed alignment legs are positioned outside of the opposed wall ends thereby vertically self-aligning one of the fastener housings and the opening. The self alignment features or “blind” fastening mechanism of the clip of the present invention allow for panel installation that is less time consuming than the prior art as the clip of the present invention allows alignment of the panels and support members to occur easily.

Problems solved by technology

Thus installation of the solar system can be difficult.

Alignment of the solar panels to each other and to the supporting cross members is time consuming and tedious.

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