COMBINATION OF CLAMP AND PROFILE BRACKET

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a combination of a clamp and a profile beam, particularly for arranging the clamp on a tile hook and for mounting solar panels on the profile beam.

[0002] Tile hooks with arranged thereon a clamp for coupling to a profile beam are known in the prior art. The clamp is adapted to the profile of the profile beam so that the profile beam can be clamped fixedly in the clamp in simple manner, often by means of a snap connection.

[0003] To mount solar panels on a roof it is possible to arrange the profile beams either horizontally on the roof or vertically, i.e. parallel to the roof pitch. It is known to make the clamp on the tile hook rotatable so that the known tile hooks can be used for both horizontal mounting of the profile beams and for vertical mounting. Document NL 2 018 345 B1 shows such a clamp.

[0004] Arranging a clamp rotatably on a tile hook requires additional parts, such as a pivot pin or a bolt and nut, this increasing the costs of a tile hook.

[0005] There is additionally a chance that, due to the rotatability of the clamp, it will not be in the correct position at the moment that a profile beam is being clamped. This can for instance be because a technician has not placed the clamps in the correct position during placing of the tile hooks, or because someone has accidentally knocked into the clamp during the work, thus rotating it.

[0006] It is now an object of the invention to reduce or even obviate the above stated drawbacks.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention with a combination of a clamp and a profile beam wherein the profile beam has a contact surface and has two parallel clamping surfaces lying perpendicularly of the contact surface and lying opposite each other, which clamping surfaces extend in longitudinal direction of the profile beam wherein the clamp comprises: a support body with a support surface on which the profile beam with the contact surface is supported while lying thereagainst; a first pair of clamping fingers standing upright from the support surface and engaging on the clamping surfaces of the profile beam in a first position; a second pair of clamping fingers standing upright from the support surface and engaging on the clamping surfaces of the profile beam in a second position; wherein the profile beam comprises a channel, which channel extends in longitudinal direction of the profile beam and is arranged in the contact surface and between the two clamping surfaces, wherein the width and the depth of the channel are greater than the width and the height of the first pair of clamping fingers and than the width and height of the second pair of clamping fingers.

[0008] Provided on the clamp are two pairs of clamping fingers which can hold the profile beam in two different positions. These positions are preferably perpendicular to each other, although it is also possible to envisage an angle other than 90° being applied between the two positions.

[0009] The channel in the profile beam ensures that the pair of clamping fingers not in use in the desired position can protrude into the channel of the profile beam and thereby do not prevent the profile beam from being clamped in the desired position.

[0010] In order to ensure that the unused clamping fingers can be received in the channel, the channel must have at least a depth which is equal to the height of the unused clamping fingers, and the channel must have at least a width which is equal to the width of the unused clamping fingers.

[0011] The width of the clamping fingers is the main dimension in the direction parallel to the clamping surface and in longitudinal direction of the profile beam, when the clamping fingers engage on the clamping surfaces, and the height of the clamping fingers is the main dimension in the direction parallel to the clamping surface and perpendicularly of the support surface of the clamp.

[0012] In an embodiment of the combination according to the invention the projection of the second pair of clamping fingers, as seen in the clamping direction of the second pair of clamping fingers, falls inside the cross-section of the channel in the first position of the profile beam on the clamp, and the projection of the first pair of clamping fingers, as seen in the clamping direction of the first pair of clamping fingers, falls inside the cross-section of the channel in the second position of the profile beam on the clamp.

[0013] A profile beam is formed from an extruded profile with a uniform cross-section. In this way the channel can be formed over the whole length in simple manner, but can optionally also be arranged at discrete positions by means of milling a channel into an extruded profile.

[0014] In both cases the cross-section of the channel will have to be formed such that the projection of both pairs of clamping fingers, as seen in the clamping direction thereof, falls inside this cross-section when the profile beam is clamped onto the clamp in both positions.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention a rib is arranged on both clamping surfaces, which rib extends in longitudinal direction of the profile beam and wherein at least the clamping fingers of the first pair of clamping fingers are each provided with a resilient tongue which extends from the top of the clamping finger down, in the direction of the clamping surface and in the direction of the support surface, and here hooks behind the rib on the relevant clamping surface.

[0016] The resilient tongue on both clamping fingers ensures that the profile beam can be pressed with both ribs between the clamping fingers. The resilient tongues will here bend away slightly until the rib has been passed, after which the resilient tongues bend back and hook behind the ribs. It can hereby be prevented that the profile beam can be easily pulled out of the clamp, for instance by heavy wind which moves over the roof and tries to carry away solar panels mounted on the profile beam.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention each of the clamping fingers of the first pair of clamping fingers is further provided with an uncoupling tongue, which is arranged fixedly on the top of the clamping finger and wherein the uncoupling tongue extends away from the support surface and from the clamping surface.

[0018] With the uncoupling tongue the clamping finger can be bent aside, whereby the resilient tongue comes away from the rib and the profile beam is released. This simplifies dismounting of the profile beam.

[0019] In another embodiment of the combination according to the invention a longitudinal groove is arranged in at least one of the clamping surfaces, which longitudinal groove has an overhanging edge, which edge extends in the plane of the clamping surface; and wherein in the second position of the profile beam on the clamp at least one clamping finger of the second pair of clamping fingers protrudes into the longitudinal groove and hooks behind the overhanging edge.

[0020] For a horizontal mounting of the profile beam in particular it may be advantageous for the profile beam to first be suspended from the clamp loosely before being clamped into place. Because in this embodiment a clamping finger of the second pair of clamping fingers protrudes into the longitudinal groove and hooks behind the overhanging edge in the second position of the profile beam on the clamp, the profile beam can as it were be suspended from the clamp even before the profile beam is definitively clamped in place.

[0021] Yet another embodiment of the combination according to the invention further comprises a tile hook, wherein the clamp is arranged on an end part of the tile hook.

[0022] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a combination according to the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the clamp according to figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view of the clamp according to figure 2 with clamped thereon a profile beam in a horizontal position. Figure 4 is a side view of the clamp according to figure 2 with clamped thereon a profile beam in a vertical position.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a tile hook 1 on which a clamp 2 is arranged on an end part. A profile beam 3 is clamped in clamp 2 in a horizontal position.

[0024] Figure 2 shows the clamp 2 in more detail. Clamp 2 has a support body which is formed by a substantially square plate part with upright walls 4. The upper edges of the upright walls 4 form a support surface for the profile beam 3.

[0025] Arranged along two parallel upright walls 4 are a first pair of clamping fingers 5. Each clamping finger 5 has a resilient tongue 6 which extends from the top of the clamping finger 5 down, in the direction of the support surface formed by the upper edges of walls 4. Further arranged on clamping fingers 5 is an uncoupling tongue 7 which extends away from the support surface.

[0026] Provided at right angles to the first pair of clamping fingers 5 is a second pair of clamping fingers 8, 9. Clamping finger 8 is provided at the top of finger 8 with an outward bent edge 10. In respect of construction the clamping finger 9 is similar to a clamping finger 5 of the first pair, and also has a resilient tongue 11 and an uncoupling tongue 12.

[0027] Figure 3 shows a side view of the clamp 2 and the profile beam 3 in a horizontal position. Horizontal position is understood to mean the direction in which profile beam 3 extends when arranged on a pitched roof with tile hook 1. The vertical position is the position wherein profile beam 3 runs parallel to the pitch of the roof.

[0028] Profile beam 3 has on either side a clamping surface 13, 14 on each of which a rib 15, 16 is arranged. Further provided in both clamping surfaces 13, 14 is a longitudinal groove 17, 18, each with an overhanging edge 19, 20. The lower surface of the profile beam 3 forms a contact surface 21 which rests on the support surface formed by the upright walls 4.

[0029] Further provided in this contact surface 21 is a channel 22 extending in longitudinal direction of profile beam 3. The channel has a width B and a depth D.

[0030] As shown in figure 3, the clamping finger 8 is placed with the outward bent edge 10 into the longitudinal groove 19 and here hooks behind the overhanging edge 20. On the other side the resilient tongue 11 of clamping finger 9 hooks behind the rib 15, whereby profile beam 3 is held and clamped in clamp 2.

[0031] It will further be apparent from figure 3 that the clamping fingers 5 of the first pair, these each having a width b and a height h, fall inside the cross-section of channel 22.

[0032] In figure 4 the profile beam 3 is clamped in clamp 2 in the vertical position. In this position clamping fingers 5 clamp against the clamping surfaces 13, 14 of profile beam 3 and the resilient tongues 6 of these clamping fingers 5 hook behind the ribs 15, 16. In this vertical position the second pair of clamping fingers 8, 9 falls inside channel 22.

Claims

1. Combination of a clamp (2) and a profile beam (3) wherein the profile beam (3) has a contact surface (21) and has two parallel clamping surfaces (13, 14) lying perpendicularly of the contact surface and lying opposite each other, which clamping surfaces (13, 14) extend in longitudinal direction of the profile beam (3) wherein the clamp (2) comprises: - a support body with a support surface on which the profile beam with the contact surface is supported while lying thereagainst; - a first pair of clamping fingers (5) standing upright from the support surface and engaging on the clamping surfaces (13, 14) of the profile beam (3) in a first position; - a second pair of clamping fingers (8,9) standing upright from the support surface and engaging on the clamping surfaces (13, 14) of the profile beam (3) in a second position; wherein the profile beam (3) comprises a channel (22) , which channel (22) extends in longitudinal direction of the profile beam and is arranged in the contact surface and between the two clamping surfaces (13, 14), wherein the width and the depth of the channel (22) are greater than the width and the height of the first pair of clamping fingers (5) and than the width and height of the second pair of clamping fingers (8, 9).

2. Combination according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the second pair of clamping fingers (8,9), as seen in the clamping direction of the second pair of clamping fingers (8,9), falls inside the cross-section of the channel (22) in the first position of the profile beam on the clamp (2), and wherein the projection of the first pair of clamping fingers (5), as seen in the clamping direction of the first pair of clamping fingers (5), falls inside the cross-section of the channel (22) in the second position of the profile beam (3) on the clamp (2).

3. Combination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rib (15, 16) is arranged on both clamping surfaces, which rib extends in longitudinal direction of the profile beam (3) and wherein at least the clamping fingers of the first pair of clamping fingers (5) are each provided with a resilient tongue (6) which extends from the top of the clamping finger down, in the direction of the clamping surface and in the direction of the support surface, and here hooks behind the rib (15,16) on the relevant clamping surface (13,14).

4. Combination according to claim 3, wherein each of the clamping fingers of the first pair of clamping fingers (5) is further provided with an uncoupling tongue (7), which is arranged fixedly on the top of the clamping finger and wherein the uncoupling tongue (7) extends away from the support surface and from the clamping surface (13,14).

5. Combination according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein a longitudinal groove (17, 18) is arranged in at least one of the clamping surfaces (13,14), which longitudinal groove (17,18) has an overhanging edge (19,20), which edge extends in the plane of the clamping surface (13,14); and wherein in the second position of the profile beam (3) on the clamp (2) at least one clamping finger of the second pair of clamping fingers (8,9) protrudes into the longitudinal groove and hooks behind the overhanging edge (19,20).

6. Combination according to any one of the foregoing claims, further comprising a tile hook (1), wherein the clamp (2) is arranged on an end part of the tile hook (1).