Stop for securing an object such as a solar panel to a support

Abstract

A stop (20) for holding an object such as a solar panel (110) on a support (10), the stop (20) comprising a body (22) having a bearing surface (24) on the support (10) and comprising at least one insertion tab (26), the bearing surface (24) and the at least one insertion tab (26) defining between them a slot (30) having an open end (32) through which the support (10) can be inserted and an opposite, closed end (34), the at least one insertion tab (26) being configured to fit into a slot (18) in the support (10) so as to engage the support (10) in the slot (30), the slot (30) then allowing movement of the stop (20) along the support (10) to a locking position in which the support (10) is held between the bearing surface (24) and at least one insertion tab (26). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Stop for securing an object such as a solar panel to a support. Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of mechanical assemblies, and more particularly to a stop for holding an object, such as a solar panel, on a support, as well as a fastening assembly comprising such a stop. Prior art

[0002] Solar panels are generally mounted on inclined stringers, against which at least the lowest solar panel must be secured to prevent slippage. One solution for this purpose is to designate the lower end of the stringer with a tab that is deformed to prevent the lowest panel from sliding. This solution has the advantage of being very simple to manufacture and implement, but it cannot support heavy loads.

[0003] A second solution consists of attaching a bracket or similar element to the longeron, which is fixed to the longeron by one or more screws sized according to the loads to be supported. With such sizing, this solution provides satisfactory mechanical strength, but it has the disadvantage of adding parts and increasing assembly time.

[0004] The invention aims at least to partially remedy these drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0005] To this end, the present exposition relates to a stop for holding an object such as a solar panel on a support, the stop comprising a body which has a bearing surface on the support and which includes at least one insertion tab, the bearing surface and the at least one insertion tab defining between them a slot having an open end through which the support can be inserted and an opposite, closed end, the at least one insertion tab being configured to fit into a light in the support so as to engage the support in the slot, the slot then allowing a movement of the stop along the support to a locking position in which the support is held between the bearing surface and the at least one insertion tab.

[0006] The support may be a stringer or a rail, or any element extending primarily in a longitudinal direction. Several solar panels (or more generally, objects) may be mounted on the support, side by side longitudinally; in this case, a single stop may be provided to hold one solar panel, typically the lowest panel, in the mounting position, or Several stops can be used, each holding one or more solar panels. In the mounting position, the stop can be in contact with the support and with the solar panel it is holding. In particular, the bearing surface of the stop body can come into contact with, and even rest upon, the support.

[0007] The body defines a slot to receive a portion of the support. The support can be inserted into the slot through its open end and optionally engage until it comes to a stop, for example, against the closed end of the slot opposite said open end. Moving the support within the slot allows the stop to move from a retracted position, where it can be removed from the slot, to a locked position in which the stop cannot be directly removed (i.e., without returning to the retracted position) from the slot, insofar as the support is retained between the bearing surface and at least one insertion tab.

[0008] In the case of a plurality of insertion tabs, the support may include a corresponding plurality of lights, a single light for all the insertion tabs, or any intermediate configuration where a light may be common to a group of insertion tabs.

[0009] Because the stop is a separate piece from the support, it can be sized as needed to support the desired load level, much more easily than the first prior solution described above. Furthermore, because the stop engages in a slot in the support and then holds the support between the bearing surface and the insertion tab, installing the stop on the support is easy and reduces the number of additional parts required, such as screws, making it more efficient than the second prior solution described above. Thus, the proposed stop is both robust and easy to install.

[0010] In some embodiments, the body comprises at least one wing, one side of which defines the bearing surface. The body may comprise several wings, typically two, three, or more, each wing having one side configured to come into contact with the support and thus contribute to defining the bearing surface on one side of the slot.

[0011] In certain embodiments, at least one wing and at least one insertion tab are positioned opposite each other on either side of the slot. The wings and corresponding tabs can form as many pairs as needed, with each wing and tab of the same pair opposite each other on either side of the slot. This simplifies the overall structure of the stop while preventing the stop from tilting around the axis of the slot. In this way, the stop is very stable once it is engaged on the support.

[0012] Thus, in certain embodiments, the body comprises at least two wings and preferably at least two corresponding insertion tabs.

[0013] In some embodiments, the body includes a bridge connecting at least two wings to each other. The bridge may extend transversely across the wings. The bridge may be narrower, wider, or as wide as the wings, typically continuing the width of the wings. The bridge may provide rigid attachment of the wings to each other. The bridge may be a single piece with the wings, preferably formed from the same material as the wings.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the bridge is provided, in a direction transverse to the slot, on the side of at least two wings opposite the slot. In these embodiments, the wings may be delimited on one side by the bridge, and on the other side by the bearing surface facing the slot. Thus, the bridge overhangs the slot, and therefore the portion of the support that is retained in the slot.

[0015] Alternatively or in addition, in certain embodiments, the bridge is provided, in the direction of movement of the support in the slot, on one side of the at least two flanges opposite the closed end of the slot. In these embodiments, the bridge is no longer provided to overhang the slot but on one side of the slot. Thus, it is possible to ensure that the bridge does not overlap the support, thereby avoiding interference with any protruding part that may be provided on the support. The stop according to these embodiments can therefore be adapted to a greater variety of supports.

[0016] According to yet another variant, the bridge could be provided on the other side of the wings, that is to say, in the direction of movement of the support in the slot, on one side of at least two wings opposite the open end of the slot. In this position, the bridge can better support the solar panel, although at the risk of interfering with the support.

[0017] In certain embodiments, at least one insertion tab is concave at its interface with the slot. The concavity is strict and may define a recessed shape for the insertion tab. The concavity may be curved, straight in sections, or even formed according to a combination of curved and straight portions. The concavity facilitates the engagement of the support in the slot, thus facilitating assembly.

[0018] In certain embodiments, one end of at least one insertion tab opposite the open end of the slot has a recess relative to the rest of the body. In the remainder of this description, this recess is also referred to as the first recess. For the purposes of this description and unless otherwise indicated, the mention of a "first" element, such as a first recess, does not necessarily imply the existence of a "second" element, nor, where applicable, an order relationship between the first and second elements. Ordinal qualifiers are, in this context, used solely for the purposes of clarity and identification, without prejudging any particular characteristics. Similarly, and conversely, the mention of a higher-ranking element (third, etc.) does not in any way imply that lower rank elements, such as a possible second element, exist and / or possess the characteristics that may have been presented elsewhere.

[0019] The end of the insertion tab in question may protrude from the outside of the body, thereby reducing the body's overall size, which in particular facilitates the insertion of the tab into the opening of the substrate. Thanks to these arrangements, the size of the opening can be reduced, thus improving the substrate's strength without affecting the tab's ability to fit into the opening. The first recess may take the form of a notch, a rounded corner, a chamfer, etc.

[0020] In certain embodiments, a portion of the body opposite the closed end of the slot has a recess relative to the bearing surface. This recess is therefore located on the side of the open end of the slot. In the remainder of this description, this recess is also referred to as the second recess. Thanks to this second recess, the body offers greater freedom for engaging the support in the open end of the slot. In particular, the second recess can allow the stop to pivot without interfering with the support, to facilitate the support's engagement in the slot. With these features, the size of the slot can be reduced, which improves the support's strength without affecting the insertion tab's ability to engage in the slot. The second recess can take the form of a recess, a rounded corner, a chamfer, etc. If necessary, the second recess can be provided on one end of the flange on the same side as the bridge.

[0021] In some embodiments, the stop is formed from a cut and folded sheet of metal. The stop is thus particularly simple to manufacture. More generally, when it is formed from a single piece, the stop greatly simplifies the mounting and securing of the solar panel to the support.

[0022] The present description also relates to a mounting assembly comprising a support for at least one solar panel, the support having at least one opening, and a stop as described above. The stop can be mounted in the opening and the support retained in the slot of the stop, so that the solar panel can be held on the support.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the stop is mounted on the support in a removable manner. Thus, the stop can be detached from the support, preferably without loosening an intermediate fastener such as a screw. The proposed mounting assembly therefore simplifies assembly and maintenance operations.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the stop is mounted on the support in such a way that the open end of the slot is located on the side opposite the part of the support capable of supporting at least one solar panel. Thus, the solar panel is positioned This pushes the support towards the closed end of the slot, strengthening the engagement between the support and the stop and thus ensuring the stop remains firmly attached to the support. The more pressure the solar panel exerts on the stop, the more firmly the stop is engaged on the support and the better the solar panel is held.

[0025] In certain embodiments, at least one opening in the support is shorter than the insertion tab. This prevents the stop from accidentally escaping from the support; nevertheless, the stop can still be intentionally inserted into or removed from the support, in particular by means of a pivoting movement as mentioned above. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] Other features and advantages of the subject matter of this presentation will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached figures.

[0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective and cross-sectional view of a stop mounted on a support according to a first embodiment.

[0028] Fig. 2A is a side view in section of a stop according to a second embodiment, during engagement on a support.

[0029] Fig. 2B is a view similar to Fig. 2A, with the stop fully engaged on the support.

[0030] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a stop according to a third embodiment.

[0031] Figure 4 comprises three cross-sectional views (A), (B), (C) of the stop along the third method of implementation, at different stages of its engagement on a medium.

[0032] [Fig.5] is a perspective view corresponding to view (B) of [Fig.4]. Detailed description

[0033] A fastening assembly 100 according to a first embodiment is described with reference to [Fig. 1]. The fastening assembly 100 comprises a support 10 for at least one object such as a solar panel, as well as a stop 20 configured to be mounted on the support 10 and to limit the sliding of the object relative to the support 10. For the sake of brevity, the object is hereafter considered to be a solar panel, without loss of generality.

[0034] As illustrated, the support 10 can be a longitudinal member extending primarily along a longitudinal direction X. A lateral direction Y and a transverse direction Z are also defined, the directions (X, Y, Z) forming an orthogonal coordinate system. The support 10 can be designed to be mounted inclined with respect to the horizontal. For example, its longitudinal ends may not be at the same height in the transverse direction Z. The left side of [Fig. 1] represents in this case one end of the support 10 intended to be mounted in a relatively low position. Support 10 can extend to the right, beyond the illustrated portion, to an opposite end intended to be mounted in a relatively high position.

[0035] The support 10 can be designed as a profile, that is, having a substantially constant cross-section (i.e., constant except for local singularities) along the longitudinal direction X. By way of example, the support 10 can be obtained by cutting and bending a metal sheet. Alternatively, the support 10 can be obtained by extrusion.

[0036] Although only partially shown in [Fig. 1], the support may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. In the present embodiment, the support 10 has a generally omega-shaped cross-section (Q), but any other shape could be considered, provided that the support 10 includes at least one solar panel support portion 12 capable of supporting at least one solar panel. The support 10 may include several solar panel support portions 12; by way of example, [Fig. 1] illustrates two such portions 12, arranged laterally on either side of a separator 14 that extends longitudinally and projects in the transverse direction Z. For example, the two solar panel support portions 12 each support, side by side in the lateral direction Y, at least one solar panel 110, one of which is shown in dashed lines in [Fig. 1].

[0037] The solar panel support portion 12 may be flat or substantially flat. More generally, the support 10 may have any shape useful for the functions it performs; for example, a gutter 16 may be formed, typically in the lower part of the support 10, particularly under the solar panel support portion. The gutter 16 may facilitate the collection and drainage of rainwater by runoff in the longitudinal direction X. The gutter 16 may be formed by a portion of the support 10 having a generally U-shaped cross-section, and / or by a separate piece.

[0038] For its assembly with the stop 20, the support 10 may have, for example in at least one of the solar panel support portions 12 or each of them, one or more lights 18. The light 18 may take the form of a hole through the support 10. The light 18 may extend mainly in the longitudinal direction X.

[0039] The stop 20 according to a first embodiment comprises a body 22 which has a bearing surface 24 on the support 10. The bearing surface 24 is configured to bear on the support 10, for example on the portion of the solar panel support 12. The bearing surface 24 may have a shape complementary to the surface of the support 10 against which it bears, for example be flat or at least straight at its interface with the support 10.

[0040] Furthermore, the body 22 includes at least one insertion tab 26 which, as will be seen later, is configured to fit into the slot 18 of the support 10. The insertion tab 26 is a part of the body 22 provided at a distance from the bearing surface 24, in particular in the transverse direction Z. Thus, the bearing surface 24 and the insertion tab 26 define between them a space forming a slot 30. The slot 30 can extend globally along the longitudinal direction X, and optionally also along the lateral direction Y.

[0041] The slot 30 may include an open end 32 through which the support 10 can be inserted, as will be seen later, and a closed end 34. The open end 32 and the closed end 34 are opposite each other, particularly in the longitudinal direction X. The slot 30 may stop at the closed end 34, where it leads to a material junction which connects the insertion tab 26 to the rest of the body 22.

[0042] For example, the body 22 may include at least one wing 28, in this case two wings 28, one side of which defines the support surface 24. The wings 28 may extend transversely to the slot 30, for example mainly in the (X, Z) plane. The wings 28 may be substantially planar.

[0043] Correspondingly, the body 22 here comprises two insertion tabs 26. As illustrated, the wings 28 and the insertion tabs 26 can be arranged opposite each other, respectively, on either side of the slot 30 in the transverse direction Z, thus forming pairs. The aforementioned material connection can then link each insertion tab 26 of a pair to the wing 28 of said pair. The wing 28 and the insertion tab 26 may or may not have the same dimensions in the longitudinal direction X.

[0044] The slot 30 can be defined, in the transverse direction Z, between a plurality of wings 28 and a plurality of insertion tabs 26, and on the other hand, in the longitudinal direction, between the open end 32 and the closed end 34. The shape of the slot 30 is defined by the shape of the surfaces surrounding it: typically, if the bearing surface 24 is flat, the slot 30 can also be flat, in particular in the (X, Y) plane.

[0045] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the insertion tab 26 is configured to fit into a slot 18 in the support 10 so as to engage the support 10 in the slot 30, via the open end 32 of the slot 30. For example, the stop 20 can be inserted into the slot 18 by a translation in the transverse direction Z (downward in [Fig. 1]) until the portion of the solar panel support 12 is level with the open end 32. The slot 30 then allows the stop 20 to move along the support 10, here in the longitudinal direction X (to the left in [Fig. 1]), to a locking position, illustrated in [Fig. 1], in which the support The support 10 is held between the bearing surface 24 and the insertion tab 26, particularly in the transverse direction Z. In the locked position, the interaction between the slot 18 and the slot 30 limits the movement of the stop 20 in the transverse direction Z. The interaction between the slot 18 and the slot 30 can also limit the movement of the stop 20 in the lateral direction Y, specifically due to the limited width of the slot 18 and the aforementioned material junction, the movement of which is restricted by the contours of the slot 18. Finally, the interaction between the slot 18 and the slot 30 can also limit the movement of the stop 20 in the longitudinal direction X, particularly in the direction in which the support 10 inserted in the slot 30 abuts against the closed end 34 of the slot 30.In doing so, the stop 20 can be firmly held on the support 10, while being mounted on the support 10 in a completely removable manner, without any other part involved in its attachment.

[0046] The wings 28 mentioned above can be connected to each other by a bridge 40 provided in the body 22 of the stop 20. The bridge 40 can extend transversely to the wings 28. In the first embodiment, the bridge 40 thus extends parallel to the slot 30, that is, mainly in the (X, Y) plane. Alternatively, the bridge 40 can be provided, in the transverse direction Z perpendicular to the slot 30, on the side of the wings 28 opposite the slot 30. In the transverse direction Z, the wings 28 therefore extend between the bearing surface 24 (or the slot 30) on the one hand and the bridge 40 on the other. The bridge 40 can be substantially planar, except perhaps for respective fillets for the connection with the wings 28.

[0047] As can be seen from [Fig. 1], the stop 20 can be formed from a cut and bent sheet of metal, which makes its manufacture particularly simple. The wings 28, the bridge 40, and the insertion tabs 26 can therefore be made from materials formed in one piece. For example, a metal strip is cut to form the openings defining the slot 30, and then bent, for example at a right angle, at the joint between the bridge 40 and the wings 28.

[0048] In the mounting assembly 100 as shown in [Fig. 1], the stop 20 is mounted on the support 10 in such a way that the open end 32 of the slot is located on the side opposite the portion of the support 10 designed to receive the solar panel 110. In this case, the solar panel 110 can come into contact with one side of the wings 28 in the longitudinal direction X. Thus, the solar panel, particularly under the action of its own weight when the support 10 is inclined, pushes the stop 20 in a direction that keeps the stop 20 in its locked position. The solar panel 110 can therefore be held on the support 10 in a particularly reliable manner.

[0049] Figures 2A to 4 show the stop 20 in other embodiments. In these figures, elements corresponding to or identical to those of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numeral and will not be described again.

[0050] Figures 2A and 2B represent the stop 20 according to a second embodiment, identical to the first embodiment except that a portion of the body 22 opposite the closed end 34 of the slot 30 has a recess 36 (second recess) relative to the bearing surface 24. For example, a portion of the wing 28 defining the slot 30 is recessed, on the side of the open end 32, relative to a portion of the wing defining the slot 30 on the side of the closed end 34. In other words, the slot 30 widens towards the wing 28 (or opposite the insertion tab 26), that is, in the transverse direction Z, when traversing the slot 30 towards the open end 32.

[0051] The recess 36 can take any desired shape. In this case, the recess 36 takes the form of a chamfer: the corner of the wing 28 adjacent to the open end 32 of the slot is trimmed, for example obliquely. The chamfer can be flat, which facilitates, as illustrated in [Fig. 2A], the positioning of the stop 20 in an inclined position on the support 10. Other shapes can, however, be considered for the recess 36, for example a rounded corner or a straight, crenellated recess.

[0052] The fact that the slot 30 widens on the side of the open end 32 facilitates the engagement of the support 10 in the slot 30. Moreover, as can be seen from [Fig.2A], the recess 36 allows the stop 20 to be inclined at the time of its insertion into the light 18, which allows a part of the insertion tab 26, opposite the recess 36, to be positioned under a solid portion of the support 10 while the insertion tab 26 has not entirely passed through the light 18.

[0053] The stop 20 can then be pivoted to complete the passage of the insertion tab 26 into the light 18, and then slid along the support 10 in the longitudinal direction X as detailed in the first embodiment, until it comes into the locking position illustrated in [Fig.2B].

[0054] Thanks to the recess 36, the light 18 can be made shorter than in the first embodiment, and in particular shorter than the insertion tab 26. This prevents the stop 20 from disengaging from the support 10 by a simple sliding movement along the support 10, because a rotation is also necessary to disengage the insertion tab 26 from the light 18.

[0055] Figures 3 and 4 show the stop 20 according to a third embodiment. This stop 20 may have all or part of the characteristics of the embodiments described above, and differs from them in the aspects described below.

[0056] In the third embodiment, the bridge 40 is transverse to the wings 28 as in the previous embodiments; however, the bridge 40 is not parallel to the slot 30 but transverse to the slot 30. For example, the bridge 40 is provided on one side of the wings 28 in the direction of movement of the support 10 in the slot 30, that is to say here the longitudinal direction X. Thus, the bridge 40 can extend globally in the (Y, Z) plane. The side where the bridge 40 is arranged can be the side of the closed end 34 or, as illustrated, the side opposite the closed end 34. Thus, in the transverse direction Z, the wings 28 can have, opposite the bearing surface 24, a free edge 29. The absence of a bridge overhanging the support 10 allows the stop to be compatible with a wide range of supports, including those with particularly high separators 14, or other projections.

[0057] When the stop 20 is inclined by means of the recess 36 as detailed in the second embodiment, the bridge 40 may interfere with the support 10. To avoid this, firstly, the bridge 40 is dimensioned to be shorter than the wings 28 in the transverse direction Z: its height is less than or equal to the minimum height of the wings 28 in the part including the recess 36. The design of the bridge 40 is relatively flexible because the bridge 40 has no mechanical role with respect to the support of the solar panel relative to the support 10. Secondly, a recess 42 can be provided in the bridge 40, on the side of the slot 30 in the transverse direction Z. In this case, the recess 42 has a shape complementary to the separator 14 and aims to prevent the separator 14 from restricting the movements of the stop 20. More generally, the recess 42 can have any desired shape depending on elements to avoid on support 10.Furthermore, the recess 42 would not be necessary if the deck 40 were lower and / or the wings 28 longer. Overall, the deck 40 can be designed by a person skilled in the art according to their requirements, depending on the shape of a given support.

[0058] It should also be noted that the wings 28 can be extended in the longitudinal direction X compared to the second embodiment. Typically, the wings 28 extend longitudinally well beyond the insertion tabs 26, particularly on the side of the bridge 40. This allows, as will be seen more clearly in [Fig. 4], the bridge 40 to be longitudinally offset relative to the support 10, which further limits the interference between the bridge 40 and the support 10.

[0059] Furthermore, one end of the insertion tab 26 opposite the open end 32 of the slot 30 may have a recess 25 (first recess) relative to the rest of the body 22. The recess 25 may take any desired shape. In this case, the recess 25 takes the form of a chamfer: the corner of the body 22 formed by the insertion tab 26 and adjacent to the closed end 34 of the slot is trimmed, for example, obliquely. The chamfer may be flat or not. Other shapes may, however, be considered for the recess 25, for example, a rounded corner or a straight, crenellated recess. The role of the recess 25 will become clearer with reference to [Fig. 4].

[0060] Finally, it is possible to provide that the insertion tab 26 is concave at its interface with the slot 30. In this case, the insertion tab 26 has, at its interface with the slot 30, at least one concavity 27. The concavity 27 is curved here. but any other shape could be considered. As a result, the slot 30 may have a bulge between its open end 32 and its closed end 34.

[0061] Views (A), (B), (C) of [Fig.4] represent, in section, the stop 20 according to the third embodiment at different stages of its engagement on a support 10.

[0062] View (A) is similar to [Fig.2A] and illustrates the insertion of the stop 20 into the slot 18 of the support 10 by a translational movement along the transverse direction Z (downwards in [Fig.4]), in an inclined configuration in which the recess 36 can come to rest against the support 10. In this configuration, it appears that the stop 20 could already be pivoted, the recess 25 avoiding interference between the body 22 and the support 10. Indeed, the length L1 of the slot in the longitudinal direction X is greater than or equal to the distance L2, in the longitudinal direction (parallel to the recess 36 when the stop 20 is inclined), between the open end 32 of the slot 30 (free end of the insertion tab 26) and the furthest part of the recess 25. Inserting the stop 20 into the slot 18 is therefore made easier.

[0063] Alternatively or in addition to its pivoting, as illustrated in view (B), the stop 20 is moved along the support 10, in particular in the longitudinal direction X. For example, during this movement, the recess 36 can remain pressed against the support 10, while the bearing surface 24 is at a distance from the support 10. The concavity 27 of the insertion tongue 26 allows the support 10 to be engaged more fully in the slot 30, thereby pre-positioning the stop 20 more reliably.

[0064] Figure 5 shows more clearly how the fact that the bridge 40 is provided on one side of the wings 28 opposite the closed end 34 of the slot 30, instead of overhanging the slot 30, avoids any interference between the bridge 40 and the support 10: during pivoting, the bridge 40 is lowered on one side of the support 10, beyond the separator 14 in the longitudinal direction X. In the example of Figure 5, moreover, a separator 14 is shown which protrudes well above the stop 20 and which includes an upper platform for retaining the solar panels 110. If the stop 20 were to overlap this separator 14, this would require moving the lights 18 further apart and providing much higher wings 28; The stop 20 thus designed would be excessively bulky and / or of excessively complex shape, whereas the proposed embodiment makes it possible to overcome these disadvantages while retaining a simple stop 20 of reasonable size.This makes the 20 stop compatible with many types of 10 supports.

[0065] Before, during, or after the longitudinal movement of [Fig. 4] (B), the stop 20 can be pivoted so as to bring the bearing surface 24 against the support 10. If necessary, the longitudinal movement of the stop 20 relative to the support 10 can then continue until the support 10 is brought against the closed end 34 of the slot, as illustrated in view (C) of [Fig.4]. The stop 20 is then in the locking position.

[0066] A solar panel 110 can be positioned against the stop 20, for example opposite the bridge 40, in any case on the side opposite the open end 32, so as to maintain the stop 20 in its locked position. Furthermore, the fact that the length L1 of the opening 18 in the longitudinal direction X is shorter than the length L3 of the insertion tab 26 in the longitudinal direction X prevents the stop 20 from disengaging unexpectedly from the support 10.

[0067] Although the present description refers to specific embodiments, modifications may be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features of the various embodiments illustrated or mentioned may be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

Claims

Demands

1. A stop (20) for retaining an object such as a solar panel (110) on a support (10), the stop (20) comprising a body (22) having a bearing surface (24) on the support (10) and comprising at least one insertion tab (26), the bearing surface (24) and the at least one insertion tab (26) defining between them a slot (30) having an open end (32) through which the support (10) can be inserted and an opposite, closed end (34), the at least one insertion tab (26) being configured to fit into a slot (18) in the support (10) so as to engage the support (10) in the slot (30), the slot (30) then allowing movement of the stop (20) along the support (10) to a locking position in which the support (10) is retained between the bearing surface (24) and at least one insertion tongue (26).

2. Stop according to claim 1, wherein the body (22) comprises at least one wing (28) one side of which defines the bearing surface (24), the at least one wing (28) and the at least one insertion tab (26) being preferably opposite each other on either side of the slot (30).

3. Stop according to claim 2, wherein the body (22) comprises at least two wings (28) and preferably at least two corresponding insertion tabs (26).

4. Stop according to claim 3, wherein the body (22) comprises a bridge (40) connecting the at least two wings (28) to each other.

5. Stop according to claim 4, wherein the bridge (40) is provided, in the direction of movement of the support (10) in the slot (30), on one side of the at least two wings (28) opposite the closed end (34) of the slot (30).

6. Stop according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one insertion tab (26) is concave at its interface with the slot (30).

7. Stop according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one end of at least one insertion tab (26) opposite the open end (32) of the slot (30) has a recess (25) relative to the rest of the body (22).

8. A stop according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a portion of the body (22) opposite the closed end (34) of the slot (30) has a recess (36) relative to the bearing surface (24).

9. Stop according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the stop (20) being formed by a cut and folded metal sheet.

10. A mounting assembly (100) comprising a support (10) for at least one solar panel (110), the support (10) having at least one light (18), and a stop (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, preferably wherein the stop (20) is mounted on the support (10) in a removable manner.

11. A fixing assembly according to claim 10, wherein the stop (20) is mounted on the support (10) in such a way that the open end (32) of the slot (30) is located on the side opposite the part of the support (10) suitable for receiving at least one solar panel (110).

12. Fixing assembly according to claim 10 or 11, wherein at least one light of the support (18) is shorter than the insertion tab (26).

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