Patents by Inventor Brian Cecil Stearns

Brian Cecil Stearns has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160268965
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mounting brackets. In various embodiments, a mounting bracket may comprise a middle portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The middle portion may comprise a channel and a lip. The top portion may be operatively coupled to the middle portion. The top portion may comprise a first engagement structure. The top portion may also define a first aperture. The bottom portion may be operatively coupled to the middle portion. The mounting bracket may be configured to mount a container to a structure. The mounting bracket may also be configured to create a bond path between the container and the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Patent number: 9431953
    Abstract: A roof mount for mounting at least one solar panel to a roof surface including a base. The roof mount includes a clamp connected to the base and a first recess sized to support a first solar panel. The first recess has a first height extending between a first top flange and a first bottom flange. The clamp also includes a second recess sized to support one of a second solar panel and a skirt flange. The second recess has a second height extending between a second top flange and a second bottom flange. The roof mount further includes a fastener connected to the clamp. The second fastener is operable to adjust the first and second heights, such that upon tightening of the second fastener, the first height increases and the second height decreases, and upon loosening of the second fastener, the first height decreases and the second height increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Rillito River Solar, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Patent number: 9422723
    Abstract: A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Douglas Timothy Lounsbury
  • Patent number: 9422721
    Abstract: A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Douglas Timothy Lounsbury
  • Publication number: 20160138269
    Abstract: A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Douglas Timothy Lounsbury
  • Publication number: 20160126884
    Abstract: A roof mount for mounting at least one solar panel to a roof surface including a base. The roof mount includes a clamp connected to the base and a first recess sized to support a first solar panel. The first recess has a first height extending between a first top flange and a first bottom flange. The clamp also includes a second recess sized to support one of a second solar panel and a skirt flange. The second recess has a second height extending between a second top flange and a second bottom flange. The roof mount further includes a fastener connected to the clamp. The second fastener is operable to adjust the first and second heights, such that upon tightening of the second fastener, the first height increases and the second height decreases, and upon loosening of the second fastener, the first height decreases and the second height increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Publication number: 20160025262
    Abstract: A mounting bracket is provided for attaching an object to a corrugated surface. The mounting bracket includes a first leg that, when assembled, is fixed to the corrugated surface. The mounting bracket includes a second leg, distinct and separate from the first leg, and when assembled, is fixed to the corrugated surface. The mounting bracket includes a main portion. The main portion is slidably engageable with the first leg and slidably engageable with the second leg. The main portion includes a plurality of teeth engageable with an aperture of the second leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Patent number: 9212833
    Abstract: A roof mounting system for mounting one or more roof-mounted fixtures to a roof includes a roofing system having a top surface and a roof attachment assembly that includes a first plate having a first plate aperture, a second plate connected to the first plate, a third plate including a third plate aperture, the third plate connected to the second plate, a nut, and a first fastener including a first head positioned between the second plate and the third plate and a first shaft extending through the third plate aperture and the nut. A second fastener has a head positioned between the first and second plates and a shaft extending through the first plate aperture and through the roofing system top surface. The force required to separate the first plate and the second plate is greater than the force required to separate the second plate and the third plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Vermont Slate and Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Publication number: 20150330084
    Abstract: A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Douglas Timothy Lounsbury
  • Patent number: 9175478
    Abstract: A roof mount apparatus for mounting on a roof surface includes a first solar panel having a first frame secured to the roof surface, a second solar panel having a second frame secured to the roof surface, the second solar panel spaced from the first solar panel and defining a slot between the first and second frames, and a snow fence secured to the first and second frames. The snow fence includes a bracket positioned adjacent to a top of the first and second frames, the bracket protruding from the first and second frames to inhibit sliding of snow along at least one of the first and second solar panels, and a coupling device including an elongated portion positioned in the slot and extending substantially perpendicular to the roof surface and a wide portion positioned within a channel to couple the bracket to the first and second frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Publication number: 20150288320
    Abstract: A roof mount system supports a solar panel above a roof and includes a base positioned on the roof and a first fastener connected to the base and extending away from the roof and moveable along the base in a direction generally parallel to the roof. A first clamp supports a bottom surface of a solar panel frame and adjusts the height of the solar panel above the roof by moving the first clamp along a first fastener in a direction perpendicular to the roof. A second clamp is connected to a second fastener and moves with respect to the first clamp perpendicular to the roof. The solar panel is clamped between the first clamp and the second clamp portion. A protrusion extends from the first or second clamp to form an electrical bond between the solar panel frame and the respective first or second clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Patent number: 9127464
    Abstract: A roof mounting system mounts a structure to a roof and includes a roof substrate having a roof surface, a flashing positioned on the roof surface and having a flashing plane, and a bracket connected to the flashing. The bracket has a bottom surface that has a bracket plane. The bottom surface is positioned on the flashing, so that the flashing plane extends substantially parallel to the bracket plane. The bracket has a bracket aperture and a seal is positioned within the bracket aperture and has a seal aperture. A fastener extends through the bracket aperture and the seal aperture, and the seal limits flow of moisture through the bracket aperture. At least one of the flashing and the bracket form a drainage opening, so that the drainage opening permits egress of moisture away from of the bracket aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Douglas Timothy Lounsbury
  • Patent number: 9010038
    Abstract: A roof mounting system is mounted to roofing tile. The roof mounting system includes a first bracket portion having a first elongate portion, a first hook portion and a first leg. The first hook portion engages a first side of the roofing tile. The roof mounting system also includes a second bracket portion having a second elongate portion, a second hook portion and a second leg. The second hook portion engages a second side of the roofing tile. The roof mounting system further includes a slotted plate that connects the first and the second bracket portions by engaging the first and the second legs. The roof mounting system further includes a standoff connected to either the first bracket portion or the slotted plate. The standoff supports one or more components on the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Publication number: 20140345213
    Abstract: A solar panel mounting assembly for mounting a solar panel to a roof surface includes a bracket having a slot with a generally t-shaped cross section that extends along at least a portion of a length of the bracket, a first fastener having a head end positioned in the slot and a shaft. The first fastener slides along the slot in a direction substantially parallel to the roof surface. The assembly further includes a membrane positioned between the roof surface and the bracket. The bracket is connected to the roof surface by at least one of a group consisting of the membrane and a second fastener, and the generally t-shaped cross section includes a first wide portion sized to receive the head end of the fastener and a second narrow portion sized to receive the shaft of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Brian Cecil Stearns
  • Publication number: 20140331594
    Abstract: A roof mounting system for mounting one or more roof-mounted fixtures to a roof includes a roofing system having a top surface and a roof attachment assembly that includes a first plate having a first plate aperture, a second plate connected to the first plate, a third plate including a third plate aperture, the third plate connected to the second plate, a nut, and a first fastener including a first head positioned between the second plate and the third plate and a first shaft extending through the third plate aperture and the nut. A second fastener has a head positioned between the first and second plates and a shaft extending through the first plate aperture and through the roofing system top surface. The force required to separate the first plate and the second plate is greater than the force required to separate the second plate and the third plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Alexander Grant Bornemann
  • Publication number: 20140252288
    Abstract: An accessory for a solar panel assembly includes a bracket defining an elongated portion extending in a first direction and including a slot, a connector coupled to the bracket and configured to engage at least one panel frame of the solar panel assembly, and a fence member including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion including a planar surface oriented at an angle relative to the bracket portion, and the second portion includes a projection that removably engages the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Cecil Stearns
  • Patent number: 8826618
    Abstract: A roof attachment assembly for mounting to a roof substrate. The roof attachment assembly comprises a plate having a substantially frustoconical protrusion defining an aperture extending therethrough, the plate defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the roof substrate and the second surface spaced from the roof substrate. The roof attachment assembly also comprises a membrane positioned adjacent one of the first surface and the second surface of the plate, and a bracket positioned proximate the second surface of the plate, the bracket operable to support one or more roof mounted fixtures. The roof attachment assembly further comprises a fastener extending through the bracket, the membrane and the plate, the fastener operable to couple the bracket, the membrane and the plate together, wherein the roof substrate is contiguous adjacent to an end of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Cecil Stearns
  • Publication number: 20140223839
    Abstract: A roof mounting system mounts a structure to a roof and includes a roof substrate having a roof surface, a flashing positioned on the roof surface and having a flashing plane, and a bracket connected to the flashing. The bracket has a bottom surface that has a bracket plane. The bottom surface is positioned on the flashing, so that the flashing plane extends substantially parallel to the bracket plane. The bracket has a bracket aperture and a seal is positioned within the bracket aperture and has a seal aperture. A fastener extends through the bracket aperture and the seal aperture, and the seal limits flow of moisture through the bracket aperture. At least one of the flashing and the bracket form a drainage opening, so that the drainage opening permits egress of moisture away from of the bracket aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Douglas Timothy Lounsbury
  • Patent number: 8701354
    Abstract: A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns, Douglas Timothy Lounsbury
  • Patent number: 8683751
    Abstract: A roof attachment assembly to be mounted on a roof substrate. The assembly comprises a plate having a substantially frustoconical protrusion, the plate defining a first surface and a second surface and including an aperture. The assembly further comprises a first membrane positioned adjacent to the first surface of the plate, a second membrane positioned adjacent to the second surface of the plate, a bracket positioned proximate the second membrane and the second surface of the plate, the bracket operable to support one or more roof-mounted fixtures, and a fastener extending through the bracket, the membranes, and the plate, the fastener operable to couple the bracket, the membranes and the plate. The assembly also comprises a second fastener that substantially mates with the bracket, wherein at least one of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Vermont Slate & Copper Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Cecil Stearns