Abstract: An improved bushing assembly for a solar tracker is provided. The bushing assembly includes a bushing that is seated within a ring-shaped bracket. The bushing includes an annular ridge that is disposed within an annular channel in the bracket. Alternatively, the bracket includes an annular ridge that is disposed within an annular channel in the bushing. In each configuration, the bushing is retained in position during installation of the bracket. The bushing defines an internal passage for a solar tracker crossbar and provides complete rotational freedom for the crossbar about its lengthwise axis and limited rotational freedom for the crossbar about the remaining orthogonal axes. Additional features including side skirts for minimizing the entry of debris between the bushing and the bracket, a resilient latch for securing bracket sections together, and vertical openings in the bracket sections to allow debris to escape.

Abstract: An improved leveling bolt adapted to be received within an aperture defined by a panel is provided. The leveling bolt includes a threaded shaft, a base, and an obstruction. The base is joined to a first end of the threaded shaft. The obstruction is proximal to a second end of the threaded shaft and is adapted to engage the panel at the aperture during reversal of the threaded shaft from the aperture to prevent full withdrawal of the leveling bolt.

Abstract: An improved leveling bolt adapted to be received within an aperture defined by a panel is provided. The leveling bolt includes a threaded shaft, a base, and an obstruction. The base is joined to a first end of the threaded shaft. The obstruction is proximal to a second end of the threaded shaft and is adapted to engage the panel at the aperture during reversal of the threaded shaft from the aperture to prevent full withdrawal of the leveling bolt.

Abstract: A channel nut and retainer assembly and method of attachment to a strut are disclosed. The assembly comprises a rotatable nut and a retainer. The retainer comprises a base wall and opposed side walls. Each of the side walls has an upper flange for mating with the upper edge of the strut and further includes a cantilevered holding leg extending from the upper flange. The retainer additionally includes actuation legs extending from the base wall. Each actuation leg includes a base wall connecting end and a nut driving end. The retainer additionally includes retention legs extending from the base wall. Each of the retention legs includes a leg holding hook. The retainer further includes rotation stops extending between the base wall of the retainer and the upper flanges of the retainer. The rotatable nut automatically rotates to a locking position upon attachment of the assembly to the strut.

Abstract: A swivelable and pivotable clip fastener for attaching two or more articles together is disclosed. The articles being attached may include electrical or fluid conduits or a substrate. The swivelable and pivotable clip fastener comprises a ball and socket construction for attaching a first article to a second article. The swivelable and pivotable clip fastener is easy to use. The clip fastener may be produced by additive manufacturing or a one-shot injection molding process. The ball and socket arrangement allows 360 degrees of rotation and pivoting of one article relative to the other. One or more slots are formed in the ball. The socket includes anti-release arms that are offset from one another. Optionally, the ball may be formed from a first material and the socket may be formed from a second material. A flash gate may attach the ball to the socket when the ball and socket are formed.

Abstract: A channel nut and retainer assembly and method of attachment to a strut are disclosed. The assembly comprises a rotatable nut and a retainer. The retainer comprises a base wall and opposed side walls. Each of the side walls has an upper flange for mating with the upper edge of the strut and further includes a cantilevered holding leg extending from the upper flange. The retainer additionally includes actuation legs extending from the base wall. Each actuation leg includes a base wall connecting end and a nut driving end. The retainer additionally includes retention legs extending from the base wall. Each of the retention legs includes a leg holding hook. The retainer further includes rotation stops extending between the base wall of the retainer and the upper flanges of the retainer. The rotatable nut automatically rotates to a locking position upon attachment of the assembly to the strut.

Abstract: A two-piece pallet fastener for securing a pallet element to a base pallet is disclosed. The fastener includes a sleeve having internal, male protrusions and a rivet having external, female threads. The sleeve is installed in a pallet base and the rivet is inserted through the part to be attached to the pallet base and into the sleeve. The sleeve includes a rivet-receiving end having an alignment feature and an anchoring end. The anchoring end includes flexible legs having external shoulders. The rivet includes a head and a shaft. The head includes an alignment feature. The shaft includes external, female threads and two or more axially-aligned longitudinal grooves. One or more detents are formed on the rivet for engagement with the interior surface of the sleeve. The detents are provided to produce a ratchet-type effect to assure that the rivet is locked into the sleeve.

Abstract: A two-piece pallet fastener for securing a pallet element to a base pallet is disclosed. The fastener includes a sleeve internal, male protrusions and a rivet having external, female threads. The sleeve is installed in a pallet base and the rivet is inserted through the part to be attached to the pallet base and into the sleeve. The sleeve includes a rivet-receiving end having an alignment feature and an anchoring end. The anchoring end includes flexible legs having external shoulders. The rivet includes a head and a shaft. The head includes an alignment feature. The shaft includes external, female threads and two or more axially-aligned longitudinal grooves. One or more detents are formed on the rivet for engagement with the interior surface of the sleeve. The detents are provided to produce a ratchet-type effect to assure that the rivet is locked into the sleeve.

Abstract: An appliance fastening apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a polymeric fastener includes an anti-rotational formation or surface. Another aspect of the appliance fastening apparatus includes a polymeric section essentially encapsulating a metallic nut therein. In yet another aspect, flexible polymeric barbed legs extend through a hole in an appliance wall such that wedge-shaped or barbed sections thereof are essentially on an opposite surface of the appliance wall from a polymeric head and/or metallic nut coupled thereto.

Abstract: An appliance apparatus includes an adhesively bonded bracket or support. In another aspect, a clothing apparatus includes a moveable transparent panel, such as a glass door or lid, which has a polymeric support or bracket adhesively bonded thereto. A further aspect provides polyurethane adhesive pellets bonding a polymeric hinge bracket to only a backside of a glass appliance panel.

Abstract: An enclosure for a wire connection includes a base and a cover. The base includes a bottom and a pair of longitudinal sidewalls disposed between the first and second ends. The cover includes a main body and a first wire securing member. According to one aspect, the cover further includes a second wire securing member. In another aspect, the first and second wire securing members are configured to engage first and second wires, respectively, to reduce strain on a connection between the first and second wires. In a further aspect, the first wire securing member is configured to engage the first wire to create a first bend in the first wire that extends into a first opening in the bottom of the base to reduce strain on the connection.

Abstract: An appliance apparatus includes an adhesively bonded bracket or support. In another aspect, a clothing apparatus includes a moveable transparent panel, such as a glass door or lid, which has a polymeric support or bracket adhesively bonded thereto. A further aspect provides polyurethane adhesive pellets bonding a polymeric hinge bracket to only a backside of a glass appliance panel.

Abstract: Roof clamps and methods of securing roof clamps are provided. The roof clamps include a saddle, a wedge, and a securing member. The securing member facilitates engaging a seam of a roof with the clamp and removably fixing the roof clamp to the seam through the camming action of the wedge against a region of the saddle. The securing member also serves as the connection point for an auxiliary item, such as a solar panel or a snow guard. The placement of the securing member allows the roof clamp to be secured from, and the auxiliary item to be attached at, a top surface of the saddle.

Abstract: A tool for use with a fastener is provided. Another aspect employs a removal tool for use with a photovoltaic fastener. In one aspect, a photovoltaic frame attachment apparatus includes a photovoltaic module including a peripheral frame, a strut or rail and a snap-in clip or fastener. In another aspect, a single-piece fastener includes at least one flexible wing matable with an opening in a strut, a flexible tongue internally projecting in a central manner from a top wall of a body, and a slot adapted to receive a portion of a photovoltaic panel frame. In a further aspect, a tool is rotated to disengage a central tongue of a fastener from a photovoltaic frame. Yet another aspect employs a tool to compress a finger and/or wing to allow fastener removal from a strut.

Abstract: A fastener for securing first and second decking boards with a joist is shown and described. The fastener may include a joist connecting member capable of engaging the joist, a board connecting member capable of engaging the first decking board, where the board connecting member is generally perpendicular the joist connecting member. The fastener may also include a retention feature laterally spaced from the board connecting member, where the retention feature is capable of engaging the second decking board.

Abstract: A solar panel assembly attachment apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a single piece and entirely metallic grounding clip is employed. A further aspect includes a clip or fastener which provides both frame grounding and a frame-to-strut attachment. In still another aspect, a grounding clip having barbs is linearly slid onto a solar panel frame and the clip additionally includes one or more flexible wings which are removably snap-fit into a slot of an elongated and rigid strut.

Abstract: This present invention relates generally to deck fasteners for securing deck boards together and to a supporting member, and more particularly with a deck fastener which does not protrude from the deck surface.

Abstract: A solar panel assembly attachment apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a single piece and entirely metallic grounding clip is employed. A further aspect includes a clip or fastener which provides both frame grounding and a frame-to-strut attachment. In still another aspect, a grounding clip having barbs is linearly slid onto a solar panel frame and the clip additionally includes one or more flexible wings which are removably snap-fit into a slot of an elongated and rigid strut.

Abstract: This present invention relates generally to deck fasteners for securing deck boards together and to a supporting member, and more particularly with a deck fastener which does not protrude from the deck surface.

Abstract: A fastener for securing first and second decking boards with a joist is shown and described. The fastener may include a joist connecting member capable of engaging the joist, a board connecting member capable of engaging the first decking board, where the board connecting member is generally perpendicular the joist connecting member. The fastener may also include a retention feature laterally spaced from the board connecting member, where the retention feature is capable of engaging the second decking board.