LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PANELS
A locking member for locking panels having a frame, to a support structure. The locking member includes an elongated portion for fastening the locking member to the support structure, and at least one clip defined on the elongated portion for securing the frame thereto. The clip is configured for gripping the U section of the frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER
Solar panels have recently become a very common product. The panels comprise photo-voltaic cells that receive sunlight and produce electricity. The panels are typically positioned on building roofs or in various fields on specialized support structures, to which they are attached by means of various types of clamping mechanisms. The high price of solar panels and their typically unavoidable positioning outside of houses and in remote or poorly guarded areas makes them an attractive target for thieves, who steal the panels for their own use or sell them as valuable electricity generating products.
There are various measures for preventing theft of solar panels, including electronic and optical surveillance and warning means, however the thieves often know how to bypass them. Such solutions are also typically costly and require separate assembly and installation that prolongs and complicates the process of assembly and installation of the solar panels.
Typical mechanical clamping mechanisms for solar panel theft prevention include clamps (or fasteners) that are connected by means of Allen head screws (or bolts) to the support structure of the solar panels. Each Allen head is subsequently sealed with a small steel ball to prevent the possibility of introducing a hex (Allen) key into the head and unscrewing the screw. However, such mechanisms are insufficient because thieves can bend the clamps, without removing the screws, and free the solar panels with relative ease and without damaging them.
The present disclosed subject matter makes reference to solar panels, however, the scope of the invention is not limited to any particular form of panels.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTERThe locking mechanism (or lock) of the presently disclosed subject matter attaches at least one solar panel to a support structure by holding onto its frame and prevents it from being moved away from the support structure and/or the other solar panel.
In an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the locking mechanism fixes the solar panel to its support structure and/or the other solar panel. While, in another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, the locking mechanism enables parallel movement of a panel, along one axis only, on the support structure or relative to a nearby panel, without enabling the panel to move away from the nearby panel, or removing it away from the structure.
The locking mechanism, when fixed to the support structure, cannot be simply bent to enable the solar panel to be removed or stolen, unlike the conventionally used clamps. In fact, one has to either break or pull the locking mechanism out of the support structure together with, or after tearing off or otherwise removing, the screw that attaches it to the support structure.
When the locking mechanism attaches at least two solar panels to each other and is not fixed or otherwise attached to the support structure, while the solar panels are attached to the support structure by means of clamps, the locking mechanism prevents the possibility of stealing one of the solar panels by simply bending the clamps that hold it at one side thereof and subsequently pulling on the solar panel to free it from the clamps at its other side.
Noting that one particular application of the presently disclosed subject matter is concerned with solar panels, it is appreciated that an attempt to temper with the components of the locking mechanism will most likely result in damage or breakage of the solar panels.
In an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the locking member comprising an elongated portion for fastening to the support structure, and at least one clip defined on the elongated portion for securing the frame thereto. The at least one clip can include a first clip for securing the frame of a first panel, and a second clip, opposing said first clip, for securing the frame of a second panel.
The locking member can further comprise a clamping member having at least one wing for clamping a top surface of the panel. The at least one wing can includes a first wing for clamping top surface of a first panel, and a second wing for clamping top surface of a second panel. The clamping member can further includes a top portion having fastening means for fastening to the support structure, the top portion is disposed between the frame of the first panel and the frame of the second panel.
In case the clamping member includes one wing the top portion is disposed between the frame of the panel and a shielding wall provided thereto.
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the locking member further comprises a shield member mounted between the clamping member and the locking member, for protecting the screw.
According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the position of the first clip of the clocking member is adjustable with respect to the second clip.
In addition the presently disclosed subject matter can further include one or more of the following features:
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- A holder for holding a detecting cable the holder can be in a form of a channel provided substantially in parallel to the clip or in a form of a removable holder received in an opening provided on the elongated portion.
- At least one mounting shoulder extending from the side of the elongated portion, for engaging the support structure.
- Fastening means for fastening the locking member to the support structure, the fastening means can be a screw having an inner peripheral interface head portion.
- The screw can further include an outer peripheral head portion which is tapered or spherical.
The screw can be further provided with a cap mountable inside the inner peripheral interface head portion.
A locking mechanism for solar panels according to the disclosed subject matter can further comprise the bolt that attaches it to the support structure. The locking mechanism is configured for attachment to a portion of a solar panel's frame that faces the support structure, i.e. the rear or back side of a solar panel. The attachment of the locking mechanism and a corresponding attached portion thereof is thus positioned between the solar panel and the support structure. The locking mechanism thus prevents lateral movement, of the solar panel with respect to the support structure and/or another panel, at least along one axis.
The screws or bolts can, for example, have hex (Allen) heads and these can be sealed by a cap such as a metal ball or a metal disk or a shaped part insertable into the heads of the screws. The metal ball can be made, for example, of steel or of a soft metal such as aluminum which is pressed into the hole. Use of a soft metal ball pressed into the screw head enables the screw to be unscrewed after the soft metal is drilled out, for example, by a drill. Alternatively, non-conventional screw heads may be used (e.g. slotted, temper proof, one way screws), rendering it complicated or impossible to remove the screws/bolts without tampering.
In an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter the locking mechanism can be combined with conventional or modified clamps. For example, the same screw can be used to attach the clamp and the locking mechanism to the support structure. In another example, the clamp(s) can be combined by being connected to the locking mechanism(s) or be in contact with it. For example, the locking mechanism can block an edge of the clamp thus making it more difficult to bend the clamp or tear it away.
As shown in
The locking member 12 can be secured to the support structure 30 by fastening the screw 18 therein, following which, the frame 22a of the first solar panel 20a is coupled to the locking member 12 by attaching the U section 23 to clip 16a. Once the first panel 20a is in place, the second panel 20b can be coupled to the locking member 12 by attaching the U section 23 of frame 22b to the opposing clip 16b. Once the panels 20a and 20b are secured, removing thereof, requires first removing the locking member 12. Since screw 18, securing the locking member 12 to the support structure 30, is disposed in between the bottom portion of the frame 22a and the bottom portion of frame 22b, accessing the screw 18 can be carried out only by utilizing a screwdriver having an appropriate length. In addition, the screw can include an inner peripheral interface head portion 19 which can be unscrewed with a screwdriver having a corresponding interface portion. In order to further preclude unauthorized removal of the panels and the locking member 12, the outer periphery 17 of the screw head can be tapered or otherwise spherical, thus, the screw can not be gripped with a plier or a wrench. In addition, in order to further preclude unauthorized removal of the panels, the inner peripheral interface portion 19 can be blocked with a cap 21 inserted therein.
The cap 21 can be made, for example, of steel. Alternatively, the cap 21 can be made of a soft metal, such as for example aluminum, and deformed in the head of the screw thus blocking it entirely, while still enabling their removal by a drill.
This way, the locking member 12 renders the removal of the solar panels difficult, to the extent that the panels can be stolen without causing damage thereto.
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It is appreciated that the locking member can be provided with both; a channel for receiving a first detecting cable, and a holder for receiving a second detecting cable. As illustrated in
Claims
1.-20. (canceled)
21. A locking member for locking a panel, having a frame with a U-shaped section facing a space below the panel, to a support structure, the locking member comprising:
- an elongated portion having fastening means for fastening to the support structure; and
- at least one clip defined on the elongated portion and configured for securely gripping the U-shaped section such that movement of the panel is enabled along only one axis relative to the support structure and removing the panel requires first removing the locking member.
22. The locking member of claim 21 wherein the at least one clip includes a first clip for securely gripping the U-shaped section of the frame of a first panel, and a second clip, generally opposing the first clip, for securely gripping the U-shaped section of the frame of a second panel.
23. The locking member of claim 21 wherein the fastening means are disposed between the first clip and the second clip so that when the first panel and second panel are assembled, the fastening means are positioned between the first panel and the second panel.
24. The locking member of claim 21, further comprising a clamping member having at least one wing for clamping a top surface of the panel.
25. The locking member of claim 24 wherein the at least one wing includes a first wing for clamping top surface of a first panel, and a second wing for clamping top surface of a second panel.
26. The locking member of claim 24 wherein the clamping member further includes a top portion having fastening means for fastening to the support structure, the top portion being disposed between the frame of the panel and a shielding wall.
27. The locking member of claim 25 wherein the clamping member further includes a top portion having fastening means for fastening to the support structure, the top portion being disposed between the frame of the first panel and the frame of the second panel.
28. The locking member of claim 24, further comprising a shield member mounted between the clamping member and the locking member.
29. The locking member of claim 22 wherein the position of the first clip is adjustable with respect to the second clip.
30. The locking member of claim 29 wherein first clip includes a first elongated portion having a depression defined on an upper surface thereof and the second clip includes a second elongated portion having a corresponding depression defined on a bottom surface thereof such that the position of the first clip can be adjusted relative to the second clip.
31. The locking member of claim 21, further comprising a holder for holding an alarm detecting cable.
32. The locking member of claim 31 wherein the holder includes a channel provided substantially in parallel to the at least one clip.
33. The locking member of claim 31 wherein the holder is a removable holder received in an opening provided on the elongated portion.
34. The locking member of claim 31 wherein first clip includes a first elongated portion having a depression defined on an upper surface thereof and the second clip includes a second elongated portion having a corresponding depression defined on a bottom surface thereof such that the position of the first clip can be adjusted relative to the second clip, and wherein the holder is a removable holder received in an opening provided on the depression and the corresponding depression.
35. The locking member of claim 31 wherein the removable holder is disposed such that the alarm detecting cable can be extended therethrough substantially perpendicular with respect to the at least one clip.
36. The locking member claim 21, further comprising at least one mounting shoulder extending from a side of the elongated portion, for engaging the support structure.
37. The locking member of claim 21 wherein the fastening means includes a screw having an inner peripheral interface head portion.
38. The locking member of claim 37 wherein the screw further includes an outer peripheral head portion, wherein the outer peripheral head portion is tapered.
39. The locking member of claim 37 wherein the screw is provided with a cap mountable inside the inner peripheral interface head portion.
40. The locking member of claim 39 wherein the cap includes a metal ball or a metal disk.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2011
Publication Date: May 23, 2013
Inventors: Efraim Molek (Herzliya), Peter Levy (Barkan)
Application Number: 13/811,994
International Classification: E04B 2/30 (20060101); E04B 1/61 (20060101); F16B 25/00 (20060101);