ATTACHMENT DEVICE
An attachment device for connection to a construction member with at least one connection slot or recess is disclosed. Contact ends of two connection members of the device are inserted into the recess separately and then moved into an opposing or back-to-back relationship in the recess. At least one of the connection members has a contact end that is angularly offset from its body. The intersection between the body and contact end defines a pivot point. Once the connection members are placed in the recess, bodies of the connection members outside of the recess are disposed towards each other. The angularly offset contact end pivots about the pivot point moving the contact ends in the recess apart pressing contact surfaces against interior sidewalls of the recess. The outward pressure of the contact surfaces with the interior sidewalls locks the two connection members into place in connection recess.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/871,259, filed Aug. 28, 2013, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDIn many areas, there is a continuing need for attachment mechanism that allows a quick and easy but strong connection of two or more parts. It is particularly desirable to have an attachment mechanism that allows the attachment of metal items together without welding. This is due both to the cost and difficultly of doing welding and/or bonding, the difficultly in inspecting such joins and the weakness the joins can induce in the material. This is particularly true with aluminum products and/or connecting items of dissimilar materials together.
One particular area where it is desirable to connect metal components together is in solar panel assemblies/racks. Typically, solar panels are mounted at an angle to enhance their receipt of solar energy. Further, such solar panels are often mounted on an angled surface. Commonly, racking systems having various rails are utilized to build supports for solar panels. The rails of the racking system may be aluminum and/or include one or more recesses or channels.
The foregoing example of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.
SUMMARYOne aspect of the presented inventions is to use of angled levers that allow for expanding two connection surfaces of an attachment device outward to expand into contact with opposing surfaces of a connection space such a recess or channel.
According to one aspect, an attachment device is provided. Generally, the attachment device may be utilized with a rail or other construction member having a recess with at least first and second partially opposing surfaces. The attachment device is operative to engage the recess and provide an outward force on the opposing surfaces of the recess. This outward force may work to attach the attachment device relative to the rail/construction member. Generally, the attachment device includes first and second connection members. These connection members may be generally in the form of a plate having a bent end, though other configurations are possible. In one arrangement, each connection member includes a planar body section having a bottom surface and a top surface. These surfaces define top and bottom reference planes, respectively. An end section of the connection member forms a contact section for contacting the recess in the rail or construction member. This contact end section may also be referred to as a connection head. The contact end section has a lower surface that is disposed at an angle relative to the bottom reference plane defined by the bottom surface. In this regard, the contact end section/connection head is disposed at an angle relative to the planar bottom surface of the connection member. The intersection between the lower surface of the connection head and the bottom surface of the connection member generally defines a pivot. The contact end section also includes an upper contact surface that is disposed above the top reference plane. When the first and second connection members are disposed in an opposing relationship (e.g., back to back) with their connection heads in the recess, the bottom surfaces of these connection members may be disposed towards one another (e.g., juxtaposed). This results in the contact surfaces of the connection heads rotating about the pivot point. That is, the contact surfaces expand outward. Accordingly, the connection heads and contact surfaces may be sized such that, when the body sections of the connection members are juxtaposed, an outward force is applied on the opposing surfaces of the recess.
In one arrangement two largely identical connection members are provided. In another arrangement the first and second connection members may be differently configured. Likewise, the contact surfaces of the connection members may be disposed at different angles to account for different angular orientations of the side surfaces of a recess of a specific construction member.
In a further arrangement, a second end of each connection member may be a connection end. That is, when the body sections of connection members are juxtaposed, an object may be held between the connection ends of the two connection members. These connections may have various configurations.
In a further arrangement, the connection members may have connection ends on both ends. In such an arrangement, the connection members may be utilized interconnect first and second construction members. For instance, first and second rails each having a recess may be connected by one or more of the connection members to form a strut.
In another aspect, a method is provided for interconnecting an attachment device within recess of the construction or rail member where the recess includes at least first and second partially opposing surfaces. Initially, a first connection head or contact end of a first connection member is disposed into the recess. The first connection head is disposed at an angle to a body of the first connection member. The connection head of a second connection member is also disposed within the recess. The first and second connection heads are at least partially aligned within the recess such that the first and second connection members are disposed back to back.
In this regard, contact surfaces of each of the contact heads are facing the first and second side surfaces of the recess. Once aligned, the body sections of the first and second connection members are compressed toward one another such that the angled connection head(s) pivots outward forcing the contact surfaces of the connection heads into contact with the first and second side surfaces of the recess.
In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONPresented herein is an attachment device 20 that is adapted for disposition within and fixed positioning relative to a recess 12 of a construction member or rail 10. See
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As shown, the connection heads 40a, 40b are placed in the connection recess 12 such that their contact surfaces 42a, 42b face away from each other toward the sidewall surfaces 14, 16 of the recess 12. Once so disposed, the pivot points 60 of the connection members 30a, 30b are substantially abutting. That is, each connection member forms a support surface for the pivot point 60 of the other connection member. The two connection members rotate relative to each other at the pivot point 60, moving the contact surfaces 42a, 42b either towards or away from the interior side walls 14, 16 of the recess. Once in a desired location, the body sections 32a, 32b are pressed towards each other as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, each connection head 40 includes an engaging groove 46 adjacent to the contact surface 42. See
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Another embodiment of the double headed version is shown in
In the embodiment depicted in
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While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations are within their true spirit and scope. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.
The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and sub ranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and sub combinations possible of the group are intended to be individually included in the disclosure.
In general, the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.
Claims
1. An attachment device comprising:
- a rail having a recess along a portion of its length, said recess having first and second surfaces that are at least partially opposing;
- first and second connection members each having: a generally planar body section having a bottom surface and a top surface; and a contact end section having a lower surface disposed at an angle relative to a bottom reference plane defined by said bottom surface, wherein said contact end section includes an upper contact surface that extends above top reference plane defined by said top surface;
- wherein when said contact end sections of said connection members are disposed in an opposing relationship in said recess and said bottom surfaces of said first and second connection members are juxtaposed, said contact surfaces apply an expansive force between said first and second surfaces of said recess.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein each planar body section further comprises:
- an aperture extending through said body section between said bottom surface and a top surface.
3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:
- a bolt, wherein said bolt is disposed through said apertures of said connection members and compresses said bottom surfaces together, when said contact ends of said connection members are disposed in said recess.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said contact surface is parallel to said bottom surface.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first and second surfaces of said recess are parallel.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein each said contact surface is a textured surface.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein each connection member further comprises:
- a second end section, wherein at least a portion of said second end section is recessed from said bottom reference plane.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein when said first and second connection members are in said opposing relationship and said bottom surfaces are juxtaposed, said recessed ends collectively define a clamp.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second connection members are physically identical.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- said first connection member comprises a first body section with a generally planar first bottom surface and a first end section disposed at a first angle relative to said first bottom surface; and
- said second connection member comprises a second body section with a generally planar second bottom surface and a second end section disposed at a second angle relative to said second bottom surface.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second angles are different.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein, when said contact ends are disposed in said recess and said bottom surfaces are juxtaposed, a distance between said contact surfaces is greater than a corresponding distance between said first and second surfaces of said recess prior to application of said expansive force.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said recess has at least one lip extending from one of said first and second surfaces toward a centerline axis of said recess.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein said contact end of at least one of said connection members has a groove adapted to engage said lip.
15. A method for engaging an attachment device within a recess of a rail member, where the recess has a first side surface and a second side surface that are at least partially opposing, comprising:
- inserting a first contact end of a first connection member into the recess, wherein said first contact end is disposed at an angle to a generally planar bottom surface of a body section of said first connection member;
- inserting a second contact end of a second connection member into the recess, wherein said second contact end is disposed at an angle to a generally planar bottom surface of a body section of said second connection member;
- at least partially aligning the first and second contact ends in the recess, wherein said bottom surfaces of said connection members are facing one another and wherein a first contact surface of said first contact end faces the first side surface of the recess and a second contact surface of the second contact end faces the second side surface of the recess;
- compressing said bottom surfaces said first and second connection members toward one another, wherein said first and second contact surfaces of said first and second contact ends expand outward and contacting said first and second sides surfaces of said recess and apply an expansive force there between.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein compressing comprises tightening a bolt extending though said body sections.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
- clamping an element between free ends of said connection members, wherein said free ends are on opposite sides of said body sections from said contact ends.
18. An attachment device comprising:
- a rail having a recess along a portion of its length, said recess having first and second surfaces that are at least partially opposing;
- a first connection member having a first body section with a generally planar first bottom surface and a first end section disposed at a first angle relative to said first bottom surface;
- a second connection member having a second body section with a generally planar second bottom surface and a second end section disposed at a second angle relative to said second bottom surface;
- said first and second end sections having first and second contact surfaces, respectively, wherein said first and second contact surfaces are adapted to contact said first and second surfaces of said recess, respectively;
- wherein when said first and second contact ends of said connection members are disposed in an opposing relationship in said recess and said bottom surfaces of said first and second body sections are juxtaposed, said first and second contact surfaces apply an outward force between said first and second surfaces of said recess.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 28, 2014
Publication Date: May 14, 2015
Inventors: Richard F. Schaefer (Fort Lupton, CO), David Kreutzman (Louisville, CO)
Application Number: 14/472,024