IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0691997
(2010-01-22)
|
등록번호 |
US-8181926
(2012-05-22)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Magno, Jr., Joey D.
- Jolly, Robert K.
- Cole, Andrew C.
- Dinh, Cong T.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Snyder, Clark, Lesch & Chung, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
37 인용 특허 :
17 |
초록
▼
A clamp includes a first member, a washer, a nut, a threaded bolt, a spring and a torsion spring. The first member may include side portions and have a first opening. The washer may include a second opening and at least one portion protruding in a downward direction from an upper surface of the wash
A clamp includes a first member, a washer, a nut, a threaded bolt, a spring and a torsion spring. The first member may include side portions and have a first opening. The washer may include a second opening and at least one portion protruding in a downward direction from an upper surface of the washer. The nut may have an upper surface, a lower surface and a threaded opening. The threaded bolt may be disposed through the first opening, the second opening and the threaded opening. The spring may be located between a portion of the first member and the washer. The torsion spring may be located between the washer and the nut, where the torsion spring causes the nut to rotate when force is applied to an upper part of the first member.
대표청구항
▼
1. An assembly, comprising: a channel member; anda clamp configured to clamp a first structure to the channel member, the clamp comprising: a first member comprising side portions and a center portion, the first member including a center opening,a washer including an opening and at least one portion
1. An assembly, comprising: a channel member; anda clamp configured to clamp a first structure to the channel member, the clamp comprising: a first member comprising side portions and a center portion, the first member including a center opening,a washer including an opening and at least one portion protruding in a downward direction from an upper surface of the washer,a nut having an upper surface, a lower surface and a threaded opening,a threaded bolt disposed through the center opening of the first member, the opening of the washer and the threaded opening of the nut,a spring disposed adjacent a lower portion of the threaded bolt between the center portion of the first member and the washer, anda torsion spring located between the washer and the nut, wherein the torsion spring causes the nut to rotate when force is applied to an upper part of the first member. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein when force is applied to the upper part of the first member, the at least one portion of the washer is released from a mechanical stop located on an upper surface of the nut and the nut rotates approximately 90 degrees within an opening of the channel member. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the washer comprises a first portion and a second portion located on opposite sides of the opening in the washer, and wherein the nut further comprises: a first recessed area located on the upper surface of the nut, the first recessed area configured to receive the first portion of the washer when the clamp is in an unclamped position, anda second recessed area located on the upper surface of the nut, the second recessed area configured to receive the second portion of the washer when the clamp is in the unclamped position. 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a coil spring disposed around a portion of the threaded bolt. 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises at least one leaf spring positioned between the first member and the washer. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first structure comprises a solar panel and the clamp is configured to secure the solar panel between the first member and the washer. 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the washer includes a first plurality of raised portions on its upper surface to contact a frame of the solar panel, and a second plurality of raised portions on its lower surface to contact the channel member, the first and second plurality of raised portions providing grounding contacts for the solar panel. 8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the solar panel is configured to abut a first one of the side portions, and wherein the first side portion is configured to move toward the center portion of the first member in response to force exerted by thermal expansion of the solar panel. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the nut has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape with two shorter sides and two longer sides and wherein the longer sides are configured to be located substantially parallel to the length of the channel member when the clamp is in an unclamped position, and be located perpendicular to the length of the channel member when the clamp is in the clamped position. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel member and the clamp are pre-assembled. 11. A clamp, comprising: a first member comprising side portions and having a first opening;a washer including a second opening and at least one portion protruding in a downward direction from an upper surface of the washer;a nut having an upper surface, a lower surface and a threaded opening;a threaded bolt disposed through the first opening, the second opening and the threaded opening;a spring located between a portion of the first member and the washer; anda torsion spring located around the threaded bolt between the washer and the nut, wherein the torsion spring causes the nut to rotate when force is applied to an upper part of the first member. 12. The clamp of claim 11, wherein when force is applied to the upper part of the first member, the at least one portion is released from a recessed area located on an upper surface of the nut and the nut rotates approximately 90 degrees within an opening of a channel member to which the clamp is coupled. 13. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the at least one portion comprises a first portion and a second portion located on opposite sides of the second opening, and wherein the nut further comprises: a first recessed area located on the upper surface of the nut, the first recessed area configured to receive the first portion of the washer when the clamp is in an unclamped position, anda second recessed area located on the upper surface of the nut, the second recessed area configured to receive the second portion of the washer when the clamp is in the unclamped position. 14. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the spring comprises a coil spring disposed around a portion of the threaded bolt, or two leaf springs located on opposite sides of the threaded bolt. 15. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the washer includes a first plurality of raised portions on its upper surface to contact a first structure to be secured by the clamp, and a second plurality of raised portions on its lower surface to contact a second member to which the first member is to be clamped, the first and second plurality of raised portions providing grounding for the first structure. 16. The clamp of claim 15, wherein the first structure comprise a first solar panel configured to abut a first one of the side portions, and wherein the clamp is configured to: secure a second solar panel that abuts a second one of the side portions, andelectrically bond a frame of the first solar panel to a frame of the second solar panel. 17. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the nut has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape with two shorter sides and two longer sides and wherein the longer sides are configured to be located substantially parallel to the length of a channel member connected to the clamp when the clamp is in an unclamped position, and be located perpendicular to the length of the channel member when the clamp is in the clamped position.
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