MOUNTING DEVICE FOR NAIL STRIP PANELS

Abstract

A mounting device (10) is disclosed having a one-piece body (11). A slot (20) extends into this body (11), and is defined by a slot base (22) and a pair of spaced slot sidewalls (24a, 24b) that each extend from the slot base (22). The slot sidewalls (24a, 24b) are disposed in non-parallel relation to each other.

Claims

1. A standing seam mounting device comprising: a mounting body; a slot extending into said mounting body and defined by a first slot sidewall, a second slot sidewall, and a slot base extending between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first and second slot sidewalls are disposed other than in parallel relation to one another, wherein said first slot sidewall is always maintained in a fixed position relative to said second slot sidewall, and wherein said slot is configured to receive at least part of standing seam of a panel assembly; at least one seam fastener extendable through said mounting body and into said slot; and at least one mounting fastener extendable into said mounting body.

2. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein said mounting body is of a one-piece construction.

3. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first and second slot sidewalls each comprise a planar section.

4. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein a first included angle exists between said slot base and said first slot sidewall, wherein a second included angle exists between said slot base and said second slot sidewall, and wherein said first and second included angles are of different magnitudes.

5. The standing seam mounting device of claim 4, wherein said first included angle is greater than said second included angle.

6. The standing seam mounting device of claim 4, wherein said first included angle is greater than 90°, and wherein said second included angle is at least substantially 90°.

7. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein a reference plane intersects said slot base, and is disposed between and is spaced from each of said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first slot sidewall extends both away from said slot base and away from said reference plane, and wherein said second slot sidewall is at least substantially parallel to said reference plane.

8. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein a spacing between said first slot sidewall and said second slot sidewall progressively and continually increases proceeding away from said slot base for at least a substantial portion of a height of each of said first and second slot sidewalls.

9. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, further comprising: a first nose that extends from a lower portion said first slot sidewall at least generally in a direction in which said second slot sidewall is spaced from said first slot sidewall.

10. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first slot sidewall and said second slot sidewall terminate at different elevations when a depth of said slot extends in a vertical dimension.

11. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein said first slot sidewall extends from a first edge to said slot base, wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first edge of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said slot base by a first distance measured in a first dimension, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said slot base by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance.

12. The standing seam mounting device of claim 1, wherein said mounting body comprises an upper surface and an oppositely disposed lower surface, wherein said upper surface comprises a flat section, wherein said lower surface comprises said slot, wherein said first slot sidewall extends from said slot base in a direction that is away from said second slot sidewall, and wherein said second slot sidewall is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to said flat section of said upper surface.

13. The standing seam mounting device of claim 12, wherein said first slot sidewall terminates in a first nose that extends in a direction that said second slot sidewall is spaced from said first slot sidewall.

14. The standing seam mounting device of claim 13, wherein said first slot sidewall extends from a first edge to said slot base, wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first nose comprises said first edge, wherein said first edge of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a first distance measured in a first dimension, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance.

15. The standing seam mounting device of claim 13, wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first nose of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a first distance measured in a first dimension that is orthogonal to said flat section, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance.

16. A standing seam mounting device comprising: a one-piece mounting body comprising an upper surface and an oppositely disposed lower surface, wherein said upper surface comprises a first flat section, wherein said lower surface comprises a slot defined by a first slot sidewall, a second slot sidewall, and a slot base that extends between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first slot sidewall extends from said slot base in a direction that is away from said second slot sidewall, wherein said first slot sidewall comprises a first nose that extends in a direction in which said second slot sidewall is spaced from said first slot sidewall, wherein said second slot sidewall is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to a reference plane that contains said first flat section of said upper surface, and wherein said first nose of said first slot sidewall is disposed at a lower elevation than a lowermost edge of said second slot sidewall when said first flat section of said upper surface is horizontally disposed and located vertically above said slot base; at least one seam fastener extendable through said mounting body and into said slot; and at least one mounting fastener extendable through said flat section of said upper surface and into said mounting body.

17. The standing seam mounting device of claim 16, wherein said first and second slot sidewalls each comprise a planar section.

18. The standing seam mounting device of claim 16, wherein a first included angle exists between said slot base and said first slot sidewall, wherein a second included angle exists between said slot base and said second slot sidewall, and wherein said first and second included angles are of different magnitudes.

19. The standing seam mounting device of claim 18, wherein said first included angle is greater than said second included angle.

20. The standing seam mounting device of claim 18, wherein said first included angle is greater than 90°, and wherein said second included angle is at least substantially 90°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mounting device for use with nail strip panels.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an end view of the mounting device of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 is an end view of the mounting device of FIG. 1, positioned on a standing seam of a panel assembly defined by multiple nail strip panels of a first configuration.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting device of FIG. 1, positioned on a standing seam of a panel assembly of the type presented in FIG. 3.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mounting device for nail strip panels.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting device of FIG. 5, positioned on a seam of a panel assembly defined by multiple nail strip panels of a second configuration.

[0026] FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view of a standing seam from the panel assembly of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] One embodiment of a mounting device is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is identified by reference numeral 10. This mounting device 10 is in the form of a mounting body 11, at least one mounting fastener 34, and at least one seam fastener 36. The mounting body 11 may be of one-piece construction (e.g., an extruded part). The mounting body 11 may be characterized as lacking any joints of any kind. The mounting body 11 may be configured so as to have no separable parts.

[0028] The mounting body 11 may be formed from any appropriate material or combination of materials (e.g., a metal alloy), and includes an upper surface 12, an oppositely disposed lower surface 16, a pair of oppositely disposed side surfaces 14, and a pair of oppositely disposed ends 18. The spacing between the ends 18 coincides with a length dimension for the mounting body 11, the spacing between the side surfaces 14 coincides with a width dimension for the mounting body 11, and the spacing between the upper surface 12 and lower surface 16 coincides with a height or depth dimension for the mounting body 11 (as well as for slot 20, discussed below). The upper surface 12 of the mounting body 11 includes at least one flat section. A substantial portion of the upper surface 12 is flat in the illustrated embodiment—all except the transition between the upper surface 12 and each of the two side surfaces 14, which may be rounded and/or chamfered. A single reference plane may contain at least a substantial portion of the upper surface 12 of the mounting body 11. In any case, typically the mounting device 10 will be installed on a panel assembly such that its upper surface 12 projects at least generally upwardly to accommodate supporting one or more attachments that may be appropriately secured to the mounting body 11. In this regard, the upper surface 12 may include at least one threaded hole 30 on a flat section thereof (two in the illustrated embodiment; any appropriate number of threaded holes 30 may be utilized; multiple threaded holes 30 typically being spaced along the length dimension of the mounting body 11) for receiving a corresponding mounting fastener 34 (e.g., the mounting fastener 34 may be threaded into a pre-defined threaded hole 30 on a flat section of the upper surface 12 and that extends into the mounting body 11). Another option is for the mounting fastener 34 to be self-tapping (i.e., so as to not require a threaded hole in the mounting body 11 prior to initially installing the mounting fastener 34 on the mounting body 11).

[0029] The lower surface 16 of the mounting body 11 includes a slot 20 that extends between the two ends 18 of the mounting body 11, and it is located between the pair of side surfaces 14 of the mounting body 11. This slot 20 is defined by a slot base 22 and a pair of slot sidewalls 24a, 24b. The slot sidewalls 24a, 24b are spaced apart to receive at least an end section of a standing seam of a panel assembly (e.g., standing seam 52 of panel assembly 40, discussed below in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4). As the mounting body 11 is of one-piece construction, the first slot sidewall 24a is always maintained in a fixed position relative to the second slot sidewall 24b.

[0030] Each of the slot sidewalls 24a, 24b includes at least one flat section. In the illustrated embodiment, the entirety of the second slot sidewall 24b is flat or planar, while the entirety of the first slot sidewall 24a is also flat or planar other than for a nose or projection 28 located at a lower extreme thereof and for optional depressions or recesses (where each such recess is axially aligned with a seam fastener 36). Any such nose or projection 28 extends at least generally in the direction that the second slot sidewall 24b is spaced from the first slot sidewall 24a.

[0031] At least one threaded hole 32 (two in the illustrated embodiment; any appropriate number of threaded holes 32 may be utilized; multiple threaded holes 32 typically being spaced along the length dimension of the body 11) may extend from one of the side surfaces 14, through the body 11, and intersects the first slot sidewall or the second slot sidewall 24b. In the illustrated embodiment, the threaded hole(s) 32 intersect with the second slot sidewall 24b (e.g., it may be that no threaded holes 32 extend through the mounting body 11 to intersect with the first slot sidewall 24a).

[0032] An appropriate seam fastener 36 may be directed through a given threaded hole 32 of the mounting device 10 so as to extend into the slot 20 to engage a standing seam and secure the same against the opposing slot sidewall 24a or 24b (the first slot sidewall 24a in the illustrated embodiment). A cavity of any appropriate type may be included on this opposing slot sidewall 24a or 24b (the first slot sidewall 24a in the illustrated embodiment) to allow the aligned seam fastener 36 to deflect a corresponding portion of the standing seam into this cavity, although such may not be required in all instances. In any case and in one embodiment, the seam fastener 34 only interfaces with an exterior surface of a standing seam disposed in the slot 20. For instance, the end of the seam fastener 36 that interfaces with such a standing seam may be convex, rounded, or of a blunt-nosed configuration to provide a desirable interface with this standing seam (e.g., non-penetrating). Another option is for the seam fastener(s) 36 to be self-tapping (i.e., so as to not require a threaded hole prior to initially installing the seam fastener 34 on the body 11).

[0033] A number of characterizations may be made in relation to the slot 20 of the mounting device 10, and which may apply individually or in any combination. The first slot sidewall 24a and the second slot sidewall 24b are disposed other than in parallel relation—the first slot sidewall 24a is not parallel to the second slot sidewall 24b. The first slot sidewall 24a and the second slot sidewall 24b may be characterized as being disposed in different orientations.

[0034] A first included angle cu is defined between the slot base 22 and the first slot sidewall 24a (e.g., between a flat section of the slot base 22 and an adjacent flat section of the first slot sidewall 24a). In the illustrated embodiment, this included angle cu is greater than 90°. A second included angle α.sub.2 is defined between the slot base 22 and the second slot sidewall 24b (e.g., between a flat section of the slot base 22 and an adjacent flat section of the second slot sidewall 24b). In the illustrated embodiment, this included angle α.sub.2 is at least substantially 90°. The magnitude of the included angle cu is thereby greater than the magnitude of the included angle α.sub.2. One embodiment has the included angle cu being within a range of about 100° to about 110°. Another embodiment has the included angle cu being about 105°.

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a reference plane 60 that extends through the slot 20 at a location that is between the first slot sidewall 24a and the second slot sidewall 24b. The reference plane 60 may be orthogonal to one or more of the slot base 22 and the upper surface 12. The reference plane 60 may extend in the above-noted height or depth dimension for the mounting device 10. One characterization of the configuration of the slot 20 is that the first slot sidewall 24a extends from the slot base 22 and away from the reference plane 60, while the second slot sidewall 24b extends from the slot base 22 at least substantially parallel to this same reference plane 60.

[0036] The slot 20 may be characterized as having a variable width, including a continually variable width for at least a substantial portion of its depth (up to the nose 28 of first slot sidewall 24a). The spacing between the first slot sidewall 24a and the second slot sidewall 24b may progressively increase proceeding away from the slot base 22 up to the nose 28 of the first slot sidewall 24a. In one embodiment, the second slot sidewall 24b is disposed orthogonally to at least one of the upper surface 12 and the slot base 22, while the first slot sidewall 24a extends from the slot base 22 at least generally away from the second slot sidewall 24b.

[0037] The first slot sidewall 24a and the second slot sidewall 24b may be characterized as terminating at different elevations when the depth of the slot 20 extends in the vertical dimension. The up-and-down dimension in the view presented in FIG. 2 corresponds with this depth dimension for the slot 20. The width dimension of the slot 20 coincides with the spacing between the first slot sidewall 24a and the second slot sidewall 24b. The length dimension of the slot 20 coincides with the spacing between the ends 18 of the mounting body 11. The lower surface 16 at its intersection with the first slot sidewall 26a may be offset in the vertical dimension (when the depth of the slot 20 extends in the vertical dimension) from the lower surface 16 at its intersection with the second slot sidewall 26b.

[0038] The first slot sidewall 24a may be characterized as extending from the slot base 22 to a first/lower edge 26a, while the second slot sidewall 24b may be characterized as extending from the slot base 22 to a second/lower edge 26b. In the illustrated embodiment, the nose 28 includes the first edge 26a of the first slot sidewall 24a. The upper surface 12 and the first edge 26a of the first slot sidewall 24a are separated by a distance D.sub.1 measured in a first dimension (the vertical dimension in the view presented in FIG. 2, and that is orthogonal to a flat section of the upper surface 12), while the upper surface 12 and the second edge 26b of the second slot sidewall 24b are separated by a distance D.sub.2 measured in this same first dimension. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the distance D.sub.1 is greater than the distance D.sub.2. The spacing between the slot base 22 and the first edge 26a of the first slot sidewall 24a, measured in this same first dimension, is also greater than the spacing between the slot base 22 and the second edge 26b of the second slot sidewall 24b.

[0039] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the mounting device 10 positioned on a standing seam 52 of one embodiment of a panel assembly 40. The panel assembly 40 may be used to define any appropriate surface, including a roofing surface. The panel assembly 40 is defined by a plurality of what are commonly referred to as nail strip panels 42 or the like. Each nail strip panel 42 includes a nail strip flange 44, a left seam rib 46a (a rib used to define a seam 52), and a right seam rib 46b (a rib used to define a seam 52). The left seam rib 46a and right seam rib 46b of a given nail strip panel 42 are spaced in the width dimension of the nail strip panel 42. Each nail strip panel 42 may include one or more flat sections, as well as one or more other structures such as crests, minor ribs, intermediate ribs, pencil ribs, striations, fluting, or flutes.

[0040] The left nail strip panel 42 in FIGS. 3 and 4 would be secured to an underlying support structure (e.g., a deck) by extending a plurality of suitable fasteners (e.g., nails, screws) through the nail strip flange 44 (e.g., spaced along the length of the nail strip flange 44—the length dimension extending into the page in the view presented in FIG. 3) and into the underlying support structure. The left seam rib 46a for the right nail strip panel 42 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 may then be positioned over the right seam rib 46b for the left nail strip panel 42 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to define a standing seam 52. Nail strip panels 42 may be installed in this manner to define a panel assembly 40 of a desired size (both in the length and width dimensions).

[0041] Each standing seam 52 of the panel assembly includes a recess 50 on one side thereof (the left side in the views of FIGS. 3 and 4). This recess 50 is defined below an end section 48 of the left seam rib 46a of the standing seam 52, a lower portion of the right seam rib 46b of this same standing seam 52, and a base of the nail strip panel 42 associated with the noted right seam rib 46b. The nose 28 on the lower portion of the first slot sidewall 24a may be directed into this recess 50 so as to be disposed under the end section 48 of the corresponding left seam rib 46a in the view shown in FIG. 3. This provides increased lift-off resistance for the mounting device 10 on this standing seam 52. One embodiment has the nose 28 extending a distance D.sub.3 (measured in the width dimension) of at least about 0.1″ from the adjacent flat portion of the first slot sidewall 24a. Another embodiment has this distance D.sub.3 being at least about 0.15″.

[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a variation of the mounting device 10 of FIGS. 1-2. Corresponding components are identified by the same reference numeral. Those corresponding components that differ in at least some respect are identified by a “single prime” designation in FIG. 5. One difference between the mounting device 10′ of FIG. 5 and the mounting device 10 of FIGS. 1-2 is that the mounting device 10′ accommodates a single seam fastener 36 (versus the multiple seam fasteners 36 used by the mounting device 10 of FIGS. 1-2). Another difference is that the mounting device 10′ of FIG. 5 accommodates a single mounting fastener 34 (versus the multiple mounting fasteners 34 used by the mounting device 10 of FIGS. 1-2). As such, the mounting body 11′ of the mounting device 10′ may be characterized as being “shorter” in the length dimension (coinciding with the spacing between the ends 18) than the mounting body 11 of the mounting device 10.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows the mounting device 10′ of FIG. 5 being positioned on a standing seam 52′ of another embodiment of a panel assembly 40′. The panel assembly 40′ is defined by nail strip panels 42′ at least generally of the above-described type, but which use a left seam rib 46a′ and right seam rib 46b′ of a different configuration that discussed above, which in turn collectively define a standing seam 52′ of a different configuration. The nose 28 of the mounting device 10′ is again positioned within the recess 50′ on one side of the standing seam 52′ and at least generally in accordance with the foregoing. However, the recess 50′ is of a different configuration, being defined primarily by the end section 48′ of one nail strip panel 42′ and a base section of the other nail strip panel 42′ that defines this seam 52′.

[0044] It should be appreciated that the mounting device 10 may be used on the panel assembly 40′, and that the mounting device 10′ may be used on the panel assembly 40. Each of the mounting devices 10, 10′ may be used by any panel assembly defined by nail strip panels of the type described herein (where each nail strip panel includes two seam ribs that are spaced in its width dimension, such that one seam rib of one nail strip panel may be “nested” with a seam rib of an adjacent nail strip panel to define a standing seam).

[0045] The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.