US2002088196A1PendingUtilityA1

Multi-piece clamp for standing seams

45
Priority: Jan 11, 2001Filed: Jan 11, 2001Published: Jul 11, 2002
Est. expiryJan 11, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Robert M. M. Haddock
E04G 21/3261E04D 13/103E04D 13/10E04D 3/3608E04G 21/3276E04G 21/3285
45
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A multi-piece clamp for installation on a standing seam is disclosed. One component of the clamp is a clamp body with a clamp body slot formed therein. This slot may be mounted on a standing seam without having to slide the clamp body onto an end of the seam. Another component of the clamp is an insert(s) that may be disposed within the clamp body slot between a clamp body slot wall and the standing seam. One or more seam fasteners may be directed through the clamp body and a clamp body slot wall to secure each of the inserts within the clamp body slot by a compression of the same, and further to secure the clamp to the standing seam.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A clamp that comprises: 
 a clamp body that comprises a concave clamp body slot, wherein said clamp body slot comprises first and second open ends and first and second slot sidewalls that are disposed in spaced relation and that extend between said first and second open ends;    a first insert that is a separate piece than said clamp body, and further that is at least partially disposed within said clamp body slot; and    a first seam fastener that extends through said clamp body and within said clamp body slot in alignment with at least a portion of said first insert.    
     
     
         2 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said clamp body is an extrusion.    
     
     
         3 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert is an extrusion.    
     
     
         4 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 both said clamp body and said first insert are extrusions.    
     
     
         5 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said clamp body is of one-piece construction.    
     
     
         6 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for deforming a standing seam on which said clamp is installed.    
     
     
         7 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 when said clamp is installed on a standing seam, said first seam fastener and said first insert are disposed on opposite sides of the standing seam, wherein said first seam fastener extends through said first slot sidewall, engages an aligned portion of the standing seam, and forces the aligned portion of the standing seam into engagement with said first insert, which in turn forces said first insert into engagement with said second slot sidewall.    
     
     
         8 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 when said clamp is installed on a standing seam, said first seam fastener and said first insert are disposed on a same side of the standing seam, wherein said first seam fastener extends through said first slot sidewall, engages an aligned portion of said first insert, and forces said first insert into engagement with an aligned portion of the standing seam, which in turn forces the aligned portion of the standing seam into engagement with said second slot sidewall.    
     
     
         9 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second insert that is at least partially disposed within said clamp body slot, wherein when said clamp is installed on a standing seam, said first and second inserts are disposed on opposite sides of the standing seam, wherein said first seam fastener extends through said first slot sidewall, engages an aligned portion of said first insert, and forces said first insert into engagement with an aligned portion of the standing seam in a direction of an aligned portion of said second insert, which in turn forces said second insert into engagement with said second slot sidewall.    
     
     
         10 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert comprises a first aperture that extends within said first insert and intersects with a second aperture, wherein said second aperture extends beyond said first aperture in a first direction which is at least generally parallel with a direction which said clamp body slot extends within said clamp body to define a first deflectable cantilever, and also extends beyond said first aperture in a second direction which is opposite said first direction and which is also at least generally parallel with said direction which said clamp body slot extends within said clamp body to define an oppositely disposed second deflectable cantilever.    
     
     
         11 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said first insert comprises a slot and a groove that each extend at least generally along an entire length of said first insert, wherein said slot comprises said first recess and wherein said groove comprises said second recess.    
     
     
         12 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said clamp body slot further comprises a slot base that extends between said first and second open ends and further that extends between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first insert interfaces with a first portion of said second slot sidewall and is spaced from said slot base, wherein a second portion of said clamp body slot extends above where said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall to said slot base, and wherein a distance between said first slot sidewall and a portion of said first insert that is aligned with said first seam fastener is less than a distance between said first and second slot sidewalls in said second portion of said clamp body slot.    
     
     
         13 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 positioning said first insert in said clamp body slot defines a seam profile slot, wherein a first width of said seam profile slot in an area that contains a head of a standing seam when said clamp is installed on the standing seam is greater than a second width of said seam profile slot that is disposed below the head of the standing seam when said clamp is installed on the standing seam and which is defined at least in part by said first insert.    
     
     
         14 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a magnitude of said first width is at least generally about twice a magnitude of said second width.    
     
     
         15 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said clamp body slot further comprises a slot base that extends between said first and second open ends and further that extends between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first insert comprises first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface projects at least generally toward said first seam fastener, wherein said second surface projects at least generally toward said slot base, and wherein a portion of said clamp body slot that include said slot base, along with said second surface of said first insert, collectively define at least a portion of a cavity which at least generally approximates a profile of a head of a standing seam on which said clamp may be installed.    
     
     
         16 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall, wherein a surface of said first insert that interfaces with said second slot sidewall is discontinuous.    
     
     
         17 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall, wherein said second slot sidewall comprises a groove that extends at least generally an entire length of said clamp body slot, wherein said first insert comprises a convex rib that extends along at least generally an entire length of said first insert and that is disposed within said groove.    
     
     
         18 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall, wherein said second slot sidewall comprises a first registration member and said first insert comprises a second registration member that interfaces with said first registration member.    
     
     
         19 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert interfaces with said second slot sidewall, wherein each of said second slot sidewall and said insert comprise means for registering said first insert at a predetermined position relative to said second slot sidewall.    
     
     
         20 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for restricting relative movement between said first insert and said clamp body in a direction which is at least generally parallel with a direction which said clamp body slot extends within said clamp body.    
     
     
         21 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a lower surface of said first insert is flush with a lower surface of said clamp body, wherein said clamp body slot is disposed on said lower surface of said clamp body.    
     
     
         22 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for installing said clamp on a standing seam without having to slide said clamp onto said standing seam from an end of said standing seam, wherein said means for installing comprises having said clamp body and said first insert being separate pieces.    
     
     
         23 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert comprises a first surface, wherein said first surface at least generally matches a profile of a corresponding portion of a standing seam on which said clamp may be installed.    
     
     
         24 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert interfaces with a portion of said second slot sidewall along at least generally an entire length of said clamp body slot.    
     
     
         25 . A clamp, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first insert comprises an extension that is disposed within a notch in a portion of a lower surface of said clamp body, wherein said clamp body slot is on said lower surface of said clamp body.    
     
     
         26 . A method for installing a clamp on a standing seam that extends outwardly from a base of a panel assembly and that has an axial extent along at least a portion of said panel assembly, wherein said clamp comprises a clamp body and a separate first insert, wherein said clamp body comprises a clamp body slot, and wherein said method comprises the steps of: 
 moving said clamp body in a direction other than parallel with said axial extent of said standing seam to dispose an axial segment of said standing seam within said clamp body slot;    positioning said first insert at least generally alongside said standing seam; and    attaching said clamp to said standing seam after each of said disposing and positioning steps, wherein said first insert is at least partially disposed within said clamp body slot between clamp body and said axial segment of said standing seam.    
     
     
         27 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said moving step comprises moving said clamp body at least generally perpendicular to said axial extent of said standing seam.    
     
     
         28 . A method, as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein: 
 said standing seam is at least generally vertically disposed, and wherein said moving step comprises moving said clamp body downwardly onto said axial segment of said standing seam.    
     
     
         29 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said moving step comprises enclosing at least an upper portion of said axial segment of said standing seam within said clamp body.    
     
     
         30 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said positioning step comprises moving said first insert in an at least generally upward direction into and relative to said clamp body slot after said moving said clamp body step.    
     
     
         31 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said positioning step comprises moving said first insert in a direction which is at least generally parallel with a direction which said clamp body slot extends within said clamp body.    
     
     
         32 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said positioning step is executed after said moving step.    
     
     
         33 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said positioning step is executed before said moving step.    
     
     
         34 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said attaching step comprises forcing a discrete portion of said axial segment of said standing seam against said first insert and in turn forcing said insert against said clamp body.    
     
     
         35 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said attaching step comprises deforming a discrete portion of said axial segment of said standing seam.    
     
     
         36 . A method, as claimed in  claim 35 , further comprising the step of: 
 deforming a discrete portion of said first insert that is axially aligned with said discrete portion of said axial segment of said standing seam.    
     
     
         37 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising step of: 
 registering a position of said first insert relative to said clamp body.    
     
     
         38 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising step of: 
 restricting relative movement between said clamp body and said first insert in a direction which is at least generally away from said standing seam and within a plane that contains said axial extent of said standing seam.    
     
     
         39 . A method, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said attaching step comprises placing said first insert in compression.

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