Mounting system for roofs and the like

Abstract

A mounting system for mounting panels to a structure such as a roof comprises a plurality of spaced parallel tracks at least one of which is in the form of a plurality of laterally aligned track segments. Each of the track segments includes a base portion for being mounted to the framework of the structure and the exposed portion for accommodating a fastener. A row of mounting panels is provided for each track. Bach of the mounting panels has a surface indentation such as a slot into which a fastener would be disposed with each fastener having a hook portion mounted over the exposed portion of the track segment.

1 . A mounting system for mounting a plurality of mounting panels to a structure having a framework, comprising a plurality of spaced parallel tracks, at least one of said tracks comprising a plurality of laterally aligned track segments, each of said track segments having a base portion for being mounted to the framework, each of said track segments having an exposed portion to function as fastener accommodating structure, a row of mounting panels for each of said tracks, each of said mounting panels having a head portion and an end portion and opposite side edges, an inwardly directed surface indentation in each of said side edges of said panel, a fastener engaged at each of said surface indentations, and said fastener having a track engaging portion mounted against said exposed portion of said track segment to mount said mounting panel to said track segment and thereby mount said mounting panel to said framework.  
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said surface indentations comprise slots, each of said fasteners comprising a spring clip mounted in said slot, said spring clip terminating at one end in a leg disposed against the outer surface of said panel, and said spring clip having as said track engaging portion a hook portion remote from said leg hooked over said exposed portion of said track segment.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said exposed portion of said track segment includes an outwardly extending stop member, said fastener being a spring clip having as said track engaging portion a hook portion disposed over said exposed portion of said track member, and said hook portion having a bent portion disposed toward said stop member.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  including at least one raised rib at said base portion of said track segment.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said base portion of said track segment includes at least one integral tab extending generally perpendicular to said base portion in a direction away from said mounting panel.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said integral tab comprises a positioning member adapted to be disposed against the framework.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said integral tab terminates in a pointed end whereby said integral tab is capable of being a fastening element which penetrates said framework.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said base portion includes a recessed section for accommodating a fastening element extending through said base portion for mounting said base portion to the framework.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said base portion includes locator structure for providing a reference mark for location at the longitudinal center of the mounting panel.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  including a cushioning element mounted to said base portion and extending outwardly toward the mounting panel.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said base portion includes at least one resilient integral tab which comprises said cushioning element, said base portion including a recessed wall for accommodating a fastener element, and said base portion terminating in side walls.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said track segment is in the form of a bracket terminating in a pair of outwardly extending flanges with a U-shaped intermediate portion between said flanges, said flanges comprising said base portion, and said intermediate portion comprising said exposed portion.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said base portion includes a planar portion for being disposed against the framework, and said base portion including an outwardly bent springy tab for fitting over the framework.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said track segment has a plurality of mounting panels mounted thereto.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said track segment is made of extruded metal, said exposed portion terminating in a flange extending away from said mounting panels, said base portion terminating in a flange extending toward said mounting panels, said base portion including a recessed wall for accommodating a fastening element, an intermediate flange located between said exposed portion flange and said base portion flange, and said intermediate flange extending away from said mounting panels for being disposed against the framework.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said track segment is made of extruded material, and said exposed portion terminating in a flange extending away from said mounting panels.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said track segment is made of stamped material, said exposed portion terminating in a flange extending away from said mounting panels, and said track segment having at least one push out tab for being disposed against the framework.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said track segment is cut to size from a roll.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said track segment includes a slot, said track engaging portion of said fastener extending through said slot, and said track engaging portion being disposed on a side of said slot remote from said panel.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said slot includes an edge to comprise said fastener accommodating structure, and said track engaging portion of said fastener being a projection disposed against said edge.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said fastener accommodating structure includes a loop terminating in a bent edge, and said track engaging portion of said fastener being a projection disposed against said bent edge.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said track engaging portion of said fastener is a projection mounted on the end of an arm portion of said fastener.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said fastener is a resilient clip having a leg disposed against the outer surface of said panel and an arm disposed generally perpendicularly to said leg, said arm terminating in a bent portion which comprises said track engaging portion, and a second resilient member disposed between said leg and said bent end with said panel being sandwiched between said leg and said member.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said tracks are comprised of said aligned track segments laterally spaced from each other with a common continuous base portion.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 1  in combination with a framework having a plurality of rafters interconnected by a plurality of spaced horizontal battens, a plurality of spaced tracks mounted to said battens, at least one of said tracks comprising a plurality of said track segments being laterally aligned and mounted to one of said battens, each of said track segment base portions being disposed against and mounted to said batten, each of said track segments having an exposed portion extending above said batten to comprise said fastener accommodating structure, and each of said surface indentations being an inwardly directed slot in each of said side edges.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein each of said track segments has only a single mounting panel mounted to said track segment and is of lesser width than the width of said mounting panel.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein a plurality of mounting panels is mounted to each of said track segments.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said track segment includes at least one integral pointed end, and said pointed end being mounted into said batten.  
   
   
       29 . The structure of  claim 25  wherein said track segment has a loop portion terminating in a bent edge which comprises said fastener accommodating structure, and said fastener having an outwardly extending arm with a projection disposed against said bent edger and said projection comprising said track engaging portion.  
   
   
       30 . A roof structure including a framework having a plurality of rafters interconnected by a plurality of spaced horizontal battens, each of said battens having an inner side and an outer side interconnected by a top edge and a bottom edge, a row of mounting panels for each of said battens, each of said mounting panels having opposite side edges, an inwardly directing slot at each of said side edges, a fastener in the form of a spring clip mounted in each of said slots, each of said fasteners including a leg mounted against said mounting panel on a side of said mounting panel remote from said outer side of said batten, and each of said fasteners extending at least partially around and being mounted to said batten.  
   
   
       31 . The roof structure of  claim 30  wherein said top edge of said batten is notched to create an upper portion of reduced thickness, and said spring clip being hooked over and disposed against said upper portion of reduced thickness.  
   
   
       32 . The structure of  claim 30  wherein said top edge of said batten includes a longitudinal recess a spline mounted in said recess and extending outwardly above said top edge of said batten and said spring clip being mounted around and in contact with said spline.  
   
   
       33 . A mounting system for mounting a plurality of mounting panels to a structure having a framework comprising a plurality of spaced parallel tracks, each of said tracks having a base portion for being mounted to the framework and an exposed portion spaced from said base portion to function as fastener accommodating structure and with an intermediate connecting portion joining said base portion to said exposed portion, said exposed portion having a downwardly extending projection extending toward said base portion, each of said mounting panels having a head portion and an end portion and opposite side edges, an inwardly directed surface indentation in each of said side edges of said panel, a fastener engaged at each of said surface indentations, said fastener being in the form of a generally R-shaped resilient clip having a free leg merging into an intermediate head which merges into an inward portion which merges into a bend which terminates in a free end, said free leg being disposed against a respective one of said panels with said one of said panels and a vertically adjacent panel being disposed between said free leg and said fastener accommodating portion of said track, and said intermediate head being disposed against said projection of said track.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said track includes weep holes.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said track is a pedestal having a width less than the width of said panel.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein each of said pedestals is mounted to a carrier with said pedestals being spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein said carrier has an adhesive coated surface, and a protective liner detachably covering said adhesive coated surface.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said track includes an enlarged portion which functions as a batten for the framework.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said fastener accommodating structure has an outer surface disposed in contact with one of said panels, and said outer surface having a rocking enhancing shape.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said intermediate connecting portion includes a series of projections for selective engagement against said clip.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 33  wherein each of said clips has a panel engaging surface with rounded corners.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 33  wherein each of said free legs of said clips has a limited panel engaging surface contacting said panel.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said free end of said clip is a curved ramp.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said fastener accommodating surface has a nose for engaging and preventing dislodgement of said clip.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said track has a panel bearing surface located at said intermediate connecting portion.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said track includes a guide ledge extending below said base portion.  
   
   
       47 . A mounting system for mounting a plurality of panels to a roof structure, said mounting system comprising a plurality of rows of panels, each of said panels having a head portion and an end portion and opposite side edges, said rows of panels being arranged in overlapping fashion whereby an end portion of one panel is located vertically above a head portion of a vertically lower panel, mounting structure for mounting said rows of panels to said roof structure, and spacers between said rows of panels to maintain said vertically adjacent panels out of contact with each other to create an open area for an air layer between said vertically adjacent panels.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47  including a track for each of said rows of panels, and said mounting structure being fasteners.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 48  wherein said fasteners are clips which also comprise said spacers.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 48  wherein said spacers include spacing members separate and distinct from said fasteners.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 48  wherein said spacers are discrete members mounted to said track at spaced locations.  
   
   
       52 . A mounting system for mounting a plurality of panels to a roof structure comprising said roof structure, a plurality of rows of panels, each of said panels having a head portion and an end portion and opposite side edges, said rows of panels being arranged in overlapping fashion whereby an end portion of one panel is located vertically above a head portion of a vertically lower panel, a plurality of outward projections mounted to said roof structure at spaced locations corresponding to one of said projections being disposed at each of said panels, each of said projections having a width less than the width of its said panel, and fastening structure mounting said panels to said roof structure.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52  wherein said roof structure includes a solid deck, and said projections being on said solid deck.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 52  wherein rows of tracks are mounted to said roof structure, and said projections being on said rows of tracks.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 52  wherein each of said panels is disposed against said projection in the manner capable of rocking.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 52  wherein each of said projections is mounted at the centerline of its panel.  
   
   
       57 . A mounting fastener for mounting a panel to a roof structure, said mounting fastener comprising a generally R-shaped resilient clip having a free leg merging into an intermediate head which merges into an inward portion which merges into a bend which terminates in a free end, stiffening structure at said intermediate head, and said free end being a curved ramp.  
   
   
       58 . The clip of  claim 57  wherein said free leg includes surface irregularities for preventing a complete surface to surface contact of said free end with the panel.  
   
   
       59 . A method of mounting roofing panels to a roof comprising the steps of preassembling fasteners to panels to create a plurality of panels/fastener sub-assemblies, providing a plurality of sets of spaced tracks on the roof, locating the preassembled panels/fasteners on the tracks without engagement of the fasteners to the tracks, and engaging the subassemblies to the tracks by engaging the fasteners with the tracks.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the tracks are individual pedestals, mounting the pedestals on an adhesive coated carrier sheet with the pedestals spaced apart a distance corresponding to their installed distance on the roof, engaging the fasteners with the panels while the panels remain on the carrier sheet, and placing the carrier sheet on the roof to mount the pedestals at their intended location.