Clips for connecting panels and cross members without visual reference

Abstract

Self aligned clips connecting panels, such as solar panels, and cross members are disclosed. An upper clip portion has opposed alignment legs extending downwardly from an upper portion surface that are used to align an opening of the upper portion with a wall fastener housing of the lower portion used with a fastener to connect the upper and lower portions. Remaining fastener housings of the lower portion are used with fasteners to connect the lower portion of the clip to a support member. The lower portion has a space in between a pair of arms receiving the support member. A length between the opposed legs is slightly longer than a length of the wall of the lower portion allowing a user to place the pair of opposed legs just past opposed outer ends of the wall. In use, the lower portion is first installed on the support member with fastener housings and fasteners. The panel is butted against the lower portion and clamped into place when the upper portion is connected to the lower portion. The clip allows for connecting panel and cross members in a “blind” manner as the clip is self aligned.

1 . A clip for connecting panels on a cross member, comprising:
 an upper portion having a channel comprised of a flat bottom surface and first and second opposed walls, a pair of opposed ledges, each ledge extending outwardly from one of said walls and away from said channel and forming a space with said one of said walls positionable to receive a portion of a panel, a table of a generally U-shape cross section having a flat upper surface disposed on said flat bottom surface and a pair of opposed alignment legs each extending downwardly from said flat upper surface, and an opening disposed through both of said flat bottom surface and said flat upper surface;   a lower portion connectable to said upper portion and to a cross member, the lower portion having two pairs of opposed arms, each pair separated by a flat upper surface having a length that spans a width of said cross member, said arms of each pair extending downwardly from opposing ends of said flat upper surface, a wall disposed atop said flat upper surfaces between said arm pairs, said wall having opposed outer ends and at least two fastener housings in a row, wherein said flat upper surface of said table has a length longer than said wall allowing said pair of opposed legs to extend just past said opposed outer ends of said wall, and wherein vertical alignment of said opening and one of said fastener housings occurs when said upper portion engages said lower portion as opposed wall ends prevent opposed alignment legs of said table from being laterally moved a distance that positions said opening and said fastener housing out of vertical alignment when the opposed alignment legs are positioned outside of said opposed wall ends thereby self aligning one of said fastener housings said opening; and   at least two fasteners, wherein one fastener is receivable within said opening and an adjustable position in said fastener housing in vertical alignment with said opening thereby connecting said upper portion to said lower portion at an adjustable position, and wherein another fastener is receivable within said other fastener housing, said fastener receivable within said other fastener housing positionable within said cross member thereby connecting said lower portion to said cross member.   
     
     
         2 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein three fastener housings are disposed in said row and three fasteners are receivable within said three fastener housings and wherein said fastener housing disposed in between said other two fastener housings is positionable into vertical alignment with said opening. 
     
     
         3 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said fastener housings comprise through holes and wherein said fasteners are self drilling screws or self tapping screws. 
     
     
         4 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said fastener housings are cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said fasteners are nuts and bolts. 
     
     
         6 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said opposed outer ends of said wall extend outwardly and perpendicularly from said wall such that said wall has a generally H shape in cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein when said opening and one of said fastener housings are in vertical alignment each of said table legs abuts against opposed ends of said wall. 
     
     
         8 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said table is separable from said channel. 
     
     
         9 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said table is attached to said channel. 
     
     
         10 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein said wall is disposed along said flat upper surface and in between said pairs of opposed arms. 
     
     
         11 . The clip of  claim 1  wherein each arm is contoured so as to extend over a top surface of the cross member to cross member side surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . A clip for connecting panels, comprising:
 an upper portion having a channel with an opening extending therethrough and first and second elongated ledges, one ledge extending outwardly from said channel and positioned to form an angle slightly less than a right angle with a first side of said channel, and another ledge extending outwardly from said channel and positioned to form an angle slightly less than a right angle with a second side of said channel opposing said first side, and a pair of opposed alignment legs, each alignment leg extending downwardly and perpendicularly from said channel; and   a lower portion having a pair of arms with a length in between said arms allowing said arms to extend past a top surface of a cross member and to contact side surfaces of said cross member, said lower portion having a wall of fastener housings disposed atop said length between said pair of arms, wherein one of said fastener housings of said wall is vertically alignable to said fastener opening of said channel and wherein said length between said opposed alignment legs is such that when said lower portion is fastened to said upper portion each of said opposed alignment legs abut one of two opposed outer ends of said wall.   
     
     
         13 . The clip of  claim 12  wherein said opposed outer ends of said wall extend outwardly and perpendicularly from said wall such that said wall has a generally H shape in cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The clip of  claim 12  further comprising fasteners, wherein one fastener is receivable within said opening and said fastener housing in vertical alignment with said opening and another fastener is receivable within said other fastener housing. 
     
     
         15 . The clip of  claim 14  wherein said fasteners are screws. 
     
     
         16 . The clip of  claim 14  wherein said fasteners are nuts and bolts. 
     
     
         17 . The clip of  claim 14  wherein one of said fasteners is secured at a desired position by a floating nut. 
     
     
         18 . The clip of  claim 12  wherein there are three fastener housings extending through said wall and wherein said fastener housing in vertical alignment with said opening is disposed in between the other two fastener housings. 
     
     
         19 . The clip of  claim 12  wherein said fastener openings extend through an entire width of said wall. 
     
     
         20 . The clip of  claim 12  wherein said lower portion includes a grounding burr disposed on a surface between said pair of arms. 
     
     
         21 . A clip for connecting panels, comprising:
 an upper portion having opposed spaces at either end of said upper portion shaped to receive a panel, said upper portion also having a channel comprised of a bottom surface with an opening therethrough and alignment legs each extending perpendicularly and downwardly from said bottom surface;   a lower portion having a space shaped to receive a cross member and a having a central wall of fastener housings, wherein one fastener housing is in vertical alignment with said opening when said upper portion is connected to said lower portion; and   fastening means, wherein one fastening means is receivable within one fastener housing and said cross member and another fastening means is receivable within said opening and a variable position in another fastener housing positionable into vertical alignment with said opening, and wherein said alignment legs are positionable outside of and in an abutting relationship with outer ends of said wall whereby in said position said opening is aligned with said fastener housing positionable into vertical alignment with said opening.