Friction locking retainer for photovoltaic module mounting system

Abstract

A friction locking retainer for a self-aligning system of mounting at least one photovoltaic module having a thickness to a surface, including: a clamp having a central portion defined by at least one generally vertical wall having a distal end with a flange transverse to the wall and extending away from the central portion, the central portion further having a first opening; a first elastomer element disposed below the first opening opposite from the central portion, the elastomer element having a central passage aligned to the first opening; a bolt having a head section and a threaded section, the bolt disposed to pass through the first opening and the central passage of the elastomer element; and a nut disposed about the threaded section of the bolt extending from the central passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A friction locking retainer for a self-aligning system of mounting at least one photovoltaic module having a thickness to a surface, comprising:
 a clamp having a central portion defined by at least one generally vertical wall having a distal end with a flange transverse to the wall and extending away from the central portion, the central portion further having a first opening;   a first elastomer element disposed below the first opening opposite from the central portion, the elastomer element having a central passage aligned to the first opening;   a bolt having a head section and a threaded section, the bolt disposed to pass through the first opening and the central passage of the elastomer element; and   a nut disposed about the threaded section of the bolt extending from the central passage.   
     
     
         2 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , having two substantially parallel vertical walls. 
     
     
         3 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the generally vertical wall is an annular wall, the flange being a generally circular flange. 
     
     
         4 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , further including at least one washer disposed between the nut and the elastomer element. 
     
     
         5 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer element is a non-metallic element. 
     
     
         6 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer element has a predetermined length between about half the thickness of the photovoltaic module and about the thickness of the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         7 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer element has a predetermined length about three-quarters the thickness of the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         8 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein each flange has a plurality of teeth oriented generally towards the threaded section of the bolt. 
     
     
         9 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer element has a sidewall thickness selected to be about the distance from the bolt to the at least one vertical wall. 
     
     
         10 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , further including a second elastomer element disposed about the bolt between the bolt head and the first opening. 
     
     
         11 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the second elastomer element is a coiled spring. 
     
     
         12 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the second elastomer element permits generally vertical displacement of the clamp. 
     
     
         13 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the second elastomer element imparts a biasing force of about  3  pounds. 
     
     
         14 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , further including a rail having at least one elongated aperture structured and arranged to receive and bias the nut, the elongated aperture further permitting lateral adjustment for positioning of the nut. 
     
     
         15 . A friction locking retainer for a self-aligning system of mounting at least one photovoltaic module having a thickness to a surface, comprising:
 a clamp having a central portion defined by a generally annular generally vertical wall having a distal end with a generally circular flange transverse to the annular wall and extending away from the central portion, the central portion further having a first opening;   a first elastomer element disposed below the first opening opposite from the central portion, the elastomer element having a central passage aligned to the first;   a bolt having a head section and a threaded section, the bolt disposed to pass through the first opening and the central passage of the elastomer element; and   a nut disposed about the threaded section of the bolt extending from the central passage.   
     
     
         16 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the first elastomer element has a predetermined length between about half the thickness of the photovoltaic module and about the thickness of the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         17 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the first elastomer element has a predetermined length about three-quarters the thickness of the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         18 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the first elastomer element is a non-metallic element. 
     
     
         19 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the generally circular flange has a plurality of teeth oriented generally towards the threaded section of the bolt. 
     
     
         20 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the first elastomer element has a sidewall thickness selected to be about the distance from the bolt to the annular wall. 
     
     
         21 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 15 , further including a second elastomer element disposed about the bolt between the bolt head and the first opening. 
     
     
         22 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 21 , wherein the second elastomer element is a coiled spring. 
     
     
         23 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 21 , wherein the second elastomer element permits generally vertical displacement of the clamp. 
     
     
         24 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 21 , wherein the second elastomer element imparts a biasing force of about  3  pounds. 
     
     
         25 . A friction locking retainer for a self-aligning system of mounting at least one photovoltaic module having a thickness to a surface, comprising:
 a gripper structured and arranged to grip at least a portion of a photovoltaic module;   a compressible positioner structured and arranged to position the gripper at a predetermined height to receive a photovoltaic module; and   an attacher structured and arranged to hold the gripper and positioner and permit friction locking of the positioner in an elongated aperture of a rail for mounting photovoltaic modules.   
     
     
         26 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 25 , wherein the gripper is a clamp having a central portion defined by a generally annular generally vertical wall having a distal end with generally circular flange transverse to the wall and extending away from the central portion, the central portion further having a first opening. 
     
     
         27 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 25 , wherein the gripper is a clamp having a central portion defined by at least one generally vertical wall having a distal end with a flange transverse to the wall and extending away from the central portion, the central portion further having a first opening. 
     
     
         28 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 27 , wherein the clamp has two substantially parallel walls. 
     
     
         29 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 25 , wherein the compressible positioner is a first elastomer element having a central passage disposed below the gripper. 
     
     
         30 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 29 , wherein the first elastomer element has a predetermined length between about half the thickness of the photovoltaic module and about the thickness of the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         31 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 29 , wherein the first elastomer element has a predetermined length about three-quarters the thickness of the photovoltaic module. 
     
     
         32 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 25 , wherein the compressible positioner is a non-metallic element. 
     
     
         33 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 25 , wherein the attacher is a bolt having a head section and a threaded section, the bolt disposed to pass through the gripper and the compressible positioner, a nut disposed about the threaded section of the bolt extending from the compressible positioner. 
     
     
         34 . A friction locking retainer for a self-aligning system of mounting at least one photovoltaic module having a thickness to a surface, comprising:
 a clamp having a central portion defined by at least one generally vertical wall with a flange transverse to the wall and extending away from the central portion, the central portion further having a first opening defined by the generally vertical wall;   a first elastomer element disposed below the first opening opposite from the central portion, the elastomer element having a central passage aligned to the first opening;   at least one spacer disposed between the clamp and the first elastomer element, the spacer structured and arranged to assist with spacing between the photovoltaic panels;   a bolt having a head section and a threaded section, the bolt disposed to pass through the first opening, the at least one spacer and the central passage of the elastomer element; and   a nut disposed about the threaded section of the bolt extending from the central passage.   
     
     
         35 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 34 , wherein the generally circular flange has a plurality of teeth oriented generally towards the threaded section of the bolt. 
     
     
         36 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 34 , wherein the clamp is a washer. 
     
     
         37 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one spacer is at least one washer. 
     
     
         38 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 25 , wherein the gripper is a clamp having a central portion defined by a generally annular generally vertical wall with generally circular flange transverse to the wall and extending away from the central portion, the central portion further having a first opening defined by the generally vertical wall, the gripper disposed upon at least one spacer structured and arranged to assist with spacing between the photovoltaic panels. 
     
     
         39 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 34 , wherein the clamp and the spacer have at least two orientations structured and arranged to provide at least two spacing options between two mounted photovoltaic modules. 
     
     
         40 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is structured and arranged to provide at least two different orientations structured and arranged to provide at least two spacing options between two mounted photovoltaic modules. 
     
     
         41 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the clamp is structured and arranged to provide at least two different orientations structured and arranged to provide at least two spacing options between two mounted photovoltaic modules. 
     
     
         42 . The friction locking retainer of  claim 25 , wherein the gripper clamp is structured and arranged to provide at least two different orientations structured and arranged to provide at least two spacing options between two mounted photovoltaic modules.