Fastening device for solar panels

Abstract

A fastening device for fastening at least one solar panel to an assembly rail which has a slot bordered by two parallel webs is disclosed. The fastening device includes a locking element with two locking hooks which can be inserted under elastic deformation of at least a part of the locking element into the slot, and which, when the locking element is relaxed, can then reach behind the webs of the assembly rail. The fastening device further includes at least one hold-down element for a solar panel which is connected with the locking element. At least one interlocking element is provided which can be inserted into an interlocked position between the two locking hooks, where the interlocking element prevents the two locking hooks from coming closer to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fastening device for fastening a solar panel to an assembly rail that has a slot bordered by two parallel webs, comprising:
 a locking element with two locking hooks which are introducible under elastic deformation of at least one part of the locking element into the slot and which are reachable behind the two parallel webs when the locking element relaxes;   a hold-down element which is connectable to the locking element; and   an interlocking element, wherein the interlocking element is insertable into an interlocked position between the two locking hooks such that the interlocking element prevents the two locking hooks from coming closer to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking element is disposed on a support plate and wherein the support plate is supportable on the assembly rail. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening device according to  claim 2 , wherein the support plate has a recess which, in an operative configuration, surrounds the locking element. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening device according to  claim 3 , wherein the interlocking element projects into the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening device according to  claim 2 , wherein the support plate has a support plane for support on the assembly rail and wherein the interlocking element projects from the support plane. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second interlocking element and a support plate, wherein the support plate is axially symmetrical and wherein the interlocking element and the second interlocking element project on opposite sides of the support plate from the support plate. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking element is sized such that when it is pushed into the interlocked position, the interlocking element pushes the two locking hooks apart. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking element has two webs which define a recess. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking element has a U-shape and wherein the hold-down element is connectable to the locking element by a screw. 
     
     
         10 . A support construction for a solar panel, comprising:
 an assembly rail that has a slot bordered by two parallel webs; and   a fastening device according to  claim 1 ;   wherein the two locking hooks of the locking element reach behind the two webs of the assembly rail.   
     
     
         11 . The support construction according to  claim 10 , wherein the interlocking element presses the two locking hooks against the two parallel webs of the assembly rail when inserted into the interlocked position and wherein the two locking hooks have a clearance with the two parallel webs when the interlocking element is not in the interlocked position. 
     
     
         12 . The support construction according to  claim 10 , wherein the interlocking element is disposed on a support plate and the support plate projects beyond the assembly rail on opposite sides. 
     
     
         13 . The support construction according to  claim 12  in combination with a solar panel and wherein the solar panel is disposed between the hold-down element and the support plate. 
     
     
         14 . The support construction according to  claim 13  wherein the assembly rail extends parallel to an edge of the solar panel facing the fastening device. 
     
     
         15 . A fastening device for fastening a solar panel to an assembly rail, comprising:
 a locking element with two locking hooks, wherein the two locking hooks are elastically deformable;   a hold-down element, wherein the hold-down element is connectable to the locking element; and   an interlocking element, wherein, in an operative configuration, the interlocking element is disposed between the two locking hooks.   
     
     
         16 . The fastening device according to  claim 15 , wherein the interlocking element is disposed on a support plate. 
     
     
         17 . The fastening device according to  claim 16 , wherein the support plate has a recess and wherein, in the operative configuration, the locking element is disposed through the recess. 
     
     
         18 . The fastening device according to  claim 15 , wherein the two locking hooks extend from a middle leg of the locking element and wherein the two locking hooks are elastically deformable with respect to the middle leg. 
     
     
         19 . The fastening device according to  claim 15  in combination with an assembly rail, wherein the two locking hooks, in the operative configuration, are locked within a slot of the assembly rail. 
     
     
         20 . The fastening device according to  claim 19  in combination with a solar panel, wherein the solar panel, in the operative configuration, is disposed between the hold-down element and the assembly rail.