Panel Mounting System and Method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a panel clamp securable to a variety of mounting mechanisms. The clamp includes first and second members, each having an edge extending beyond at least a portion of its side surface to form an overhang, and each includes a plurality of holes passing therethrough. When the overhang of the first member is fitted over a top surface of a panel and the overhang of the second member is fitted over a bottom surface of the panel, such that the plurality of holes in the first member is substantially aligned with the plurality of holes in the second member, mechanical fasteners can be inserted through the plurality of holes to secure the first and second members to the panel. An additional mechanical fastener is inserted through the clamp to secure the clamp to a mounting mechanism.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for adjustably securing a panel to a surface, comprising:
 a first member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface, wherein the top surface includes an edge extending beyond at least a portion of its side surface to form an overhang, and wherein at least one hole passes through the top and bottom surfaces of the first member;   a panel anchoring element having at least one hole therethrough; and   a mount comprising a surface anchoring element having at least one hole therethrough and is securable to a surface;   wherein, when the overhang of the first member is fitted over a top surface of a panel, such that the at least one hole in the first member is substantially aligned with at least one hole in the panel anchoring element, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to secure the first member to the panel anchoring element to form a panel clamping assembly that secures the panel;   wherein, when the panel anchoring element is fitted onto the mount, such that at least one hole in the panel anchoring element is substantially aligned with at least one hole in the mount, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to adjustably secure the panel anchoring element to the mount, such that the distance between the panel anchoring element and the mount is adjustable by rotation of the mechanical fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a photovoltaic (PV) module. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     
     
         4 . A multi-panel clamp, comprising:
 a first member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface, wherein the top surface includes an edge extending beyond at least a portion of its side surface to form an overhang, and wherein at least one hole passes through the top and bottom surfaces of the first member; and   a panel anchoring element having at least one hole therethrough;   wherein, when the overhang of the first member is fitted over a top surface of at least one panel, such that the at least one hole in the first member is substantially aligned with at least one hole in the panel anchoring element, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to secure the first member and the panel anchoring element to the at least one panel.   
     
     
         5 . The multi-panel clamp of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a second member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface, wherein the top surface includes an edge extending beyond at least a portion of its side surface to form an overhang, and wherein at least one hole passes through the top and bottom surfaces of the second member.   
     
     
         6 . The multi-panel clamp of  claim 5 , wherein when the overhang of the first member is fitted over a top surface of at least one panel, such that the at least one hole in the first member is substantially aligned with at least one hole in the panel anchoring element, and when the overhang of the second member is fitted over a top surface of at least one panel, such that the at least one hole in the second member is substantially aligned with at least one hole of the panel anchoring element, mechanical fasteners are insertable through the holes to secure the first and second member to the panel anchoring element to form a multi-panel clamping assembly that secures the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-panel clamp of  claim 4 , wherein the panel is a photovoltaic (PV) module. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-panel clamp of  claim 4 , wherein the panel is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     
     
         9 . A system for securing a panel, comprising:
 at least one member having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein at least one hole passes through the top and bottom surfaces of the at least one member; and   wherein, when at least a portion of a first member is fitted over a top surface of a panel and at least a portion of a second member is fitted over a bottom surface of the panel, such that the at least one hole in the first member is substantially aligned with the at least one hole in the second member, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to secure the first and second members to the panel.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a mount comprising a surface anchoring element having at least one hole therethrough and is securable to a surface; and   a panel anchoring element having at least one hole therethrough.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein when at least a portion of the panel anchoring element is fitted over the mount such that at least one hole in the panel anchoring element is substantially aligned with at least one hole in the mount, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to secure the panel anchoring element to the mount. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the distance between the panel anchoring element and the mount is adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein when at least a portion of the second member is fitted over the panel anchoring element such that at least one hole in the second member is substantially aligned with at least one hole in the panel anchoring element, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to secure the second member to the panel anchoring element. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein when at least a portion of the first member is fitted over a top surface of a panel and at least a portion of the panel anchoring element is fitted over a bottom surface of the panel, such that the at least one hole in the first member is substantially aligned with the at least one hole in the panel anchoring element, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to secure the first member and the panel anchoring element to the panel. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a frame having a base, side walls, and opposing grooves extending inwardly toward each other, wherein the base of the frame includes a plurality of holes passing therethrough; and   a rail element having flange portions on opposing sides of the rail element, such that the flange portion on each side of the rail element fits slideably within the opposing groove of the frame, and wherein the rail element includes at least one hole passing therethrough.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one hole in the base of the frame is substantially aligned with at least one hole of a mount, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole of the base of the frame to secure the frame to the mount. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein when at least a portion of the second member is fitted over the rail element such that the at least one hole in the second member is substantially aligned with at least one hole in the rail element, a mechanical fastener is insertable through the at least one hole to secure the second member to the rail element. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the distance between the second member and the rail element is adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the panel is a photovoltaic (PV) module. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the panel is a liquid crystal display (LCD).