Panel mount for securing a panel to an adjoining structure

Abstract

A panel mount securing a panel to an adjoining structure. The panel mount includes a first and a second jaw defining an elongate slot. The first jaw includes a first abutment surface facing the elongate slot. The panel mount includes a clamp having a first and a second clamp plate within the elongate slot. The first clamp plate includes a second abutment surface abutting the first abutment surface. A clamp orientation may be altered when the second abutment surface slides longitudinally relative to the first abutment surface. The second clamp plate includes a non-planar surface having a plateau facing the second jaw. A jamming device between the non-planar surface and the second jaw includes a pair of blocks and an adjustment member for adjusting a distance between the blocks. The jamming device urges the clamp against the first jaw upon increasing or decreasing the distance between the pair of blocks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel mount for securing a panel to an adjoining structure, the panel mount comprising:
 a body including a first jaw and a second jaw defining an elongate slot open in a longitudinal direction, the first jaw including a first abutment surface facing the elongate slot;   a clamp positioned within the elongate slot for receiving the panel, the clamp including:
 a first clamp plate having a second abutment surface abutting the first abutment surface, an angular orientation of the clamp within the elongate slot being altered when the second abutment surface slides longitudinally relative to the first abutment surface; and 
 a second clamp plate between the first clamp plate and the second jaw, the second clamp plate including a non-planar surface having a plateau and facing the second jaw; and 
   a jamming device between the non-planar surface and the second jaw, the jamming device including a pair of blocks and an adjustment member for adjusting a distance between the pair of blocks, wherein the jamming device urges the clamp against the first jaw upon increasing or decreasing the distance between the pair of blocks.   
     
     
         2 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the jamming device is positioned longitudinally such that the blocks are on opposing sides of the plateau. 
     
     
         3 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the non-planar surface having the plateau includes a convex surface facing the second jaw. 
     
     
         4 . The panel mount of  claim 3 , wherein the jamming device urges the clamp against the first jaw when the distance between the pair of blocks decreases. 
     
     
         5 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the non-planar surface having the plateau includes a concave surface facing the second jaw. 
     
     
         6 . The panel mount of  claim 5 , wherein the jamming device urges the clamp against the first jaw when the distance between the pair of blocks increases. 
     
     
         7 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the plateau is a vertex. 
     
     
         8 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment member is a threaded screw,
 and wherein each of the blocks includes a threaded through-hole and one of the blocks has threads opposite in direction to the other of the blocks such that, upon rotation of the adjustment screw about a longitudinal axis of the adjustment member, advancement of each of the blocks along the adjustment member is in a direction opposite the other of the blocks.   
     
     
         9 . The panel mount of  claim 8 , wherein the adjustment member includes:
 a first threaded portion having threads in a first direction complementary to one of the blocks; and   a second threaded portion having threads in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the second threaded portion being complementary to another of the blocks.   
     
     
         10 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein each of the blocks includes a through-hole such that the adjustment member is positioned through the respective through-holes, and wherein the adjustment member is a screw including a threaded portion complementary to a through-hole in one of the blocks,
 and wherein the jamming device further includes a biasing member between the pair of blocks such that the biasing member biases each of the blocks in a direction opposite the other of the blocks.   
     
     
         11 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein each of the blocks is a wedge-shaped block. 
     
     
         12 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp further includes a liner including:
 a first gripping surface for affixing to a first attachment surface of the first clamp plate;   a second gripping surface for affixing to a second attachment surface of the second clamp plate; and   a liner base coupling the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface to form a U-shaped liner.   
     
     
         13 . The panel mount of  claim 12 , wherein the liner base is a corrugated base coupling the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface. 
     
     
         14 . The panel mount of  claim 13 , wherein the body includes a base coupling the first jaw and the second jaw, and wherein the base includes a recessed slot for receiving at least a portion of the corrugated base. 
     
     
         15 . The panel mount of  claim 12 , wherein the liner includes pliable material such that the U-shaped clamp is expandable or contractible for receiving variable thickness panels. 
     
     
         16 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the first abutment surface includes at least one concave surface facing the elongate slot. 
     
     
         17 . The panel mount of  claim 16 , wherein the second abutment surface is a convex surface complementary to and abutting the first abutment surface. 
     
     
         18 . The panel mount of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one concave surface includes two concave surface portions and a planar surface portion intermediate the two concave surface portions. 
     
     
         19 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the first abutment surface facing the elongate slot is integrated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         20 . The panel mount of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw includes a recessed slot having an opening facing the elongate slot, and wherein the first abutment surface includes a contour of the recessed slot, and wherein the second abutment surface is a convex surface abutting the recessed slot such that the second abutment surface may slide longitudinally relative to the first abutment surface at points of abutment between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface.