Panel Mount Compression System

Abstract

A panel retention device, a panel mounting system, and a panel assembly each including an adjustable flange in threaded engagement with a compression plate. In one version of each of the panel retention device, the panel mounting system, and the panel assembly, the compression plate is in indirect threaded engagement with an externally threaded adjustable flange through an internally threaded disk extending from the compression plate. In another version of each of the panel retention device, the panel mounting system, and the panel assembly, the compression plate is in direct threaded connection with the an externally threaded adjustable flange threaded into a threaded opening in the compression plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel retention device, comprising:
 a compression pad having a rectangular cross-section and a plate opposing surface;   a compression plate having a rectangular cross-section, a pad support surface facing the compression pad, and a disk support surface;   a threaded disk extending from the disk support surface; and   an adjustable flange removably threaded onto the threaded disk.   
     
     
         2 . The panel retention device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression flange is a toothed flange. 
     
     
         3 . The panel retention device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression plate includes a plurality of alignment support receiving passageways. 
     
     
         4 . The panel retention device of  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of alignment supports positioned in the plurality of alignment support receiving passageways. 
     
     
         5 . The panel retention device of  claim 4 , wherein the threaded disk is a cylindrical member having a body with a plurality of threads disposed along an outer surface thereof 
     
     
         6 . The panel retention device of  claim 5 , wherein the threaded disk includes a plurality of cylindrically-shaped alignment support receiving sockets receiving the pair of alignment supports. 
     
     
         7 . The panel retention device of  claim 6 , wherein the alignment supports are cylindrically-shaped, solid members and are sized to fit within the circumference of the passageways and sockets. 
     
     
         8 . The panel retention device of  claim 7 , wherein the adjustable flange is a disk-shaped member having a plurality of spaced teeth disposed along its circumference and extending away from a center thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The panel retention device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of teeth provides a plurality of tool-receiving notches between each tooth. 
     
     
         10 . The panel retention device of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustable flange further includes a threaded disk receiving passageway extending through a body of the flange from front to back and completely therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The panel retention device of  claim 10 , wherein the threaded disk receiving passageway corresponds with the threaded disk. 
     
     
         12 . A panel mounting system comprising:
 a U-shaped base shoe;   a panel retention device in the U-shaped base shoe;   a first compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe;   a second compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe;   a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe;   a threaded disk in the U-shaped base shoe extending away from the compression plate; and   a threaded adjustable flange in the U-shaped base shoe in threaded engagement with the threaded disk.   
     
     
         13 . A panel mounting system comprising:
 a U-shaped base shoe;   a panel retention device in the U-shaped base shoe;   a first compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe;   a second compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe;   a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe and having a threaded opening; and   a threaded adjustable flange in the U-shaped base shoe in threaded engagement with the threaded opening in the compression plate.   
     
     
         14 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a panel mounting system having:   (a) a U-shaped base shoe,   (b) a panel retention device in the U-shaped base shoe,   (c) a first compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe,   (d) a second compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe,   (e) a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe,   (f) a threaded disk in the U-shaped base shoe extending away from the compression plate, and   (g) a partially threaded adjustable flange in the U-shaped base shoe in threaded engagement with the threaded disk, and   a panel in the panel retention device and between the first compression pad and the second compression pad.   
     
     
         15 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a panel mounting system having:   (a) a U-shaped base shoe,   (b) a panel retention device in the U-shaped base shoe,   (c) a first compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe,   (d) a second compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe,   (e) a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe and having a threaded opening, and   (f) a partially threaded adjustable flange in the U-shaped base shoe in threaded engagement with the threaded opening in the compression plate; and   a panel in the panel retention device and between the first compression pad and the second compression pad.   
     
     
         16 . A panel mounting system comprising:
 a U-shaped base shoe;   a panel retention device in the U-shaped base shoe;   a first compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe;   a second compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe;   a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe; and   an adjustable flange connected to the compression plate through a threaded connection.   
     
     
         17 . A panel mounting system according to  claim 16 , further including a threaded disk extending away from the compression plate and in threaded engagement with the adjustable flange. 
     
     
         18 . A panel mounting system according to  claim 16 , wherein the compression plate has a threaded opening and the adjustable flange is in threaded engagement with the threaded opening in the compression plate. 
     
     
         19 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a panel mounting system having:   (a) a U-shaped base shoe,   (b) a panel retention device in the U-shaped base shoe,   (c) a first compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe,   (d) a second compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe,   (e) a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe, and   (f) an adjustable flange connected to the compression plate through a threaded connection; and   a panel in the panel retention device and between the first compression pad and the second compression pad.   
     
     
         20 . A panel mounting system comprising:
 a U-shaped base shoe;   an L-shaped compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe and having:   (a) a vertical leg having an inside surface and an outside surface, and   (b) a horizontal leg extending away from the vertical leg;   a first retention gasket in the U-shaped base shoe bearing against the inside surface of the vertical leg of the L-shaped compression pad;   a second retention gasket in the U-shaped base shoe and having an opening;   a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe bearing against the second retention gasket and having a threaded opening aligned with the opening in the in the second retention gasket; and   a threaded adjustable flange in the U-shaped base shoe in threaded engagement with the threaded opening in the compression plate.   
     
     
         21 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a U-shaped base shoe;   an L-shaped compression pad in the U-shaped base shoe and having:   (a) a vertical leg having an inside surface and an outside surface, and   (b) a horizontal leg extending away from the vertical leg;   a first retention gasket in the U-shaped base shoe bearing against the inside surface of the vertical leg of the L-shaped compression pad;   a second retention gasket in the U-shaped base shoe and having an opening;   a compression plate in the U-shaped base shoe bearing against the second retention gasket and having a threaded opening aligned with the opening in the in the second retention gasket;   a threaded adjustable flange in the U-shaped base shoe in threaded engagement with the threaded opening in the compression plate; and   a panel tightly fitted between the first retention gasket and the second retention gasket.