Patent ID: 6672018
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: F24S,H02S,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
A fastener arrangement for attaching one or more flat rectangular solar panels onto a rack formed of one or more channel members, in combination with the rack and panels, in which the channel member has an elongated slot with a pair of inwardly facing flanges defining said slot and defining a surface supporting said solar panels which extend across said slot; said fastener arrangement comprising a clip member having a generally T-shaped profile with a stem portion with opposed flat sides and a cap portion at an upper end of the stem portion with flanges extending above said opposed flat sides, wherein the stem portion has a width sufficient to span across the slot of said channel member so that the stem portion rests on the pair of flanges of said channel member, and with the flanges of said cap portion extending out along sides of the stem portion to define recesses at opposite sides of the clip holding the edges of said solar panels against said channel member; a threaded fastener member rotatable in said stem portion and extending downward therefrom; and a channel nut adapted to be disposed within the associated channel member of the rack and to engage the flanges of said channel member, the channel nut having female threads to receive said threaded fastener therein to tighten the flanges of said clip member against the solar panels onto the rack.