Abstract:
An arrangement for attaching PV panels together and to a roofing clamp includes an electrical insulating provision between the attaching arrangement and the roofing clamp while providing electrical grounded connection between the PV panels, per se.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Photovoltaic (PV) cells and panel assemblies are currently attached to roof seams for receiving solar energy and converting the solar energy to electricity for home use. One such PV panel assembly is a Mage Solar Unit manufactured by Mage Solar Inc. 
     In order to attach the PV panels to the roof seams, roofing clamps such as the AceClamp® manufactured by PMCI of Bristol Conn. for attaching snow guards and the like, can be modified for attaching the PV panels. 
     Another arrangement for attaching PV panels to roof seams is the type described within U.S. Pat. No. 7,758,011 entitled “Adjustable Mounting Assembly for Standing Seam Panels”. 
     Such forms of attaching PV panels to roof seams mainly consist of an arrangement of metal components which insures electrical connection between adjoining panels that are attached by a common clamp for grounding purposes. 
     When such PV panels are to be attached to metal roofs, it is important that the panels remain electrically grounded without becoming electrically connected with the clamp and/or the metal roof. 
     One purpose of the instant invention is to describe a PV panel clamp for attaching a PV panel to a roof without electrical conduction between the clamp and roof while insuring electrical grounding between adjoining PV panels, per se. 
     A current arrangement for such insulating assembly is described within U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/385,644 entitled “PV Kit for Roof Assembly”, which Application is incorporated herein for purposes of reference. 
     A further purpose of the instant invention is to provide a simpler and less expensive insulating assembly for achieving the same results. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An insulated connector for attaching a pair of adjoining PV panels together, and to a roofing clamp, includes a dual function washer to insure electrical insulation between the connector and the roofing clamp while providing electrical grounded connection between the adjoining panels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the PV insulating kit according to the prior art connecting with the associated PV panel and associated roofing clamp; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the components of the insulated connector of the invention prior to assembly of an end PV panel with a roofing seam via the associated roofing clamp; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the insulated connector of the invention connecting between an end PV panel and a roofing seam via the associated roofing clamp; and 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the insulated connector of the invention connecting between an intermediate PV panel and a roofing seam via the associated roofing clamp. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As now shown in  FIG. 1  the PV kit, according to the Prior Art Application described earlier, includes a PV kit assembly  10  with an end PV panel  20  captured between one side of the top wing-shaped metal plate  12  and one side of the bottom wing-shaped metal plate  15  and with the plastic side piece  16  captured between an opposite side of the top metal plate and an opposite side of the bottom metal plate. 
     An upper insulating washer  11  and a lower insulating washer (not shown) are captured within the top and bottom metal plates  12 ,  15 , to prevent electrical connection between the top and bottom metal plates, the rod  13 , nut  22  as well between the roofing clamp  17  and associated roofing seam  18  and roofing seam nut  19 . 
     The insulated connector arrangement  9 , according to the invention, for attaching an end pv panel  20  to the roof seam  18  via the roofing clamp  17  is depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     In lieu of the top and bottom wing-shaped metal plates  12 ,  15  and associated insulated washers  11 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , a serrated top metal ring  21 A including an in-set top plastic insulating cylinder  22 A and a bottom metal ring  21 B including an in-set bottom plastic insulating cylinder  22 B are arranged on opposing sides of the plastic side plate  16  and PV panel  20  and over the roof clamp  17 , which is attached to the roof seam  18  via nut  19 . 
     The elongated threaded rod  13  is first inserted thru the opening  23 B in the bottom insulating washer  22 B and then fastened within threaded opening  24  in the roofing clamp  17 . 
     The bottom  16 A of the plastic side plate  16  and the bottom  20 A of the panel  20  are next positioned on opposing sides of the bottom metal ring  21 B and the top metal ring  21 A is inserted onto the elongated threaded rod  13  via opening  23 A allowing the top metal ring to become positioned on the top  20 B, as shown in  FIG. 2  of the PV panel  20  and the top  16 B of the plastic side plate  16 . 
     The associated nut  22  is then engaged with the elongated threaded rod  13  to fasten the PV panel  20  and the plastic side plate  16  to the roofing clamp  17  and roof seam  18  to complete the assembly as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     When a pair of intermediate PV panels is to be mechanically and electrically interconnected, the arrangement depicted in  FIG. 4  is now employed. 
     Although a pair of such intermediate PV panels are to be interconnected, only one intermediate PV panel  20  is depicted herein for purposes of clarity. 
     One PV panel  20  of the intermediate pv panels is captured between one side of the top and bottom metal rings  21 A,  21 B to attach the intermediate PV panels  20  to the roofing seam  18  and to maintain electrical grounded connection between the intermediate PV panels  20  via upper metal ring  21 A, in the manner described earlier, whereby the top and bottom plastic insulating cylinders  22 A,  22 B insure electric insulation between the elongated threaded rod  13 , associated nut  22  and roofing clamp  17  to prevent electrical connection with the associated roof seam  18 , which is an important feature of the invention. 
     An insulated connector for attaching PV panels and the like to roofing seams has herein been described along with means for allowing electrical grounded contact between adjoining PV panels without allowing electrical connection between the panels and the associated roof.