| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080257924 | VEHICLE ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING SWING IN PLACE CROSS BARS - A vehicle article carrier system having a pair of swingable cross bars. The cross bars can be placed in a first configuration in which they extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. They can easily be released and re-secured in a different configuration wherein they take the form of low profile side rails. A particular advantage is that when the cross bars are moved into their positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of the cross bars is raised to an elevated position. This provides additional clearance above the outer body surface for articles being supported on the cross bars. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080277437 | VEHICLE ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING SINGLE SIDE RELEASE MECHANISM - A system and method for forming a vehicle article carrier having a single side release crossbar assembly. The crossbar assembly includes a trigger style, horizontally arranged actuating lever that simultaneously locks and unlocks a pair of locking pins at opposite ends of the crossbar assembly from their respective support rails. The support rails are fixedly secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle such that the crossbar assembly is supported above the outer body surface. The single side release feature eliminates the need for the operator to walk back and forth to both sides of the vehicle to unlock and lock the crossbar assembly when the crossbar assembly needs to be repositioned on the support rails. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080277438 | VEHICLE ARTICLE CARRIER APPARATUS HAVING SINGLE SIDED RELEASE AND METHOD THEREFOR - A vehicle article carrier apparatus and method incorporating a single side releasable crossbar assembly. In one embodiment the crossbar assembly includes a pair of end supports that each includes an actuating member. In one embodiment the actuating member is formed by a pivotally mounted actuating lever. In another embodiment the actuating member is formed by a rotationally mounted, trigger style actuating member. In either embodiment, the actuating member is movable between locked and unlocked positions. Each end support also includes a locking pin having a pivot wheel carried thereon. A cable is entrained around the pulley wheel of each locking pin, and the ends of the cable are coupled to the actuating members. Either actuating member can be used to simultaneously lock and unlock the locking pins of both end supports from a pair of support rails on which the cross bar assembly is supported. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080308590 | VEHICLE ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING SINGLE SIDED RELEASABLE AND STOWABLE CROSS BARS - A vehicle article carrier adapted to be mounted to an outer body surface of a motor vehicle. The carrier has a pair of cross bars that can each be stowed on corresponding pairs of support elements when the cross are not needed for use without the need to completely detach either of the cross bars from their associated support elements. A rear one of the cross bars has a single sided release feature that enables both end supports at opposite ends of the rear cross bar to be simultaneously unlocked or locked from a rear pair of support elements from either end support. The rear cross bar can also be slidably positioned along the rear pair of support elements to better configure the cross bars to support variously sized articles thereon. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20100078453 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING STOWABLE CROSS BARS - A vehicle article carrier system adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system includes a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar has end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100180933 | GROUNDING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH SOLAR PANEL MODULES - A grounding system for a solar panel system having a plurality of solar panel cells. The system may have an electrically conductive first frame section adapted to be secured to a first solar panel module having a first channel, the first frame section also having a hole that opens into the first channel. An electrically conductive second frame section is adapted to be secured to a second solar panel module which has a second channel, the second frame section also having a hole that opens into the second channel. An electrically conductive grounding splice member is positioned in the first and second channels. A pair of electrically conductive fasteners is disposed in the holes of the first and second frame sections and engages the electrically conductive grounding splice member, to electrically and mechanically couple the first and second frame sections together. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100206301 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING AN INTERLOCKING SOLAR PANEL ARRAY - A mounting system for supporting solar panel cells above a support surface. The system may have a frame including a plurality of frame sections that are secured to a solar panel cell. At least one of the frame sections may include a pair of walls forming a first channel for receiving an edge portion of the solar panel cell, and a second channel spaced apart from the first channel. The second channel may have a curving inner wall. The at least one frame section may also have a base portion. The mounting system may also include a mounting bracket having a pair of flanges and forming a third channel therebetween. One of the flanges of the third channel may form a curving flange. The curving flange and the second channel of the frame section may cooperatively secure the frame section and the mounting bracket together. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100320244 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING STOWABLE CROSS BARS - A vehicle article carrier system is adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system may include a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar may have end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports may also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100327032 | VEHICLE ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING RELEASABLE AND STOWABLE CROSS BARS - A vehicle article carrier system that may have a pair of support rails and at least one cross bar. The cross bar may have an end support at each opposing end thereof. Each of the support rails may include an elongated recess extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, where the elongated recess may be shaped generally in accordance with the cross bar, for receiving the cross bar when the cross bar is placed in a stowed orientation. Each of the support rails may further have at least one primary locking bar for supporting said cross bar in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and at least a pair of secondary locking bars for supporting the cross bar in said elongated recess when the cross bar is placed in the stowed orientation in one of the support rails. Each of the end supports may include a locking assembly for securing the cross bar to either one of said primary or secondary locking bars, to thus place said cross bar in either the operative position or the stowed position. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110039430 | FASTENING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A fastening and grounding apparatus adapted to be positioned against a channel of a metallic support frame member. A metallic bolt has a threaded shaft and an enlarged head portion at one end thereof. A metallic leaf spring has a central portion and a pair of opposing end portions, with the threaded shaft extending through the hole. At least one of the opposing end portions has a tooth projecting therefrom. The metallic leaf spring maintains the threaded shaft in an upright orientation extending from the channel. The tooth digs into a surface of the metallic support frame member to effect an electrical current signal path through the fastening apparatus to the metallic support frame member. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110085875 | FASTENING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A fastening system especially well suited for use with solar panel systems that enables an electrical connection to be made between two metallic frame components that are secured together. The fastening assembly includes a spring clip and a threaded bolt that engages within a hole in the spring clip. The spring clip has a leaf spring like shape. The threaded bolt has a head portion shaped to permit it to be inserted in a channel of a frame member, then rotated ninety degrees, which flattens the spring clip and enables it to retain the threaded bolt in an upright orientation ready for use. After being rotated ninety degrees, the head is retained in the channel as well. The fastening assembly can be inserted into a suitable sized channel of a frame member at any point along the channel, thus significantly simplifying and expediting the assembly of solar panel modules onto a supporting frame element. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110138585 | PHOTOVOLTAIC SUPPORT FRAME RAIL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS - A lockable clamping system for use in securing photovoltaic (PV) panels to a frame rail component, wherein the frame rail component includes structure for engaging with a portion of the lockable clamping system. The lockable clamping system may have a clamp member having a body portion, with the body portion having a bore. A fastener may be operatively coupled to the clamp member and may extend through the bore in the clamp member generally perpendicular to the clamp member. The fastener may have a head portion having a key shaped recess, the key shaped recess configured to allow rotation of the fastener only via predetermined security key shaped to engage with the key shaped recess. The clamp member and the fastener may cooperatively operate to clamp adjacently positioned edges of a pair of PV panels to the frame rail component by engagement of a portion of the fastener with a portion of the frame rail component, while rotation of the clamp member is inhibited except through the use of the predetermined security key. | 06-16-2011 |
