MLchartDataset catalogue

Patent · US12024880B2 · B2 · US

Structural attachment sealing system

(11) Publication number
US12024880B2
(21) Application number
17/977,865
(22) Filing date
2022-10-31
(30) Priority date
2016-12-14
(43) Publication date
2024-07-02
(45) Date of grant
2024-07-02
(51) IPC
E04B 1/68; E04D 13/143; F16B 33/00; F16B 43/00; F16B 9/00; F24S 10/00; H02S 20/23
(52) CPC
  • E04B General building constructions; walls, e.g. partitions; roofs; floors; ceilings; insulation or other protection of buildings: 1/6801
  • E04D Roof coverings; sky-lights; gutters; roof-working tools: 13/143
  • F16B Devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together, e.g. nails, bolts, circlips, clamps, clips or wedges; joints or jointing: 33/004, 43/001, 9/05
  • F24S Solar heat collectors; solar heat systems: 10/00
  • H02S Generation of electric power by conversion of infrared radiation, visible light or ultraviolet light, e.g. using photovoltaic [pv] modules: 20/23
  • Y02B Climate change mitigation technologies related to buildings, e.g. housing, house appliances or related end-user applications: 10/10, 10/20
  • Y02E Reduction of greenhouse gas [ghg] emissions, related to energy generation, transmission or distribution: 10/44, 10/47, 10/50
(73) Assignee
Unirac Inc
(72) Inventors
Shawn J. Meine
(54) Title
Structural attachment sealing system
(57) Abstract

A mounting device includes a base that is rectangularly elongated. The base includes an open bottom that extends lengthwise along a direction of elongation of the base. A pair of guides is disposed on opposite sides of the base, extending lengthwise along the direction of the elongation of the base. The pair of guides are for guiding support hardware in linear movement along the direction of the elongation of the base. An internal cavity is within the base for containing a sealant against a roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof. An opening extends through the base for receiving a fastener to secure the mounting device to the roof. The opening is in communication with the internal cavity.

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Claims (21)

  1. A mounting device comprising: a base that is elongated, the base including an open bottom that extends lengthwise along a direction of elongation of the base; a pair of guides disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base, the guides including a groove respectively formed into the respective lateral sides of the base and extending lengthwise along the direction of the elongation of the base, the pair of guides for guiding support hardware in linear movement along the direction of the elongation of the base; an internal cavity within the base for containing a sealant against a roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof; and an opening through the base for receiving a fastener to secure the mounting device to the roof, the opening in communication with the internal cavity.
  2. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.
  3. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising a vent formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.
  4. The mounting device of claim 3, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity, wherein the port and the vent flank the opening.
  5. The mounting device of claim 4, further comprising sealant guides disposed between the port and the vent.
  6. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising a seal around the internal cavity, the seal for compression against the roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof.
  7. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein, when the fastener is received by the opening and the mounting device is secured to the roof, the fastener is seated against the base.
  8. A mounting device comprising: a base that is elongated, the base including a top, an opposed bottom that extends lengthwise along a direction of elongation of the base; a pair of guides disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base, the guides including a groove respectively formed into the respective lateral sides of the base and extending lengthwise along the direction of the elongation of the base, the pair of guides for holding and guiding support hardware in linear movement along the direction of the elongation of the base; an internal cavity defined within the base, the internal cavity being open to the bottom of the base; an opening formed through the base for receiving a fastener, the opening joined in communication with the internal cavity such that the fastener, when applied to the opening, extends through the opening and the internal cavity; and a seal formed around a periphery of the internal cavity at the bottom of the base.
  9. The mounting device of claim 8, wherein the internal cavity has an internal dimension parallel to the direction of the elongation of the base.
  10. The mounting device of claim 8, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.
  11. The mounting device of claim 8, further comprising a vent formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.
  12. The mounting device of claim 11, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity, wherein the port and the vent flank the opening.
  13. The mounting device of claim 12, further comprising sealant guides disposed between the port and the vent.
  14. The mounting device of claim 8, wherein, when the fastener is received by the opening and the mounting device is secured to a roof, the fastener is seated against the top of the base.
  15. A mounting device comprising: a base that is elongated, the base including: an internal cavity defined within the base, the internal cavity being open to a bottom of the base, and a pair of guides disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base, the guides including a groove respectively formed into the respective lateral sides of the base, the pair of guides for holding and guiding support hardware in linear movement along a direction of an elongation of the base; and an opening through the base for receiving a fastener, the opening in communication with the internal cavity.
  16. The mounting device of claim 15, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.
  17. The mounting device of claim 15, further comprising a vent formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.
  18. The mounting device of claim 17, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity, wherein the port and the vent flank the opening.
  19. The mounting device of claim 18, further comprising sealant guides disposed between the port and the vent.
  20. The mounting device of claim 15, wherein, when the fastener is received by the opening and the mounting device is secured to a roof, the fastener is seated against the base.
  21. The mounting device of claim 15, further comprising a seal around the internal cavity, the seal for compression against a roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof.

Description

More specifically, the disclosure relates to providing the system for sealing structural attachments for solar panel mounts for rail guides.

The system utilizes an adhesive sealant to create a permanent watertight seal at any surface penetration. The system may be used for any structural attachment, fastener, mount, or other penetration that requires sealing. Typical building applications include roof penetrations and wall penetrations for cases such as roof vents, structural attachment, conduit or pipe penetrations, or electrical mounts to name a few.

The system allows the user to fasten or place any attachment over the penetration point. Sealant is then injected under pressure using, by way of example, a sealant dispenser gun, into an enclosed cavity around the penetration. The force from the sealant dispenser gun increases the pressure inside the enclosed cavity and forces all the air out through a vent hole. This ensures that the sealant completely fills all the voids and removes the air inside the enclosed cavity around the penetration. Variations of the preferred embodiment are also provided.

The system creates a permanent airtight and watertight seal that does more than just shed water around the attachment. The system also eliminates the need for standard flashing and assemblies, which may reduce installation costs. The system also eliminates the need to break the manufacturer's seal on the leading edge of roof shingles and eliminates the risk of removing nails on upper courses of shingles, which creates additional penetrations in the roof thereby making the structure more vulnerable to leaks.

Citations (172)

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Record as JSON 
{
  "publication_number": "US12024880B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Structural attachment sealing system",
  "abstract": "A mounting device includes a base that is rectangularly elongated. The base includes an open bottom that extends lengthwise along a direction of elongation of the base. A pair of guides is disposed on opposite sides of the base, extending lengthwise along the direction of the elongation of the base. The pair of guides are for guiding support hardware in linear movement along the direction of the elongation of the base. An internal cavity is within the base for containing a sealant against a roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof. An opening extends through the base for receiving a fastener to secure the mounting device to the roof. The opening is in communication with the internal cavity.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A mounting device comprising: a base that is elongated, the base including an open bottom that extends lengthwise along a direction of elongation of the base; a pair of guides disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base, the guides including a groove respectively formed into the respective lateral sides of the base and extending lengthwise along the direction of the elongation of the base, the pair of guides for guiding support hardware in linear movement along the direction of the elongation of the base; an internal cavity within the base for containing a sealant against a roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof; and an opening through the base for receiving a fastener to secure the mounting device to the roof, the opening in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "2. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "3. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising a vent formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "4. The mounting device of claim 3, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity, wherein the port and the vent flank the opening.",
    "5. The mounting device of claim 4, further comprising sealant guides disposed between the port and the vent.",
    "6. The mounting device of claim 1, further comprising a seal around the internal cavity, the seal for compression against the roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof.",
    "7. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein, when the fastener is received by the opening and the mounting device is secured to the roof, the fastener is seated against the base.",
    "8. A mounting device comprising: a base that is elongated, the base including a top, an opposed bottom that extends lengthwise along a direction of elongation of the base; a pair of guides disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base, the guides including a groove respectively formed into the respective lateral sides of the base and extending lengthwise along the direction of the elongation of the base, the pair of guides for holding and guiding support hardware in linear movement along the direction of the elongation of the base; an internal cavity defined within the base, the internal cavity being open to the bottom of the base; an opening formed through the base for receiving a fastener, the opening joined in communication with the internal cavity such that the fastener, when applied to the opening, extends through the opening and the internal cavity; and a seal formed around a periphery of the internal cavity at the bottom of the base.",
    "9. The mounting device of claim 8, wherein the internal cavity has an internal dimension parallel to the direction of the elongation of the base.",
    "10. The mounting device of claim 8, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "11. The mounting device of claim 8, further comprising a vent formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "12. The mounting device of claim 11, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity, wherein the port and the vent flank the opening.",
    "13. The mounting device of claim 12, further comprising sealant guides disposed between the port and the vent.",
    "14. The mounting device of claim 8, wherein, when the fastener is received by the opening and the mounting device is secured to a roof, the fastener is seated against the top of the base.",
    "15. A mounting device comprising: a base that is elongated, the base including: an internal cavity defined within the base, the internal cavity being open to a bottom of the base, and a pair of guides disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base, the guides including a groove respectively formed into the respective lateral sides of the base, the pair of guides for holding and guiding support hardware in linear movement along a direction of an elongation of the base; and an opening through the base for receiving a fastener, the opening in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "16. The mounting device of claim 15, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "17. The mounting device of claim 15, further comprising a vent formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity.",
    "18. The mounting device of claim 17, further comprising a port formed through the base and in communication with the internal cavity, wherein the port and the vent flank the opening.",
    "19. The mounting device of claim 18, further comprising sealant guides disposed between the port and the vent.",
    "20. The mounting device of claim 15, wherein, when the fastener is received by the opening and the mounting device is secured to a roof, the fastener is seated against the base.",
    "21. The mounting device of claim 15, further comprising a seal around the internal cavity, the seal for compression against a roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "More specifically, the disclosure relates to providing the system for sealing structural attachments for solar panel mounts for rail guides.\n\nThe system utilizes an adhesive sealant to create a permanent watertight seal at any surface penetration. The system may be used for any structural attachment, fastener, mount, or other penetration that requires sealing. Typical building applications include roof penetrations and wall penetrations for cases such as roof vents, structural attachment, conduit or pipe penetrations, or electrical mounts to name a few.\n\nThe system allows the user to fasten or place any attachment over the penetration point. Sealant is then injected under pressure using, by way of example, a sealant dispenser gun, into an enclosed cavity around the penetration. The force from the sealant dispenser gun increases the pressure inside the enclosed cavity and forces all the air out through a vent hole. This ensures that the sealant completely fills all the voids and removes the air inside the enclosed cavity around the penetration. Variations of the preferred embodiment are also provided.\n\nThe system creates a permanent airtight and watertight seal that does more than just shed water around the attachment. The system also eliminates the need for standard flashing and assemblies, which may reduce installation costs. The system also eliminates the need to break the manufacturer's seal on the leading edge of roof shingles and eliminates the risk of removing nails on upper courses of shingles, which creates additional penetrations in the roof thereby making the structure more vulnerable to leaks.",
  "cpc": [
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    "F16B 43/001",
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    "H02S 20/23",
    "Y02B 10/10",
    "Y02B 10/20",
    "Y02E 10/44",
    "Y02E 10/47",
    "Y02E 10/50"
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    "E04D 13/143",
    "F16B 33/00",
    "F16B 43/00",
    "F16B 9/00",
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  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Unirac Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Shawn J. Meine"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-10-31",
  "publication_date": "2024-07-02",
  "grant_date": "2024-07-02",
  "priority_date": "2016-12-14",
  "application_number": "US-202217977865-A",
  "family_id": "65808708",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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