Mounting device for nail strip panels

Abstract

A mounting device ( 10 ) is disclosed having a one-piece body ( 11 ). A slot ( 20 ) extends into this body ( 11 ), and is defined by a slot base ( 22 ) and a pair of spaced slot sidewalls ( 24 a , 24 b ) that each extend from the slot base ( 22 ). The slot sidewalls ( 24 a , 24 b ) are disposed in non-parallel relation to each other.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A standing seam mounting device comprising:
 a mounting body;   a slot extending into said mounting body and defined by a first slot sidewall, a second slot sidewall, and a slot base extending between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first and second slot sidewalls are disposed other than in parallel relation to one another, wherein said first slot sidewall is always maintained in a fixed position relative to said second slot sidewall, and wherein said slot is configured to receive at least part of standing seam of a panel assembly;   at least one seam fastener extendable through said mounting body and into said slot; and   at least one mounting fastener extendable into said mounting body.   
     
     
         2 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting body is of a one-piece construction. 
     
     
         3 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second slot sidewalls each comprise a planar section. 
     
     
         4 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein a first included angle exists between said slot base and said first slot sidewall, wherein a second included angle exists between said slot base and said second slot sidewall, and wherein said first and second included angles are of different magnitudes. 
     
     
         5 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 4 , wherein said first included angle is greater than said second included angle. 
     
     
         6 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 4 , wherein said first included angle is greater than 90°, and wherein said second included angle is at least substantially 90°. 
     
     
         7 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein a reference plane intersects said slot base, and is disposed between and is spaced from each of said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first slot sidewall extends both away from said slot base and away from said reference plane, and wherein said second slot sidewall is at least substantially parallel to said reference plane. 
     
     
         8 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing between said first slot sidewall and said second slot sidewall progressively and continually increases proceeding away from said slot base for at least a substantial portion of a height of each of said first and second slot sidewalls. 
     
     
         9 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first nose that extends from a lower portion said first slot sidewall at least generally in a direction in which said second slot sidewall is spaced from said first slot sidewall.   
     
     
         10 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein said first slot sidewall and said second slot sidewall terminate at different elevations when a depth of said slot extends in a vertical dimension. 
     
     
         11 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein said first slot sidewall extends from a first edge to said slot base, wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first edge of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said slot base by a first distance measured in a first dimension, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said slot base by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance. 
     
     
         12 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting body comprises an upper surface and an oppositely disposed lower surface, wherein said upper surface comprises a flat section, wherein said lower surface comprises said slot, wherein said first slot sidewall extends from said slot base in a direction that is away from said second slot sidewall, and wherein said second slot sidewall is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to said flat section of said upper surface. 
     
     
         13 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 12 , wherein said first slot sidewall terminates in a first nose that extends in a direction that said second slot sidewall is spaced from said first slot sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 13 , wherein said first slot sidewall extends from a first edge to said slot base, wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first nose comprises said first edge, wherein said first edge of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a first distance measured in a first dimension, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance. 
     
     
         15 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 13 , wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first nose of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a first distance measured in a first dimension that is orthogonal to said flat section, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance. 
     
     
         16 . A standing seam mounting device comprising:
 a one-piece mounting body comprising an upper surface and an oppositely disposed lower surface, wherein said upper surface comprises a first flat section, wherein said lower surface comprises a slot defined by a first slot sidewall, a second slot sidewall, and a slot base that extends between said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first slot sidewall extends from said slot base in a direction that is away from said second slot sidewall, wherein said first slot sidewall comprises a first nose that extends in a direction in which said second slot sidewall is spaced from said first slot sidewall, wherein said second slot sidewall is oriented at least substantially orthogonal to a reference plane that contains said first flat section of said upper surface, and wherein said first nose of said first slot sidewall is disposed at a lower elevation than a lowermost edge of said second slot sidewall when said first flat section of said upper surface is horizontally disposed and located vertically above said slot base;   at least one seam fastener extendable through said mounting body and into said slot; and   at least one mounting fastener extendable through said flat section of said upper surface and into said mounting body.   
     
     
         17 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein said first and second slot sidewalls each comprise a planar section. 
     
     
         18 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein a first included angle exists between said slot base and said first slot sidewall, wherein a second included angle exists between said slot base and said second slot sidewall, and wherein said first and second included angles are of different magnitudes. 
     
     
         19 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 18 , wherein said first included angle is greater than said second included angle. 
     
     
         20 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 18 , wherein said first included angle is greater than 90°, and wherein said second included angle is at least substantially 90°. 
     
     
         21 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein a reference plane intersects said slot base, and is disposed between and is spaced from each of said first and second slot sidewalls, wherein said first slot sidewall extends both away from said slot base and away from said reference plane, and wherein said second slot sidewall is at least substantially parallel to said reference plane. 
     
     
         22 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein a spacing between said first slot sidewall and said second slot sidewall progressively and continually increases proceeding away from said slot base for at least a substantial portion of a height of each of said first and second slot sidewalls. 
     
     
         23 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein said first slot sidewall and said second slot sidewall terminate at different elevations when a depth of said slot extends in a vertical dimension. 
     
     
         24 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein said first slot sidewall extends from a first edge to said slot base, wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first edge of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said slot base by a first distance measured in a first dimension, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said slot base by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance. 
     
     
         25 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein said first slot sidewall extends from a first edge to said slot base, wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first nose comprises said first edge, wherein said first edge of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a first distance measured in a first dimension, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance. 
     
     
         26 . The standing seam mounting device of  claim 16 , wherein said second slot sidewall extends from a second edge to said slot base, wherein said first nose of said first slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a first distance measured in a first dimension that is orthogonal to said flat section, wherein said second edge of said second slot sidewall is spaced from said flat section of said upper surface by a second distance measured in said first dimension, and wherein said second distance is less than said first distance.