Roof mount assembly

Abstract

A solar panel mounting assembly for mounting a solar panel to a roof surface includes a bracket having a slot with a generally t-shaped cross section that extends along at least a portion of a length of the bracket, a first fastener having a head end positioned in the slot and a shaft. The first fastener slides along the slot in a direction substantially parallel to the roof surface. The assembly further includes a membrane positioned between the roof surface and the bracket. The bracket is connected to the roof surface by at least one of a group consisting of the membrane and a second fastener, and the generally t-shaped cross section includes a first wide portion sized to receive the head end of the fastener and a second narrow portion sized to receive the shaft of the fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar panel mounting assembly for mounting a solar panel to a roof surface, the mounting assembly comprising:
 a bracket having a slot formed therein, wherein the slot has a generally t-shaped cross section extending along at least a portion of a length of the bracket;   a first fastener having a head end positioned in the slot and a shaft, wherein the first fastener is configured to slide along the slot in a direction substantially parallel to the roof surface; and   a membrane positioned between the roof surface and the bracket;   wherein the bracket is connected to the roof surface by at least one of a group consisting of the membrane and a second fastener, and   wherein the generally t-shaped cross section includes a first wide portion sized to receive the head end of the fastener and a second narrow portion sized to receive the shaft of the fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the narrow portion of the t-shaped slot is sized to inhibit rotation of the head end of the fastener relative to the bracket when the head end of the fastener is positioned within the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a nut sized to engage the fastener shaft, wherein the narrow portion of the generally t-shaped slot inhibits rotation of the fastener head such that a user can tighten the nut onto the fastener after the fastener is inserted into the generally t-shaped slot. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends along the entire length of the bracket. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the roof is a membrane roof and wherein the bracket is connected to the roof surface by bonding the membrane to the roof surface. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second fastener extends through an aperture in the bracket and through the membrane to connect the bracket to the membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the generally t-shaped slot is sized to permit a user to install the bracket and the membrane on the roof prior to inserting the fastener into the generally t-shaped slot. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the generally t-shaped slot permits a user to move the fastener between a first mounting position on the bracket and a second mounting position laterally spaced along the length of the bracket from the first mounting position. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate positioned between the membrane and the roof surface, wherein the second fastener extends through the plate and into the roof surface. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein an upper surface of the membrane is bonded to the bracket and a lower surface of the membrane is bonded to the plate and to the roof surface to connect the bracket to the roof surface. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plate includes a lower portion positioned substantially adjacent the roof surface, a raised portion spaced from the roof surface and a transition portion between the lower portion and the raised portion. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the membrane is elastomeric and wherein the membrane forms a seal around an aperture in the roof surface through which the second fastener extends to substantially inhibit fluid from flowing into the aperture in the roof surface. 
     
     
         13 . A solar panel mounting assembly for mounting a solar panel to a roof surface, the mounting assembly comprising:
 a bracket having a slot formed therein, wherein the slot extends along at least a portion of a length of the bracket;   a first fastener having a head end positioned in the slot and a shaft, wherein the fastener is configured to slide along the slot in a direction substantially parallel to the roof surface; and   a membrane positioned between the roof surface and the bracket;   wherein the bracket is connected to the roof surface by at least one of a group consisting of the membrane and a second fastener,   wherein the slot includes a first wide portion sized to receive the head end of the fastener and a second narrow portion sized to receive the shaft of the fastener,   wherein the head end of the fastener is positioned closer to the roof surface than the shaft.   
     
     
         14 . The mounting assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the narrow portion of the slot is sized to inhibit rotation of the head of the fastener relative to the bracket when the head of the fastener is positioned within the slot. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a nut sized to engage the fastener shaft, wherein the narrow portion of the slot inhibits rotation of the fastener head relative to the bracket such that a user can tighten the nut onto the fastener after the fastener is inserted into the slot. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the slot extends along the entire length of the bracket and wherein the slot is sized to permit the user to move the fastener between a first mounting position on the bracket and a second mounting position laterally spaced along the length of the bracket from the first mounting position. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the roof is a membrane roof and wherein the bracket is connected to the roof surface by bonding the membrane to the roof surface and wherein the second fastener extends through an aperture in the bracket and through the membrane to connect the bracket to the membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The mounting assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a plate positioned between the membrane and the roof surface, wherein the second fastener extends through the plate and into the roof surface. 
     
     
         19 . The mounting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein an upper surface of the membrane is bonded to the bracket and a lower surface of the membrane is bonded to the plate and to the roof surface to connect the bracket to the roof surface. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the plate includes a lower portion positioned substantially adjacent the roof surface, a raised portion spaced from the roof surface and a transition portion between the lower portion and the raised portion. 
     
     
         21 . The mounting assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the membrane is elastomeric and wherein the membrane forms a seal around an aperture in the roof surface through which the second fastener extends to substantially inhibit fluid from flowing into the aperture in the roof surface.