Assembly for Clamping and Grounding Objects

Abstract

In various representative aspects, an apparatus for clamping and grounding an upper and lower solar panel mounting rail is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a fastener with an enlarged end, and a shank, with the enlarged end having one or more sharp protrusions that resemble teeth, and a washer with one or more sharp protrusions, and an opening. When installed, the shank is inserted through the opening of the washer, the sharp protrusions of the enlarged end penetrate either the lower or upper mounting rail and the sharp protrusions of the washer penetrate the other mounting rail while at the same time creating a grounding path through the apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for affixing a first solar panel frame and a second solar panel frame to a rail guide, the assembly comprising:
 a. an electrically conductive shank having a top end and a bottom end, the shank having external threads at its top end and an enlarged head at its bottom end;   b. the enlarged head having a top surface and a bottom surface, with at least one raised penetration structure on its top surface;   c. an electrically conductive washer having a bottom side in a first plane and a top side, the washer further comprising:
 i. at least one tab extending from the washer and bent away from the first plane so that the tab is in a plane that is not parallel to the first plane; and 
 ii. an opening to receive the shank; 
   d. a nut with internal threads mated to the external threads;
 i. wherein the raised penetration structure on the top surface of the enlarged head engages the rail guide, the bottom side of the washer engages the first and second frames, the tab is disposed between the first and second frames, the top end of the shank is inserted in the opening, and the nut secures the assembly to the first and second solar panel frames and the rail guide, such that an electrically conductive path exists from the rail guide to the first and second frames. 
   
     
     
         2 . An assembly for affixing a first solar panel frame and a second solar panel frame to a rail guide, the assembly comprising:
 a. an electrically conductive shank having a top end and a bottom end, the shank having external threads at its top end and an enlarged head at its bottom end;   b. the enlarged head having a top surface and a bottom surface, with at least one raised penetration structure on its top surface;   c. an electrically conductive washer having a bottom side in a first plane and a top side, the washer further comprising:
 i. a first tab on a first side of the washer and a second tab on an opposing side of the washer, the tabs extending from the washer and bent away from the first plane so that first tab is in a plane that is not parallel to the first plane and second tab is in a plane that is not parallel to the first plane; 
 ii. at least two raised penetration structures on the bottom side; and 
 iii. an opening to receive the shank; 
   d. a nut with internal threads mated to the external threads;
 i. wherein the raised penetration structure on the top surface of the enlarged head engages the rail guide, the raised penetration structures on the bottom side of the washer engage the first and second frames, the tabs are disposed between the first and second frames, the top end of the shank is inserted in the opening, the nut secures the assembly to the first and second solar panel frames and the rail guide. 
   
     
     
         3 . An assembly for affixing a first solar panel frame and a second solar panel frame to a rail guide, the assembly comprising:
 a. an electrically conductive shank having a top end and a bottom end, the shank having external threads at its top end and an enlarged head at its bottom end;   b. the enlarged head having a top surface and a bottom surface, with at least one raised penetration structure on its top surface;   c. an electrically conductive washer having a bottom side in a first plane and a top side, the washer further comprising:
 i. a first flange on a first side of the washer, the first flange having at least one raised penetration structure extending therefrom; 
 ii. a second flange on an opposing side of the washer, the second flange having at least one raised penetration structure extending therefrom; 
 iii. wherein at least a portion of each flange is in a plane that is not parallel to the first plane; 
 iv. a first tab extending from the first flange and a second tab extending from the second flange, the tabs extending from the washer and bent away from the first plane so that each tab is in a plane that is not parallel to the first plane; and 
 v. an opening to receive the shank; 
   d. a nut with internal threads mated to the external threads;
 i. wherein the raised penetration structure on the top surface of the enlarged head engages the rail guide, the raised penetration structure extending from the first flange and the raised penetration structure extending from the second flange engages the first and second frames respectively, the tabs are disposed between the first and second frames, the top end of the shank is inserted in the opening, and the nut secures the assembly to the first and second solar panel frames and the rail guide