Elongated utility receiver

Abstract

An elongated utility receiver is configured to receive a panel. The utility receiver includes an inner wall that is configured to be attached to a mounting surface, a transverse wall extending away from the inner wall, and an outer wall extending from the transverse wall opposite the inner wall. The outer wall is spaced from the inner wall. A channel is defined by the inner wall, outer wall, and transverse wall and defines a total offset gap between the outer and inner walls. The channel is configured to receive a portion of the panel. A biasing element is flexibly attached to the outer wall and extends toward the inner wall. The biasing element variably closes the channel to an effective gap that is less than the total offset gap. The biasing element is configured to bias the panel element toward the inner wall.

1 . An elongated utility receiver configured to receive a panel element, comprising:
 an inner wall configured to be attached to a mounting surface;   a transverse wall extending away from the inner wall;   an outer wall extending from the transverse wall opposite the inner wall, such that the outer wall is spaced from the inner wall;   a channel defined by the inner wall, the outer wall, and the transverse wall, such that the channel has a total offset gap defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the channel is configured to receive the panel element; and   a biasing element flexibly attached to the outer wall and extending toward the inner wall, wherein the biasing element closes the channel to an effective gap that is less than the total offset gap, such that the biasing element is configured to bias the panel element toward the inner wall.   
     
     
         2 . The elongated utility receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a gate rotatably attached to the outer wall, such that the gate swings to vary the effective gap of the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated utility receiver of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a living hinge joining the gate to the outer wall.   
     
     
         4 . The elongated utility receiver of  claim 3 , wherein the inner wall, the transverse wall, the outer wall, and the gate are a one-piece, unitary element. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated utility receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a gasket, such that the gasket expands and contracts to vary the effective gap of the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated utility receiver of  claim 5 , wherein the gasket is an outer gasket and the effective gap is an outer effective gap, and further comprising:
 an inner gasket attached to the inner wall and extending toward the outer wall, wherein the inner gasket variably closes the channel to an inner effective gap that is less than the total offset gap.   
     
     
         7 . The elongated utility receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the sum of the outer effective gap and the inner effective gap, without the panel in the channel, is equal to or greater than the total offset gap. 
     
     
         8 . An elongated utility receiver configured to receive and hold a panel element relative to a mounting surface, comprising:
 an inner wall configured to be attached to the mounting surface;   a transverse wall extending away from the inner wall;   an outer wall extending from the transverse wall opposite the inner wall, such that the outer wall is spaced from the inner wall;   a channel defined by the inner wall, the outer wall, and the transverse wall and having a total offset gap defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the channel is configured to receive the panel element; and   a gate rotatably attached to the outer wall,
 wherein the gate variably swings to close the channel to an effective gap that is less than or equal to the total offset gap, such that the gate is configured to bias the panel element toward the inner wall, and 
 wherein the inner wall, the transverse wall, the outer wall, and the biasing member are a one-piece, unitary element.