Universal mounting system

Abstract

A universal mounting system can include: a mount, a bracket, and a panel. The mount includes a horizontal flange defining a first array of bores; a vertical flange extending below and substantially perpendicular to the horizontal flange and defining an outer broad face and a second array of bores across the outer broad face; a vertical capture channel arranged on the outer broad face; an upper threaded fastener captured by the vertical capture channel; and a lower threaded fastener captured by the vertical capture channel below the upper threaded fastener. The bracket includes a first slot and a second slot; and an upper receiver and a lower receiver offset below the upper receiver arranged perpendicular to the first and second slot. The bracket is configured to fasten to the upper threaded fastener via the first slot and to fasten to the lower threaded fastener via the second slot.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A universal mounting system comprises:
 a mount comprising:
 a horizontal flange defining a first array of bores; 
 a vertical flange extending below and substantially perpendicular to the horizontal flange and defining an outer broad face and a second array of bores across the outer broad face; 
 a vertical capture channel arranged on the outer broad face; 
 a return flange extending from a perimeter of the vertical capture channel and substantially parallel to and offset from the outer broad face; 
 an upper threaded fastener captured by and running in the vertical capture channel; and 
 a lower threaded fastener captured by and running in the vertical capture channel below the upper threaded fastener; 
   a bracket:
 comprising a first member defining a first slot and a second slot; 
 comprising a second member extending from and substantially perpendicular to the first member and defining an upper receiver and a lower receiver offset below the upper receiver; and 
 configured to fasten to the upper threaded fastener via the first slot and to fasten to the lower threaded fastener via the second slot; 
   a panel comprising a projection defining an open slot and a closed slot and configured to fasten to the upper receiver of the second member via the open slot and to fasten to the lower receiver of the second member via the closed slot.   
     
     
         2 . The universal mounting system of claim , wherein:
 the closed slot comprises a bore on the panel configured to align with the upper receiver; and   the open slot comprises an L-shaped slot, opening to an edge of the projection, and configured to align with the lower receiver.   
     
     
         3 . The universal mounting system of claim , further comprising:
 a threaded bolt and a first threaded nut configured to fasten the closed slot of the panel to the upper receiver of the bracket; and   a sex bolt defining a center cylinder terminating on each end in larger-diameter flanges, separable into two halves, configured to fasten the open slot of the panel to the lower receiver of the bracket, and configured to pivotably support the panel during insertion of the threaded bolt through the upper receiver and the closed slot of the panel.   
     
     
         4 . The universal mounting system of  claim 2 , wherein the panel is fastened to the bracket via:
 the first threaded nut tightened over the panel and the second member of the bracket and onto the threaded bolt passing through the closed slot of the panel and the upper receiver of the second member of the bracket; and   the sex bolt passing through the open slot of the panel and the lower receiver of the bracket to rotationally constrain the panel about the first threaded nut.   
     
     
         5 . The universal mounting system of  claim 4 , wherein the bracket is fastened to the mount via a second threaded nut tightened over the first member of the bracket and onto the upper threaded fastener passing through the first slot of the first member of the bracket, and a third threaded nut tightened over the first member and onto the lower threaded fastener extending through the second slot of the first member of the bracket. 
     
     
         6 . A universal mounting system comprises:
 a mount comprising:
 a horizontal flange defining a first array of bores; 
 a vertical flange extending below and substantially perpendicular to the horizontal flange and defining an outer broad face and a second array of bores across the outer broad face; 
 a vertical capture channel arranged on the outer broad face; 
 a return flange extending from a perimeter of the vertical capture channel and substantially parallel to and offset from the outer broad face; 
 an upper threaded fastener captured by and running in the vertical capture channel; and 
 a lower threaded fastener captured by and running in the vertical capture channel below the upper threaded fastener; 
   a bracket:
 comprising a first member defining a first slot and a second slot; 
 comprising a second member extending from and substantially perpendicular to the first member and defining an upper receiver and a lower receiver offset below the upper receiver; and 
 configured to fasten to the upper threaded fastener via the first slot and to fasten to the lower threaded fastener via the second slot. 
   
     
     
         7 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , further comprising a panel comprising a projection defining an open slot and a closed slot and configured to fasten to the upper receiver of the second member via the closed slot and to fasten to the lower receiver of the second member via the open slot. 
     
     
         8 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the bracket further comprises a third member extending from and substantially perpendicular to the first member, opposite the second member, and defining a second upper receiver aligned with the upper receiver and a second lower receiver offset below the second upper receiver and aligned with the lower receiver; and   the bracket is configured to fasten to a post inserted between the second member and the third member of the bracket.   
     
     
         9 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein the first member defines:
 the first slot comprising a first linear slot; and   the second slot comprising a second linear slot parallel to and vertically offset from the first linear slot.   
     
     
         10 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein the return flange is offset from the outer broad face by an offset distance greater than a combined thickness of exterior cladding and a moisture barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The universal mounting system of  claim 10 , wherein an internal surface of the return flange is configured to constrain exterior cladding and the moisture barrier against the outer broad face, the exterior cladding and the moisture barrier installed between the return flange and the outer broad face and abutting the vertical capture channel. 
     
     
         12 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , further comprising an annular eave surrounding the vertical capture channel extending from the outer broad face and coupled to the return flange. 
     
     
         13 . The universal mounting system of  claim 12 , wherein the annular eave comprises:
 an upper eave substantially parallel to the horizontal flange and enclosing the upper threaded fastener and the lower threaded fastener within the vertical capture channel at an upper end of the vertical capture channel; and   a lower eave substantially parallel to the horizontal flange and enclosing the upper threaded fastener and the lower threaded fastener within the vertical capture channel at a lower end of the vertical capture channel.   
     
     
         14 . The universal mounting system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper eave defines a drainage hole configured to pass water collecting on the upper eave to drain into the vertical capture channel. 
     
     
         15 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 each bore in the first array of bores is configured to receive a nail driven through the bore and into a substrate; and   each bore in the second array of bores is countersunk and configured to receive a screw driven through the bore and into the substrate with a head of the screw substantially flush with the vertical flange.   
     
     
         16 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein each bore in the first array of bores and the second array of bores is countersunk and configured to receive a countersunk self-tapping concrete anchor driven through the bore and into a concrete substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the horizontal flange and the vertical flange define a unitary structure of formed metal plate; and   the first member and the second member define a unitary structure.   
     
     
         18 . The universal mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein the first member further defines reference markers indicating a pitch angle of the bracket fastened to the mount. 
     
     
         19 . A universal mounting system comprises:
 a mount comprising:
 a horizontal flange defining a first array of bores; 
 a vertical flange extending below and substantially perpendicular to the horizontal flange, defining an outer broad face and a second array of bores across the outer broad face; 
 an upper horizontal capture channel arranged on the outer broad face; 
 a lower horizontal capture channel arranged on the outer broad face below and parallel to the upper horizontal capture channel, 
 an annular eave extending from the outer broad face and arranged about the upper capture channel and the lower capture channel; 
 an upper threaded fastener captured by and running in the upper horizontal capture channel; and 
 a lower threaded fastener captured by and running in the lower horizontal capture channel; 
   a bracket:
 comprising a first member defining a first radial slot and a second radial slot; 
 comprising a second member extending from and substantially perpendicular to the first member and defining an upper receiver and a lower receiver offset below the upper receiver; and 
 configured to fasten to the upper threaded fastener via the first slot and to fasten to the lower threaded fastener via the second slot; and 
   a panel comprising a projection defining an open slot and a closed slot configured to receive a set of fasteners passing through the upper receiver and the lower receiver.   
     
     
         20 . The universal mounting system of  claim 19 , wherein the annular eave comprises:
 a left eave substantially perpendicular to the horizontal flange and the vertical flange and enclosing the upper threaded fastener in the upper capture channel at a left end of the upper capture channel and the lower threaded fastener within the lower capture channel at a left end of the lower capture channel; and   a right eave substantially perpendicular to the horizontal flange and the vertical flange and enclosing the upper threaded fastener in the upper capture channel at a right end of the upper capture channel and the lower threaded fastener within the lower capture channel at a right end of the lower capture channel.