Mounting mechanism with horizontal and vertical restraint and method thereof

Abstract

A mounting mechanism for connecting mechanical equipment to any mounting surface has an upper (floating) portion, and a lower (fixed) portion. The mechanical equipment is mounted to the upper portion, and the lower portion is mounted to the mounting surface. The upper portion and lower portion are connected to each other via a connection mechanism—preferably a resilient connection mechanism. A restraint mechanism is attached to both the upper portion and the lower portion on the side of the upper and lower portion that faces away from the equipment. The restraint mechanism provides positive restraint at a rate of at least 5 pounds per linear inch of length but can provide much higher than that. The restraint mechanism is flexible to allow for isolation of the equipment.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A mounting mechanism for connecting mechanical equipment to a roof curb, directly to a roof, or to any mounting surface, wherein the isolation mechanism has an upper (floating) portion, and a lower (fixed) portion, wherein the mechanical equipment is mounted to said upper portion, and said lower portion is mounted to the roof curb, directly to the roof, or to other mounting surface, and wherein said upper and lower portions are connected to each other via a connection mechanism, and further comprising;
 A restraint mechanism attached to both said upper portion and said lower portion, wherein said restraint mechanism has a length, and wherein said restraint mechanism provides positive restraint at a rate of at least 5 pounds per linear inch of length.   
     
     
         3 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said restraint mechanism provides positive restraint at a rate of at least 10 pounds per linear inch of length. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said restraint mechanism provides positive restraint at a rate of at least 30 pounds per linear inch of length. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said connection mechanism is a resilient connection mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion and said lower portion each have an inside (upper portion inside, and lower portion inside respectively) which is the side that faces towards the mechanical equipment, and each have an outside (upper portion outside, and lower portion outside respectively) which is the side that faces away from the mechanical equipment, and wherein said restraint mechanism is attached to said upper portion outside and said lower portion outside. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said restraint mechanism completely covers any gap between said upper portion and said lower portion, and wherein said restraint mechanism further is continuous along the entire length of said upper portion and said lower portion. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said restraint mechanism is comprised of structural adhesive tape, and said tape is attached to said upper portion and said lower portion via adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said restrain mechanism is a textile membrane. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 7  wherein said restrain mechanism is a weather resistant material. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  wherein said restrain mechanism is a fabric reinforced PVC. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 6 , further comprising an inside restraint mechanism, wherein said inside restraint mechanism is attached to both said upper portion inside and said lower portion inside. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising an upper clamping strip, and a lower clamping strip, wherein said upper clamping strip clamps said restraint mechanism to said upper portion, and said lower clamping strip clamps said restraint mechanism to said lower portion, wherein said upper clamping strip is attached to said upper portion, and said lower clamping strip is attached to said lower portion. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said upper portion further has an upper first flange, wherein said restraint mechanism folds over said upper first flange and said upper clamping strip clamps said restraint mechanism between said upper clamping strip and said upper first flange. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 14  wherein said upper portion further has an upper second flange, wherein said upper clamping strip further clamps said restraint mechanism between said upper clamping strip and said upper second flange. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 13  wherein said lower portion further has a lower first flange, wherein said restraint mechanism folds over said lower first flange, and said lower clamping strip clamps said restraint mechanism between said lower clamping strip and said lower first flange. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting mechanism of  claim 16  wherein said lower portion further has a lower second flange wherein said lower clamping strip further clamps said restraint mechanism between said lower clamping strip and said lower second flange. 
     
     
         18 . A method of connecting mechanical equipment to a roof curb, directly to a roof, or to a mounting surface, comprising providing an upper (floating) portion, and a lower (fixed) portion, mounting the mechanical equipment to said upper portion, and mounting said lower portion to the roof curb, directly to the roof, or to a mounting surface, and connecting said upper and lower portions to each other via a connection mechanism, and further comprising the steps;
 Attaching a restraint mechanism to both said upper portion and said lower portion, wherein said restraint mechanism provides positive restraint at a rate of at least 5 pounds per linear inch of length.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said restraint mechanism provides positive restraint at a rate of at least 10 pounds per linear inch of length. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said restraint mechanism provides positive restraint at a rate of at least 30 pounds per linear inch of length. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said connection mechanism is a resilient connection mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said upper portion and said lower portion each have an inside (upper portion inside, and lower portion inside respectively) which is the side that faces towards the mechanical equipment, and each have an outside (upper portion outside, and lower portion outside respectively) which is the side that faces away from the mechanical equipment, further comprising the step of attaching said restraint mechanism to said upper portion outside and said lower portion outside. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said restraint mechanism completely covers any gap between said upper portion and said lower portion, and wherein said restraint mechanism further is continuous along the entire length of said upper portion and said lower portion. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said restraint mechanism is comprised of structural adhesive tape, and said tape is attached to said upper portion and said lower portion via adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said restrain mechanism is a textile membrane. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said restrain mechanism is a weather resistant material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said restrain mechanism is a fabric reinforced PVC. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of attaching an inside restraint mechanism to both said upper portion inside and said lower portion inside. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18  wherein an upper clamping strip is provided, and a lower clamping strip is provided, further comprising the step of clamping said restraint mechanism to said upper portion with said upper clamping strip, and clamping said restraint mechanism to said lower portion with said lower clamping strip, wherein said upper clamping strip is attached to said upper portion, and said lower clamping strip is attached to said lower portion. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said upper portion further has an upper first flange, further comprising the step of folding said restraint mechanism over said upper first flange, and clamping said restraint mechanism between said upper clamping strip and said upper first flange with said upper clamping strip. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said upper portion further has an upper second flange, further comprising the step of clamping said restraint mechanism between said upper clamping strip and said upper second flange with said upper clamping strip. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said lower portion further has a lower first flange, further comprising the step of folding said restraint mechanism over said lower first flange, and clamping said restraint mechanism between said lower clamping strip and said lower first flange with said lower clamping strip. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said lower portion further has a lower second flange further comprising the step of clamping said restraint mechanism between said lower clamping strip and said lower second flange with said lower clamping strip.