Panel clamp assembly

1 . A solar panel assembly comprising:

a rail including an outer surface, said outer surface having a particular contour;

a clamp frame including an inner surface, said inner surface having a contour complementary to said contour of said outer surface of said rail, said clamp frame defining a first aperture, a first contact pad, a second aperture, and a second contact pad;

a first solar panel having a rear surface abutting a first side of said first contact pad and a first side of said second contact pad;

a second solar panel having a rear surface abutting a second side of said first contact pad and a second side of said second contact pad;

a first clip including a fastener receiving portion, a panel engaging portion, and an intermediate portion extending between said fastener receiving portion and said panel engaging portion, said fastener receiving portion defining a third aperture, said first clip being disposed adjacent said frame with said third aperture aligned with said first aperture, said intermediate portion extending between said first solar panel and said second solar panel, said panel engaging portion including a first contact surface abutting a front surface of said first solar panel and a second contact surface abutting a front surface of said second solar panel;

a second clip including a fastener engaging portion, a panel engaging portion, and an intermediate portion extending between said fastener engaging portion and said panel engaging portion, said fastener engaging portion defining a fourth aperture, said second clip being disposed adjacent said frame with said fourth aperture aligned with said second aperture, said intermediate portion of said second clip extending between said first solar panel and said second solar panel, said panel engaging portion of said second clip including a first contact surface abutting a front surface of said first solar panel and a second contact surface abutting a front surface of said second solar panel; and

a fastener passing through said first aperture, said second aperture, and said third aperture, and engaging said fastener engaging portion of said second clip; and wherein

said fastener includes a thread set;

said fastener engaging portion includes a complementary thread set;

said fastener includes a head opposite said thread set;

said head directly abuts a first side of said first clip;

a second side of said first clip directly abuts a first side of said clamp frame;

a second side of said clamp frame directly abuts a first side of said second clip;

said first side of said clamp frame is substantially parallel to said second side of said clamp frame; and

said first side of said clamp frame is substantially perpendicular to an axis passing through said first aperture and said second aperture.

2 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said first clip is a unitary structure;

said second clip is a unitary structure; and

said clamp frame is a unitary structure.

3 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first contact pad and said first contact surface of said panel engaging portion of said first clip defines a set of serrations.

4 . The solar panel assembly of claim 3 , wherein:

said first contact pad defines a set of serrations oriented along a first direction; and

said first contact surface of said panel engaging portion of said first clip defines a set of serrations oriented along a second direction, said first direction oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to said second direction.

5 . The solar panel assembly of claim 4 , wherein said first direction is perpendicular to said second direction.

6 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein said particular contour of said outer surface of said rail is polygonal.

7 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said first contact pad defines a first plane;

said second contact pad defines a second plane;

said first plane and said second plane form an angle that is greater than 180 degrees when said clamp frame is in a relaxed state; and

said first plane and said second plane form an angle that is less than or equal to 180 degrees when said clamp frame is flexed responsive to force exerted by said fastener.

8 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said first aperture defines a first central axis;

said second aperture defines a second central axis; and

a relative orientation between said first central axis and said second central axis changes when said clamp frame is flexed responsive to force exerted by said fastener.

9 . The solar panel assembly of claim 8 , wherein said change in said relative orientation between said first central axis and said second central axis increases a frictional force between a shaft of said fastener and a wall of said clamp frame defining said first aperture.

10 . The solar panel assembly of claim 8 , wherein:

said first aperture is a substantially circular bore; and

said second aperture is a substantially circular bore.

11 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein said fastener engaging portion of said second clip has an outer contour configured to engage an open end wrench.

12 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein said outer contour of said fastener engaging portion includes:

a first flat side; and

a second flat side opposite said first flat side; and

said first flat side is substantially parallel to said second flat side.

13 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein said third aperture is a substantially circular bore.

14 . The solar panel assembly of claim 13 , wherein:

said first aperture is a substantially circular bore; and

said second aperture is a substantially circular bore.

15 . The solar panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said clamp frame is electrically conductive;

said first clip is electrically conductive; and

said first clip and said clamp frame form a first portion of an electrical path from said first solar panel to ground.

16 . The solar panel assembly of claim 15 , wherein:

said second clip is electrically conductive; and

said second clip forms a second portion of said electrical path in parallel with said first clip.