Granted Patent B2

US 12,428,844 · App. 18/374,846 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Inventor: Ernest Gallegos (Albuquerque, NM)

Assignee: Unirac, Inc.

E04D13/00F16M13/02

Abstract

Claims (52)

1. A bracket comprising:

a base having a central axis extending along a length direction of the base;

a flange extending upward from a top surface of the base and oriented to delineate the base into a first side and a second side;

a first fastener position disposed along the central axis of the base and on the first side of the base;

a second fastener position disposed along the central axis of the base and on the second side of the base;

two or more first additional fastener guides disposed on the first side of the base, the two or more first additional fastener guides being offset from the central axis, and the two or more first additional fastener guides being furthermore offset in differing amounts in the length direction from the first fastener position;

two or more second additional fastener guides disposed on the second side of the base, the two or more second additional fastener guides being offset from the central axis, and the two or more second additional fastener guides being furthermore offset in differing amounts in the length direction from the second fastener position; and

a cavity formed in a bottom portion of the base, a perimeter of the cavity being shaped to house a multi-element sealing system to seal the base against a mounting surface.

2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein:

the first side and the second side are substantially equal,

the two or more first additional fastener quides are asymmetrical about the central axis, and

the two or more second additional fastener guides are asymmetrical about the central axis.

3. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a sealant port accessing the cavity.

4. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a vent port in connection with the cavity, the vent port being configured to allow sealant to displace air within the cavity.

5. A bracket comprising:

a base having a length direction;

a flange extending upward from a top surface of the base and oriented transverse to the length direction, thereby delineating a first side and a second side of the base;

a first fastener position disposed on the first side of the base;

a second fastener position disposed on the second side of the base;

two or more first additional fastener guides disposed on the first side of the base, the two or more first additional fastener guides being offset from an axis extending between the first fastener position and the second fastener position, and the two or more first additional fastener guides being furthermore offset in differing amounts in the length direction from the first fastener position;

two or more second additional fastener guides disposed on the second side of the base, the two or more second additional fastener guides being offset from the axis extending between the first fastener position and the second fastener position, and the two or more second additional fastener guides being furthermore offset in differing amounts in the length direction from the second fastener position; and

a cavity formed in a bottom portion of the base, a perimeter of the base being shaped to form the cavity and to house a sealing system to seal the base against a mounting surface, the sealing system including a first sealing material and a second sealing material,

wherein the second sealing material is different than the first sealing material.

6. The bracket of claim 5 , wherein:

the base has a central axis extending along the length direction,

the first fastener position and the second fastener position are disposed substantially along the central axis,

the two or more first additional fastener quides are asymmetrical about the central axis,

the two or more first additional fastener guides are all disposed closer to the flange than the first fastener position,

the two or more second additional fastener quides are asymmetrical about the central axis, and

the two or more second additional fastener quides are all disposed closer to the flange than the second fastener position.

7. The bracket of claim 5 , wherein the first side and the second side are substantially equal.

8. The bracket of claim 5 , wherein the two or more first additional fastener guides and the two or more second additional fastener guides include divots.

9. The bracket of claim 5 , wherein the base includes a groove that circumscribes the bottom portion of the base.

10. The bracket of claim 9 , wherein the groove is defined by parallel groove sidewalls configured to receive a gasket configured to be inserted within the groove such that the gasket fills the groove and at least a portion of the gasket extends from the groove.

11. A bracket comprising:

a base having a length direction;

a flange extending upward from a top surface of the base, the flange delineating a first side and a second side of the base;

a first fastener position disposed on the first side of the base;

a second fastener position disposed on the second side of the base;

one or more first additional fastener guides disposed on the first side of the base, the one or more first additional fastener guides being offset from an axis extending between the first fastener position and the second fastener position, and the one or more first additional fastener guides being furthermore offset in the length direction from the first fastener position;

one or more second additional fastener guides disposed on the second side of the base, the one or more second additional fastener guides being offset from the axis extending between the first fastener position and the second fastener position, and the one or more second additional fastener guides being furthermore offset in the length direction from the second fastener position; and

a cavity formed in a bottom portion of the base that is under the top surface of the base, the base includes a perimeter shaped to form the cavity and to house a sealing system to seal the base against a mounting surface, and the sealing system including a first sealing material and a second sealing material,

wherein the second sealing material is different than the first sealing material.

12. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the base has a central axis extending along the length direction, and wherein the first fastener position and the second fastener position are disposed substantially along the central axis.

13. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the first side and the second side are substantially equal.

14. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the one or more first additional fastener guides include at least two first additional fastener guides, and wherein the at least two first additional fastener guides are offset in differing amounts in the length direction from the first fastener position so that the at least two first additional fastener guides are asymmetrical about a central axis of the base.

15. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the flange includes an aperture therein.

16. The bracket of claim 15 , wherein the bracket further comprises one or more fasteners sized for insertion through the aperture to secure a solar panel mounting rail to the flange.

17. The bracket of claim 15 , wherein the flange further includes rachet teeth extending radially from a first side of the aperture.

18. The bracket of claim 17 , wherein the flange further includes corrugations extending from a second side of the aperture.

19. The bracket of claim 18 , wherein the corrugations extend parallel to each other.

20. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the base includes a sealant port in access with the cavity.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (72)