IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,429,251
Granted Patent B2
US 12,429,251 · App. 18/375,361 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Multi-level mounting system

Inventor: Chad Robinson (Folsom, CA)
Assignee: Unirac, Inc.
F24S25/33F24S25/13F24S25/30F24S25/61F24S25/632H02S20/23H02S30/00E04D13/12F24S25/636Y02B10/10Y02B10/20Y02E10/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,429,251
App. No.
18/375,361
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tiered mounting system includes a base plate including a mounting guide rail having a plurality of mounting grooves that extend along opposing sides of the guide rail. The system also includes an object mount connector having a plurality of mounting ridges. The object mount connector is configured to: slidingly engage the mounting guide rail via insertion of one or more of the plurality of mounting ridges within a corresponding one or more of the plurality of mounting grooves, and lock in place along the mounting guide rail via a bolt placed through the object mount connector and secured tightly to an inner track of the mounting guide rail.

Claims (91)

1. A system comprising:

a base including:

a surface mounting side, and

a mounting portion side having:

a first sidewall with a first protrusion, and

a second sidewall with a second protrusion;

an object mount connector including:

a first side having a first hole extending along a first axis through the first side,

a second side having a second hole extending along a second axis through the second side, and the first axis intersecting the second axis,

a first attachment section disposed at least partially on the first side, the first attachment section to engage with the mounting portion side in a first configuration of the system, the first attachment section having:

a first sidewall with a first protrusion, and

a second sidewall with a second protrusion, and

a second attachment section disposed at least partially on the second side, the second attachment section to engage with the mounting portion side in a second configuration of the system, the second attachment section having:

a first sidewall with a first protrusion, and

a second sidewall with a second protrusion; and

a fastener,

wherein, when in the first configuration, the fastener is disposable through the first hole in the first side of the object mount connector to secure the object mount connector to the base, and

wherein, when in the second configuration, the fastener is disposable through the second hole in the second side of the object mount connector to secure the object mount connector to the base.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the surface mounting side of the base is configured to be disposed against a surface to which the base is secured upon installation thereof; and

the first sidewall of the base and the second sidewall of the base extend upward from an inner area of the mounting portion side of the base.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the object mount connector is disposed orthogonally to the second side of the object mount connector.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

in the first configuration:

the first protrusion of the first sidewall of the mounting portion side of the base and the first protrusion of the first sidewall of the first attachment section of the object mount connector at least partially interlock to secure the object mount connector to the base, and

the second protrusion of the second sidewall of the mounting portion side of the base and the second protrusion of the second sidewall of the first attachment section of the object mount connector at least partially interlock to secure the object mount connector to the base; and

in the second configuration:

the first protrusion of the first sidewall of the mounting portion side of the base and the first protrusion of the first sidewall of the second attachment section at least partially interlock to secure the object mount connector to the base, and

the second protrusion of the second sidewall of the mounting portion side of the base and the second protrusion of the second sidewall of the second attachment section at least partially interlock to secure the object mount connector to the base.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first sidewall of the mounting portion side of the base has a third protrusion;

the second sidewall of the mounting portion side of the base has a fourth protrusion arranged parallel with the third protrusion of the mounting portion side;

the first sidewall of the first attachment section of the object mount connector has a third protrusion;

the second sidewall of the first attachment section of the object mount connector has a fourth protrusion arranged parallel with the third protrusion of the first attachment section;

the first sidewall of the second attachment section of the object mount connector has a third protrusion; and

the second sidewall of the second attachment section of the object mount connector has a fourth protrusion arranged parallel with the third protrusion of the second attachment section.

6. A system comprising:

a base having a first surface configured to be mounted to a surface via apertures through a the base, the base including a tiered structure that extends away from a second surface opposite the first surface, the tiered structure having a first tier and a second tier;

an object mount connector to couple to the base in one of a first position of the object mount connector and a second position of the object mount connector, the object mount connector including:

a first attachment section disposed at least partially on a first side of the object mount connector, the first attachment section to engage with at least one of the first tier or the second tier in the first position, and

a second attachment section disposed at least partially on a second side of the object mount connector, the second attachment section to engage the at least one of the first tier or the second tier in the second position; and

a fastener,

wherein, when in the first position, the fastener is disposable through the first side of the object mount connector to secure the object mount connector to the base, and

wherein, when in the second position, the fastener is disposable through the second side of the object mount connector to secure the object mount connector to the base.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first tier includes one or more protrusions;

the second tier includes one or more protrusions;

the first attachment section includes one or more protrusions that interlock with at least one of the one or more protrusions of the first tier in the first position or the one or more protrusions of the second tier in the first position; and

the second attachment section includes one or more protrusions that interlock with the at least one of the one or more protrusions of the first tier in the second position or the one or more protrusions of the second tier in the second position.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the object mount connector further includes:

a first hole, and

a second hole;

in the first position, the fastener is disposable through the first hole to secure the object mount connector to the base; and

in the second position, the fastener is disposable through the second hole to secure the object mount connector to the base.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first attachment section is slidably engageable with the tiered structure; and

the second attachment section is slidably engageable with the tiered structure.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

in the first position, a third side of the object mount connector is spaced apart from the second surface of the base by a first distance, the third side of the object mount connector being opposite the first side of the object mount connector; and

in the second position, a fourth side of the object mount connector is spaced apart from the second surface of the base by a second distance that is different than the first distance, the fourth side being opposite the second side of the object mount connector.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the tiered structure at least partially defines a channel; and

the fastener is at least partially disposed in the channel.

12. A system comprising:

a base including:

a surface mounting side, and

a solar panel mounting side opposite the surface mounting side, the solar panel mounting side including:

a first sidewall having a protrusion and a protruding lip that extend in opposite directions,

a second sidewall having a protrusion and a protruding lip that extend in opposite directions,

a channel defined between the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the protruding lip of the first sidewall, and the protruding lip of the second sidewall,

a first hole extending through the surface mounting side and the solar panel mounting side of the base, external to the channel, and on a first side of the channel, and

a second hole extending through the surface mounting side and the solar panel mounting side of the base, external to the channel, on a second side of the channel that is opposite the first side of the channel, such that a first axis through the first hole extends in parallel to a second axis through the second hole; and

an object mount connector slidably engaged with the base at a location at least partially within the channel, the object mount connector including:

a first protrusion to engage the protrusion of the first sidewall, and

a second protrusion to engage the protrusion of the second sidewall.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:

the first sidewall includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the first sidewall;

the protrusion of the first sidewall extends from the first side of the first sidewall;

the protruding lip of the first sidewall extends from the second side of the first sidewall;

the second sidewall includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side of the second sidewall;

the protrusion of the second sidewall extends from the first side of the second sidewall; and

the protruding lip of the second sidewall extends from the second side of the second sidewall.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the protrusion of the first sidewall, the protruding lip of the first sidewall, the protrusion of the second sidewall, and the protruding lip of the second sidewall are disposed along a plane.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein:

the base defines a bottom of the channel;

the first sidewall defines a first side of the channel;

the second sidewall defines a second side of the channel;

the protruding lip of the first sidewall at least partially defines a top of the channel; and

the protruding lip of the second sidewall at least partially defines the top of the channel.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the object mount connector includes a fastener.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: ROBINSON, CHAD
To: UNIRAC INC.
Reel/Frame 065079/0265 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17843489 · Jun 17, 2022
Continuation 17080464 · Oct 26, 2020
Continuation 16048152 · Jul 27, 2018
Continuation 15632732 · Jun 26, 2017
Related Publication 20240093913A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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