AU2003231587B2

AU2003231587B2 - Support Assembly and Components Therefor

Info

Publication number: AU2003231587B2
Application number: AU2003231587A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Neil Frederick Edney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-08
Filing date: 2003-08-04
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-04
Also published as: AU2003231587A1

Description

04/8/2003 10:6 +B1396B6766 E0P~'A MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 07 2 SUPPORT ASSEMBLY AN] COMPONENTS

THEREFOR

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a support assembly and components used for putting the support assembly together. The invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a support assembly for supporting solar panels on roofs in a manner which allows the solar panels to be adjusted to an angle with respect to the roof which optimises the exposure of the solar panels to the sun.

Background of the Invention Solar panels hare long been used in a range of differnt applications. Examples of such applications include water beating for hot water systems, and generation of electricity from solar cell arrays. in many instances, these solar panels need to be mounted on a roof. Furthermore, in order to maximise the effectiveness of the solar panels, it is clearly desirable that they be arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal which optimises the rate of collection of solar energy.

Because roofs are not generally sloped at the optimum angle for solar collection, it can require a quite complex support system to support and adjust the angle of the solar collector to the desired optimnum.

Furthermore, as the surface area of many roofs, particularly those which are covered with ceramic or cement tiles is uneven, it can be quite difficult to form a strong attachment to the roof surI~ce without causing damage to the tiles.

Thus, there is a need for a support assembly design which may be readily mounted on roofs. Furthermore, there is a need for such a support assembly design to be adjustable as to the angle at which it supports a solar collector or any other device.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00383603 Received by IF' Australia: Time 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 04/08/2803 10:06 +61398867600 MORCOM FERNAT PAGE 08 3 Disclosure of the Invention Thus, the invention provides in one aspect a foot assembly comprising, a pair of base elements, each base element including a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, a first pivotal attachment point for each vertical leg, a first pair of complementaxy elements associated with the pair of base elements, each complementary element including a securement member and an 1o attachment member and each complementary element being pivotally joined to a respective base element through a connection between one of the first pivotal attachment points and one of the attachment members, The base elements may be interchangeable with each other. They may be identical to each other. They may be formed of any material which is strong and resists exposure to the weather. They may comprise sheet metal. They may comprise cast metal.

They may include a protective coating such as zinc or a paint or other covering.

The horizontal leg of the base element may be generally rectangular in shape. The vertical leg may be generally semi-circular, The first pivotal attachment point may comprise one or more holes extending through the vertical leg.

Each of the first pair of complementary elements may be formed of similar materials to the base elements. They are preferably not interchangeable with each other. One of the first pair of complementary elements may be interchangeable with the base elements. One of the first pair of complementary elements may be identical in shape and configuration to the base elements.

The other of the first pair of complementary elements may be different to the first of the pairs. It may differ in that the length or size of the attachment member may be COMS ID No: SMBI-00363603 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 greater than the attachment member of the other of the pair of complementary elements. The first pair of complementary elements may be constructed so that the attachment members may be aligned in parallel planes. The securement member of the smaller of the two attachment members may be arranged to abut the attachment member of the larger of the two.

00 _In this fashion, the securement elements in combination with the larger of the two .IC attachment members may define a channel shaped region. The channel shaped region C"3 may constitute a securement region when the complementary elements are joined N 10 together in a support assembly according to the invention.

Each of the attachment members may include one or more holes which may be overlapped with the corresponding holes in the vertical legs of the base element.

Thus the two may be joined by inserting a pivot pin, bolt or screw or similar device through overlapped holes to allow the pair of complementary elements to be pivoted with respect to the pair of base elements.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a support assembly for a device comprising, a foot assembly comprising a first pair of base elements mounted on a support surface at a first location, each base element including a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, a first pivotal attachment point for each vertical leg, and a first pair of complementary elements associated with the pair of base elements, each complementary element including a securement member and an attachment member and each complementary element being pivotally joined to a respective base element through a connection between one of the first pivotal attachment points and one of the attachment members, a second pair of base elements having substantially the same construction as the first pair of base elements, the second pair of base elements being mounted on a second location of the support surface remote from the first location, 00 O a second pair of complementary elements having substantially the same construction as the first pair of complementary elements, and a strut member extending between and pivotally attached to the respective second pair of complementary and base elements at respective pivotal attachment points of these elements, 00 wherein the arrangement is such that the device may be secured to and rigidly supported by the first and second pair of complementary elements at angle to the support surface.

10 Suitably the strut member may be varied in length to vary the angle of inclination of the device supported by the assembly.

The strut member may also be pivoted to vary the angle of inclination of the device.

The strut member, device and elongate base member may conjointly outline a generally triangular shape.

The foot assembly may be mounted on a mounting member. The mounting member may have an undersurface which generally conforms to the shape of the surface of a roof. It may be formed of moulded rubber, or moulded plastic or moulded composites of either or both of these materials. It may include a plurality of channels to accommodate corresponding ridges in the roof. It may be attached to the roof by mechanical means or by adhesive. In a particularly preferred aspect it may be attached to the roof by screws extending into a pair of horizontal legs, the mounting member and a roof tile. Preferred aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows an isometric x-ray view of a partially assembled foot assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of complementary elements forming an attachment assembly; 04/08/2603 18:05 +61398867600 1MOR(C)M PERMAT PAGE 11 6 Figure 3 shows an isometric view of a complementary element for use in a foot assembly and attachment assembly according to the invention; Figure 4a shows a view of a foot assembly according to the invention; Figure 4b shows the foot assembly of Figure 4a rotated 900; Figure 5 shows an elevational view of a support assembly according to the invention; Figure 6 shows an elevational view of an extended foot assembly; Figure 7 shows an isometric view of a partially assembled rotatable foot assembly; and Figure 8 shows a plan view of a rotation plate.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The various elements identified by numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list.

Integer List 1 Foot assembly 3 Base element Horizontal leg 7 Vertical leg 8 Semi-circular outline 9 Holes 11 Mounting member 13 Channel Complementary element 17 Complementary element 18 Attachment assembly 19 Attachment member Extended region 21 Attachment member COMS ID No: SMBI-00383603 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 04/08/2003 10 6 n+ c i-InOOaC7icaM ,,cto ouu u IM LN Tai PAGE 12 7 23 Securement member Securement member 27 Securement region 29 Holes 30 Aperture 31 Base member 32 Rod 33 Roof 34 Strut 35 Solar collector 37 Rotation plate 39 Slot Hole 41 Guide line Referring to Figures 1 to 3 and 4b, the foot assembly generally designated 1 and shown in full in Figure 4a and 4b is made of the various elements shown more clearly in Figures 1 to 3.

The foot assembly includes a pair of base elements 3.

Typically, these base elements will have been pressed from sheet steel and will have a protective coating such as zinc or paint. However it is to be appreciated that other weather resistant materials such as plastics may be equally suitable. The base elements are shown as being identical in shape and configuration. They include a substantially flat rectangular horizontal leg 5 joined along one edge to a substantially flat vertical leg 7 having a semi-circular outline 8.

Holes 9 are provided in both the horizontal and vertical legs.

COMS ID No: SMBr-00363603 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 04/08/ 2003 10:06 +61398867600 MDRCOF4 PERNAT PAGE 13 The holes 9 in the horizontal leg may be used to secure the two base elemecnts 3 to a mounting member I11 by means of a screw bolt or similar and in turn to a roof. The mounting member may comprise moulded rubber.

it can be seen that the base elements are arranged so that the vertical legs are parallel to each other and define a gap therebeotween wit holes on corresponding vertical legs lining. up with each other.

The undersurthce of the mounting member 11I includes a number of channels 13 which may be shaped to correspond to ridges typically found on roofs covered with tiles. Thus, the mounting member 11I can be readily placed onto the top of the tile to be glued there or affixed by screws or other mechanical means.

The foot assembly 1 includes a pair of complementary elements 15 and 17 each having attachment members 19 and respectively.

The complementary element 15 differs from complementary element 17 in that it has an extended region 20 forming part of the attachment member 19. The extended region also includes an aperture 30 for purposes to become apparent.

The complementary element 17 is identical to the base element 3 to minimise the range of components required for the foot assembly. Each of the complementary elements 15 and 17 include a securement member 23 and 25 respectively and attachment members 19 and 21 respectively.

The. attachment members are arranged parallel to each other with the edge of the securement member 25 in abutment with the attachment member 19. This defines a securemeat region 27 between the securement members 23 and 25 and the extended region The boles 29 in the attachment members of the complementary elements line up with corresponding holes 9 in the vertical legs of the base elements 3. Thus, the pair of COMB ID No: SMBI-00363603 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 OW lots/ 2003 10:0b +6139y8867600 F4OROOM PERNAT PAGE 14 9 complementary elements shown in Figure 2 jointly fanning an attachment assembly 18 may be inverted above the pair of base elements 3 in the manner shown in Figures 4a and 4b with the holes 29 and 9 in line so that a pin, bolt or similar device can be inserted through at least one of the adjacent sets of holes to provide a pivot joini between the base elements and complementary elements.

The securement region 27 may then be used to secure various components to the foot assembly as shown more clearly ini Figure Thus for example, a solar collector 35 is rested on top of the securement member 23 and may be attached thereto by mechanical or adhesion attchment to the top of seourement member 23. The mechanical attachment may be by means of clips, screws, bolts, etc.

is A base member 31 may be attached via the lower of the two holes 9 in the vertical legs at the lower end of the assembly shown in Figure S. The base member 31 may comprise a rod of square cross section which fits into the gap between the two vertical legs 7 of the base elements and is secured thereto by a pin, screw or bolt extending through the holes 9 and a corresponding hole in the base member.

It is noted that the assembly 1 is fixed to a roof 33 and the solar collector 35 is held by the support assembly at an angle to the roof to optimnise the effect of sun rays on the solar collector. The base member extends upwardly to a futher foot assembly I mounted to the roof on a mounting member 11I and extends still further to a pair of base elements 3 also mounted on a mounting member 21. Again, the base member extends through the gap between the vertical legs of the opposed base elements and is secured thereto through the holes 9.

Intermediate the connections betweein the base elements secured to mounting members I1I and the base member, there are provided attachment assemblies 18 of the fonn shown in more detail in Figure 2. These attachment assemblies are arranged so COMS ID No:SMBI-00383803 Received by PP Australia: Timne 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 B~ O/ 003 i 10:0 b +b13SOBb6b76 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE that the base member passes through the securement region 27 and may be secured therein by any suitable means such as mechanical fixing or adhesion.

The attachment assemblies are pivotally connected to the struts 34. The pivotal connections comprise the lower holes 29 formed in both of the securement members 19 and 21 and a pin, screw, rod or the like projecting through a corresponding hole in the end of the strut.

The opposite end of the strut is similarly pivotaUy attached to another attachment to assembly 18 which is in turn used as a support and attachment for the solar collector The solar collector is secured to the securement member 23 in similar manner to the method of securement used for the foot assembly mounted on the mounting member and roof for each solar collector.

It can be seen that the angle of tilt of the solar collector can be varied by varying the position at which the attachment assembly connected to the strut is connected to the solar collector. Alternatively, the length of the strut can be varied to change the angle. As can be seen from the illustration in Figure 5, the solar collector, strut and base member conjointly form a generally triangular configuration.

As the solar collectors will extend in a plane perpendicular to the page, several support assemblies of the type shown in Figure 5 may be supplied at different positions and common elevations across the roof. Thus they can support the solar collectors at different points across their width.

The apertures 30 in the attachment assemblies connected to the base members 31 may be used to receive the ends of square section rods 32 extending between the assemblies and into the apertures 30. The rods can be used to provide consistent separation and cross bracing between the attachment assemblies, COMS ID No:.SMBI-00363603 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 B4/0/2003 10:86 +61398867690 MOROOM PE"4T PAGE IS 11 Refening to Figure 6 an extended foot assembly can be provided where it is necessary to raise the level of attachment with respect to a roof or other surface. in this case a strut 34 is used to join the pair of base elements 3 to the pair of complementary elements 15 and 17 (not shown). As the strut is connected by a screw or bolt to the respective elements through hales 9 and 29 in two places, the extended foot assembly is rigidly held in the configuration shown. Of course, the configuration can be varied by providing a range of hole locations to vary the relative angles of attachment.

The partially assembled foot assembly shown in Figure 7 differs from that shown in Figure I by virtue of the additional of a rotation plate 37 shown in more detail in Figure S. The rotation plate includes paralel slots 39 throrugh which the vertical legs 7 of the base elements protrude. A central hole 40 in the rotation plate may be used to attach the rotation plate by a screw, bolt or similar device to the mounting member is 11I in such a way that the plate and base elements may be rotated about the axis defined by the hole Circular guide lines 41 are printed or stamped on the upper surface of the rotation plate. These are arranged so that they will lie directly above the holes 9 in the horizontal legs 5 of the base elements 3. Thus, when the rotational configuration of the base elements have been set as required, the guide lines can be used to accurately locate the position of the holes 9 in the horizontal legs lying undernath the rotation plate. It is then an easy task to drill a hole at an appropriate location along the guide line on the rotation plate in line with a Corresponding hole of the horizontal leg. A screw passing through the aligned holes into the mounting mnember can then be used to rigidly secure the mounting plate and base elements in a desired configuration on the mounting member.

It is to be understood that the invention can be used in other applications such as sup~port for signs, safety railings, platfonne, temporary structures etc.

COMB ID No: SMBI-00363603 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:13 Date 2003-08-04 04/08/203 10:06 +61398867T00 M]RCOM PERNAT PAGE 17 12 It is to be understood that the word comprising as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form ie. use of the word comprising does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00363603 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:13 Date 2003-08-04

Claims

1. A foot assembly comprising, N, a first pair of base elements, each of the first pair of base elements including a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, a first pivotal attachment point for each vertical leg, and 00 t a first pair of complementary elements associated with the first pair of base elements, each complementary element including a securement member and an attachment member and each complementary element being pivotally joined to a N 10 respective base element through a connection between one of the first pivotal attachment points and one of the attachment members, wherein the one of the first pair of complementary elements has a securement member which is shorter than the securement member of the other of the first pair of complementary elements whereby to define a securement region between the securement members of the first pair of complementary elements when the complementary elements are aligned such that their attachment members are arranged in parallel planes and one of the securement members is in abutting relationship with the attachment member of the other of the first pair of complementary elements.

2. A foot assembly according to claim 1 wherein each securement member comprises a securement leg extending substantially at right angles from its respective attachment member.

3. A foot assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first pair of base elements are the same as each other.

4. A foot assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each vertical leg comprises a generally semicircular region. 3o

5. A foot assembly according to claim 3 wherein one of the first pair of complementary elements is the same as the base elements. Q)

6. A foot assembly according to claim 5 wherein the securement region U comprises a channel shaped region of square or rectangular cross section having sides defined by opposed attachment members and a portion of one of the securement members extending between the opposed attachment members, and wherein the fourth side of the securement region is open. 00 _3

7. A foot assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of N the attachment members includes one or more holes arranged to be overlapped with a (Ni corresponding hole in the vertical leg of the respective base element whereby the two N 10 may be pivotally joined by a pivot member extending therethrough.

8. A foot assembly according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a rotation plate joining the first pair of base elements, the rotation plate being constructed so as to allow rotation of the foot assembly with respect to a substrate.

9. A foot assembly according to claim 8 wherein the rotation plate includes parallel slots arranged to allow the vertical legs to protrude therethrough and the rotation plate is secured to the substrate by a rotatable attachment member extending through a central region of the rotation plate between the parallel slots.

A foot assembly according to any one of the preceding claims mounted on a mounting member, the undersurface of the mounting member having a profile which corresponds generally to the profile of a roof on which the foot assembly is mounted.

11. A foot assembly according to claim 10 wherein the mounting member comprises moulded rubber, moulded plastic or moulded composites of one or more of these materials.

12. A support assembly for a device comprising, a foot assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the first pair of base elements is mounted on a support surface at a first location, Qa second pair of base elements having substantially the same construction as (N O the first pair of base elements, the second pair of base elements being mounted on a second location of the support surface remote from the first location, _a second pair of complementary elements having substantially the same construction as the first pair of complementary elements, and 0a strut member extending between and pivotally attached to the respective r second pair of complementary and base elements at respective pivotal attachment points of these elements, wherein the arrangement is such that the device may be secured to and rigidly N 10 supported by the first and second pair of complementary elements at an angle to the support surface.

13. A support assembly according to claim 12 wherein the one of the first pair of complementary elements has a securement member which is shorter than the securement member of the other of the first pair of complementary elements whereby to define a securement region between the securement members of the first pair of complementary elements when the complementary elements are aligned such that their attachment members are arranged in parallel planes and one of the securement members is in abutting relationship with the attachment member of the other of the first pair of complementary elements.

14. A support assembly according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein an elongate base member extends between and is joined to the first and second pair of base elements and the strut member, device and elongate base member conjointly outline a generally triangular shape.

A support array comprising a plurality of support assemblies according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein adjacent support assemblies are joined by supporting rods extending between apertures in the complementary members.

16. A solar collector wherein the device comprises a solar panel mounted on a support array according to claim O

17. A foot assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. M

19. A support array substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the (N accompanying drawings. N Dated this 9th day of December 2008 Neil Frederick Edney by his patent attorneys Morcom Pernat