AU2012100148A4 - Mounting assembly - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Mounting assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 Mounting assembly Field of the invention The invention relates to a mounting assembly, and in particular to a mounting assembly for securing an object to a roof structure. 5 Background of the invention It is often desirable or necessary to secure objects to roof structures. Such objects may include, for example, solar collectors (including photovoltaic panels and thermal collectors), antennas, satellite dishes, air-conditioning units, storage tanks, weather vanes and wind turbines. In order to securely mount such objects to a roof, mounting 10 assemblies are used. A typical roof structure will comprise cladding elements, such as tiles, mounted to roof supports. In order to securely mount an object to a roof structure a mounting assembly is usually attached to a roof support and the object then attached to the mounting assembly. It is desirable for a mounting assembly to firmly affix the object(s) in position, 15 particularly in wind-prone areas where loose objects can become dangerous. In order to achieve this secure mounting, some mounting assemblies use fasteners, such as screws, to affix the assembly to the roof supports and bear the load of the object. As it is necessary to make holes in the roof supports in order to affix these mounting assemblies, however, the roof supports are weakened and the overall 20 structural integrity of the roof can be compromised. In some circumstances, particularly in wind-prone areas, the weakening of the roof supports by the drilled holes may lead to the roof failing to comply with relevant building codes. Once secured to the roof supports, the actual mount of the mounting assembly (i.e. the portion to which the object being secured is attached) then extends through an 25 opening/aperture in an overlying roof cladding element. Creating an opening in roof cladding can also be undesirable as it may compromise the integrity of the cladding and/or introduce leakage problems.

3 It would therefore be desirable to provide a mounting assembly able to firmly affix objects to a roof without significantly weakening the roof supports. Additionally, or in the alternative, it would be desirable to provide a mounting assembly for mounting objects to roofs with minimal or no damage to roof cladding. Further alternatively, or 5 additionally, it would be desirable to provide the public with a useful choice. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and/or regarded as relevant by a 0 person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention In one aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting assembly for mounting an object to a roof structure, the roof structure including a plurality of overlapping roof cladding elements carried on a plurality of roof supports, the mounting assembly 15 comprising: an attachment means for secure attachment to the object above the roof cladding elements, the attachment means including at least a first external attachment portion configured to extend outside the roof structure and a second connecting portion configured to extend between the overlapping roof cladding elements; 20 an upper bearing portion carrying the attachment means, the upper bearing portion comprising an apertured bearing plate adapted to be positioned below the roof cladding elements and above an upper surface of one of the roof supports, and including at least first and second spaced apart apertures being positionable on either side of said one of the roof supports; and 25 a lower bearing portion including first and second elongate arms, each terminating in an operatively upper threaded end configured to pass through the first and second apertures, and at least one of the first and second elongate arms having a lower bearing arm configured to pass beneath an undersurface of the roof support, the first and second arms being configured to embrace said one of the roof supports, and 4 including clamping means operative on the threaded ends for enabling the upper and lower bearing portions to be clamped around said one of the roof supports. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting assembly for mounting a solar panel to a roof structure, the roof structure including a plurality of overlapping roof 5 cladding elements carried on a plurality of roof supports, the mounting assembly comprising: an attachment means for secure attachment to the object above the roof cladding elements, the attachment means including at least a first external attachment portion configured to extend outside the roof structure and a second connecting portion 0 configured to extend between the overlapping roof cladding elements, wherein the first external attachment portion extends substantially transversely to the second connecting portion; an upper bearing portion carrying the attachment means, the upper bearing portion comprising an apertured bearing plate adapted to be positioned below the roof 15 cladding elements and above an upper surface of one of the roof supports, and including a set of apertures with at least first and second spaced apart apertures being positionable on either side of said one of the roof supports; and a lower bearing portion including first and second elongate arms, each terminating in an operatively upper threaded end configured to pass through the first 20 and second apertures, and the first elongate arm being substantially L-shaped with a lower bearing arm configured to pass beneath an undersurface of the roof support, and terminating in a head or a hook, and the second elongate arm terminating in a hook engageable with the head of the first arm or a head engageable with the hook of the first arm, the first and second arms being configured to embrace said one of the roof 25 supports, and including clamping nuts operative on the threaded ends of said arms for enabling the upper and lower bearing portions to be clamped around said one of the roof supports. Also described herein is a mounting assembly for mounting an object to a roof structure, the roof structure including a plurality of roof cladding elements mounted to a plurality of 30 roof supports, the mounting assembly comprising: an upper bearing assembly adapted to be positioned below the roof cladding 5 elements and above an upper surface of one of the roof supports; a lower bearing assembly including a lower bearing means adapted to be positioned below a lower surface of the roof support; clamping means acting between the upper and lower bearing assemblies for, in 5 use, clamping the mounting assembly to the roof support; and an attachment means carried by the upper bearing assembly and by which the object can be securely attached to the mounting assembly above the roof cladding elements. The roof cladding elements may be overlapping and, in use, the attachment means may 0 be adapted to extend between overlapping roof cladding elements. The attachment means may further comprise: an external attachment member which, in use, is accessible from an outside of the roof structure; and a connecting member connecting the attachment member to the upper bearing 15 assembly. The connecting member may be adapted to extend between overlapping roof cladding elements. The external attachment member may extend normally or substantially normally from the connecting member. The external attachment member and the connecting member may be an integrally 20 formed component. The attachment means may be integrally formed with the upper bearing assembly. The clamping means may be operable from directly above the upper bearing assembly. The clamping means may comprise at least one nut for threading on to a corresponding shaft. 25 The at least one threaded shaft may be adapted to pass through an aperture in the upper bearing assembly and the corresponding nut can be tightened on the threaded 6 shaft and against the upper bearing assembly to draw the upper and lower bearing assemblies together. The upper bearing assembly may comprise a plate, and may be adapted to bear directly on an upper surface of the roof support. Alternatively, the upper bearing assembly may 5 indirectly bear on the upper surface of the roof support through one or more intermediate members. The lower bearing means may be adapted to bear directly on a lower surface of the roof support. Alternatively, the lower bearing assembly may indirectly bear on the lower surface of the roof support through one or more intermediate members. 0 The lower bearing assembly may comprise a first lower bearing member, the first lower bearing member comprising a first lower bearing means for, in use, bearing on a lower surface of the roof support, and a first threaded shaft for receiving a nut of the clamping means. The first lower bearing member may be L-shaped, the base of the L comprising the first 15 lower bearing means and the threaded shaft comprising the upright section of the L. In one embodiment, the lower bearing assembly may further comprise an engagement member, the engagement member comprising a threaded shaft for receiving a nut of the clamping means and, in use, being adapted to engage with the first lower bearing means of the first lower bearing member. 20 The threaded shafts of the first lower bearing member and the engagement member may, in use, lie on opposite sides of the roof support. The engagement member may have a hook-shaped end to engage with the first lower bearing means. Alternatively, the lower bearing assembly may further comprise a second lower bearing 25 member, the second lower bearing member comprising a lower bearing means for, in use, bearing on a lower surface of the roof support and a second threaded shaft for 7 receiving a nut of the clamping means. The second lower bearing member may be L shaped, the base of the L comprising the second lower bearing means and the threaded shaft comprising the upright section of the L. The threaded bolts of the first lower bearing member and the second lower bearing member may, in use, lie on opposite 5 sides of the roof support. The mounting assembly may further comprise a positioning fastener for, in use, passing through an aperture in the upper bearing assembly and into the roof support in order to position the upper bearing assembly. The cladding elements of the roof structure may be roof tiles or shingles. o As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps. Brief description of the drawings / figures Fig. 1 shows a partial section view of a roof structure and a mounting assembly in 15 accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged partial section view of the roof structure and mounting assembly shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a perspective top view of multiple mounting assemblies according to an embodiment of the invention in use to mount solar panels on a roof structure. 20 Figs. 4A and 4B respectively show front views of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention mounted to different sized roof supports. Fig. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

8 Figs. 6A and 6B respectively show perspective and elevation views of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs. 7A and 7B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. 5 Figs. 8A and 8B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs. 9A and 9B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs. 10A and 10B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a 10 lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs. 11A and 11B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. 15 Figs. 12A and 12B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs. 13A and 13B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the 20 invention. Figs. 14A and 14B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

9 Figs. 15A and 15B respectively show perspective and elevation representations of a lower bearing assembly of a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the embodiments 5 Fig. 1 shows a sectional side view of a roof structure 100 comprising cladding elements (in this instance tiles) 102, battens 104, a roof support (e.g. rafter) 106, a gutter 108 and a ceiling joist 110. Also shown is a mounting assembly 112 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the mounting assembly 112 being secured to the roof support 106. The mounting assembly 112 comprises an upper bearing assembly 114, a 10 lower bearing assembly 116, an attachment means 118 for mounting an object on top of the roof structure, a clamping means 120 and (in this instance) a positioning fastener 122. The cladding elements 102 of the roof structure 100 overlap at junction regions 124 approximately located above each batten 104. Each tile 102 is shaped to alternate 15 between a fat profile 126 and a thin profile 128 through the cross section shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows a partial enlarged section view of the mounting assembly 112, batten 104 and roof support 106 shown in Fig. 1. The clamping means 120 is shown here in more detail and comprises a threaded nut 208 received on a complementally threaded shaft 20 202, and a washer 206. The threaded shaft 202 passes through an aperture 204 in the upper bearing assembly 114, the washer 206 placed over the shaft 202, and the nut 208 screwed onto the shaft. As can be seen, the nut 208 is accessible from above the upper bearing assembly 114. The threaded shaft 202 shown here comprises M8 clockwise-fastening metric threads 25 along substantially its whole length. However, it will be appreciated that the threaded shaft 202 may be of different lengths or thread types and may only have a portion of its length threaded.

10 When the mounting assembly 112 is being installed, the threaded nut 208 can be threaded onto the threaded bolt 202 and tightened against the washer 206, forcing the washer 206 against the upper surface of upper bearing assembly 114. As discussed in further detail below, tightening of the nut 208 draws the upper and lower bearing 5 assemblies together to clamp the assemblies about the roof support 106, thereby tightly securing the mounting assembly 112 to the roof support 106. Fig. 2 also shows the attachment means 118 in more detail. The attachment means 118 comprises an external attachment member 210, an internal member 212 connected to the upper bearing assembly 114, and a connecting member 214. In use the connecting 0 member 214 extends between overlapping cladding elements in order to position the external attachment member 210 outside of the roof structure without passing it through a hole or similar in a cladding element. In the present embodiment the components of the attachment means 118 (i.e. the external attachment member 210, the internal member 212, and the connecting 15 member 214) are integrally formed from a unitary piece of metal, for example forged steel. However, it will be appreciated that components of the attachment means 118 may be non-integral, and may be formed from alternate materials and by alternative methods. Once installed, the connecting member 214 of the mounting assembly 112 extends 20 between an upper surface of a lower cladding member and a lower surface of an adjacent upper cladding member 102 at a junction region 124. For the tiles 102 shown in Fig. 1, the connecting member 214 is aligned with a thin profile 128 section of the lower tile 102 in order to clear the lower tile, bridge the tile overlap at each junction region 124 and link the external attachment member 210 and internal member 212. This 25 allows the external attachment member 210 to protrude out from the roof 100 whilst being firmly affixed to the roof support 106. In this way the external attachment member 210 is positioned outside of the roof structure 100 without cladding elements 102 being damaged or having holes formed therein.

11 It will be appreciated that alternate embodiments of the invention could adapted for use with cladding elements having different cross sections and for use at overlapping regions of alternate roofing materials such as concrete, ceramic, or asphalt tiles or shingles, corrugated iron, tin, or other cladding elements. 5 Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in use to mount solar panels on a roof 302 having cladding members 304. The external attachment member 210 of each mounting assembly 112 can be seen protruding substantially normally from the upper surface of the cladding material 304. Rails 306 are attached to the external attachment members 210, for example by bolts or other fasteners (not shown). Solar panels (such as panel .0 308) are then attached to the rails 306. It will be appreciated that mounting assemblies 112 can be used to mount different types of objects on roofs such as solar collectors (including photovoltaic panels and thermal collectors) as well as antennas, satellite dishes, air-conditioning units, storage tanks, weather vanes and wind turbines. The number of attachment assemblies and their positioning will depend on the 15 requirements of the object being mounted and applicable building codes. Figs. 4A and 4B show front views of mounting assemblies 112 according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of the mounting assemblies 112 is configured to attach to a roof support 106 of a different size, i.e. a large roof support 106A and small roof support 106B in Figs. 4A and 4B respectively. As can be seen, the clamping means 20 120 has been tightened further in Fig. 4B as against Fig 4A in order to accommodate the smaller roof support 106B which has a lesser height than the larger roof support 106A. Previously identified features of the mounting assembly 112 are also shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. These comprise the upper bearing assembly 114 with apertures 204 formed 25 therein, the lower bearing assembly 116, the clamping means 120, the attachment means 118, and the positioning fastener 122. In this embodiment, the lower bearing assembly 116 comprises an engagement member 120A having a threaded bolt with a hook or J-shaped end 402, and an L- 12 shaped lower bearing member 120B having a lower bearing means 406 in the form of an arm having a capped end 404 (comprising the base of the L-shape) and a threaded shaft (comprising the upright of the L-shape). To mount the mounting assembly 112 to the roof support 106 the lower bearing member 120B is positioned such that the lower 5 bearing means 406 bears (either directly or indirectly) on the underside of the roof support 106. The engagement member 120A is then positioned such that the hook end 402 hooks around the end of the lower bearing means 406. In this embodiment, twisting the engagement means 120A approximately a quarter-turn around the axis defined by its length serves to position the hook/J-shaped end so as to either be clear of the lower 0 bearing means 406 or to engage with the lower bearing means 406. As will be appreciated, this action can be performed from directly above the roof support 106/upper bearing assembly 114 and without requiring access to an underside of the roof support 106 and/or lower bearing means 406. The threaded shafts of the engagement member 120A and the lower bearing member 15 120B lie on opposite sides of the roof support 106 and extend through apertures 204 in the upper bearing assembly 114. Nuts 208 are then screwed onto the threaded bolts, serving to clamp the mounting assembly 112 on to the roof support 106. Depending on relevant building codes, positioning fastener 122 may not be necessary for structural purposes. Using the positioning fastener 122 to secure the upper bearing 20 assembly 114 in place (e.g. by screwing the positioning faster 122 through an aperture in the upper bearing assembly 114 and into the roof support 106), however, may assist in the installation of the mounting assembly 112 as this will prevent movement of the upper bearing assembly 114 whilst the components of the lower bearing assembly 116 are correctly positioned and secured in place. 25 It will be appreciated that the lower bearing means 406 and the threaded shaft of the lower bearing member 120B may be integrally formed, or may be formed as separate connecting components. The attachment means 118 of Figures 4A and 4B comprises a mounting slot 405 which can be used to mount an object to the roof structure 100. Depending on the object being 13 mounted and relevant codes/regulations, objects may be directly mounted to the attachment means 118 (via mounting slot 405), or indirectly, for example via rails 306 as shown in Fig. 3 or other members connecting multiple mounting assemblies together. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of an upper bearing assembly 114 and attachment 5 means 118 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this instance attachment means 118 comprises an integral component 501 made up of the external attachment member 210, internal member 212, and connecting member 214. Component 501 is roughly Z-shaped, insofar as the connecting member 214 is roughly normal to the internal member 212, and the attachment member 210 is roughly normal to the 0 connecting member 214 and roughly parallel to the internal member 212. The external attachment member 210 is shown here with a textured region 502 around the slot 405. This creates a region of high friction thereby holding attached objects in place more firmly. The internal member 212 also comprises a slot 503 by which the attachment means 118 can be fastened (e.g. by bolting) to the upper bearing assembly 15 114. The upper bearing assembly 114 of this embodiment is an L-shaped member having a relatively wide plate 510 adapted to be positioned below the roof cladding elements and bear (directly or indirectly) on a roof support. The plate 510 comprises a plurality of apertures 204 which, in this instance, are arranged in two rows, the apertures of each 20 row being offset from the apertures in the other row. By providing multiple apertures 204 the upper bearing assembly 114 can be used with a variety of different lower bearing assemblies and a variety of differently sized/shaped roof supports. The L-shaped member of the upper bearing assembly 114 also comprises a relatively narrow flange 512 extending normally from the plate 510. Flange 512 is formed with a 25 plurality of mounting slots 514 by which the attachment means 118 can be mounted to the upper bearing assembly 114 - e.g. by a fastener such as a bolt 506 passing through slot 503 and one of the slots 514 and being secured by a nut 504. Once again, by providing multiple slots 514 the attachment means 118 can be secured in a variety of positions relative to the roof support and upper bearing means 114.

14 In alternative embodiments the attachment means 118 may be integrally formed with the upper bearing means 114, e.g. by a single casting, or may be permanently secured thereto, e.g. by welding. For the purposes of illustration, Figure 5 shows a further attachment member 516 5 adapted to be secured to the external member 210 of attachment means 118. The further attachment member 516 is also a unitary member having a similar "Z" shape similar to attachment means 118. The Further attachment means 516 comprises a first mounting aperture 518 (which, using a bolt 522 and nut 524, allows the further attachment member 516 to be mounted to the attachment means 118), and a second 10 mounting aperture 520 by which the object to be mounted to the roof structure can be secured. It will be appreciated that the components 210, 212, 214 of the attachment means 118 of the present embodiment may be formed in any number of multiple parts and joined together (e.g. as shown in Fig. 5) by fasteners, welding, glue or the like, or formed as a 15 single unitary piece (e.g. as shown in Figs 4A and 4B). Further, the relative lengths of the internal, connecting, and attachment members (and the angles at which they interconnect) may of course be varied as is appropriate for the particular roof structure with which the mounting assembly is to be used. Figs. 6 to 15 show perspective representations (A) and corresponding (reduced-scale) 20 elevation representations (B) of lower bearing assemblies according to various embodiments of the invention. In each of the embodiments of Figs. 6 to 15 the lower bearing assemblies comprise at least one threaded shaft adapted to be received through an aperture in an upper bearing assembly as discussed above. In use a nut is screwed onto the (or each) 25 threaded shaft, allowing the mounting assembly to be clamped the roof support 106. In Fig. 6, a lower bearing assembly 600 comprises a pair of stretched J-shaped lower bearing members 602 and 604. Each lower bearing member 602 and 604 comprises a threaded shaft 606 connected approximately at right angles to a lower bearing means in 15 the form of a bearing arm 608. The bearing arms 608 are, in turn connected approximately at right angles to an upturned portion 610. As can be seen, the lower bearing members 602 and 604 are positioned such that the threaded shafts 606 are located on opposite sides of the roof support 106, with the roof support 106 firmly 5 nested in the 'J' hook of each lower bearing member 602 and 604. It will be appreciated that whilst two lower bearing members 602 and 604 are shown in Fig. 6, there may be instances (depending on the objected intended to be mounted and any building regulations/codes) where a single lower bearing member could be used alone (in a similar fashion to the embodiment of Figure 14). In a further alternate 10 embodiment of the invention more than two lower bearing members could be used. Fig. 7 shows a configuration similar to that depicted in Figs. 4A and 4B and described above. In this embodiment the lower bearing assembly 700 comprises an engagement member 120A having a hook or J-shaped end 402, and a lower bearing member 120B having a lower bearing means 406 terminating at a capped end 404. Both the 15 engagement member 120A and bearing member 120B have a threaded shaft 702. In this embodiment the lower bearing means 406 bears on the roof support 106, and the hook end 402 of the engagement member 120A hooks around the end of the lower bearing means 406 adjacent to the capped end 404 in order to lock the engagement member 120A and the lower bearing member 120B together and provide a secure 20 attachment around the roof support 106. Fig. 8 shows a similar embodiment to that depicted in Fig. 6, with the exception that instead of terminating in an upturned portion, the lower bearing means 806 and 808 of bearing members 802 and 804 terminate in end caps 810 and 812 (i.e. similar to the capped end 404 shown in Fig. 7). 25 Fig. 9 shows a lower bearing assembly 900 which includes a pair of J-shaped lower bearing members 902 and 904. Members 902 and 904 each terminate in upturned portions 906, the ends of which bear on the roof support 106. To prevent members 902 and 904 from rotating out of position, lower bearing assembly 900 also includes a joining member 908 formed with a plurality of apertures 910. The upturned portions 906 16 of each lower bearing member 902 and 904 are received through the relevant joining member aperture 910 to lock the two lower bearing members 902 and 904 together and provide a secure attachment around the roof support 106. By providing joining member 908 with multiple apertures the lower bearing assembly 900 can be used with roof 5 supports of different sizes. Fig. 10 shows a lower bearing assembly 1000 similar to bearing assembly 900 of Figure 9, with the exception that lower bearing members 1002 1004 terminate in upturned spikes 1006. The upturned spike of each lower bearing member 1002 and 1004 may, upon application of an upward force (e.g. as delivered via the clamping 10 means 120), penetrate into the roof support 106 thereby holding each member firmly in position. The ends of the upturned spikes 1006 are obscured in Fig. 10B as they have pressed into the roof support 106. As the lower bearing members 1002 and 1005 are held in position by spikes 1006, no joining member (such as joining member 908 of the embodiment of Fig. 9) is provided in this embodiment. 15 The lower bearing assembly 1100 in the embodiment of Fig. 11 is a variation of the lower bearing assembly 700 of Figure 7. In the lower bearing assembly 1100 the lower bearing means 1101 of the L-shaped lower bearing member 1102 terminates in a hook 1104 which (in use) hooks around the end of an engagement member 1106. Fig. 12 shows a lower bearing assembly 1200 which is a variation of the lower bearing 20 assembly 900 of Figure 9. Lower bearing assembly 1200 comprises an L-shaped member 1202 having a plate 1204 (provided with apertures 1206) adapted to lie below the roof support 106. Lower bearing assembly 1200 further comprises a J-shaped bearing member 1208 terminating in an upturned portion 1210 which bears on the roof support 106. In use, the upturned portion 1210 of the J-shaped lower bearing member 25 1208 locates through one of the apertures 1206 to lock the L- and J- shaped members 1202 and 1208 together and provide a secure attachment around the roof support 106. Fig.13 shows a lower bearing assembly 1300 including a single L-shaped lower bearing member 1302. The lower bearing member 1302 includes a threaded shaft 1304 with a base plate 1306 extending approximately at right angles thereto. The base plate 1306 is 17 provided with a plurality of upward-facing spikes 1308 which, in use, bear against (and penetrate into) the roof support 106. Upon application of an upward force (e.g. delivered via the clamping means), the upward-facing spikes 1308 penetrate into the roof support 106 thereby holding the lower bearing means 1302 more firmly in position. The ends of 5 the upward-facing spikes 1308 are obscured in Fig. 13B as they have pressed into the roof support 106. It will be appreciated that whilst three upward-facing spikes 1308 are shown in Fig. 13 that any number of spikes may be alternatively used. Fig. 14 shows a lower bearing assembly 1400 including an L-shaped lower bearing member 1402. Lower bearing member 1402 includes a threaded shaft 1404 and a base 0 plate 1406 extending at approximately right angles thereto. Base plate 1406 is provided with an upwardly extending end ridge 1408 and an upwardly extending intermediate ridge 1410. As can be seen, the end ridge 1408 extends higher then the intermediate ridge 1410. In use, one of the ridges 1408 and 1410 (depending on the width of the roof support) engages with a side of the roof support 106 opposite the threaded shaft 1404 15 to securely nest the roof support 106 in the lower bearing member 1402. The intermediate, lower ridge 1410 is adapted to receive a relatively thin profile roof support 106 (shown in Fig. 14) whereas the higher end ridge 1406 is adapted to receive a roof support with a relatively thicker profile 106 (not shown). It will be appreciated that the base plate 1406 of the lower bearing assembly 1400 may 20 be provided with a single ridge, or with multiple (i.e. more than two) ridges. If provided with multiple ridges such ridges would decrease in height along the length of the base plate 1406 from the terminal end to the end adjacent to the threaded shaft 1404. Fig. 15 shows a lower bearing assembly 1500 which is a variation of lower bearing assembly 900 of Fig. 9. Lower bearing assembly 1500 also includes two J-shaped lower 25 bearing members 1502 and 1504 joined by a joining member 1506. Joining member 1506 is provided with a plurality of apertures 1508 for receiving the upturned ends 1510 and 1512 of the bearing members 1502 and 1504. In this embodiment, however, lower bearing member 1504 is rotated 90 degrees (relative to the corresponding member in Fig. 9).

18 As will be appreciated, the various embodiments of the invention allow a mounting assembly to be securely mounted to a roof support without requiring the use of multiple screws (or similar) being drilled into the roof support. While some embodiments of the invention make use of a single positioning fastener 122, this is typically centrally located 5 in the roof support (i.e. not close to the periphery and in danger of breaching building codes/regulations), and is used to assist in installation rather than in a load bearing capacity per se. In addition, the attachment means of the various embodiments is adapted to extend between overlapping cladding elements rather than through a cladding member. In this 10 way the cladding elements of a roof need not be provided with holes/apertures in order to mount an object back to the roof supports. Further, as the attachment means can be located to extend between any overlap, a special apertured cladding member is not required. As the mounting assembly can also be easily be loosened (by loosening the clamping means and, if used, unscrewing the 15 location fastener) the position of the mounting assembly of certain embodiments of the invention can easily be adjusted along the length of a roof support. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations 20 constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A mounting assembly for mounting an object to a roof structure, the roof structure including a plurality of overlapping roof cladding elements carried on a plurality of roof supports, the mounting assembly comprising: 5 an attachment means for secure attachment to the object above the roof cladding elements, the attachment means including at least a first external attachment portion configured to extend outside the roof structure and a second connecting portion configured to extend between the overlapping roof cladding elements; an upper bearing portion carrying the attachment means, the upper bearing 10 portion comprising an apertured bearing plate adapted to be positioned below the roof cladding elements and above an upper surface of one of the roof supports, and including at least first and second spaced apart apertures being positionable on either side of said one of the roof supports; and a lower bearing portion including first and second elongate arms, each 15 terminating in an operatively upper threaded end configured to pass through the first and second apertures, and at least one of the first and second elongate arms having a lower bearing arm configured to pass beneath an undersurface of the roof support, the first and second arms being configured to embrace said one of the roof supports, and including clamping means operative on the threaded ends for enabling the upper and 20 lower bearing portions to be clamped around said one of the roof supports.

2. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 in which the first and second arms terminate in engaging formations for enabling the first and second arms to engage with one another and co-operate in clamping around said one of the roof supports, the engaging formations including a hooked end and a headed or capped end for retaining 25 the hooked end.

3. A mounting assembly according to either one of the preceding claims in which the clamping means comprise threaded nuts, and the apertured bearing plate is formed with multiple sets of apertures for accommodating roof supports of different widths. 20

4. A mounting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims in which the attachment means further includes a third internal portion extending transversely to the second connecting portion such that the attachment means has a cranked configuration, with the first external attachment portion of the attachment means 5 includes a slot with a textured region around the slot.

5. A mounting assembly for mounting a solar panel to a roof structure, the roof structure including a plurality of overlapping roof cladding elements carried on a plurality of roof supports, the mounting assembly comprising: an attachment means for secure attachment to the object above the roof cladding 10 elements, the attachment means including at least a first external attachment portion configured to extend outside the roof structure and a second connecting portion configured to extend between the overlapping roof cladding elements, wherein the first external attachment portion extends substantially transversely to the second connecting portion; 15 an upper bearing portion carrying the attachment means, the upper bearing portion comprising an apertured bearing plate adapted to be positioned below the roof cladding elements and above an upper surface of one of the roof supports, and including a set of apertures with at least first and second spaced apart apertures being positionable on either side of said one of the roof supports; and 20 a lower bearing portion including first and second elongate arms, each terminating in an operatively upper threaded end configured to pass through the first and second apertures, and the first elongate arm being substantially L-shaped with a lower bearing arm configured to pass beneath an undersurface of the roof support, and terminating in a head or a hook, and the second elongate arm terminating in a hook 25 engageable with the head of the first arm or a head engageable with the hook of the first arm, the first and second arms being configured to embrace said one of the roof supports, and including clamping nuts operative on the threaded ends of said arms for enabling the upper and lower bearing portions to be clamped around said one of the roof supports.