# US 10,312,854 B2 · Roof vent for supporting a solar panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,854 B2 - Document ID: US10312854B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/870,526 - Filed: 2018-01-12 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-22 - Applicants: Gregory S. Daniels - Inventors: Gregory S. Daniels - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312854B2 ## CPC - E04D 3/30: of metal - E04D 13/17: Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for (ventilation of rooms or spaces F24F) - E04D 1/265: {the roofing elements being rigid, e.g. made of metal, wood or concrete} - E04D 1/30: Special roof-covering elements, e.g. ridge tiles, gutter tiles, gable tiles, ventilation tiles (E04D3/40 takes precedence) - F24S 25/61: for fixing to the ground or to building structures - E04D 2001/309: {Ventilation tiles} - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A roof vent for supporting a solar panel is provided. The roof vent includes a vent member and a solar panel support element. The vent member is sized and shaped to mimic the appearance of a roof cover element. The vent member includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion separated from the lower portion by a gap. The solar panel support element is attached to the vent member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing support for a solar panel on a roof, the method comprising: mounting a first solar panel support element to a roof deck of the roof, the first solar panel support element comprising an extension member extending away from the roof deck; and installing an upper vent member above the first solar panel support element such that the extension member of the first solar panel support element extends through an opening in an exposed upper surface of the upper vent member, wherein the upper vent member is configured to allow airflow between a region above the roof deck and a region above the upper vent member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the upper vent member further comprises a second solar panel support attached to the exposed upper surface, and wherein the extension member extends through a hole in the second solar panel support element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the upper vent member comprises: an upper portion including the opening in the exposed upper surface; a lower portion positioned below the upper portion and separated from the upper portion by a gap, the lower portion comprising a lower opening; and wherein the extension member also extends through the lower opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the lower portion further comprises two laterally offset screens, and wherein the lower opening is positioned between the two laterally offset screens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the upper vent member further comprises a second solar panel support attached to the upper portion, and wherein the extension member extends through a hole in the second solar panel support element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the upper vent member further comprises a third solar panel support attached to the lower portion, and wherein the extension member extends through a hole in the third solar panel support element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sealing the opening in an exposed upper surface of the upper vent member extension member by installing a gasket over the extension member and the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the extension member extends through the gasket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a lower vent member onto an opening of the roof deck, the lower vent member configured to allow airflow between a region below the roof deck and a region above the lower vent member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein installing the upper vent member comprises installing the upper vent member to be laterally offset with respect to the lower vent member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first solar panel support element comprises a base attached to the roof deck and an offsetting member positioned between the extension member and the base, wherein the offsetting member extends laterally from the base such that the extension member is laterally offset from the base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the upper vent member is configured to mimic the appearance of a roof cover element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the roof cover element is a flat roof tile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting a solar panel above the upper vent member by mounting the solar panel to the extension member of the first solar panel support element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: mounting one or more additional solar panel support elements to the roof deck, each of the one or more additional solar panel support element comprising an extension member extending away from the roof deck; and installing one or more additional upper vent members above the one or more additional solar panel supports element such that each extension members of the one or more additional solar panel support elements extends through an opening in an exposed upper surface of the one or more additional upper vent members, wherein the one or more additional upper vent members are configured to allow airflow between the region above the roof deck and a region above the upper vent members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising supporting one or more solar panels above the one or more additional upper vent members by mounting the one or more solar panels to the extension members of the one or more additional solar panel support elements. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising installing one or more lower vent members onto corresponding opening of the roof deck, the one or more lower vent members configured to allow airflow between a region below the roof deck and a region above the one or more lower vent members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more lower vent members are laterally offset relative to the one or more additional solar panel support elements.