# US 10,873,288 B2 · Pivot-fit frame, system and method for photovoltaic modules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,288 B2 - Document ID: US10873288B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/457,713 - Filed: 2017-03-13 - Published: 2017-06-29 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-02 - Assignees: SolarCity Corporation - Applicants: SolarCity Corporation - Inventors: Jack Raymond West; Tyrus Hawkes Hudson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873288B2 ## CPC - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - E04D 13/00: Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; {Protection against birds;} Roof drainage {; Sky-lights} (ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00) - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - F24S 25/20: Peripheral frames for modules - F24S 25/61: for fixing to the ground or to building structures - F24S 25/613: in the form of bent strips or assemblies of strips; Hook-like connectors; Connectors to be mounted between building-covering elements - F24S 25/67: for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames (for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63) - F24S 25/70: with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances - H02S 20/00: Supporting structures for PV modules - H02S 20/24: specially adapted for flat roofs - H02S 30/00: Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion (semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H10F10/00, H10F19/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00) - H10F 30/10: the devices being sensitive to infrared radiation, visible or ultraviolet radiation, and having no potential barriers, e.g. photoresistors - F24S 2025/02: {Ballasting means} - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - 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 system and apparatus are disclosed including PV modules having a frame allowing quick and easy assembling of the PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the PV modules may have a grooved frame where the groove is provided at an angle with respect to a planar surface of the modules. Various couplings may engage within the groove to assemble the PV modules into the PV array with a pivot-fit connection. Further examples of the present technology operate with PV modules having frames without grooves, or with PV modules where the frame is omitted altogether. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for mounting a photovoltaic module, comprising: a mounting rail for mounting configured to directly mount to a support structure, wherein the mounting rail includes an upward facing inner channel configured to face upwardly when directly mounted to the support structure; and a mounting bracket for mounting configured to mount to the inner channel of the mounting rail, the mounting bracket comprising: an L-shaped body having a first leg and a second leg meeting at an intersection; a coupling portion mounted on an end of the first leg of the L-shaped body, the coupling portion being dimensioned to connect the mounting bracket to a photovoltaic module; and a spring clip mounted on an end of the second leg of the L-shaped body and comprising a support surface and a pair of angled walls extending from opposite sides of the support surface, wherein the pair of angled walls is configured to initially flex inwardly from an original position while being installed within the inner channel of the mounting rail and to subsequently flex away from each other after being installed to snap into the inner channel of the mounting rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein opposite ends of the coupling portion are dimensioned to support front corners of two photovoltaic modules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the opposite ends of the coupling portion extend in a direction perpendicular to the second leg of the L-shaped body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the opposite ends of the coupling portion comprise cutting edges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a center portion of the L-shaped body comprises a rocking surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion comprises: (i) a support body, (ii) a wall extending upwardly from the support body, and (iii) outwardly angled flanges extending from opposite ends of the support body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the coupling portion is configured to support the photovoltaic module above the support structure such that a surface of a photovoltaic laminate of the photovoltaic module is disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the wall extending upwardly from the support body is configured to engage with a slot within a groove of a frame of the photovoltaic module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the outwardly angled flanges comprise upper and lower portions configured to engage with bearing surfaces of a groove of a frame of the photovoltaic module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the pair of angled walls of the spring clip comprise a first pair of angled walls, wherein the inner channel of the mounting rail is defined by a second pair of angled walls terminating in a pair of lips, and wherein the first pair of angled walls of the spring clip engage with the pair of lips so as to fix the mounting bracket to the mounting rail. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the first leg comprises an engaging portion configured to pierce the pair of lips of the mounting rail when the mounting bracket is installed into the mounting rail so as to mechanically couple and electrically ground bond the mounting bracket to the mounting rail. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the engaging portion comprises an angled tab with a pair of edges configured to pierce the pair of lips of the mounting rail when the mounting bracket is installed into the mounting rail. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting rail comprises a pair of essentially vertical walls defining the inner channel and a pair of essentially horizontal supporting walls extending inwardly from the vertical walls, and wherein a center portion of the mounting bracket comprises a rocking surface that engages with the horizontal supporting walls. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to pivot about the rocking surface into an installed position within the mounting rail. ### Claim 15 A photovoltaic array, the array comprising: at least two mounting rails mounted to a support structure, wherein each of the mounting rails includes an upward facing inner channel; at least two mounting brackets, each of the at least two mounting brackets mounted to the inner channel of a respective one of the at least two mounting rails, each mounting bracket comprising: an L-shaped body having a first leg and a second leg meeting at an intersection; a coupling portion mounted on an end of the first leg of the L-shaped body, the coupling portion comprising a support body, a wall extending upwardly from the support body that is configured to engage a slot within a groove of a frame of a photovoltaic module and outwardly angled flanges extending from opposite ends of the support body; and a spring clip mounted on an end of the second leg of the L-shaped body, wherein the spring clip flexes inwardly from an original position while being installed within the inner channel of the mounting rail and flexes back towards the original position after being installed to snap into the inner channel of the mounting rail; at least two coupling legs, each of the two coupling legs mounted to a respective one of the at least two mounting rails, the coupling legs each comprising an engaging portion; at least one photovoltaic module coupled to and supported by the coupling portions of the at least two mounting brackets and the engaging portions of the at least two coupling legs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The photovoltaic array of claim 15, wherein the coupling legs have a height greater than the mounting brackets so as to support the at least one photovoltaic module at a non-parallel angle with respect to the support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The photovoltaic array of claim 15, wherein each of the outwardly angled flanges comprise upper and lower portions configured to engage with bearing surfaces of a groove of a frame of the at least one photovoltaic module.