# US 11,121,669 B2 · Roof mounting system

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- Number: US 11,121,669 B2
- Document ID: US11121669B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/673,433
- Filed: 2019-11-04
- Published: 2020-05-07
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-12
- Applicants: Ecofasten Solar, LLC
- Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns; Alexander Grant Bornemann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121669B2

## CPC

- H02S 20/24: specially adapted for flat roofs
- F16B 2/12: using sliding jaws
- F16B 5/0233: {allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates}
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- 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)
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- 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

In various embodiments, the mounting systems described herein may be configured to mount a solar panel array to a flat concrete roof like those found throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America. Other systems described herein may be configured to facilitate mounting structures on standing seam metals roofs. Still other systems described herein may be configured to facilitate mounting structures on composite shingle, slate, or tile roofs. The mounting systems described herein may be configured as rail-less or rails free roof mounting systems.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solar panel support system, comprising:
a body comprising,
a bearing surface defining a plurality of serrations extending in a first direction from a top surface of the body,
an attachment point that is a channel defined below and through the bearing surface, the attachment point defines a point that is disposed in the channel in a second direction, and
a mounting point defined through the body,
a fastener slidably installable in the channel defined by the attachment point; and
a clamp assembly slidably coupled to the body with the fastener,
the clamp assembly comprising,
a clamp having a first portion, a second portion and a spacer portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion,
a first bonding pin disposed in the first portion, and
a second bonding pin disposed in the second portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solar panel support system of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes at least one of a t-nut and a threaded rod or a bolt.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solar panel support system of claim 1,
wherein the first bonding pin engages a first frame of a first solar panel in response to the first solar panel being installed on the body, and
wherein the second bonding pin engages a second frame of a second solar panel in response to the second solar panel being installed on the body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The solar panel support system of claim 3, wherein the clamp assembly creates an interference fit between the plurality of serrations, the point, the first frame and the second frame in response to the first solar panel and the second solar panel being installed on the body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The solar panel support system of claim 1, wherein the fastener deforms the point during installation of a solar panel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The solar panel support system of claim 1, wherein the first bonding pin and the second bonding pin define an electrically conductive path through the clamp assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The solar panel support system of claim 1, further comprising a leveling assembly installable on the fastener between the body and the clamp assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The solar panel support system of claim 7, wherein the leveling assembly comprises a plate and a leveling element.

### Claim 9

A roof mount, comprising:
a body defining a mounting point and comprising an attachment point comprising a channel defined below and through a serrated bearing surface, the serrated bearing surface extending from a top surface of the body in a first direction,
a point defined along the channel of the attachment point, the point disposed in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a clamp assembly comprising a clamp and a fastener, the clamp assembly slidably coupled to the body via the attachment point,
wherein the fastener deforms the point in response to a solar panel being installed on the body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The roof mount of claim 9, wherein the clamp is stainless steel and comprises a tooth.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The roof mount of claim 9, wherein the clamp comprises a first portion, a second portion and a spacer portion, the spacer portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The roof mount of claim 11, wherein the clamp comprises a first bonding pin and a second bonding pin.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The roof mount of claim 12, wherein the first bonding pin is disposed in the first portion and the second bonding pin is disposed in the second portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The roof mount of claim 12,
wherein the first bonding pin engages a first frame of a first solar panel in response to the first solar panel being installed on the body, and
wherein the second bonding pin engages a second frame of a second solar panel in response to the second solar panel being installed on the body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The roof mount of claim 12, wherein the first bonding pin and the second bonding pin define an electrically conductive path through the clamp.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The roof mount of claim 9, wherein the clamp creates an interference fit between the serrated bearing surface, the point, a first frame and a second frame in response to a first solar panel and a second solar panel being installed on the body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The roof mount of claim 9, further comprising a leveling assembly installable on the fastener between the body and the clamp assembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The roof mount of claim 17, wherein the leveling assembly comprises a plate and a leveling element.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The roof mount of claim 18, wherein the leveling element is configured to adjust a position of the plate on the fastener.

### Claim 20

A roof mount, comprising:
a body defining a mounting point and comprising an attachment point comprising a channel defined below and through a serrated bearing surface, the serrated bearing surface extending from a top surface of the body in a first direction,
a point defined in the channel, the point disposed opposite the serrated bearing surface; and
a fastener installable on the body at the attachment point;
a leveling assembly comprising a leveling element and a plate, the leveling element installable on the fastener and configured to support and adjust a position of the plate; and
a clamp having a first portion, a second portion and a spacer portion, the spacer portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the clamp including at least one of a pin or a tooth in each of the first portion and the second portion, the clamp installable on the fastener,
wherein the fastener deforms the point in response to being secured to the body.
