# US 11,451,187 B2 · Systems and methods for solar panel mounting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,187 B2 - Document ID: US11451187B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/077,786 - Filed: 2020-10-22 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-19 - Applicants: Aaron Eriksson - Inventors: Aaron Eriksson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451187B2 ## CPC - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - F24S 25/37: forming coplanar grids comprising longitudinal and transversal profiles - 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 25/636: clamping by screw-threaded elements - F24S 25/65: for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together - F24S 25/67: for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames (for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63) - F24S 2020/11: {in the form of multiple rows and multiple columns, all solar modules being coplanar} - F24S 2025/021: {Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface} - F24S 2025/022: {Sealing means between support elements, e.g. overlapping arrangements; Gap closing arrangements} - F24S 2025/6005: {by screwed connection} - F24S 2025/804: {U-, C- or O-shaped; Hat profiles} - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - 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) - 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 Systems and methods for mounting solar panels include a curb assembly coupled to a top surface of a roof. An end of a solar panel rests on a portion of the assembly. An astragal is located with a portion of the astragal extending over the edge of the solar panel. A fastener is engaged through the astragal and the curb assembly such that a portion of the astragal contacts and compressively engages the top surface of the supported solar panel edge, whereby the solar panel is mounted to the roof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar panel mounting system, comprising: a curb assembly coupled to and extending upward from a top surface of a roof, wherein the curb assembly has a longitudinal length and a transverse inverted t-shape having a left side and a right side and comprising a lower horizontal flange portion and an upper stem portion extending upward centrally from the lower horizontal flange portion whereby a generally horizontal shelf surface is formed on each side of the curb assembly; an astragal comprising a horizontal portion and a rib projecting downward from the horizontal portion and having a lower end, the astragal located relative to the upper stem portion such that when an end of a solar panel is supported on one of the generally horizontal shelf surfaces a horizontal extension of the horizontal portion extends over a top surface of the end of the solar panel and the rib is interposed between the end of the solar panel and the upper stem portion; and a vertical fastener engaged through a portion of the astragal located over the upper stem portion and into a portion of the upper stem portion below such that the astragal horizontal extension contacts and compressively engages the top surface of the end of the solar panel, whereby the solar panel is mounted to the roof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar panel mounting system of claim 1, wherein the curb assembly comprises a plate having an outer surface forming the generally horizontal shelf surfaces and the upper stem portion, whereby an interior space is formed between the plate and the roof top surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, the curb assembly further comprising a foam filling that fills at least a portion of the interior space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, the curb assembly comprising a waterproof membrane skirt coupled to the curb assembly plate and interposed between the curb assembly plate and the roof top surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The solar panel mounting system of claim 4, wherein the waterproof membrane skirt extends past an edge of the plate on opposite sides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, wherein the plate is a steel plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The solar panel mounting system of claim 2, the plate further including a side extension located at each side of the curb assembly, each side extension of the plate extending generally horizontally outward from an edge of the plate located at that side of the curb assembly. ### Claim 8 A method for mounting a solar panel to a roof, comprising the steps of: coupling a curb assembly to a top surface of the roof, wherein the curb assembly has a longitudinal length and a transverse inverted t-shape having a left side and a right side and comprising a lower horizontal flange portion and an upper stem portion extending upward centrally from the lower horizontal flange portion, whereby a generally horizontal shelf surface is formed on each side of the curb assembly; supporting an end of a solar panel on one of the generally horizontal shelf surfaces; locating an astragal, comprising a horizontal portion and a rib projecting downward from the horizontal portion and having a lower end, relative to the upper stem portion of the curb assembly such that a horizontal extension of the astragal extends over a top surface of the end of the solar panel and the rib is interposed between the end of the solar panel and the upper stem portion; and engaging a vertical fastener through a portion of the astragal located over the upper stem portion and into the upper stem portion below such that the astragal horizontal extension contacts and compressively engages the top surface of the end of the solar panel, whereby the solar panel is mounted to the roof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method for mounting the solar panel to the roof of claim 8, wherein the curb assembly comprises a plate having an outer surface forming the generally horizontal shelf surfaces and the upper stem portion, whereby an interior space is formed between the plate and the roof top surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method for mounting the solar panel to the roof of claim 9, the curb assembly further comprising a foam filling that fills at least a portion of the interior space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method for mounting the solar panel to the roof of claim 9, the curb assembly comprising a waterproof membrane skirt coupled to the curb assembly plate and interposed between the curb assembly plate and the roof top surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for mounting the solar panel to the roof of claim 11, wherein the waterproof membrane skirt extends past an edge of the plate on each side. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method for mounting the solar panel to the roof of claim 9, wherein the plate is a steel plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method for mounting the solar panel to the roof of claim 9, the plate further including a side extension located at each side of the curb assembly, each side extension of the plate extending generally horizontally outward from an edge of the plate located at that side of the curb assembly.