# US 11,909,350 B2 · Solar power system and support housing thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,350 B2 - Document ID: US11909350B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/984,172 - Filed: 2022-11-09 - Published: 2023-05-25 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-22 - Applicants: Chih-Ying Chen - Inventors: Chih-Ying Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909350B2 ## CPC - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - B60R 11/00: Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for - H02S 10/40: Mobile PV generator systems - H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes - H02S 40/38: Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules - B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle} - H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells - 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) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A support housing includes a housing body and a housing cover. The housing body defines an accommodating space and has an opening spatially communicated with the accommodating space. The housing cover includes a cover plate and a plurality of retaining mechanisms. The cover plate is connected to the housing body and operable to close and open the opening. The cover plate is adapted to support a solar power panel. The retaining mechanisms are connected to the cover plate and slidable in a first direction relative to the cover plate. The retaining mechanisms are spaced apart from one another in the first direction. Any two adjacent ones of the retaining mechanisms are movable toward and away from each other to adjust a distance therebetween so that the solar power panel is clamped therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support housing, comprising: a housing body defining an accommodating space and having at least one opening spatially communicated with said accommodating space; and at least one housing cover including a cover plate connected to said housing body and operable to close and open said at least one opening, said cover plate being adapted to support at least one solar power panel, and a plurality of retaining mechanisms connected to said cover plate and slidable in a first direction relative to said cover plate, said retaining mechanisms being spaced apart from one another in the first direction, any two adjacent ones of said retaining mechanisms being movable toward and away from each other to adjust a distance therebetween so that the at least one solar power panel is clamped therebetween. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover plate is elongated in the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The support housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said cover plate has a supporting surface adapted to support the at least one solar power panel, said supporting surface having an arcuate cross section in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and each of said retaining mechanisms includes a retaining bar that is slidably connected to said cover plate so as to retain the at least one solar power panel, said retaining bar being arcuate and elongated in the second direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The support housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said retaining mechanisms includes a retaining bar that is slidably connected to said cover plate and that is adapted to retain the at least one solar power panel, a first securing set to lock an end of said retaining bar on said cover plate, and a second securing set to lock an opposite end of said retaining bar on said cover plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The support housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said cover plate has a first lateral slot adapted to be engaged with a side of the at least one solar power panel, and a second lateral slot adapted to be engaged with an opposite side of the at least one solar power panel, said first and second lateral slots being spaced from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and said retaining bar has a bar body slidable within said second lateral slot, said bar body being elongated in the second direction, and having two engaging slots that are opposite to each other in the first direction and that are adapted to be engaged with two of the solar power panels, respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The support housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said cover plate further has a first guide rail defining said first lateral slot, and a second guide rail disposed adjacent to said second lateral slot; and said retaining bar further has a first sliding member that is connected to said bar body and that is slidably hung on said first guide rail, and a second sliding member that is connected to said bar body and that is slidably hung on said second guide rail. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The support housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said cover plate has a first guide rail and a second guide rail that are elongated in the first direction, said first and second guide rails being spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction; said retaining bar has a first sliding member slidably hung on said first guide rail, and a second sliding member slidably hung on said second guide rail, said first sliding member having a first pressing portion contacting said first guide rail, said second sliding member having a second pressing portion contacting said second guide rail; said first securing set includes a first holding block that abuts against said first guide rail, a first bolt that is movably inserted through said first holding block and that abuts against said first pressing portion, and a first nut that is threadedly connected to said first bolt and that abuts against a side of said first holding block distal from said first guide rail, said first nut being operably rotatable to drive movement of said first bolt until said first bolt locks said first pressing portion on said first guide rail; and said second securing set includes a second holding block that abuts against said second guide rail, a second bolt that is movably inserted through said second holding block and that abuts against said second pressing portion, and a second nut that is threadedly connected to said second bolt and that abuts against a side of said second holding block distal from said first guide rail, said second nut being operably rotatable to drive movement of said second bolt until said second bolt locks said second pressing portion on said second guide rail. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The support housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover plate further has two end slots that are spaced apart from each other in the first direction and that are spatially communicated with said first and second lateral slots, each of said end slots being adapted to be engageable with the at least one solar power panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The support housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said cover plate further has a supporting surface that is adapted to support the at least one solar power panel and that is spaced apart from said second guide rail; said second lateral slot is disposed between said supporting surface and said second guide rail; and said second guide rail includes a guide plate which is spaced apart from said supporting surface and on which said second sliding member is slidably hung, and a stop strip that projects from said guide plate toward said supporting surface, said stop strip being adapted to confine a junction box of the at least one solar power panel in said second lateral slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The support housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said at least one opening includes two openings; said at least one housing cover includes two housing covers, said housing covers being spaced apart from each other in the second direction and being pivotally connected to said housing body, each of said housing covers being rotatable relative to said housing body between a closed position, where a respective one of said openings is closed, and an open position, where the respective one of said openings is opened; said housing body includes two end plates disposed opposite to each other in the first direction; said cover plate of each of said housing covers includes two end frames disposed opposite to each other in the first direction, and a lateral wall connected between said end frames, said end frames being respectively connected to said end plates, said lateral wall having a wire management groove; said support housing further comprises a cap; and when each of said housing covers is in the closed position, lateral walls of cover plates of said housing covers are adjacent to each other, said end frames of said cover plates respectively cover said end plates, and said cap can be removably assembled to said end plates so as to cover said wire management grooves of said lateral walls. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A solar power system, comprising: a solar power apparatus including a control box, a rechargeable battery, and at least one solar power panel unit, said at least one solar power panel unit including a plurality of solar power panels; and the support housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one solar power panel includes the plurality of solar power panels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The solar power system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cover plate is elongated in the first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The solar power system as claimed in claim 12, wherein: each of said solar power panels is a flexible solar panel; said cover plate has a supporting surface supporting the solar power panels, said supporting surface having an arcuate cross section in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and each of said retaining mechanisms includes a retaining bar that is slidably connected to said cover plate so as to retain two adjacent ones of said power solar power panels, said retaining bar being arcuate and elongated in the second direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The solar power system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said retaining mechanisms includes a retaining bar that is slidably connected to said cover plate to retain two adjacent ones of said solar power panels, a first securing set to lock an end of said retaining bar on said cover plate, and a second securing set to lock an opposite end of said retaining bar on said cover plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The solar power system as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said cover plate has a first lateral slot engaged with said solar power panels, and a second lateral slot engaged with said solar power panels, said first and second lateral slots being spaced from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and said retaining bar has a bar body slidable within said second lateral slot, said bar body being elongated in the second direction, and having two engaging slots that are opposite to each other in the first direction, each of said engaging slots being engaged with a corresponding one of said solar power panels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The solar power system as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said cover plate further has a first guide rail defining said first lateral slot, and a second guide rail disposed adjacent to said second lateral slot; and said retaining bar further has a first sliding member that is connected to said bar body and that is slidably hung on said first guide rail, and a second sliding member that is connected to said bar body and that is slidably hung on said second guide rail. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The solar power system as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said cover plate has a first guide rail and a second guide rail that are elongated in the first direction, said first and second guide rails being spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction; said retaining bar has a first sliding member slidably hung on said first guide rail, and a second sliding member slidably hung on said second guide rail, said first sliding member having a first pressing portion contacting said first guide rail, said second sliding member having a second pressing portion contacting said second guide rail; said first securing set includes a first holding block that abuts against said first guide rail, a first bolt that is movably inserted through said first holding block and that abuts against said first pressing portion, and a first nut that is threadedly connected to said first bolt and that abuts against a side of said first holding block distal from said first guide rail, said first nut being operably rotatable to drive movement of said first bolt until said first bolt locks said first pressing portion on said first guide rail; and said second securing set includes a second holding block that abuts against said second guide rail, a second bolt that is movably inserted through said second holding block and that abuts against said second pressing portion, and a second nut that is threadedly connected to said second bolt and that abuts against a side of said second holding block distal from said first guide rail, said second nut being operably rotatable to drive movement of said second bolt until said second bolt locks said second pressing portion on said second guide rail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The solar power system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said cover plate further has two end slots that are spaced apart from each other in the first direction and that are spatially communicated with said first and second lateral slots, each of said end slots being engageable with a corresponding one of the solar power panels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The solar power system as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said cover plate further has a supporting surface that supports said solar power panels and that is spaced apart from said second guide rail; said second lateral slot is disposed between said supporting surface and said second guide rail; said second guide rail includes a guide plate which is spaced apart from said supporting surface and on which said second sliding member is slidably hung, and a stop strip that projects from said guide plate toward said supporting surface; and each of said solar power panels has a junction box that is disposed in said second lateral slot and that is confined in said second lateral slot by said stop strip. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The solar power system as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said solar power apparatus includes two solar power panel units; said at least one opening includes two openings; said at least one housing cover includes two housing covers respectively supporting said solar power panel units, said housing covers being spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction and being pivotally connected to said housing body, each of said housing covers being rotatable relative to said housing body between a closed position, where a respective one of said openings is closed, and an open position, where the respective one of said openings is opened; said housing body includes two end plates disposed opposite to each other in the first direction; said cover plate of each of said housing covers includes two end frames disposed opposite to each other in the first direction, and a lateral wall connected between said end frames, said end frames being respectively connected to said end plates, said lateral wall having a wire management groove; said support housing further includes a cap; and when each of said housing covers is in the closed position, lateral walls of cover plates of said housing covers are adjacent to each other, said end frames of said cover plates respectively cover said end plates, and said cap can be removably assembled to said end plates so as to cover said wire management grooves of said lateral walls.