# US 12,003,205 B2 · Device and system for mounting solar panels to roofs and the like > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,205 B2 - Document ID: US12003205B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/806,487 - Filed: 2022-06-12 - Published: 2023-12-14 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-12 - Assignees: Sunmodo Corporation - Applicants: Sunmodo Corporation - Inventors: Roland Jasmin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003205B2 ## CPC - F24S 25/636: clamping by screw-threaded elements - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - F16B 2/14: using wedges - F24S 25/33: forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles - F24S 25/632: Side connectors; Base connectors - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - F24S 2025/6003: {by clamping} - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - 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 A device and system for mounting a solar panel return flange to a rail. The device can include a clamp body and a clamping mechanism. With the clamp body receiving the solar panel return flange and the rail, the clamping mechanism can press the rail upward against the return flange and secure the solar panel to the rail. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for securing a solar panel to a rail, comprising: a clamp body that includes a bottom, and a first side and a second side each extending upward from the bottom; a pair of slot-shaped openings that includes a first slot-shaped opening that is open on a first end and extends widthwise into the first side, and a second slot-shaped opening that is open on a second end and extends widthwise into the second side; a clamping mechanism at least partially positioned within the clamp body, the clamping mechanism includes a threaded fastener and a movable member made movable by the threaded fastener to selectively narrow a distance between a top portion of the clamping mechanism and the pair of slot-shaped openings; and the clamping mechanism includes first wedge secured to the clamp body with a portion of the threaded fastener passing through the first wedge, and a second wedge made movable up along the first wedge by threadedly engaging the threaded fastener to selectively narrow the distance between the top portion of the clamping mechanism and the pair of slot-shaped openings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: a portion of the threaded fastener enters the clamp body above the bottom and between the first side and the second side and engages the movable member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein: the threaded fastener threadedly engages the movable member to selectively narrow a distance between a top portion of the clamping mechanism and the pair of slot-shaped openings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the clamping mechanism includes a stationary member secured to the clamp body, positioned between the first side and the second side, and positioned above the bottom; and a portion of the threaded fastener passes through the stationary member and engages the movable member to selectively narrow the distance between the top portion of the clamping mechanism and the pair of slot-shaped openings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the clamp body includes a top positioned above the pair of slot-shaped openings; and the first side and the second side each extending downward from the top. ### Claim 6 A device for clamping a return flange of a solar panel to a rail, comprising: a clamp body that includes a bottom and a pair of sides extending upward from the bottom, the pair of sides includes a corresponding pair of slot-shaped openings sized and shaped to receive the return flange; a clamping mechanism at least partially positioned within the clamp body, the clamping mechanism includes a threaded fastener, and a movable member; the clamp body is sized and shaped to receive the rail below the pair of slot-shaped openings and above the clamping mechanism; and with the return flange being received by the slot-shaped openings and the rail being received by the clamp body, the movable member made movable by the threaded fastener selectively presses the rail upward against the return flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein: a portion of the threaded fastener enters the clamp body above the bottom and between the pair of sides and engages the movable member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein: the threaded fastener threadedly engages the movable member to selectively narrow a distance between a top portion of the clamping mechanism and the pair of slot-shaped openings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein: the clamping mechanism includes a stationary member secured to the clamp body, positioned between the pair of sides, and positioned above the bottom; and a portion of the threaded fastener passes through the stationary member, and engages the movable member to selectively press the rail upward against the return flange. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein: the clamping mechanism includes a first wedge held stationary within the clamp body and a portion of the threaded fastener passing through the first wedge, and a second wedge; and with the return flange being received by the slot-shaped openings and with the rail being received by the clamp body, the second wedge made movable along the first wedge by threadedly engaging the threaded fastener to selectively presses the rail upward against the return flange. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein: the clamp body includes a top positioned above the pair of slot-shaped openings; and the sides extending downward from the top. ### Claim 12 A system, comprising: a solar panel that includes a return flange; a rail; a solar panel bottom clamp that includes a clamp body and a clamping mechanism; the clamp body includes a bottom and a pair of sides extending upward from the bottom, the pair of sides includes a corresponding pair of slot-shaped openings sized and shaped to receive the return flange; the clamping mechanism is at least partially positioned within the clamp body and includes a threaded fastener and a movable member; and the clamp body receives the rail below the pair of slot-shaped openings and above the clamping mechanism, and the movable member made movable by the threaded fastener, selectively presses and secures the rail upward against the return flange. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: a portion of the threaded fastener enters the clamp body above the bottom and between the pair of sides and engages the movable member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein: the threaded fastener threadedly engages the movable member to selectively narrow a distance between a top portion of the clamping mechanism and the pair of slot-shaped openings. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the clamping mechanism includes a stationary member secured to the clamp body, positioned between the pair of sides, and positioned above the bottom; and a portion of the threaded fastener passes through the stationary member, and engages the movable member to selectively press the rail upward against the return flange. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the clamping mechanism includes a first wedge held stationary within the clamp body with a portion of the threaded fastener passing through the first wedge, and a second wedge made movable along the first wedge by threadedly engaging the threaded fastener to selectively press the rail upward against the return flange. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the clamp body includes a top positioned above the pair of slot-shaped openings; and the sides extending downward from the top.