# US 12,003,206 B2 · Rail-based solar panel mounting system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,206 B2 - Document ID: US12003206B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/266,406 - Filed: 2022-08-24 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-24 - Assignees: IronRidge, Inc. - Applicants: IronRidge, Inc. - Inventors: Roger Pedlar; Bryan Lester; Anumeha Justice; Duane Menton; Joe Greer; Alexander Parsley; Jordan Wensley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003206B2 ## CPC - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures - F16B 2/14: using wedges - F16B 7/044: {for rods or tubes being in angled relationship} - F24S 25/30: using elongate rigid mounting elements extending substantially along the supporting surface, e.g. for covering buildings with solar heat collectors (extending in directions away from the supporting surface F24S25/10; peripheral frames for modules F24S25/20) - F24S 25/33: forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles - F24S 25/40: using plate-like mounting elements, e.g. profiled or corrugated plates; Plate-like module frames (extending in directions away from a supporting surface F24S25/10) - F24S 25/632: Side connectors; Base connectors - F24S 25/636: clamping by screw-threaded elements - F24S 25/65: for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together - F24S 25/35: by means of profiles with a cross-section defining separate supporting portions for adjacent modules - F24S 25/634: Clamps; Clips - F24S 2025/6003: {by clamping} - F24S 2025/6006: {by using threaded elements, e.g. stud bolts} - F24S 2025/801: {having hollow parts with closed cross-section} - F24S 2025/804: {U-, C- or O-shaped; Hat profiles} - 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) - 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 A rail-based solar panel mounting system including at least one mounting bracket coupled to a mounting surface and at least one elongated rail having an open channel configuration, wherein the at least one elongated rail is coupled to the at least one mounting bracket. The mounting system also includes at least one mid-clamp assembly couplable to the at least one elongated rail, wherein the at least one mid-clamp assembly is configured to retain at least one solar panel relative to the at least one elongated rail. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hidden end clamp assembly configured to secure a frame member of a solar panel module to a rail, the assembly comprising: a clamping body, wherein the clamping body comprises a top clamping portion having a lower clamping surface and a leg portion extending downwardly from the lower clamping surface at an acute angle, wherein a distal end portion of the leg portion comprises a base portion having at least one elongated opening formed therethrough; a nut member, wherein the nut member comprises a pair of flanges extending from a rear portion, wherein the pair of flanges are spaced apart so as to at least partially receive the base portion of clamping body, wherein the rear portion extends at an angle substantially equal to the acute angle of the leg portion of the clamping body, and further wherein the rear portion comprises a threaded opening formed therethrough; and a fastener member, wherein the fastener member comprises a drive head and a threaded shank, and wherein the threaded shank is configured to extend through the at least one elongated opening of the base portion and engage with the threaded opening of the rear portion of the nut member such that tightening of the fastener member causes the clamping body to move downward relative to the nut member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the top clamping portion further comprises one or more bonding portions extending from the lower clamping surface, wherein the bonding portions are formed of an electrically conducting material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more bonding portions comprise one or more sharp piercing points. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the clamping body comprises a pair of elongated openings formed therethrough. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member configured to be coupled to the clamping body and the nut member by the fastener member to support the clamping body relative to the nut member when the fastener member is in an untightened state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5, wherein the retaining member comprises a bottom retaining portion, a front extension, a rear extension, and a curved portion coupling the front extension and the rear extension, wherein the rear extension is configured to extend within the rear portion of the nut member such that the retaining member acts as a spring to urge the rear portion of the nut member away from the leg portion of the clamping body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, wherein the front extension comprises a front through-hole and the rear extension comprises a rear through-hole, wherein the front through-hole and the rear-through hole are sized and configured to receive the threaded shank of the fastener member therethrough so as to couple the retaining member to the clamping body and the nut member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the clamping body further comprises a pair of projecting side surfaces having respective sloping ledges and the flanges of the nut member comprise respective sloping flange bottom surfaces, further wherein the sloping flange bottom surfaces engage the sloping ledges when the fastening member is tightened. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pair of flanges of the nut member further comprise respective wing projections angled outwardly therefrom, wherein the wing projections are configured to provide a slidable interface between the nut member and a pair of elongated recesses of the rail. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein each wing projection comprises at least one piercing projection extend from an upper portion of a notch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the clamping body further comprises a front face, wherein a surface plane of the front face is parallel to the angled leg portion of the clamping body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the top clamping portion of the clamping body comprises a plurality of parallel ribs to form a textured surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the clamping body further comprises a barb connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, further comprising a tether, wherein the tether is configured to be coupled to the barb connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14, wherein the tether comprises a pulling end portion, an elongated central portion, and a coupling end portion, wherein the coupling end portion comprises an opening sized and configured to surround the barb connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the clamp body, the nut member, and the fastener member are formed of an electrically conducting material. ### Claim 17 A hidden end clamp assembly configured to secure a frame member of a solar panel module to a rail, the assembly comprising: a clamping body, wherein the clamping body comprises a top clamping portion having a lower clamping surface and a leg portion extending downwardly from the lower clamping surface at an acute angle, wherein a distal end portion of the leg portion comprises a base portion having at least one elongated opening formed therethrough; a nut member, wherein the nut member comprises a pair of flanges extending from a rear portion, wherein the pair of flanges are spaced apart so as to at least partially receive the base portion of clamping body, wherein the rear portion extends at an angle substantially parallel to the leg portion of the clamping body, and further wherein the rear portion comprises a threaded opening formed therethrough; and a fastener member, comprises a drive head and a threaded shank, the threaded shank through the at least one elongated opening of the base portion wherein a longitudinal axis of the threaded shank is nonparallel to the rail, and engage with the threaded opening of the rear portion of the nut member such that tightening of the fastener member causes the clamping body to move downward relative to the nut member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly of claim 17, a retaining member positioned at least partially between the clamping body and the nut member and configured to support the clamping body relative to the nut member wherein the retaining member comprises a bottom retaining portion, a front extension, a rear extension, and a curved portion coupling the front extension and the rear extension, wherein the rear extension is configured to extend within the rear portion of the nut member such that the retaining member acts as a spring to urge the rear portion of the nut member away from the leg portion of the clamping body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The assembly of claim 17, wherein the clamping body comprises a barb connector extending from a surface thereof; and a tether, wherein the tether is configured to be couplable to the barb connector of the base portion of the clamping body to allow the assembly to be selectively positioned along the rail such that the lower clamping portion of the clamping body extends at least partially over the frame member of the solar panel module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The assembly of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal axis of the threaded shank extends in a direction through the rail.