# US 12,009,778 B2 · Solar panel racking system and devices for the same

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- Number: US 12,009,778 B2
- Document ID: US12009778B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/474,897
- Filed: 2023-09-26
- Published: 2024-01-18
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-05-14
- Assignees: Sunmodo Corporation
- Applicants: Sunmodo Corporation
- Inventors: Roland Jasmin; Jun Liu; Steve Mumma; Boutros Abou Chacra
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009778B2

## CPC

- H02S 30/00: Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion (semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H10F10/00, H10F19/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00)
- H02S 30/10: Frame structures
- F16B 2/06: external, i.e. with contracting action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence)
- F16B 2/12: using sliding jaws
- F16B 5/0233: {allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates}
- F24S 25/35: by means of profiles with a cross-section defining separate supporting portions for adjacent modules
- F16B 2/02: Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
- F16B 2/065: {using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence)}
- F16B 2/10: using pivoting jaws
- F16B 5/0635: {fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates}
- F16B 7/0413: {for tubes using the innerside thereof (F16B7/025 takes precedence)}
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal
- 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 solar panel racking system that can include end clamps, mid clamps, bottom clamps, L-foot adapter assemblies, rails, and L-foot assemblies. The solar panel racking system minimizes the use of tools by snapping many of the mounting components in place. The end clamps, mid clamps, and bottom clamps can snap over the rail sides and lock into upper detented portions of the rail sides. The upper detented portions are structured to prevent upward movement of the end clamps, mid clamps, and bottom clamps. The L-foot adapter body of the L-foot adapter assembly snaps over lower detented portions of rail sides and secures the rail to an L-foot assembly. The end clamps, mid clamps, bottom clamps, rails, and L-foot adapter assemblies are independent of the L-foot assembly, allowing a selection of L-foot assemblies to be used as appropriate with the solar panel racking system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of mounting a solar panel to a roof, comprising:
securing an L-foot to the roof;
securing an L-foot adapter to the L-foot;
snapping on outside-facing surfaces of a rail to the L-foot adapter;
snapping on a panel clamp to the outside-facing surfaces of the rail; and
securing the panel clamp to the solar panel and the solar panel to the rail.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
snapping on the outside-facing surfaces of the rail to the L-foot adapter comprises snapping on lower detented portions of the outside-facing surfaces of the rail to first clamping portions located on L-foot adapter sides.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein:
snapping on the panel clamp to the outside-facing surfaces of the rail comprises snapping on second clamping portions located on clamp body arms of the panel clamp, to upper detented portions of the outside-facing surfaces of the rail.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
securing the panel clamp to the solar panel and the solar panel to the rail comprises securing the panel clamp to a frame of the solar panel and clamping a return flange of the solar panel against the rail.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
securing the panel clamp to the solar panel and the solar panel to the rail comprises securing the panel clamp to a return flange of the solar panel and clamping the return flange of the solar panel against the rail.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
electrically bonding the solar panel to the rail by securing the panel clamp to a frame of the solar panel, which presses a bonding pin positioned within to a bonding block attached to the panel clamp against the rail and against a return flange of the solar panel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the L-foot adapter comprises a one-piece body and snapping on outside-facing surfaces of a rail to the L-foot adapter comprises flexing a first L-foot adapter side of the one-piece body positioned adjacent to the L-foot while a second L-foot adapter side of the one-piece body located opposite the first L-foot adapter side remains stationary.

### Claim 8

A method of mounting a solar panel to a roof, comprising:
clamping the solar panel to a rail by adjustably clamping a clamping member to a clamp body of a panel clamp to a top of the solar panel, snapping clamp body arms of the clamp body against to outside-facing surfaces of the rail, and inserting a bonding block attached to the clamp body between the clamp body arms into a rail slot positioned lengthwise along a rail top of the rail.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
securing an L-foot to the roof, securing an L-foot adapter to the L-foot, and snapping on the outside-facing surfaces of the rail to the L-foot adapter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein:
adjustably clamping the clamping member to the clamp body electrically bonds the solar panel to the rail by pressing a bonding pin positioned within the bonding block to the solar panel and the rail.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
securing an L-foot to the roof, securing an L-foot adapter to the L-foot, and snapping on the outside-facing surfaces of the rail to the L-foot adapter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein:
the L-foot adapter comprises a one-piece body and snapping on outside-facing surfaces of a rail to the L-foot adapter comprises flexing a first L-foot adapter side of the one-piece body positioned adjacent to the L-foot while a second L-foot adapter side of the one-piece body located opposite the first L-foot adapter side remains stationary.