# US 12,179,710 B2 · Roof attachment for rail-based solar racking system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,710 B2 - Document ID: US12179710B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/558,377 - Filed: 2023-03-27 - Published: 2024-07-11 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-28 - Assignees: EcoFasten Solar, LLC - Applicants: EcoFasten Solar, LLC - Inventors: Alexander Morano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179710B2 ## CPC - B60R 9/058: characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof - H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof 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 25/70: with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances - 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) - F24S 2025/6004: {by clipping, e.g. by using snap connectors} - F24S 2025/6006: {by using threaded elements, e.g. stud bolts} - F24S 2025/6008: {by using toothed elements} - F24S 2025/801: {having hollow parts with closed cross-section} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) ## Abstract A roof attachment device having a roof attachment bracket, a lag screw, a rail attachment bracket, and a rail. The roof attachment bracket having an elongated aperture and a first aperture; wherein the fastener extends through the first aperture and attaches the roof attachment bracket to the roof. The rail attachment bracket comprising a rail connecting member having a second aperture, a third aperture, and an access port; a first bolt coupling the roof attachment bracket to the rail connecting member; wherein the access port and first aperture are aligned to allow the lag screw to extend through the first aperture; an outside clamping member having a fourth aperture; and a second bolt extending through the fourth and third apertures coupling the outside clamping member and the rail connecting member together; and a resilient clip loosely connecting the outside clamping member and the rail connecting member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roof attachment device comprising: a roof attachment bracket having an upright portion and an elongated aperture; a rail attachment bracket comprising a rail connecting member having a second aperture on a first wall, a third aperture on a second wall, a bottom portion, and an access port, the first wall comprises a first shelf, a first retaining tooth and a first recess therebetween; a clamping member having a fourth aperture; and a second bolt connecting the rail connecting member and the clamping member; and a first bolt coupling the upright portion to the rail attachment bracket; wherein the first bolt and the second bolt are aligned. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roof attachment device of claim 1, wherein the roof attachment bracket has a serrated portion that couples to the rail connecting member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The roof attachment device of claim 1, wherein the rail connecting member has a serrated portion that couples to the roof attachment bracket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roof attachment device of claim 1, wherein the rail attachment bracket further comprises a clip which couples the rail connecting member to the clamping member, the clip having a center aperture to allow the second bolt to pass through the clip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The roof attachment device of claim 1, wherein the clip creates an audible sound by urging the rail connecting member and the clamping member against each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roof attachment device of claim 1, wherein the clamping member includes a third wall and an extending arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The clamping member of claim 6, wherein the third wall has a second shelf, a second retaining tooth and a second recess therebetween. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rail connecting member of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion defines a shaped recess configured to receive the extending arm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method of installing a rail to the roof attachment device of claim 1, comprising: pushing the rail in a downward direction towards the rail connecting member, the rail connecting member having a second aperture on a first wall, a third aperture on a second wall, a bottom portion, and an access port, the first wall comprises a first shelf, a first retaining tooth and a first recess therebetween; contacting a bottom portion of the rail with the retaining tooth of the rail connecting member and the end clamp; applying a downward directional force to the rail to cause the lateral distance between the first and second rail attachment teeth to increase until the flanges of the rail pass the attachment teeth downward; and tightening at least one of the first bolt or the second bolt to releasably fix the rail to the rail connecting member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of installing a rail to the roof attachment device of claim 9, further comprising angling the rail such that one of the rail flanges contacts the retaining teeth of the rail connecting member or the end clamp before the other rail flange. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of installing a rail to the roof attachment device of claim 9, further comprising loosening at least one of the first bolt or the second bolt, the first bolt coupling the upright portion to the rail attachment bracket; wherein the first bolt and the second bolt are aligned.