# US 12,191,801 B2 · Stackable photovoltaic module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,801 B2 - Document ID: US12191801B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/323,839 - Filed: 2021-05-18 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-19 - Assignees: KaBa Holding GmbH - Applicants: KoBa Holding GmbH - Inventors: Rene Battistutti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191801B2 ## CPC - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - 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) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A stackable photovoltaic module including at least one photovoltaic element which is circumferentially surrounded by a frame. The frame has at least one projection and at least one recess which engage in one another when a first frame is arranged on a second frame. The frame consists of a plurality of frame elements which are connected by at least one connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stackable photovoltaic module comprising: at least one photovoltaic element; at least one frame surrounding a periphery of a respective one of the at least one photovoltaic element, the at least one frame having a first side and a second side, a plurality of projections being defined on the first side and a plurality of recesses being defined on the second side, the plurality of projections and the plurality of recesses surrounding the periphery of the at least one photovoltaic element and being located in a region of side edges of the photovoltaic element spaced from corner regions of the at least one frame, wherein each of the plurality of projections of a first one of the at least one frame is configured to engage a respective one of the plurality of recesses of a second one of the at least one frame when the first frame is arranged on the second frame, each of the plurality of projections and each of the plurality of recesses being configured such that each of the plurality of projections is held in a respective one of the plurality of recesses in a form-fitting manner, wherein each frame of the at least one frame consists of a plurality of frame elements which are connected to one another by at least one connector, the frame elements comprising hollow chamber profiles, and wherein a highest point of each of the plurality of frame elements is defined by one or more of the plurality of projections. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of frame elements consists of four frame elements which are connected in corner regions of the at least one frame by four connectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein each of the frame elements of the plurality of frame elements have a miter joint, and a plurality of the frame elements with the miter joints are disposed on at least one side of the photovoltaic module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connector is configured to be pressed into a respective one of the plurality of frame elements to produce an interlocking positive connection between the connector and the respective one of the plurality of frame elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein each of the hollow chamber profiles have at least one hollow chamber in which connection lines for the photovoltaic module are located. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of frame elements have a discharge opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of projections is arranged in alignment with a respective one of the plurality of recesses. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of frame elements have a U-shaped receiver for the at least one photovoltaic element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of frame elements have a base-side profile limb comprising a gripping surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections and the plurality of recesses are located exclusively in a region of side edges of the at least one photovoltaic element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of frame elements each have one miter joint, wherein two cut surfaces of adjoining ones of the plurality of frame elements abut one another and a gradual transition is thus produced between the adjoining ones of the plurality of frame elements. ### Claim 12 A stackable photovoltaic module comprising: at least two photovoltaic elements; at least two frames surrounding a periphery of a respective one of the at least two photovoltaic elements, each of the at least two frames having a first side and a second side, a plurality of projections being defined on the first side and a plurality of recesses defined on the second side, the plurality of projections and the plurality of recesses surrounding the periphery of the at least one photovoltaic element and being located in a region of side edges of the photovoltaic element spaced from corner regions of the at least one frame, wherein each of the plurality of projections of a first one of the at least two frames is configured to engage in a respective one of the plurality of recesses of a second one of the at least two frames when the first frame is arranged on the second frame, the plurality of projections and the plurality of recesses being configured such that each of the plurality of projections is held in a respective one of the plurality of recesses in a form-fitting manner, wherein each frame of the at least two frames consists of a plurality of frame elements which are connected to one another by at least one connector, the frame elements comprising hollow chamber profiles, and wherein a highest point of each of the plurality of frame elements is defined by one or more of the plurality of projections. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of frame elements consists of four frame elements which are connected in corner regions of the at least two frames by four connectors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein the each of the frame elements of the plurality of frame elements have a miter joint, and a plurality of the frame elements with the miter joints are disposed on at least one side of the photovoltaic module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein the at least one connector is configured to be pressed into a respective one of the plurality of frame elements to produce an interlocking positive connection between the connector and the respective one of the plurality of frame elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein each of the hollow chamber profiles has at least one hollow chamber in which connection lines for the photovoltaic module are located. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of frame elements has a discharge opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of projections is arranged in alignment with a respective one of the plurality of recesses. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of frame elements has a U-shaped receiver for the at least one photovoltaic element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of frame elements has a base-side profile limb comprising a gripping surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of projections and the plurality of recesses are located exclusively in a region of side edges of the at least one photovoltaic element. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of frame elements each have one miter joint, wherein two cut surfaces of adjoining ones of the plurality of frame elements abut one another and a gradual transition is thus produced between the adjoining ones of the plurality of frame elements. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 1, wherein the frame element comprises a profile limb on a bottom side of the frame element that extends toward a center of the photovoltaic element, the profile limb having on its bottom side a gripping surface configured for lifting of the photovoltaic module by hand. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The stackable photovoltaic module according to claim 12, wherein the frame element comprises a profile limb on a bottom side of the frame element that extends toward a center of the photovoltaic element, the profile limb having on its bottom side a gripping surface configured for lifting of the photovoltaic module by hand.