# US 12,224,702 B2 · Solar panel racking system and devices for the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,702 B2 - Document ID: US12224702B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/648,439 - Filed: 2024-04-28 - Published: 2024-08-22 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - 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/US12224702B2 ## 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 system for mounting a solar panel to a roof, comprising: an L-foot assembly securable to the roof; an L-foot adapter assembly including an L-foot adapter body secured to the L-foot assembly; a rail including opposing outside-facing surfaces, the opposing outside-facing surfaces of the rail are snapped onto the L-foot adapter body; a panel clamp snapped onto the opposing outside-facing surfaces of the rail; and the panel clamp is structured to secure the solar panel to the rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the L-foot adapter body includes a pair of L-foot adapter sides, the L-foot adapter sides are snapped over the opposing outside-facing surfaces of the rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein: the panel clamp includes a pair of clamp body arms that clamp over the opposing outside-facing surfaces of the rail. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the panel clamp includes a pair of clamp body arms that clamp over the opposing outside-facing surfaces of the rail. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the opposing outside-facing surfaces of the rail include a first outside-facing surface with a first lower detented portion and a second outside-facing surface with a second lower detented portion; the L-foot adapter body includes a first L-foot adapter side with a first clamping portion and a second L-foot adapter side with a second clamping portion; and the first lower detented portion is snapped onto the first clamping portion and the second lower detented portion is snapped onto the second clamping portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein: the panel clamp includes a clamp body, the clamp body includes a first clamp body arm with a third clamping portion and a second clamp body arm with a fourth clamping portion; the first outside-facing surface of the rail includes a first upper detented portion and the second outside-facing surface of the rail includes a second upper detented portion; and the third clamping portion is snapped into the first upper detented portion and the fourth clamping portion is snapped into the second upper detented portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the panel clamp is structured to press against to a top of a frame of the solar panel and press the solar panel against the rail. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the panel clamp is structured to press against a return flange of the solar panel and press the return flange against the rail. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the L-foot adapter body comprises a one-piece body and includes a first L-foot adapter side positioned that engages the L-foot assembly and a second L-foot adapter side positioned away from the L-foot assembly; and the first L-foot adapter side is thinner and more flexible than the second L-foot adapter side. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a bonding block attached to the panel clamp and a bonding pin positioned partially within the bonding block; and the panel clamp, the bonding block, and the bonding pin are structured to electrically bond a return flange of the solar panel to the rail. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein: the rail includes a top and a rail slot extending lengthwise along the top; and the bonding block is positioned within the rail slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein: the panel clamp includes a pair of clamp body arms and the bonding block is positioned between the pair of clamp body arms.