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US 12,244,262 B2Granted
Capture and support mount for retaining installed solar panels
AssigneeSarcos Corp.
InventorFraser M. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar panel mount that retains a solar panel in an installed position. The solar panel mount can include a panel rest having a seating surface for the solar panel. The solar panel mount can further have a first support structure defining a first retaining channel positioned to receive a first edge of the solar panel in an installed position. The solar panel mount can further include second support structure defining a second retaining channel. The first and second retaining channels can be spatially positioned apart from each other at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first and second retaining channels are positioned to receive respective first and second edges of the solar panel to secure the solar panel in the installed position.
Claims51
A solar panel mount configured to receive and retain a solar panel in an installed position, the solar panel mount comprising:
- a panel rest comprising a seating surface for a lower surface of the solar panel;
- a first support structure defining, at least in part, a first retaining channel positioned at a first end of the panel rest to receive and retain a first edge of the solar panel in the installed position, the first support structure comprising:
- a back stop positioned adjacent to and extending away from the panel rest;
- an upper guide stop extending from the back stop at a first angle with respect to the back stop, the first angle comprising an insertion angle, which substantially corresponds to an angle at which the solar panel is inserted into the first support structure, and wherein the upper guide stop diverges from the panel rest as it extends from the backstop;
- a second support structure positioned offset from the first support structure and defining, at least in part, a second retaining channel, the first retaining channel comprising a different size than the second retaining channel;
- wherein the first retaining channel and the second retaining channel are spatially positioned apart from, and oriented relative to, one another at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first retaining channel is positioned to receive the first edge of the solar panel and the second retaining channel is positioned to receive a second edge of the solar panel opposite the first edge to secure the solar panel in the installed position.
3 more elements
A solar panel mount configured to receive and retain a solar panel in an installed position, the solar panel mount comprising:
- a panel rest comprising a seating surface for a lower surface of the solar panel in the installed position;
- a first support structure defining, at least in part, a first retaining channel positioned at a first end of the panel rest to receive and retain a first edge of the solar panel in an installed position, the first support structure comprising:
- a first guide stop extending from the panel rest at a first angle with respect to the panel rest, the first guide stop diverging from the panel rest as it extends from the panel rest;
- a second support structure positioned offset from the first support structure, and defining, at least in part, a second retaining channel, the first retaining channel comprising a size different than the second retaining channel;
- wherein the first retaining channel and the second retaining channel are spatially positioned apart from, and oriented relative to, one another at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first retaining channel is positioned to receive the first edge of the solar panel and the second retaining channel is positioned to receive a second edge of the solar panel opposite the first edge to secure the solar panel in the installed position.
2 more elements
A solar panel array frame system configured to hold a plurality of solar panels, the solar panel array frame system comprising:
- one or more solar panel mount supports configured to support one or more solar panel mounts on an installation surface;
- a plurality of solar panel mounts, each of the solar panel mounts comprising:
- a first support structure defining, at least in part, a first retaining channel positioned on the installation surface to receive and retain a first edge of the solar panel in the installed position, the first support structure comprising:
- a back stop positioned adjacent to and extending away from the installation surface;
- an upper guide stop extending from the back stop at a first angle with respect to the back stop, the first angle comprising an insertion angle, which substantially corresponds to an angle at which the solar panel is inserted into the first support structure, and wherein the upper guide stop diverges from the panel rest as it extends from the backstop;
- a second support structure positioned offset from the first support structure and defining, at least in part, a second retaining channel, the first retaining channel comprising a different size than the second retaining channel;
- wherein the first retaining channel and the second retaining channel of each of the plurality of solar panel mounts are spatially positioned apart from, and oriented relative to, one another at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first retaining channel is positioned to receive the first edge of the solar panel and the second retaining channel is positioned to receive a second edge of the solar panel opposite the first edge to secure the solar panel in the installed position.
4 more elements
A method of installing a solar panel in a solar panel mount comprising:
- inserting a first edge of the solar panel into a first retaining channel, the first retaining channel being defined, at least in part, by a first support structure comprising:
- an upper guide stop oriented at a first angle with respect to a panel rest comprising a seating surface for a lower surface of the solar panel in the installed position, the first angle comprising an insertion angle, which substantially corresponds to an angle at which the solar panel is inserted into the first support structure, and wherein the upper guide stop diverges from the panel rest;
- aligning the solar panel within the first support structure with the panel rest;
- aligning a second edge of the solar panel with a second support structure positioned offset from the first support structure, and defining, at least in part, a second retaining channel, the first retaining channel comprising a different size than the second retaining channel;
- and
- interfacing the second edge of the solar panel with the second support structure to retain the solar panel in the solar panel mount;
- wherein the first retaining channel and the second retaining channel are spatially positioned apart from, and oriented relative to, one another at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first retaining channel is positioned to receive the first edge of the solar panel and the second retaining channel is positioned to receive a second edge of the solar panel opposite the first edge to secure the solar panel in the installed position.
4 more elements
A method of configuring a solar panel mount comprising:
- configuring the solar panel mount to comprise a panel rest comprising a seating surface for a lower surface of the solar panel;
- configuring the solar panel mount to comprise a first support structure defining, at least in part, a first retaining channel positioned at a first end of the panel rest to receive and retain a first edge of the solar panel in an installed position;
- configuring the first support structure to comprise an upper guide stop oriented at a first angle with respect to the panel rest, the first angle comprising an insertion angle, which substantially corresponds to an angle at which the solar panel is inserted into the first support structure;
- configuring the upper guide stop to diverge from the panel rest;
- configuring the solar panel mount to comprise a second support structure positioned offset from the first support structure, and defining, at least in part, a second retaining channel, the first retaining channel comprising a different size than the second retaining channel;
- and
- configuring the first retaining channel and the second retaining channel to be spatially positioned apart from, and oriented relative to, one another at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first retaining channel is positioned to receive the first edge of the solar panel and the second retaining channel is positioned to receive a second edge of the solar panel opposite the first edge to secure the solar panel in the installed position.
4 more elements
A solar panel mount system comprising:
- at least one solar panel comprising a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, and a lower surface extending from the first edge to the second edge;
- at least one solar panel mount in support of the solar panel in an installed position within the solar panel mount, the solar panel mount comprising:
- a panel rest comprising a seating surface for the lower surface of the solar panel;
- a first support structure defining, at least in part, a first retaining channel positioned at a first end of the panel rest in support of the first edge of the solar panel in the installed position, the first support structure comprising:
- a back stop positioned adjacent to and extending away from the panel rest, the back stop having a height that is greater than the first edge of the solar panel;
- an upper guide stop extending from the back stop at a first angle with respect to the back stop, the first angle comprising an insertion angle, which substantially corresponds to an angle at which the solar panel is inserted into the first support structure, and wherein the upper guide stop diverges from the panel rest;
- a second support structure positioned offset from the first support structure and defining, at least in part, a second retaining channel in support of the second edge of the solar panel, the first retaining channel comprising a different size than the second retaining channel;
- wherein the first retaining channel and the second retaining channel are spatially positioned apart from, and oriented relative to, one another at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first retaining channel is positioned to receive the first edge of the solar panel and the second retaining channel is positioned to receive the second edge of the solar panel opposite the first edge to secure the solar panel in the installed position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.