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US 12,348,176 B2Granted
Systems and methods for solar panel mounting
OwnerAaron Erikssoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for mounting solar panels include a curb assembly coupled to a top surface of a roof. An end of a solar panel rests on a portion of the assembly. An astragal is located with a portion of the astragal extending over the edge of the solar panel. A fastener is engaged through the astragal and the curb assembly such that a portion of the astragal contacts and compressively engages the top surface of the supported solar panel edge, whereby the solar panel is mounted to the roof. Moreover, systems and methods cleaning solar panels of a solar panel system installed on an exterior surface are also described.
Claims20
A system for solar panel installation, comprising:
- an integral left panel configured for coupling onto a substantially planar surface and including a left panel first end, a left panel second end opposite to the left panel first end, and a left panel middle portion connecting the left panel first end and the left panel second end, the left panel first end comprising a first profile comprising a vertically symmetric shape and the left panel second end comprising a second profile comprising a vertically symmetric shape comprising a left engagement contour on a left side of the shape and a right engagement contour on a right side of the shape, wherein the first profile is different from the second profile;
- an integral right panel configured for coupling onto the substantially planar surface and including a right panel first end, a right panel second end opposite to the right panel first end, and a right panel middle portion connecting the right panel first end and the second panel second end, the right panel first end comprising the first profile and the right panel second end comprising the second profile;
- wherein the left panel second end and the right panel first end are configured for the second profile of the left panel second end to snap-lock over the first profile of the right panel first end to form a continuous panel joint projecting outward from the substantially planar surface, wherein the left engagement contour is configured to interlock with a contoured end of a frame of a left solar panel module spanning over at least a portion of the left panel and the right engagement contour is configured to interlock with a contoured end of a frame of a right solar panel module spanning over at least a portion of the right panel.
A method for solar panel installation, comprising;
- coupling an integral left panel to a substantially planar surface, the left panel including a left panel first end, a left panel second end opposite to the left panel first end, and a left panel middle portion connecting the left panel first end and the left panel second end, the left panel first end comprising a first profile comprising a vertically symmetric shape and the left panel second end comprising a second profile comprising a vertically symmetric shape comprising a left engagement contour on a left side of the shape and a right engagement contour on a right side of the shape, wherein the first profile is different from the second profile;
- coupling an integral right panel to the substantially planar surface, the right panel including a right panel first end, a right panel second end opposite to the right panel first end, and a right panel middle portion connecting the right panel first end and the second panel second end, the right panel first end comprising the first profile and the right panel second end comprising the second profile;
- snap-locking the second profile of the left panel second end shape over the first profile of the right panel first end to form a continuous panel joint projecting outward from the substantially planar surface;
- interlocking a contoured edge of a frame of a left solar panel module with the left engagement contour such that the contoured edge of the frame of the left solar panel is coupled to the left engagement contour and the left solar panel module is spanning over at least a portion of the left panel;
- and
- interlocking a contoured edge of a frame of a right solar panel module with the right engagement contour such that the contoured edge of the frame of the right solar panel is coupled to the right engagement contour and the right solar panel module is spanning over at least a portion of the right panel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.