# US 12,603,604 B2 · Solar module mount

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- Number: US 12,603,604 B2
- Document ID: US12603604B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/369,624
- Filed: 2023-09-18
- Published: 2024-03-21
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2022-09-16
- Assignees: Unirac, Inc.
- Applicants: Unirac Inc.
- Inventors: Jonathan Neal; Deepthi Gangumalla; Nikhil Babu P
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603604B2

## CPC

- H02S 30/10: Frame structures
- F16B 2/06: external, i.e. with contracting action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence)
- H02S 20/23: specially adapted for roof structures
- 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)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A clamping mechanism includes a body defining a first end, a second end, a module engagement component disposed proximate to the first end, and a clamp actuation component disposed proximate to the second end. The module engagement component engages a portion of a solar module frame. The clamping mechanism includes a rail engagement component that engages at least a portion of a rail to which the solar module frame couples. The clamping mechanism includes a fastener that engages the clamp actuation component for imparting movement to the module engagement component such that the module engagement component engages the portion of the solar module frame.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clamping mechanism to secure a solar module frame to a mounting rail, the clamping mechanism comprising:
a body including:
a module engagement component to engage the solar module frame,
a clamp actuation component having an interior surface, and
a rail engagement component having:
an end to engage the mounting rail, and
a socket including threads; and
a fastener including threads that engage with the threads of the socket, the fastener having a head on a first end and a surface on a second end opposite the head, the surface positioned to face and to abut the interior surface of the clamp actuation component,
wherein during actuation of the fastener the module engagement component rotates to engage the solar module frame and the rail engagement component translates to engage the mounting rail.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein:
the mounting rail includes a channel having a first flange and a second flange;
the end of the rail engagement component is engageable with the first flange and the second flange;
the clamp actuation component is at least partially disposed within the channel; and
the rail engagement component is at least partially disposed within the channel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein:
actuation of the fastener in a first direction threads the fastener into the socket; and
actuation of the fastener in the first direction translates:
the second end of the fastener in a second direction to engage the surface of the clamp actuation component and rotate the module engagement component in a third direction to engage the solar module frame, and
the first end of the rail engagement component in a fourth direction to engage the mounting rail.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The clamping mechanism of claim 3, wherein a portion of the rail engagement component is flexible during translation of the fastener in the second direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein the end of the rail engagement component includes one or more ribs for engaging with the mounting rail.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein the module engagement component includes one or more fasteners for engaging with the solar module frame.

### Claim 7

A clamping mechanism comprising:
a rail engagement component at least partially disposed within a channel of a rail, the rail engagement component including a socket;
a module engagement component to engage with a solar module frame of a solar module to couple the solar module to the rail;
a clamp actuation component to cause movement of the module engagement component to couple the solar module to the rail; and
a fastener threadingly engaged with the socket, wherein during rotation of the fastener, an end of the fastener engages with a surface of the clamp actuation component to cause movement of the module engagement component to secure the solar module to the rail, the end being disposed external to the clamp actuation component.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The clamping mechanism of claim 7, wherein:
the rail engagement component extends from the clamp actuation component; and
an end of the rail engagement component that engages with the rail includes a rib.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The clamping mechanism of claim 7, wherein:
the clamping mechanism includes a body that defines the clamp actuation component and the module engagement component; and
the body includes:
a first groove disposed on a first side of the body, the first groove being engageable with a first flange of the rail, and
a second groove disposed on a second side of the body that is opposite the first side, the second groove being engageable with a second flange of the rail.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The clamping mechanism of claim 7, wherein:
during rotation of the fastener, the fastener is movable in a first direction; and
movement of the fastener in the first direction is configured to:
rotate the module engagement component in a second direction to engage the solar module frame, and
move the rail engagement component in a third direction to engage the rail.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The clamping mechanism of claim 7, wherein:
a first end of the module engagement component electrically bonds with the solar module frame; and
a second end of the rail engagement component electrically bonds with the rail.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The clamping mechanism of claim 7, wherein:
a first body of the clamp actuation component includes the clamp actuation component and the module engagement component; and
a second body of the clamp actuation component includes the rail engagement component.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The clamping mechanism of claim 12, wherein the first body and the second body hingedly couple together.

### Claim 14

A clamping mechanism comprising:
a body defining:
a first end,
a second end,
a module engagement component disposed proximate to the first end, the module engagement component being engageable with a portion of a solar module frame, and
a clamp actuation component disposed proximate to the second end;
a rail engagement component integral with the body at a location between the first end and the second end, wherein a portion of the rail engagement component engages a rail to which the solar module frame is configured to couple; and
a fastener to engage the clamp actuation component for imparting movement to the module engagement component such that the module engagement component engages the portion of the solar module frame, the fastener having an end with a surface to engage a surface of the clamp actuation component at a position between the location and the second end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The clamping mechanism of claim 14, wherein the rail engagement component includes a socket in which the fastener is threadingly engaged.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The clamping mechanism of claim 14, wherein:
the clamping mechanism includes a second body that defines the rail engagement component; and
the body and the second body are hingedly coupled.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The clamping mechanism of claim 14, wherein:
the first end electrically bonds with the solar module frame; and
the rail engagement component includes a third end electrically bonds with the rail.

### Claim 18 (depends on 7)

The clamping mechanism of claim 7, wherein during rotation of the fastener, the rail engagement component moves into engagement with the rail.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The clamping mechanism of claim 14, wherein:
rotation of the fastener in a first direction causes the fastener to translate in a second direction; and
translation of the fastener in the second direction:
causes movement to the module engagement component in a third direction such that the module engagement component engages the portion of the solar module frame, and
causes movement to the rail engagement component in a fourth direction such that the rail engagement component engages the rail.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The clamping mechanism of claim 14, wherein the end of the fastener is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fastener.