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US 12,763,716 B2Granted
Height adjustable solar panel mounting system
AssigneeUnirac, Inc.
InventorsSai Uppu, Todd Ganshaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar panel mounting system including a rail and a clip. When a first notch of the rail receives a portion of a rib of the rail, the clip is positioned on the rail to receive an end of a first solar panel having a first thickness, and when a second notch of the rail receives the portion of the rib, the clip is positioned on the rail to receive an end of a second solar panel having a second thickness different than the first thickness of the first solar panel.
Claims18
A clip comprising:
- an attachment portion having a connection side and a ledge side, the attachment portion to engage with a trim rail via the connection side, the attachment portion having a first dimension that extends in a first direction and a second dimension that extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
- a first ledge integrally formed with a first end of the attachment portion and extending away from the ledge side of the attachment portion in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, the first ledge being a spring ledge that reacts elastically when force is applied to a side surface thereof in the first direction;
- a second ledge integrally formed with a second end of the attachment portion and extending away from the second end in the third direction;
- a first notch having a depth extending into the connection side of the attachment portion in the third direction, the first notch being elongated along the connection side in the second direction;
- and
- a second notch spaced apart from the first notch, the second notch extending parallel to the first notch and across and into the connection side of the attachment portion.
3 more elements
A clip sized to receive an end of a solar panel, the clip comprising:
- a monolithic body including:
- a first side to attach to a solar panel support structure, the first side extending in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and
- a second side opposite the first side, the second side to support the end of the solar panel, the second side including:
- a first ledge extending from the second side in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, the first ledge protruding from a first end of the monolithic body, the first ledge including:
- a first section extending from the second side in the third direction along a first horizontal plane relative to the second side,
- a second section extending from the first section in a fourth direction transverse to the third direction, and
- a third section extending from the second section in the third direction along a second horizontal plane relative to the second side, wherein the second horizontal plane and the first horizontal plane are offset,
- a second ledge extending from the second side in the third direction, the second ledge protruding from a second end of the monolithic body that is opposite the first end thereof, the second ledge being separated from the first section of the first ledge at the second end by a first distance in the second direction, and
- an opening defined by the third section of the first ledge and the second ledge, the opening having a second distance in the second direction that is greater than the first distance.
6 more elements
A clip sized to receive an end of a solar panel, the clip comprising:
- a first ledge;
- a central body from which the first ledge protrudes;
- a plurality of parallel notches extending across the central body;
- a second ledge that protrudes from the central body with respect to the first ledge about a plane delineating the central body between the first ledge and the second ledge;
- a slotted aperture through a thickness direction of the central body;
- and
- a fastener slidably disposed through the slotted aperture,
- wherein the plurality of parallel notches are elongated in a direction transverse to a direction of elongation of the slotted aperture and on a side of the clip opposite to the first ledge and the second ledge.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.