Photovoltaic tiles, roofing system, and method of constructing roof
AssigneeAstroPower, Inc.
InventorStephen Ressler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There are provided photovoltaic tiles (each containing at least one photovoltaic cell) which can be readily integrated into a roof structure constructed of standard roofing materials. The photovoltaic tiles have frames which hold photovoltaic elements, the frames having end portions which are engageable with opposite end portions of similarly-shaped photovoltaic tiles and/or with end portions of standard roofing tiles, and/or which are shaped similar to shapes of end portions of standard roofing tiles. There are also provided roofing systems including standard roofing tiles and such photovoltaic tiles. There are also provided methods of constructing a roof using such a roofing system.
Claims20
A photovoltaic tile, comprising:
- at least one photovoltaic element having at least one photovoltaic collection surface;
- and
- a frame holding said at least one photovoltaic element such that said at least one photovoltaic element is substantially held in place relative to said frame,
- said frame comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion being of a shape which is engageable with a shape of said second end portion.
A photovoltaic tile, comprising:
- at least one photovoltaic element having at least one photovoltaic collection surface;
- and
- a frame holding said at least one photovoltaic element such that said at least one photovoltaic element is substantially held in place relative to said frame,
- said frame comprising a first end portion having a shape which is engageable with at least a first side portion of a standard roofing tile.
A photovoltaic tile, comprising:
- at least one photovoltaic element having at least one photovoltaic collection surface;
- and
- a frame holding said at least one photovoltaic element such that said at least one photovoltaic element is substantially held in place relative to said frame,
- said frame comprising a first end portion having a shape which is similar to at least a shape of a first side portion of a standard roofing tile.
A method of constructing a roof, comprising:
- positioning at least one roofing tile on a roof surface, said at least one roofing tile having a first side portion;
- and
- positioning at least a first photovoltaic tile on said roof surface, said first photovoltaic tile comprising a first photovoltaic element and a first frame, said first frame holding said first photovoltaic element such that said first photovoltaic element is substantially held in place relative to said first frame, said first frame comprising a first end portion, such that said first end portion of said first frame is engaged with said first side portion of said at least one roofing tile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.