Roof member and mounting method thereof

A roof member comprising:

• a roof panel including a solar cell and a metal reinforcing member;
• a conductive member, with a plurality of said roof panels placed adjacent to said conductive member, said conductive member comprising a metal sheet mounted on a wood member and being electrically connected with said metal reinforcing members, and said conductive member being electrically grounded;
• and
• a retaining clip, at least a part of which has an electrically conductive property, said metal reinforcing member and said conductive member are made electrically conductive through said retaining clip, wherein said retaining clip is fixed to said metal sheet, wherein
• said retaining clip is a metal retaining clip, said metal retaining clip having an engaging portion of a hook shape for retaining said metal reinforcing member, a fixing portion to be fixed to a roof substrate, and a mating portion to which a metal screw is attached,
• wherein a part including said metal reinforcing member is sandwiched between the engaging portion of said retaining clip and said roof substrate, said retailing clip is fixed to said roof substrate in the fixing portion, the tip of said metal screw attached to said retaining clip is in a state of firm contact with said metal reinforcing member, and said metal reinforcing member and said retaining clip are made electrically conductive through said metal screw.

A method of mounting a roof member having a roof panel with a solar cell and a metal reinforcing member, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a conductive member on a roof substrate;
• mounting the roof panel on the conductive member;
• making the conductive member electrically conductive to the metal reinforcing member by using a retaining clip, with the conductive member comprising a metal sheet mounted on a wood member, a part of which is electrically conductive;
• electrically grounding the conductive member;
• and
• fixing the retaining clip to the metal sheet, wherein
• the retaining clip is a metal retaining clip, the metal retaining clip having an engaging portion of a hook shape for retaining the roof member, a fixing portion to be fixed to a roof substrate, and a mating portion to which a metal screw is attached,
• wherein a part including the metal reinforcing member is sandwiched between the engaging portion of the retaining clip and the roof substrate, and the retailing clip is fixed to the roof substrate in the fixing portion so that the tip of the metal screw attached to the retaining clip is in a state of firm contact with the metal reinforcing member, wherein the metal reinforcing member and the retaining clip are made electrically conductive through the metal screw.

A method of mounting a roof member having a roof panel with a solar cell and metal reinforcing member, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of the roof panels adjacent to at least one common conductive member;
• electrically connecting the conductive member with the metal reinforcing members;
• electrically grounding the conductive member;
• making the metal reinforcing member and the conductive member electrically conductive through a retaining clip, with the conductive member being a metal sheet mounted on a wood member, a part of which has an electrically conductive property;
• and
• fixing the retaining clip to the metal sheet, wherein
• the retaining clip is a metal retaining clip, the metal retaining clip having an engaging portion of a hook shape for retaining the metal reinforcing member, a fixing portion to be fixed to a roof substrate, and a mating portion to which a metal screw is attached,
• wherein a part including the metal reinforcing member is sandwiched between the engaging portion of the retaining clip and the roof substrate, the retaining clip is fixed to the roof substrate in the fixing portion, the tip of the metal screw attached to the retaining clip is in a state of firm contact with the metal reinforcing member, and the metal reinforcing member and the retaining clip are made electrically conductive through the metal screw.

A roof member comprising:

• a roof panel including a solar cell and a metal reinforcing member;
• a conductive member supporting said metal reinforcing member, with said conductive member being electrically connected with said metal reinforcing member, and said conductive member being electrically grounded;
• and
• a retaining clip, at least a part of which has an electrically conductive property, making said metal reinforcing member and said conductive member electrically conductive, wherein
• said retaining clip is a metal retaining clip, said metal retaining clip having an engaging portion of a hook shape for retaining said metal reinforcing member, a fixing portion to be fixed to a roof substrate, and a mating portion to which a metal screw is attached, and
• wherein a part including said metal reinforcing member is sandwiched between the engaging portion of said retaining clip and said roof substrate, said retaining clip is fixed to said roof substrate in the fixing portion, and a tip of said metal screw attached to said retaining clip is in contact with the surface of said metal reinforcing member such that said metal reinforcing member and said retaining clip are made electrically conductive through said metal screw.

A method of mounting a roof member having a roof panel with a solar cell and a metal reinforcing member, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a conductive member on a roof substrate;
• mounting the roof panel on the conductive member;
• making the conductive member electrically conductive to the metal reinforcing member by using a retaining clip, a part of which is electrically conductive;
• and
• electrically grounding the conductive member, wherein
• the retaining clip is a metal retaining clip, the metal retaining clip having an engaging portion of a hook shape for retaining the roof member, a fixing portion to be fixed to a roof substrate, and a mating portion to which a metal screw is attached,
• wherein a part including the metal reinforcing member is sandwiched between the engaging portion of the retaining clip and the roof substrate, the retaining clip is fixed to the roof substrate in the fixing portion, and a tip of the metal screw attached to the retaining clip is in contact with the surface of the metal reinforcing member,
• wherein the metal reinforcing member and the retaining clip are made electrically conductive through the metal screw.