Method and apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic roofing material

A method for assembling a traversable cradle assembly for use with an extending eave edge of a roof, said cradle assembly applying an elongated web of photovoltaic material upon the roof and comprising the steps of:

• providing a spool upon which is wound the web of photovoltaic material;
• providing a cradle to which is rotatably secured said spool;
• affixing said cradle to the eave edge of the roof so as to be movable therealong;
• drawing a first length of said web of material from said spool and onto the roof;
• sectioning said first length and affixing the same to the roof;
• traversing said cradle along the eave edge to a further location;
• and
• drawing a second length of said web of material from said spool and onto the roof in a partially overlapping manner relative to said first length.

A photovoltaic roofing material, comprising:

• a first and a second elongated, substantially thin, and flexible web of material, each web including a generally central photovoltaic area encapsulated within a polymeric material, said polymeric material including both side and end extending polymeric edges which project beyond said photovoltaic area;
• a pair of contact terminals extending from a selected end of each flexible web and establishing electrical communication with the respective photovoltaic area;
• wherein a polymeric edge of the first web is disposed in a substantially overlapping relationship with a polymeric edge of said second web;
• and
• an elongated clamping strip defining, in cross section, a substantially flattened central area with first and second extending and arcuately configured ends, said clamping strip being engaged over said overlapping edges of said first and second webs.