Photovoltaic panel mounting bracket

A mounting bracket comprising:

• a bottom flange;
• an upright portion extending from the bottom flange and having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a top flange opposite the bottom flange, extending from the upright portion and having a downward facing inner surface configured to adjoin an upper surface of a photovoltaic module;
• an outward facing top extension projecting from and being perpendicular to the outer surface of the upright portion of the bracket;
• a first extension extending from the inner surface of the upright portion at a position between the top flange and the bottom flange and having a first surface that defines a first groove sized to accommodate an edge of the photovoltaic module with the downward facing inner surface of the top flange and a second surface opposed to the first surface;
• and
• a second extension adjacent to the first extension and extending from the inner surface of the upright portion at a position between the first extension and the bottom flange and having a surface that defines a second groove with the second surface of the first extension.

A method of mounting a photovoltaic module comprising:

• inserting an edge of a photovoltaic module having an upper surface into a mounting bracket comprising a top flange having a downward facing inner surface configured to adjoin a portion of the upper surface of the photovoltaic module;
• adhering the downward facing surface of the top flange to the portion of the upper surface of the photovoltaic module;
• and
• inserting a glazing strip in the second groove, the glazing strip having a first portion that is directed toward the first groove and a second portion that resides within the second groove.

A framed photovoltaic module comprising:

• a photovoltaic module having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the module has a first edge and a second edge, and wherein the first and second edges are substantially parallel to each other;
• a mounting bracket positioned along the first edge, the mounting bracket comprising:
• a bottom flange;
• an upright portion extending from the bottom flange and having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a top flange opposite the bottom flange, extending from the upright portion and having a downward facing inner surface configured to adjoin an upper surface of a photovoltaic module;
• a first extension extending from the inner surface of the upright portion at a position between the top flange and the bottom flange and having a first surface that defines a first groove sized to accommodate the first edge of the photovoltaic module with the downward facing inner surface of the top flange and a second surface opposed to the first surface;
• and
• a second extension adjacent to the first extension and extending from the inner surface of the upright portion at a position between the first extension and the bottom flange and having a surface that defines a second groove with the second surface of the first extension;
• and
• an adhesive disposed between the downward facing surface of the top flange and the upper surface of the photovoltaic module, wherein
• the photovoltaic module is positioned within the first groove such that the lower surface of the photovoltaic module contacts a first portion of a glazing strip, and wherein
• the glazing strip includes a first portion that is directed toward the first groove and a second portion that resides within the second groove.