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US 8,418,688 B2Granted
Assembly and method for mounting solar panels to structural surfaces
AssigneeGreenRay, Inc.
InventorsZachary Adam King, Miles Clayton Russell, Ruel Davenport Little
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for mounting solar panels to structural surfaces includes a frame member adapted to receive and retain a first end portion of a solar panel, and a mounting foot adapted for attachment to the structural surface, wherein the frame member and the mounting foot are adapted for interlocking engagement with each other to mount an end of a solar panel on the structural surface.
Claims13
An assembly for mounting a solar panel to a structural surface, the assembly comprising:
- a first frame member adapted to receive and retain a first end portion of a solar panel;
- and
- a first mounting foot adapted for attachment to the structural surface and comprising a base portion adapted for attachment to the structural surface, and a flange fixed to said base portion and spaced from said base portion, and having a free edge;
- wherein said first frame member is provided with a pocket for the receiving and retaining of the first end portion of the solar panel, and with a capture opening defined by first and second walls spaced apart to receive and retain therebetween said flange of said first mounting foot;
- wherein said second wall is in part sloped so as to receive said flange of said first mounting foot and guide said flange into said capture opening;
- wherein said first frame member is provided with a capture tooth adapted to bitingly engage said flange of said first mounting foot when said flange is disposed substantially fully in said first frame member capture opening;
- wherein said first frame member and said first mounting foot are adapted to rotatably interlock with each other to mount the first end portion of the solar panel on the structural surface.
4 more elements
An assembly for mounting a solar panel to a structural surface, the assembly comprising:
- a first frame member adapted to receive and retain a first end portion of a solar panel;
- and
- a first mounting foot adapted for attachment to the structural surface;
- wherein said first frame member and said first mounting foot are adapted to rotatably interlock with each other to mount the first end portion of the solar panel on the structural surface;
- wherein said first mounting foot comprises:
- a base portion for attachment to the structural surface;
- a protrusion extending from said base portion, said protrusion comprising:
- a first leg extending outwardly from said base portion at an angle transverse to said base portion;
- a second leg extending from said first leg and angled relative to said first leg and to said base portion;
- a flange support portion extending from said second leg;
- and
- a flange extending from said flange support portion and generally parallel to said base portion;
- said second leg, flange support portion and flange forming a pocket for receiving and retaining a portion of said first frame member;
- an outer wall portion of said first frame member having a curved end portion joining a sloped wall of a capture opening, wherein said pocket is adapted to receive said first frame member wall curved end portion, and said first frame member wall curved end portion is adapted to be moved into said first mounting foot pocket and rotated therein until said flange is substantially fully disposed in said capture opening;
- an inner wall portion of the first frame member extending generally parallel to said outer wall portion and spaced therefrom, said inner wall portion having a sloped surface extending to a first frame member pocket for receiving the solar panel first end portion, said sloped surface being configured to guide the solar panel first end portion into said first frame member pocket;
- wherein an end of said inner wall portion extends into said capture opening and forms a tooth projecting into said capture opening and engageable with said first mounting foot flange to lock said flange in said capture opening.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.