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US 8,756,880 B2Granted
Photovoltaic module assembly
AssigneeShadeplex, LLC
InventorsJeffery Peelman, Nazoor Baig, Brian Tell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photovoltaic module assembly includes a photovoltaic module and a base layer. The photovoltaic module has a bottom side, a top side, a main body, and a peripheral edge strip. The peripheral edge strip includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. The base layer is disposed adjacent the bottom side of the photovoltaic module. The base layer has an underlying portion and a flap portion. The flap portion is folded over the peripheral edge strip of the photovoltaic module, and is disposed adjacent the top side of the photovoltaic module. The flap portion is attached to the underlying portion of the base layer through the plurality of apertures in the peripheral edge strip. The photovoltaic module is thereby secured to the base layer.
Claims19
A photovoltaic module assembly, comprising:
- a photovoltaic module having a bottom side, a top side, a main body, and a peripheral edge strip, the peripheral edge strip including a plurality of apertures pre-formed therethrough, the plurality of apertures disposed laterally inwardly from a perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip;
- and
- a base layer disposed adjacent the bottom side of the photovoltaic module, the base layer having an underlying portion and a flap portion, the flap portion folded over the peripheral edge strip and disposed adjacent the top side of the photovoltaic module, the flap portion attached to the underlying portion of the base layer through the plurality of apertures in the peripheral edge strip, whereby the photovoltaic module is secured to the base layer;
- wherein the flap portion forms a pocket disposed laterally outwardly from the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip, the pocket containing one of a cord and a cable,
- wherein the flap portion is also attached to the underlying portion between the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip and the pocket,
- wherein the flap portion of the base layer abuts the underlying portion of the base layer in each of the plurality of apertures pre-formed in the peripheral edge strip of the photovoltaic module, and
- wherein an entirety of the one of the cord and the cable contained by the pocket is disposed laterally outwardly and spaced apart from the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip.
4 more elements
An architectural structure, comprising:
- a photovoltaic module assembly including a photovoltaic module having a bottom side, a top side, a main body, and a peripheral edge strip, the peripheral edge strip including a plurality of apertures pre-formed therethrough, the plurality of apertures disposed laterally inwardly from a perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip, and a base layer disposed adjacent the bottom side of the photovoltaic module, the base layer having an underlying portion and a flap portion, the flap portion folded over the peripheral edge strip and disposed adjacent the top side of the photovoltaic module, the flap portion attached to the underlying portion of the base layer through the plurality of apertures in the peripheral edge strip, whereby the photovoltaic module is secured to the base layer;
- wherein the flap portion forms a pocket disposed laterally outwardly from the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip, the pocket containing one of a cord and a cable,
- wherein the flap portion is also attached to the underlying portion between the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip and the pocket,
- wherein the flap portion of the base layer abuts the underlying portion of the base layer in each of the plurality of apertures pre-formed in the peripheral edge strip of the photovoltaic module, and
- wherein an entirety of the one of the cord and the cable contained by the pocket is disposed laterally outwardly and spaced apart from the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a photovoltaic module having a bottom side, a top side, a main body, and a peripheral edge strip, the peripheral edge strip including a plurality of apertures pre-formed therethrough, the plurality of apertures disposed laterally inwardly from a perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip, and a base layer having an underlying portion and a flap portion;
- disposing the base layer adjacent the bottom side of the photovoltaic module;
- folding the flap portion over the peripheral edge strip of the photovoltaic module;
- and
- attaching the flap portion to the underlying portion of the base layer through the plurality of pre-formed apertures in the peripheral edge strip of the photovoltaic module, whereby the photovoltaic module is secured to the base layer, wherein the flap portion forms a pocket disposed laterally outwardly from the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip;
- attaching the flap portion to the underlying portion of the base layer between the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip and the pocket, wherein the flap portion of the base layer abuts the underlying portion of the base layer in each of the plurality of apertures pre-formed in the peripheral edge strip of the photovoltaic module;
- and
- disposing one of a cord and a cable within the pocket, wherein an entirety of the one of the cord and the cable contained by the pocket is disposed laterally outwardly and spaced apart from the perimeter edge of the peripheral edge strip.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.