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US 8,946,540 B1Granted
Imitation solar module for use in a staggered or irregularly shaped solar array
AssigneeZep Solar, Inc.
InventorsJohn R. West, Alex Haines, Kyle Tripp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imitation solar module for structural and aesthetic use in an array of electricity generating solar modules. The imitation solar module having a non-standard shape and a visual representation such as a decal of an actual solar module surface thereon. The imitation solar module includes triangular shapes for use in staggered module arrays.
Claims26
An imitation solar module for use in a photovoltaic array, comprising:
- a flat triangular shaped body portion;
- a visual representation of a portion of a photovoltaic module displayed on the flat triangular shaped body portion;
- a first side flange extending downwardly from a first side of the triangular shaped body portion;
- at least one coupling on the first side flange for connecting the triangular shaped body portion to a first adjacent photovoltaic module;
- a second side flange extending downwardly from a second side of the triangular shaped body portion;
- and
- at least one coupling on the second side flange for connecting the triangular shaped body portion to a second adjacent photovoltaic module.
4 more elements
An imitation solar module for use in a photovoltaic array, comprising:
- a flat, generally planar body portion;
- a visual representation of a photovoltaic module displayed on the flat generally planar body portion;
- a first side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the first side is adapted to be connected to a first adjacent photovoltaic module;
- and
- a second side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the second side is adapted to be connected to a second adjacent photovoltaic module.
2 more elements
An array of electricity generating and imitation solar modules, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of electricity generating solar modules;
- (b) a plurality of imitation solar modules that do not generate electricity, each imitation solar module comprising:
- a flat, generally planar body portion;
- a visual representation of a photovoltaic module displayed on the flat generally planar body portion;
- a first side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the first side is adapted to be connected to a first adjacent photovoltaic module;
- and
- a second side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the second side is adapted to be connected to a second adjacent photovoltaic module;
- and
- (c) a plurality of couplings connecting the imitation solar modules to the electricity generating solar modules to form an array of electricity generating and imitation solar modules.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.