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US 8,984,818 B2Granted
Snap-in mounting systems for laminate solar panels
AssigneeSunrun South LLC
InventorsGreg McPheeters, Ethan Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Snap-in mounting systems for laminate solar panels are provided. The laminate solar panels can include laminate strips that can be snapped into mounting rails. The mounting rails may be coupled to racking rails for structural support and may include locking mechanisms for additional support and theft deterrence. An entire system may include a number of racking rails, mounting rails, and solar panels.
Claims22
A solar panel racking system, comprising:
- a solar module comprising a laminate solar panel and at least one laminate strip adhered along a proximal side to a first side of the laminate solar panel, wherein the at least one laminate strip comprises two extended portions extending away from the solar panel in a first direction, and wherein a distal end of each one of the two extended portions comprises a notch extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- at least one mounting rail comprising two sidewalls, wherein each one of the two sidewalls is configured to detachably couple to the notch of a respective one of the two extended portions.
A solar panel racking system, comprising:
- a plurality of racking rails;
- a plurality of mounting rails, wherein a proximal end of each mounting rail is coupled to a respective racking rail;
- a plurality of laminate strips, each laminate strip comprising two extended portions extending in a first direction, wherein a distal end of each one of the two extended portions comprises a notch extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- a plurality of laminate solar modules, wherein each laminate solar module is adhered to a proximal end of a respective laminate strip, and wherein the distal end of each laminate strip is inserted into a clip structure in a distal end of a respective mounting rail.
2 more elements
A solar panel racking system, comprising:
- a solar module comprising a laminate solar panel mounted in a frame;
- at least one mounting clip adhered along a proximal side to a first side of the frame, the at least one mounting clip comprising two extended portions extending away from the solar module in a first direction, wherein distal ends of the two extended portions comprise outwardly facing notches extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- at least one mounting rail comprising clip structures configured to detachably engage the outwardly facing notches.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.