# US 9,438,162 B2 · Solar panel mounting with bias element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,162 B2 - Document ID: US9438162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/076,558 - Filed: 2016-03-21 - Published: 2016-07-14 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-01 - Applicants: Marc M. Thomas - Inventors: Marc M. Thomas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438162B2 ## CPC - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - F24S 25/33: forming substantially planar assemblies, e.g. of coplanar or stacked profiles - F24S 25/61: for fixing to the ground or to building structures - F24S 25/636: clamping by screw-threaded elements - F24S 25/70: with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances - F24S 40/80: Accommodating differential expansion of solar collector elements - H02S 20/00: Supporting structures for PV modules - H10F 19/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules - F24S 2025/023: {Means for preventing theft; Locking means} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y10T 29/49355: Solar energy device making - Y10T 403/60: Biased catch or latch - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A solar panel mounting system may include a solar panel mounting assembly for mounting to a support structure. The solar panel mounting assembly may include a restraining element, a retaining element and a biasing assembly that supports the restraining and retaining elements. The support structure may include an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface. The biasing assembly may further include a biasing element that resiliently urges the retaining element toward a securing element for supporting a solar panel that is positioned between the retaining element and the upper surface of the support structure, and resiliently urges the restraining element toward the lower surface of the support structure. A retention device may resiliently bias the solar panels of a solar panel assembly together on a support structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mounting assembly for supporting a securing element supporting a solar panel relative to a support structure, when the solar panel is supported above the support structure, the support structure having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface, the mounting assembly comprising: a rod member extending along a central axis, the rod member having a first end retained during use below the lower surface of the support structure with the securing element mounted on the rod member above the upper surface of the support structure; a restraining element mounted on the first end of the rod member below and facing the lower surface of the support structure; and a biasing element disposed during use on the rod member between the restraining element and the lower surface of the support structure and resiliently compressible along the central axis, the biasing element resiliently urging the restraining element away from the lower surface of the support structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mounting assembly of claim 1, where the support structure is elongate and includes a slot extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the support structure along a length of the support structure, wherein the rod member extends through the slot during use, the mounting assembly further comprising a guide assembly mounted on the rod member for engaging the support structure in a manner maintaining the rod member in the slot. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mounting assembly of claim 2, wherein the guide assembly slidably engages the upper and lower surfaces of the support structure and extends into the slot during use, such that the mounting assembly is moveable along a length of the support structure while maintaining the rod member in the slot in spaced relationship from the support structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The mounting assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting assembly is movable along the upper surface of the support structure along the slot while the mounting assembly is supporting a solar panel relative to the support structure, and the guide assembly limits movement of the mounting assembly laterally of the slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising the securing element mounted on the rod member for supporting the solar panel above the upper surface of the support structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising an anti-rotation member supported on the rod member and having a first contact portion for contacting the support element and a second contact portion preventing rotation of a securing element relative to the anti-rotation member when a securing element is mounted on the rod member and the mounting assembly is mounted on the support structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing element includes one of a spring, a wave washer, a bevel washer and a conical washer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A solar panel mounting system for mounting a solar panel to a base, the mounting system comprising: the support structure configured to be mounted on the base with the securing element supporting a solar panel above the support structure; and the mounting assembly of claim 1, the mounting assembly mounted to the support structure during use. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The solar panel mounting system of claim 8, wherein the support structure is elongate and includes a slot extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the support structure along a length of the support structure, and the rod member extends through the slot during use, the mounting assembly further comprising a guide assembly mounted on the rod member for engaging the support structure in a manner maintaining the rod member in the slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A solar panel module for mounting to a support structure, the solar panel module comprising a solar panel; and a plurality of mounting assemblies of claim 1 secured to the solar panel, the plurality of mounting assemblies configured to be mounted to one or more support structures during use. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The solar panel module of claim 10, where each support structure is elongate and includes a slot extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the support structure along a length of the support structure and the rod member extends through the slot during use, and wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a guide assembly mounted on the rod member for slidably engaging the respective support structure in a manner maintaining the rod member in the slot in spaced relationship from the support structure.