Roofing and siding products having receptor zones and photovoltaic roofing and siding elements and systems using them
View Patent ↗The present invention relates generally to roofing or siding products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing or siding products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing or siding substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.
1. A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing or siding system, the kit comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic elements; and
a plurality of rigid roofing or siding products, each rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones and one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, each receptor zone being defined by an uncoated polymer material having a releasable liner disposed thereon and being adapted to receive one or more of the photovoltaic elements on the uncoated polymer material, and wherein no photovoltaic element is affixed in the one or more receptor zones.
2. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a roofing tile, shake or shingle.
3. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a roofing panel.
4. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a siding substrate.
5. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, each receptor zone is adapted to receive one or more encapsulated photovoltaic elements on the uncoated polymer material.
6. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material of the one or more receptor zones has a ΔE*<20 compared to the top surface of the rigid roofing or siding substrate in an area adjacent to the receptor zone.
7. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material of the one or more receptor zones has a ΔE*<20 compared to the photovoltaically active surface of the photovoltaic element with which the roofing substrate is to be used.
8. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material of the receptor zone is stabilized to UV radiation.
9. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the top surface of the rigid roofing or siding substrate in the receptor zone is recessed from the top surface of the rigid roofing or siding substrate in the area adjacent to the receptor zone.
10. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the surfacing of the one or more receptor zones or the top surface of rigid roofing or siding substrate in the area adjacent the one or more receptor zones includes one or more alignment marks.
11. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic element includes a fastening zone or one or more fastening tabs.
12. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein each receptor zone is adapted to receive more than one photovoltaic element.
13. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein each photovoltaic element is adapted to be received by more than one receptor zone.
14. The kit according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the uncoated polymer material is textured.
15. A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing or siding system, the kit comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic elements; and
a plurality of roofing or siding products each comprising a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones and one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more of the photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone being defined by having a different surface material than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, having a different surface texture than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, or by being recessed from the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones, wherein no photovoltaic element is affixed in the one or more receptor zones.
16. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein in each rigid roofing or siding substrate, each receptor zone is defined by having a different surface material than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones.
17. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein in each rigid roofing or siding substrate, each receptor zone is defined by having a different surface texture than the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones.
18. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein in each rigid roofing or siding substrate, each receptor zone is defined by being recessed from the surface of the one or more areas adjacent the one or more receptor zones.
19. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the rigid roofing or siding substrate is a roofing tile, shake or shingle.
20. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein in each of the one or more rigid roofing or siding products, the surfacing of the one or more receptor zones or the top surface of rigid roofing or siding substrate in the area adjacent the one or more receptor zones includes one or more alignment marks.
21. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein each photovoltaic element includes a fastening zone or one or more fastening tabs.
22. The kit according to claim 15 , wherein each photovoltaic element is adapted to be received by more than one receptor zone.