IP Library Granted Patent US 9,985,575
Granted Patent B2
US 9,985,575 · App. 14/680,226 · Granted May 29, 2018

Height adjustment bracket for roof applications

Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns (Stowe, VT); Alexander Grant Bornemann (Wolcott, VT)
Assignee: Rillito River Solar, LLC
H02S20/23F24J2/5245F24J2/5258F24J2/5264F24J2/5203F24J2002/4665F24J2002/4669F24J2002/5215Y02B10/12Y02B10/20Y02E10/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,985,575
App. No.
14/680,226
Granted
May 29, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A roof mount system supports a solar panel above a roof and includes a base positioned on the roof and a first fastener connected to the base and extending away from the roof and moveable along the base in a direction generally parallel to the roof. A first clamp supports a bottom surface of a solar panel frame and adjusts the height of the solar panel above the roof by moving the first clamp along a first fastener in a direction perpendicular to the roof. A second clamp is connected to a second fastener and moves with respect to the first clamp perpendicular to the roof. The solar panel is clamped between the first clamp and the second clamp portion. A protrusion extends from the first or second clamp to form an electrical bond between the solar panel frame and the respective first or second clamp.

Claims (27)

1. A roof mount system configured to support a solar panel above a roof, the roof mount system comprising:

a base defining a slot, a void, and a hole,

wherein the base is configured to be attached to the roof via the hole with an attachment fastener, and

wherein the void is defined along the length of the base;

a first fastener coupled to the base in the slot and extending away from the roof, the first fastener moveable in the slot along the base in a first direction, the first direction extending generally parallel to the roof;

a leveling element disposed on the first fastener,

a first clamp portion supported by the leveling element on the first fastener and moveable with respect to the base in a second direction in response to the leveling element being actuated, the second direction extending generally perpendicular to the roof, the first clamp portion including a first surface sized to engage a bottom surface of a solar panel frame, wherein the distance between the solar panel and the roof is adjusted by moving the first clamp portion along the first fastener in the second direction;

a second fastener coupled to the first clamp portion and extending in the second direction away from the roof;

a second clamp portion coupled to the second fastener and moveable with respect to the first clamp portion in the second direction, the second clamp including a second surface sized to engage a top surface of the solar panel frame, wherein the solar panel is secured against the first clamp portion by moving the second clamp portion toward the first clamp portion along the second fastener in the second direction; and

a protrusion extending from one of the first and second clamp portions, the protrusion is operable to form an electrical bond between the solar panel frame and the respective one of the first and second clamp portions.

2. The roof mount system of claim 1 , further comprising a skirt coupled to at least one of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

3. The roof mount system of claim 2 , wherein the skirt includes a plurality of perforations.

4. The roof mount system of claim 2 , wherein the skirt has a substantially continuous, non-perforated front surface.

5. The roof mount system of claim 2 , wherein a distance between the skirt and the roof is adjustable when at least one of the first clamp portion or the second clamp portion is moved in the second direction.

6. The roof mount system of claim 1 , wherein the solar panel is a first solar panel and wherein the first and second clamp portions are operable to support the first solar panel and a second solar panel.

7. The roof mount system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second clamp portions are operable to support third and fourth solar panels.

8. The roof mount system of claim 1 , further comprising a third fastener coupling the base to the roof.

9. The roof mount system of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a first protrusion and further comprising a second protrusion extending from the one of the first and second clamp portions, the second protrusion is operable to form an electrical bond between a frame of a second solar panel and the respective one of the first and second clamp portions.

10. A roof mount system configured to support a solar panel above a roof, the roof mount system comprising:

a base defining a channel, a void, and a hole,

wherein the base is configured to be attached to the roof via the hole with an attachment fastener, and

wherein the void is defined along the length of the base;

a first fastener installed in the channel and coupled to the base and extending away from the roof, the first fastener moveable along the base in a first direction, the first direction extending generally parallel to the roof;

a leveling element disposed on the first fastener,

a first clamp portion coupled to the first fastener and supported by the leveling element, the first clamp portion moveable with respect to the base in a second direction in response to actuating the leveling element, the second direction extending generally perpendicular to the roof, the first clamp portion including a first surface sized to engage a bottom surface of a solar panel frame, wherein the distance between the solar panel and the roof is adjusted by moving the first clamp portion along the first fastener in the second direction;

a second fastener coupled to the first clamp portion and extending in the second direction away from the roof; and

a second clamp portion coupled to the second fastener and moveable with respect to the first clamp portion in the second direction, the second clamp including a second surface sized to engage a top surface of the solar panel frame, wherein the solar panel is secured against the first clamp portion by moving the second clamp portion along the second fastener in the second direction.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: ECOFASTEN SOLAR, LLC
To: ENSTALL US, INC.
Reel/Frame 073511/0490 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2021
From: ECOFASTEN SOLAR, LLC; IRONRIDGE, INC.; PANELCLAW, INC.; WENCON DEVELOPMENT, INC.; ESDEC B.V.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057365/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 1, 2019
From: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
To: ECOFASTEN SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 051146/0854 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 1, 2019
From: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
To: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 051146/0295 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2016
From: VERMONT SLATE & COPPER SERVICES, INC.
To: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 039844/0026 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2015
From: STEARNS, BRIAN CECIL; BORNEMANN, ALEXANDER GRANT
To: VERMONT SLATE & COPPER SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035362/0527 →
Continuity (8)
Provisional Application 62134205 · Mar 17, 2015
Provisional Application 62131480 · Mar 11, 2015
Provisional Application 62106410 · Jan 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62106406 · Jan 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62106282 · Jan 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62073867 · Oct 31, 2014
Provisional Application 61976448 · Apr 7, 2014
Related Publication 20150288320A1 · Oct 8, 2015