IP Library Granted Patent US 10,103,683
Granted Patent B2
US 10,103,683 · App. 15/803,656 · Granted Oct 16, 2018

Rail-less roof mounting system

Inventors: Claudia Wentworth (Alamo, CA); Stuart Wentworth (San Antonio, TX)
H02S20/23F24S25/33F24S25/61F24S25/636F24S25/70F24S2025/6008F24S2025/803F24S2025/807Y02B10/12Y02B10/20Y02E10/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,103,683
App. No.
15/803,656
Granted
Oct 16, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A roof mounting system for the attachment of an article to a roof, the system comprising a plurality of PV modules each having at least one corner and a frame member, a flashing member having a top surface; an upstanding sleeve attached to the top surface of the flashing member; an elevated water seal having a borehole formed therethrough, the elevated water seal further comprising at least one screw for providing a waterproof seal between the article and the roof structure; and whereby the plurality of PV modules are interlocked in a way to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement supported above the roof through the frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

Claims (37)

1. A roof mounting system for the attachment of an article to a roof, the system comprising:

a. a plurality of PV modules each having at least one corner and a frame member;

b. a flashing member having a top surface;

c. an upstanding sleeve attached to the top surface of the flashing member;

d. an elevated water seal having a borehole formed therethrough, the elevated water seal further comprising at least one screw for providing a waterproof seal between the article and the roof structure;

e. whereby the plurality of PV modules are interlocked in a way to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement which enables the connection of at least one PV module corner to at least one adjacent PV module corner by sandwiching above and beneath said frame members of the plurality of PV modules wherein said corner-to-corner coupling arrangement is supported above the roof through the frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

2. The roof mounting system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a. a clamp assembly including a clamp member having a plurality of apertures on an inner surface and a plurality of holes and a plate member.

3. The roof mounting system according to claim 2 wherein the clamp member and the plate member are attached to the roof utilizing at least one fastener.

4. The roof mounting system according to claim 1 , further whereby the corner-to-corner coupling arrangement enables the connection of a plurality of PV module corners to a plurality of adjacent PV module corners.

5. The roof mounting system according to claim 1 wherein the flashing member comprises a top slider having a top portion with a slot and a bottom portion having a sliding member.

6. The roof mounting system according to claim 5 wherein the rail-less roof mounting system has a mounting height adjustable through adjustment of the positions of the top slider along the vertical engaging portion.

7. The rail-less roof mounting system of claim 1 wherein at least three PV module corners are bridged to adjacent corners.

8. A method for installing an article to a roof, the method comprising the steps of:

a. placing a flashing member on a roof, wherein a bottom surface of the flashing member is engaged with said roof;

b. positioning a block slider above the flashing member by inserting an upstanding sleeve through a borehole on an elevated water seal portion of the block slider;

c. interconnecting at least one PV module frame member to at least one adjacent PV module frame member to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement;

d. whereby the corner-to-corner coupling arrangement enables the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the at least one PV module frame member and the at least one adjacent PV module frame member.

9. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 8 wherein said corner-to-corner coupling arrangement is supported above the roof through the frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

10. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 8 wherein multiple PV modules make up an photovoltaic array and further comprising providing a single grounding lug for assembling said photovoltaic array.

11. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 8 further comprising bridging at least three PV module corners to adjacent corners.

12. A method for installing an article to a roof, the method comprising the steps of:

a. placing a flashing member of a roof mounting system on a roof structure;

b. positioning a block slider above the flashing member by inserting an upstanding sleeve through a borehole on an elevated water seal portion of the block slider;

c. attaching to the flashing member a clamp assembly including a clamp member having a plurality of apertures on an inner surface and a plurality of holes and a plate member.

13. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a. tightening said upstanding sleeve to said roof structure to prevent seepage of water.

14. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a. sandwiching a top and bottom surface of frame members of a plurality of PV modules with a plurality of screws inserted through the plurality of holes on the clamp member.

15. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a. interlocking said plurality of PV modules by enabling the connection of PV module corners to adjacent PV module corners by sandwiching above and beneath frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

16. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a. interconnecting a frame member of a PV module to a frame member of an adjacent PV module by the clamp member to provide a corner-to-corner coupling arrangement.

17. The method for installing an article to a roof structure according to claim 16 wherein said corner-to-corner coupling arrangement is supported above the roof through the frame members of the plurality of PV modules.

18. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 14 further comprising bridging at least three PV module corners to adjacent corners.

19. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 12 wherein the clamp member and the plate member are attached to the roof structure utilizing at least one bolt.

20. The method for installing an article to a roof according to claim 12 wherein the plate member further comprises a grooved edge and wherein a PV array skirt is slotted within the grooved edge.

Assignments (9)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2019
From: IMAGINEERING PLUS PLUS, LLC
To: WENCON DEVELOPMENT, INC. DBA QUICK MOUNT PV
Reel/Frame 050768/0538 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2019
From: JOBDOG, LLC
To: WENCON DEVELOPMENT, INC., DBA QUICK MOUNT PV
Reel/Frame 050768/0553 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2019
From: WENTWORTH, CLAUDIA
To: QUALITY PRODUCT LLC
Reel/Frame 050129/0969 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2019
From: WENTWORTH, STUART H.
To: QUALITY PRODUCT LLC
Reel/Frame 050067/0822 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2019
From: QUALITY PRODUCT, LLC
To: WENTWORTH, CLAUDIA; WENTWORTH, STUART
Reel/Frame 050162/0278 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2019
From: WENTWORTH, CLAUDIA
To: JOBDOG, LLC
Reel/Frame 050068/0042 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2019
From: WENTWORTH, STUART
To: IMAGINEERING PLUS PLUS LLC
Reel/Frame 050067/0961 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2019
From: WENTWORTH, CLAUDIA
To: QUALITY PRODUCT LLC
Reel/Frame 050067/0835 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15225704 · Aug 1, 2016
Continuation 15045434 · Feb 17, 2016
Continuation 14605368 · Jan 26, 2015
Continuation 14166633 · Jan 28, 2014
Provisional Application 61916046 · Dec 13, 2013
Related Publication 20180069502A1 · Mar 8, 2018
Cited By (17)
US 1,075,493 US 1,109,686 US 1,113,406 US 1,127,727 US 1,128,411 US 12,203,496 US 12,231,081 US 12,305,397 US 12,320,375 US 12,473,736 US 12,483,185 US 12,486,668 US 12,516,848 US 12,519,418 US 12,534,916 US 12,631,028 US 12,669,267