IP Library Granted Patent US 11,290,053
Granted Patent B2
US 11,290,053 · App. 16/837,946 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Solar panel mounting apparatus

Inventors: Stacy Harris (Albuquerque, NM); Todd Ganshaw (Albuquerque, NM); Nathan Schuit (Edgewood, NM)
Assignee: Unirac Inc.
H02S20/23F16B5/0685
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,290,053
App. No.
16/837,946
Filed
Apr 1, 2020
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3631
USPC
248/288.11
Abstract

A solar panel mounting assembly including a cap that includes a secure-side wing, a catch-side wing, and an integral vertical leg that protrudes downwardly from the catch-side wing. The vertical leg is integral with the catch-side wing and has a top end and a bottom end. A plurality of inwardly facing corrugations are disposed at the bottom end of the vertical leg. The solar panel mounting assembly further includes a base that includes a secure-side support surface, a tilted spring support ledge on a catch-side, and a plurality of outwardly-facing corrugations disposed on an upper horizontal portion of the base. An inwardly-facing corrugation of the vertical leg contacts and engages an outwardly-facing corrugation on the upper horizontal portion of the base, and the base is vertically adjustable with respect to the cap.

Claims (37)

1. A solar panel mounting assembly, comprising:

a cap including:

a secure-side wing,

a catch-side wing,

a vertical leg protruding downwardly from the catch-side wing, the vertical leg being integral with the catch-side wing and having a top end and a bottom end, and

a plurality of an inwardly-facing corrugations disposed at the bottom end of the vertical leg; and

a base including:

a secure-side support surface,

a tilted spring support ledge on a catch-side, and

a plurality of outwardly-facing corrugations disposed on an upper horizontal portion of the base,

wherein at least one inwardly-facing corrugation of the vertical leg contacts and engages at least one outwardly-facing corrugation on the upper horizontal portion of the base, and

wherein the base is vertically adjustable with respect to the cap.

2. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a clamping bolt for clamping the cap to the base with a solar panel disposed in-between the cap and base; and

a height adjustment bolt for adjusting a height of the base above a roof surface.

3. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein a centerline of the clamping bolt is offset from a centerline of the height adjustment bolt by a predetermined distance.

4. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined distance ranges from approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.

5. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap further includes:

the secure-side wing located on a secure-side of the assembly, and

the catch-side wing located on a catch-side of the assembly.

6. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein a lower clamping surface of the secure-side wing is offset from a lower clamping surface of the catch-side wing by an offset distance.

7. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the offset distance ranges from approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm.

8. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance between adjacent corrugations of the assembly ranges from approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm.

9. The solar panel mounting assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a spring clip disposed between the clamping bolt and the vertical leg of the cap such that the spring clip maintains a position of the cap against the base.

10. A solar panel mounting assembly, comprising:

an extended base, including:

a secure-side support surface,

a tilted spring support ledge on a catch-side of the assembly,

a top surface,

an open central volume,

a horizontal slot disposed on the bottom of the base, the slot oriented lengthwise along a longitudinal direction of the base,

a first pair of vertical apertures disposed in the top surface and spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of the base, and

a second pair of vertical apertures disposed along a bottom surface of the base and providing access to the horizontal slot from above the slot, the first pair of vertical apertures being aligned vertically with the second pair of vertical apertures, respectively;

a sliding rectangular nut disposed in the horizontal slot; and

a height adjustment bolt,

wherein the sliding rectangular nut engages an upper portion of the height adjustment bolt, and

wherein the sliding rectangular nut and the engaged height adjustment bolt are slideable together as a single unit along a longitudinal length of the tray between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2022
From: LBC CREDIT AGENCY SERVICES, LLC, AS AGENT
To: UNIRAC, INC.
Reel/Frame 061605/0949 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2022
From: UNIRAC, INC.
To: LBC CREDIT AGENCY SERVICES, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 061587/0852 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2021
From: UNIRAC, INC.
To: LBC CREDIT AGENCY SERVICES, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 057614/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: HARRIS, STACY; SCHUIT, NATHAN; GANSHAW, TODD
To: UNIRAC, INC.
Reel/Frame 056802/0210 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62827625 · Apr 1, 2019
Related Publication 20200313604A1 · Oct 1, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,301,160