IP Library Granted Patent US 11,374,531
Granted Patent B2
US 11,374,531 · App. 17/122,817 · Granted Jun 28, 2022

Height adjustment bracket for roof applications

Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns (Tucson, AZ); Alexander Grant Bornemann (Burlington, VT)
Assignee: Ecofasten Solar, LLC
H02S20/23F16M13/02F24S25/632F24S25/636H02S30/10Y02B10/10Y02B10/20Y02E10/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,374,531
App. No.
17/122,817
Granted
Jun 28, 2022
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 (43)

1. A roof mount, comprising:

a slide installable on a roof;

a standoff coupled to the slide and moveable along a second axis of the slide;

an adjustment assembly operatively coupled to the standoff, the adjustment assembly comprising a threaded shaft extending along a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the roof; and

a clamp adjustably connected to the slide by the adjustment assembly, wherein a distance between the clamp and the slide is adjustable, the clamp comprising:

a first clamp portion including a first support surface and a second support surface separated by walls, the first clamp portion defining a first aperture and a threaded aperture between the walls, the first clamp portion is moveable relative to the standoff along the first axis,

a second clamp portion comprising a first pin extending toward the first support surface and a second pin extending toward the second support surface, the second clamp portion defining a second aperture that is alignable with the threaded aperture, and

a fastener installable through the second aperture and into the threaded aperture,

wherein the adjustment assembly is accessible through the first aperture to enable adjustment of the clamp along the second axis.

2. The roof mount of claim 1 , wherein the standoff includes a locking bolt that is configured to engage the slide.

3. The roof mount of claim 1 , wherein the first support surface includes a recess.

4. The roof mount of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment assembly includes an adjustment nut.

5. The roof mount of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment nut is captures in the first clamp portion.

6. The roof mount of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp portion comprises a channel disposed adjacent to the second support surface.

7. The roof mount of claim 6 , further comprising a skirt, that is installable in the channel.

8. A mounting bracket, comprising:

a standoff comprising a first standoff portion that is substantially parallel to a roof surface and a second standoff portion that is substantially perpendicular to the roof surface;

an adjustment assembly operatively coupled to the standoff, the adjustment assembly comprising a threaded shaft extending along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the roof surface;

a first clamp portion including a first support surface and a second support surface separated by walls, the first support surface and the second support surface are operable to support a portion of a solar panel, the first clamp portion defining a first aperture between the walls, the first clamp portion is moveable relative to the standoff along the axis,

a second clamp portion comprising a first clamping protrusion extending in the same direction and being substantially parallel to the first support surface and a second clamping protrusion extending in the same direction and being substantially parallel to the second support surface,

the second clamp portion defining a second aperture that is alignable with the first aperture, the second clamp portion is moveable relative to the first clamp portion along the axis; and

a fastener installable through the second aperture and the first aperture,

wherein the adjustment assembly is accessible through the first aperture to enable adjustment of the first clamp portion along the axis.

9. The mounting bracket of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment assembly comprises and adjustment nut.

10. The mounting bracket of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment nut is captured in the first clamp portion, between the walls.

11. The mounting bracket of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment nut is retained in the first clamp portion by a locking nut.

12. The mounting bracket of claim 8 , wherein the first support surface comprises a first channel.

13. The mounting bracket of claim 8 , wherein the second support surface comprises a second channel, wherein the second channel is configured to receive a bottom protrusion of a skirt.

14. A mounting bracket, comprising:

a slide installable on a roof;

a standoff coupled to the slide and moveable along a second axis of the slide, the second axis being substantially parallel to the roof;

an adjustment assembly operatively coupled to the standoff, the adjustment assembly comprising a threaded shaft extending along a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the roof;

a first clamp portion including a first support surface and a second support surface separated by walls, the first support surface and the second support surface are operable to support a portion of a solar panel, the first clamp portion defining a first aperture between the walls, the first clamp portion is moveable relative to the standoff along the first axis,

a second clamp portion comprising,

a first clamping protrusion extending in the same direction and being substantially parallel to the first support surface, the first clamping protrusion and the first support surface defining a first clearance to receive a solar panel, and

a second clamping protrusion extending in the same direction and being substantially parallel to the second support surface, the second clamping protrusion and the second support surface defining a second clearance to receive the solar panel, the second clamp portion defining a second aperture that is alignable with the first aperture, the second clamp portion is moveable relative to the first clamp portion along the first axis; and

a fastener installable through the second aperture and the first aperture, wherein the adjustment assembly is accessible through the first aperture to enable adjustment of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion along the second axis.

15. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the adjustment assembly comprises and adjustment portion that in the first clamp portion between the walls.

16. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , further comprising a skirt having a bottom protrusion.

17. The mounting bracket of claim 16 , wherein the first clamp portion comprises a channel adjacent the second support surface.

18. The mounting bracket of claim 16 , wherein the first support surface includes a recess.

19. The mounting bracket of claim 16 , wherein the adjustment assembly comprises an adjustment nut.

20. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the first clamp portion comprises hook adjacent the first support surface.

Assignments (5)
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 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 15, 2020
From: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
To: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 054657/0610 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 15, 2020
From: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
To: ECOFASTEN SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 054769/0068 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2020
From: STEARNS, BRIAN C.; BORNEMANN, ALEXANDER G.
To: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 054657/0508 →
Continuity (15)
Continuation 16836636 · Mar 31, 2020
Continuation 16022691 · Jun 29, 2018
Continuation 15236175 · Aug 12, 2016
Continuation 14928235 · Oct 30, 2015
Continuation In Part 15990752 · May 28, 2018
Continuation 14680226 · Apr 7, 2015
Provisional Application 62238517 · Oct 7, 2015
Provisional Application 62134205 · Mar 17, 2015
Provisional Application 62131480 · Mar 11, 2015
Provisional Application 62106406 · Jan 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62106410 · Jan 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62106282 · Jan 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62073867 · Oct 31, 2014
Provisional Application 61976448 · Apr 7, 2014
Related Publication 20210104973A1 · Apr 8, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,571,415