IP Library Granted Patent US 11,569,779
Granted Patent B2
US 11,569,779 · App. 17/336,170 · Granted Jan 31, 2023

Surface mount assemblies for a solar panel system

Inventor: Greg McPheeters (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: Sunrun South LLC
H02S20/30F24S25/30F24S25/61F24S25/634F24S25/70H02S20/23F24S2025/016F24S2025/019
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,569,779
App. No.
17/336,170
Granted
Jan 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Surface mount assemblies for mounting to a solar panel frame to an installation surface are disclosed. In some embodiments, a base is coupled to a height-adjustable rail mount to slidably couple a track with a fastener assembly that includes of a fastener, spacer, and nut. In some embodiments, a base is coupled to a rail mount and positioned on a base plate to slidably couple to a surface track with a fastener assembly that includes a first fastener slidably coupled to a groove formed by the track, spacer, and second fastener. In some embodiments, a base is coupled to a rail mount for slidably coupling the rail to a height-adjustable base with a fastener. In some embodiments, a two-configuration, track-mounted, rectangular base is designed with a rectangular base having a pair of short-sided legs, a pair of long-sided legs, and a fastener for engaging outer surfaces of a track.

Claims (40)

1. A structural mount, comprising:

a hollow rectangular structure comprised of:

a first horizontal side having an aperture;

a second horizontal side opposing the first horizontal side and having an aperture;

a X-shaped brace positioned within inner surfaces of the hollow rectangular structure and having an aperture; and

a first pair of flanges extending away from an outer surface of the first horizontal side, wherein

the aperture of the first horizontal side is located between the first pair of flanges and concentrically aligned with both the aperture of the X-shaped brace and the aperture of the second horizontal side.

2. The structural mount of claim 1 , wherein two of four ends of the X-shaped brace intersect with the first horizontal side and the two other ends of the four ends of the X-shaped brace intersect with the second horizontal side.

3. The structural mount of claim 1 , wherein each end of the four ends of the X-shaped brace intersects with one corner of four corners within the hollow rectangular structure.

4. The structural mount of claim 1 , wherein each flange of the first pair of flanges are equidistant with one another.

5. The structural mount of claim 1 , wherein the hollow rectangular structure is further comprised of:

a first vertical side;

a second vertical side opposing the first vertical side; and

a second pair of flanges extending away from an outer surface of the first vertical side, wherein

an aperture of the first vertical side is located between the second pair of flanges and concentrically aligned with the aperture of the X-shaped brace and an aperture of the second vertical side.

6. The structural mount of claim 5 , wherein each flange of the second pair of flanges are equidistant with one another.

7. The structural mount of claim 5 , wherein each flange of the first pair of flanges and each flange of the second pair of flanges are equidistant with one another.

8. The structural mount of claim 5 , wherein a first distance separates each flange of the first pair of flanges, and a second distance equal to the first distance separates each flange of the second pair of flanges.

9. A structural mount, comprising:

a hollow polygonal structure comprised of:

a first side having an aperture;

a second side substantially parallel to the first side and having an aperture,

an X-shaped brace positioned within inner surfaces of the hollow polygonal structure and having an aperture; and

a first pair of flanges extending away from an outer surface of the first side, wherein

the aperture of the first side is located between the first pair of flanges and concentrically aligned with both the aperture of the X-shaped brace and the aperture of the second side.

10. The structural mount of claim 9 , wherein one end of the X-shaped brace intersects with the first side and a second end of the X-shaped brace intersects with the second side.

11. The structural mount of claim 9 , wherein each end of the X-shaped brace intersects with one corner of a plurality of corners within the hollow polygonal structure.

12. The structural mount of claim 9 , wherein each flange of the first pair of flanges are equidistant with one another.

13. The structural mount of claim 9 , wherein two of four ends of the X-shaped brace intersect with the first side and the two other ends of the four ends of the X-shaped brace intersect with the second side.

14. The structural mount of claim 9 , wherein each of the four ends of the X-shaped brace intersect with one corner of a plurality of corners within the hollow polygonal structure.

15. The structural mount of claim 9 , wherein

the hollow polygonal structure is further comprised of:

a third side;

a fourth side substantially parallel to the third side; and

a second pair of flanges extending away from an outer surface of the third side, wherein

an aperture of the third side is located between the second pair of flanges and concentrically aligned with the aperture of the X-shaped brace and an aperture of the fourth side.

16. The structural mount of claim 15 , wherein each flange of the second pair of flanges are equidistant with one another.

17. The structural mount of claim 15 , wherein each flange of the first pair of flanges and each flange of the second pair of flanges are equidistant with one another.

18. The structural mount of claim 15 , wherein a first distance separates each flange of the first pair of flanges, and a second distance equal to the first distance separates each flange of the second pair of flanges.

19. The structural mount of claim 9 , wherein the hollow polygonal structure is a hollow rectangular structure.

Continuity (3)
Division 16113516 · Aug 27, 2018
Provisional Application 62550120 · Aug 25, 2017
Related Publication 20210359638A1 · Nov 18, 2021