IP Library Granted Patent US 11,773,597
Granted Patent B2
US 11,773,597 · App. 17/579,340 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Roof mounting system

Inventors: Brian Cecil Stearns (Tucson, AZ); Douglas Timothy Lounsbury (Moretown, VT)
Assignee: EcoFasten Solar, LLC
E04D13/14E04B1/40E04B1/66E04B1/665E04D13/04E04D13/10E04D13/147E04D13/1407E04D13/1476F16B43/001F24S25/61H02S20/23E04B2001/405F16B5/0258F24S2025/021Y02B10/10Y02B10/20Y02E10/47
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 11,773,597
App. No.
17/579,340
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A roof mount assembly mounts a structure to a roof having a rafter and a substrate supported by the rafter. The roof mount assembly includes a piece of flashing positioned on the substrate. The flashing includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an aperture extending through the flashing. A fastener extends through the flashing aperture. A bracket is connected to the flashing via the fastener, and the bracket is sized to support at least one roof-mounted structure on the roof. A seal is positioned between the flashing aperture and the fastener. The seal is sized to form a water-tight seal with the aperture to inhibit flow of fluid through the aperture. The seal includes a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion is positioned to abut the flashing first surface and the second portion is positioned to extend through the aperture.

Claims (36)

1. A roof mounting system, comprising:

a flashing extending along a first plane, the flashing comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the flashing comprising a protrusion extending upwardly from the first side, the protrusion defining a first aperture;

a bracket comprising;

an elongate body have a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, a second aperture defined in the elongate body,

a flange extending substantially perpendicularly to the elongate body, the first flange comprising a third aperture having a first aperture portion having a first diameter and a second aperture portion having a second diameter; and

a washer defining a fourth aperture defined through the washer; and

a seal disposed between the bracket and the flashing;

a fastener comprising a head portion and a threaded portion, the fastener installable through the fourth aperture, the third aperture, the seal and the first aperture, the head portion of the fastener configured to engage the washer,

wherein the washer is compressed between the head portion of the fastener and the flange.

2. The roof mounting bracket of claim 1 , the protrusion having a first diameter in the first plane and a second diameter in a second plane, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter.

3. The roof mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein the washer comprising a polymeric portion and a rigid portion adjacent the polymeric portion.

4. The roof mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is substantially constant.

5. The roof mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

6. The roof mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein the seal is disposed in the first aperture portion and is compressed between the bracket and the protrusion of the flashing, in response to being secured to a roof by the fastener.

7. The roof mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture portion has a frustoconical shape.

8. The roof mounting system of claim 2 , wherein the second plane is disposed above the first plane.

9. The roof mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a rubber seal including a first seal end portion, a second seal end portion and a central seal portion between the first seal end portion and second seal end portion, the rubber seal defining a cylindrical seal aperture through the first seal end portion, the second seal end portion, and the central seal portion.

10. The roof mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the second aperture of the elongate body is a slot.

11. The roof mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the slot is sized to receive a second fastener to support a solar panel.

12. The roof mounting system of claim 10 , wherein a track is configured to mount to the elongate body.

13. The roof mounting system of claim 12 , wherein a height between the track and a roof is adjustable along a length of the slot.

14. The roof mounting system of claim 13 , wherein a surface of the elongate body is a rough surface.

15. The roof mounting system of claim 14 , wherein the track is configured to engage the rough surface of the elongate body.

16. The roof mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the track is configured to receive a solar panel.

17. A roof mounting system, comprising:

a flashing extending along a first plane, the flashing comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the flashing comprising a protrusion extending upwardly from the first side, the protrusion defining a first aperture, the protrusion have a first diameter in the first plane and a second diameter in a second plane disposed above the first plane;

a bracket comprising,

an elongate body having a first end and a second end, the elongate body including a slot defined through the elongate body, the elongate body having a serrated portion adjacent the slot, and

a flange extending perpendicularly from the elongate body, the flange defining a second aperture, the second aperture having a first aperture portion with a first diameter and a second aperture portion with a second diameter;

a first seal member disposed beneath the protrusion of the flashing;

a second seal member disposed between the protrusion of the flashing and the first aperture portion;

a washer including a third aperture; and

a fastener installable through the third aperture, the first seal member, the second seal member, the second aperture, and the first aperture.

18. The roof mounting bracket of claim 17 , wherein the first diameter is substantially constant.

19. The roof mounting bracket of claim 17 , wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

20. The roof mounting bracket of claim 17 , wherein the first aperture portion has a frustoconical shape.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: ECOFASTEN SOLAR, LLC
To: ENSTALL US, INC.
Reel/Frame 073511/0490 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2025
From: ECOFASTEN SOLAR, LLC; ENSTALL EUROPE B.V.; IRONRIDGE, INC.; PANELCLAW, INC.; ENSTALL US, INC.; ENSTALL INNOVATION B.V.; WENCON DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070892/0981 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 20, 2022
From: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
To: ECOFASTEN SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 058785/0944 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 19, 2022
From: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
To: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 058699/0452 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2022
From: VERMONT SLATE & COPPER SERVICES
To: RILLITO RIVER SOLAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 058699/0403 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2022
From: STEARNS, BRIAN CECIL; LOUNSBURY, DOUGLAS TIMOTHY
To: ALPINE SNOW GUARDS
Reel/Frame 058699/0286 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2022
From: ALPINE SNOW GUARDS
To: VERMONT SLATE & COPPER SERVICES
Reel/Frame 058699/0325 →
Continuity (27)
Continuation 17164118 · Feb 1, 2021
Continuation 17099128 · Nov 16, 2020
Continuation 16864018 · Apr 30, 2020
Continuation 16752667 · Jan 26, 2020
Continuation 16051479 · Jul 31, 2018
Continuation 15942265 · Mar 30, 2018
Continuation 15711745 · Sep 21, 2017
Continuation 15461166 · Mar 16, 2017
Continuation 15229974 · Aug 5, 2016
Continuation 15003472 · Jan 21, 2016
Continuation 14813199 · Jul 30, 2015
Continuation 14813199 · Jul 30, 2015
Continuation 14253687 · Apr 15, 2014
Continuation 14253687 · Apr 15, 2014
Continuation 14235687 · Jan 28, 2014
Continuation 13271650 · Oct 12, 2011
Continuation 13166542 · Jun 22, 2011
Continuation In Part 13166378 · Jun 22, 2011
Continuation 12914209 · Oct 28, 2010
Continuation 12914209 · Oct 28, 2010
Continuation In Part 12727726 · Mar 19, 2010
Continuation In Part 12727726 · Mar 19, 2010
Continuation 12727726 · Mar 19, 2010
Provisional Application 61345885 · May 18, 2010
Provisional Application 61298101 · Jan 25, 2010
Provisional Application 61161668 · Mar 19, 2009
Related Publication 20220140771A1 · May 5, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,312,812