IP Library Granted Patent US 12,283,915
Granted Patent B2
US 12,283,915 · App. 18/448,594 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Solar module skirt assembly

Inventors: Gary Rossi (San Jose, CA); Ethan Ely (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Unirac, Inc.
H02S30/10H02S20/23
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 12,283,915
App. No.
18/448,594
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.

Claims (19)

1. A clip to attach a skirt to a solar module, the clip comprising:

a first portion configured to attach to an edge feature of the solar module and to the skirt, the first portion including a body having protrusions extending downward from the body;

a second portion configured to hold a portion of the edge feature of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, the second portion including grooves to receive the protrusions; and

a fastener configured to affix the clip to the edge feature of the solar module and the portion of the skirt directly between the body of the first portion and the second portion.

2. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are inclined towards one another.

3. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes two of the protrusions and the second portion includes two of the grooves.

4. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes at least one opening.

5. The clip according to claim 4 , wherein the first portion includes two of the protrusions and the protrusions are positioned on opposite sides of the at least one opening.

6. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the body of the first portion is S-shaped.

7. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes two openings that are larger than a head of the fastener.

8. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion is at least as wide as the second portion.

9. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes first and second openings that are larger than a head of the fastener and a third opening that is smaller than a head of the fastener.

10. The clip according to claim 1 , further comprising a spacer positioned between a head of the fastener and the first portion to prevent the first portion from deforming as the fastener is tightened.

11. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a threaded opening to receive the fastener and to allow the fastener to draw the second portion towards the first portion as the fastener is tightened.

12. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion is made from aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or galvanized steel.

13. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion is made from a reinforced plastic, resin, or other polymer.

14. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion is made from aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or galvanized steel.

15. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion is made from a reinforced plastic, resin, or other polymer.

16. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the fastener are made from a same material.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2025
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION; SUNPOWER CORPORATION, SYSTEMS
To: UNIRAC, INC.
Reel/Frame 071302/0904 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2025
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION,
To: UNIRAC, INC.
Reel/Frame 070704/0860 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2025
From: ROSSI, GARY; ELY, ETHAN
To: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070094/0465 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2024
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
To: UNIRAC, INC.
Reel/Frame 069584/0419 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17240270 · Apr 26, 2021
Continuation 16580125 · Sep 24, 2019
Provisional Application 62735511 · Sep 24, 2018
Related Publication 20240039465A1 · Feb 1, 2024
References Cited (27)
US 8627617B2 · Haddock et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8857113B2 · Zhang · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9431953B2 · Stearns et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9455662B2 · Meine · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9531319B2 · Braunstein et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9647433B2 · Meine et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9673752B2 · Tripp et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9825581B2 · Wildes · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9985575B2 · Stearns et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9985577B2 · Meine · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10020773B2 · Molina et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10199983B2 · Meine et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10381974B2 · McPheeters · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10644643B2 · Stearns · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10756668B2 · Bamat et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11018620B2 · Rossi et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11728764B2 · Rossi · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11757398B2 · Bamat · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20120138764A1 · Kemple · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20140158184A1 · West et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150129517A1 · Wildes · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150249423A1 · Braunstein et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150288320A1 · Stearns et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160268958A1 · Wildes et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170237386A1 · Stephan et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170366131A1 · Stearns et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180019701A1 · McPheeters · 2018 [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,597,880