SOLAR CABLE RETENTION CLIPS WITH RESILIENT HOOKS FOR STRUCTURE MOUNTING

1 . A method of arranging solar cables using a cable retention clip comprising:

at least one clip body region defining at least two cable retention channels that are arranged to have parallel channel axes, each cable retention channel having an inlet opening extending a length of the respective cable retention channel, each cable retention channel being separated from an adjacent cable retention channel by a cable separator; and

at least two elongate resilient pillars that are spaced apart with a gap therebetween and that extend from the at least one clip body region, each elongate pillar including a hook at an end opposite of the at least one clip body region, each hook being oriented away from the other hook,

the method comprising:

applying a force to each hook to press the hooks toward each other;

inserting each hook through an aperture in a structural support;

releasing the force from each hook so that the hooks resiliently spread away from each other and hook into the aperture and couple with the structural support; and

inserting first and second cables into first and second cable retention channels of the at least two cable retention channels.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling at least one solar panel operably with at least one of the at least two cables, wherein the structural support supports the at least one solar panel, and wherein the elongate resilient pillars couple the cable retention clip to the structural support to suspend the at least two cables beneath the at least one solar panel.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the first and second cables into the first and second cable retention channels includes positioning the first cable at the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel, applying a pressing force to the first cable in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first cable retention channel, expanding the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel until the first cable is through the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel, and the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel resiliently returning toward its pre-insertion size.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising retention surfaces on opposing surfaces of the hooks applying forces laterally away from each other against opposing walls of an aperture of the structural support.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:

the at least two cable retention channels have the same size; or

the at least two cable retention channels comprise at least four cable retention channels.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pillars are a same material as the at least one clip body region and integrated therewith.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hook of each pillar includes a first hook body portion with a first retention surface extending from a pillar end of the respective pillar, and a second hook body portion with a second retention surface extending from an end of the first hook body portion.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of:

the first retention surface is at an angle with respect to a pillar surface, and the second retention surface is at an angle with respect to the first retention surface;

the first retention surface is orthogonal with respect to a pillar surface, and the second retention surface is orthogonal with respect to the first retention surface so as to be parallel with the pillar surface; or

at least one of the hooks has a tapered second hook body portion that tapers from the end of the first hook body portion to a second hook tip.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each pillar includes:

a hook head having the hook;

a lower pillar body extending from the at least one clip body region; and

a recessed pillar body having a recessed surface between the hook head and lower pillar body.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each hook head includes a ramped leading surface to facilitate insertion through the aperture of the structural support.

11 . A method of arranging solar cables using a cable retention clip comprising:

at least one clip body region defining at least two cable retention channels that are arranged to have parallel channel axes, each cable retention channel has an inlet opening extending a length of the respective cable retention channel, each cable retention channel being separated from an adjacent cable retention channel by a cable separator; and

two elongate resilient pillars that are spaced apart with a gap therebetween and that extend from the at least one clip body region, each elongate pillar including a hook at an end opposite of the at least one clip body region, each hook being oriented and extending away from the other hook,

wherein:

the hooks of the elongate pillars are located in their entireties to one side of a reference plane that intersects each of the elongate pillars and that is parallel to lengths of the cable retention channels;

the at least one clip body region and the at least two cable retention channels are located in their entireties to an opposite side of the reference plane from the hooks;

the inlet openings of the at least two cable retention channels open towards the elongate resilient pillars; and

a diameter of each inlet opening is less than an internal diameter of the corresponding cable retention channel;

the method comprising:

applying a force to each hook to press the hooks toward each other;

inserting each hook through an aperture in a structural support;

releasing the force from each hook so that the hooks resiliently spread away from each other and hook into the aperture and couple with the structural support; and

inserting first and second cables into first and second cable retention channels of the at least two cable retention channels.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising coupling at least one solar panel operably with at least one of the at least two cables, wherein the structural support supports the at least one solar panel, and wherein the elongate resilient pillars couple the cable retention clip to the structural support to suspend the at least two cables beneath the at least one solar panel.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein inserting the first and second cables into the first and second cable retention channels includes positioning the first cable at the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel, applying a pressing force to the first cable in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first cable retention channel, expanding the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel until the first cable is through the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel, and the inlet opening of the first cable retention channel resiliently returning toward its pre-insertion size.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising retention surfaces on opposing surfaces of the hooks applying forces laterally away from each other against opposing walls of an aperture of the structural support.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of:

the at least two cable retention channels have the same size; or

the at least two cable retention channels comprise at least four cable retention channels.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pillars are a same material as the at least one clip body region and integrated therewith.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the hook of each pillar includes a first hook body portion with a first retention surface extending from a pillar end of the respective pillar, and a second hook body portion with a second retention surface extending from an end of the first hook body portion.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of:

the first retention surface is at an angle with respect to a pillar surface, and the second retention surface is at an angle with respect to the first retention surface;

the first retention surface is orthogonal with respect to a pillar surface, and the second retention surface is orthogonal with respect to the first retention surface so as to be parallel with the pillar surface; or

at least one of the hooks has a tapered second hook body portion that tapers from the end of the first hook body portion to a second hook tip.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each pillar includes:

a hook head having the hook;

a lower pillar body extending from the at least one clip body region; and

a recessed pillar body having a recessed surface between the hook head and lower pillar body.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein each hook head includes a ramped leading surface to facilitate insertion through the aperture of the structural support.