Imitation solar module for use in a staggered or irregularly shaped solar array
An imitation solar module for structural and aesthetic use in an array of electricity generating solar modules. The imitation solar module having a non-standard shape and a visual representation such as a decal of an actual solar module surface thereon. The imitation solar module includes triangular shapes for use in staggered module arrays.
1. An imitation solar module for use in a photovoltaic array, comprising:
a flat triangular shaped body portion;
a visual representation of a portion of a photovoltaic module displayed on the flat triangular shaped body portion;
a first side flange extending downwardly from a first side of the triangular shaped body portion;
at least one coupling on the first side flange for connecting the triangular shaped body portion to a first adjacent photovoltaic module;
a second side flange extending downwardly from a second side of the triangular shaped body portion; and
at least one coupling on the second side flange for connecting the triangular shaped body portion to a second adjacent photovoltaic module.
2. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the first adjacent photovoltaic module is adjacent in an X-direction and the second adjacent photovoltaic module is adjacent in a Y-direction.
3. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the visual representation of a portion of a photovoltaic module is a decal affixed to the top of the flat triangular shaped body portion.
4. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the imitation solar module comprises no electricity generating elements.
5. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling on the first side flange comprises a pair of couplings, and the at least one coupling on the second side flange comprises a pair of couplings.
6. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the couplings are dimensioned to be rotated by approximately 90 degrees to lock into a side groove of the first and second adjacent photovoltaic modules.
7. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the flat body portion is made of sheet metal.
8. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the flat body portion comprises a surface indentation and the visual representation of a portion of a photovoltaic module is displayed within the surface indentation on the flat triangular shaped body portion.
9. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the position of the visual representation on the flat triangular shaped body portion gives the illusion that a side edge of the triangular shaped body portion is a raised frame on the side of the imitation module.
10. The imitation solar module of claim 1 , wherein the appearance of the visual representation on the flat triangular shaped body portion mimics the color, color gradients and cell surface features seen in an electricity generating solar module.
11. An imitation solar module for use in a photovoltaic array, comprising:
a flat, generally planar body portion;
a visual representation of a photovoltaic module displayed on the flat generally planar body portion;
a first side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the first side is adapted to be connected to a first adjacent photovoltaic module; and
a second side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the second side is adapted to be connected to a second adjacent photovoltaic module.
12. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the first and second sides are adapted to be connected to the first and second adjacent photovoltaic modules by at least one coupling on each of the first and second sides that extend downwardly from the flat body portion.
13. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the first and second sides are adapted to be connected to the first and second adjacent photovoltaic modules by a side groove on each of the first and second sides of the module, the side grooves being dimensioned to receive a coupling therein.
14. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the visual representation of a portion of a photovoltaic module is a decal affixed to the top of the body portion.
15. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the appearance of the visual representation on the flat generally planar body portion mimics the color, color gradients and cell surface features seen in an electricity generating solar module.
16. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the solar module comprises no electricity generating elements.
17. The imitation solar module of claim 12 , wherein the at least one coupling comprises a pair of couplings on each of the first and second sides.
18. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the flat body portion is rectangular.
19. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the flat body portion has a curved edge.
20. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the flat body portion has a cut-out section.
21. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the flat body portion has an irregular shape.
22. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the flat body portion is made of sheet metal.
23. The imitation solar module of claim 11 , wherein the flat body portion comprises a surface indentation and the visual representation of a portion of a photovoltaic module is displayed within the surface indentation on the flat body portion.
24. An array of electricity generating and imitation solar modules, comprising:
(a) a plurality of electricity generating solar modules;
(b) a plurality of imitation solar modules that do not generate electricity, each imitation solar module comprising:
a flat, generally planar body portion;
a visual representation of a photovoltaic module displayed on the flat generally planar body portion;
a first side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the first side is adapted to be connected to a first adjacent photovoltaic module; and
a second side extending downwardly from the flat generally planar body portion, wherein the second side is adapted to be connected to a second adjacent photovoltaic module; and
(c) a plurality of couplings connecting the imitation solar modules to the electricity generating solar modules to form an array of electricity generating and imitation solar modules.
25. The array of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of imitation solar modules are triangular in shape.
26. The array of claim 24 , wherein the flat, generally planar body portions of the plurality of imitation solar modules are made of sheet metal.