Panel mounting bracket for standing seam roof and related methods

1. A system for mounting at least one solar panel on a roof having standing seams protruding outwardly therefrom, the system comprising:

a plurality of panel mounting brackets each comprising

first and second flanges laterally spaced apart to define a seam channel therebetween, the seam channel for receiving a given standing seam therein when the first and second flanges are positioned on the roof straddling the given standing seam, and

a vertical extension portion comprising first and second vertical sidewalls each respectively connected to said first and second flanges, with the first and second flanges extending laterally outward from the first and second vertical sidewalls; and

a plurality of clamps each configured to couple said vertical extension portion of a respective panel mounting bracket with the at least one solar panel.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the seam channel extends vertically into said vertical extension portion between the first and second sidewalls.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising at least one adjustable locking mechanism carried by said vertical extension portion for contacting the given standing seam within the seam channel.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said at least one adjustable locking mechanism comprises at least one set screw.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one locking mechanism carried by said first flange for contacting the given standing seam within the seam channel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said at least one adjustable locking mechanism comprises at least one locking cam.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one solar panel comprises a pair of solar panels; and wherein at least one of said clamps is configured to couple the pair of solar panels to a same vertical extension portion.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each vertical extension portion defines a fastener channel therein between the first and second vertical sidewalls; and further comprising a respective fastener to be received within each fastener channel to couple each vertical extension portion with a respective clamp.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the vertical extension portion has at least one hollow channel therein between the first and second vertical sidewalls.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said vertical extension portion is coupled to upper surfaces of said first and second flanges; and further comprising a respective pad coupled to bottom surfaces of each of said first and second flanges opposite the upper surfaces.

11. A panel mounting bracket for mounting at least one solar panel on a roof having standing seams protruding outwardly therefrom, the panel mounting bracket comprising:

first and second flanges laterally spaced apart to define a seam channel therebetween, the seam channel for receiving a given standing seam therein when the first and second flanges are positioned on the roof straddling the given standing seam; and

a vertical extension portion comprising first and second vertical sidewalls each respectively connected to said first and second flanges, the vertical extension portion to be coupled with the at least one solar panel, and the first and second flanges extending laterally outward from the first and second vertical sidewalls.

12. The panel mounting bracket of claim 11 wherein the seam channel extends vertically into said vertical extension portion between the first and second sidewalls.

13. The panel mounting bracket of claim 12 further comprising at least one adjustable locking mechanism carried by said vertical extension portion for contacting the given standing seam within the seam channel.

14. The panel mounting bracket of claim 13 wherein said at least one adjustable locking mechanism comprises at least one set screw.

15. The panel mounting bracket of claim 11 further comprising at least one locking mechanism carried by said first flange for contacting the given standing seam within the seam channel.

16. The panel mounting bracket of claim 15 wherein said at least one adjustable locking mechanism comprises at least one locking cam.

17. The panel mounting bracket of claim 11 wherein each vertical extension portion defines a fastener channel therein between the first and second vertical sidewalls.

18. The panel mounting bracket of claim 11 wherein the vertical extension portion has at least one hollow channel therein between the first and second vertical sidewalls.

19. A method for mounting at least one solar panel on a roof having standing seams protruding outwardly therefrom, the method comprising:

positioning a plurality of panel mounting brackets on the roof overlapping the standing seams, each panel mounting bracket comprising

first and second flanges laterally spaced apart to define a seam channel therebetween, the seam channel for receiving a given standing seam therein when the first and second flanges are positioned on the roof straddling the given standing seam, and

a vertical extension portion comprising first and second vertical sidewalls each respectively connected to the first and second flanges, with the first and second flanges extending laterally outward from the first and second vertical sidewalls; and

coupling the vertical extension portion of each panel mounting bracket with the at least one solar panel using a respective clamp.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the seam channel extends vertically into the vertical extension portion between the first and second sidewalls.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein positioning comprises adjusting at least one adjustable locking mechanism carried by the vertical extension portion to contact the given standing seam within the seam channel.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one adjustable locking mechanism comprises at least one set screw.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein positioning comprises adjusting at least one adjustable locking mechanism carried by the first flange to contact the given standing seam within the seam channel.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the at least one adjustable locking mechanism comprises at least one locking cam.