Narrow flashing for waterproof mounting of solar panels to a roof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10284136-B1
Application number	US-201715785492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2017
Priority date	Oct 17, 2017
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

Improved versions of flat flashings are used for waterproofing mounting hardware that holds photovoltaic solar panels on a roof; typically, such a roof is a pitched, composition shingle roof. The flashings are narrow in width, and have chamfered and/or rounded corners, and a variety of alignment marks printed on the flashing for aligning the flashing with adjacent shingles. The height/width aspect ratio of the flashing can range from 1.4 to 2.0, or more.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flat flashing for use in mounting solar panels to a roof, the flashing comprising:
a flat sheet of metal or plastic with an aperture disposed in a lower portion of the flashing;
first and second pairs of rounded upper corners at an upper end of the flashing, with a pair of angled straight-line segments of flashing perimeter disposed in between each adjacent first and second pair of rounded upper corners; and
a third pair of rounded lower corners disposed in the lower portion of the flashing.

2. The flat flashing of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of parallel lines printed on the flashing, disposed equidistant on either side of the aperture and aligned along a north-south direction.

3. The flat flashing of claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal bar printed on the flashing, disposed above the aperture and aligned along an east-west direction.

4. The flat flashing of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of side marks printed on the flashing, and located on east and west sides of the flashing, at a height equal to a height of the aperture.

5. The flat flashing of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of height divided by width of the flashing is equal to 1.4.

6. The flat flashing of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of height divided by width of the flashing is greater than or equal to 2.0.

7. The flat flashing of claim 6 , wherein the rounded lower corners disposed in the lower portion of the flashing combine to make a semi-circular rounded lower end of the flashing.

8. The flat flashing of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of height divided by width of the flashing ranges from 1.4 to 2.0.

9. The flat flashing of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is located midway across the flashing in an east-west direction, and approximately ¼ of the way up from a southern-most edge.

10. The flat flashing of claim 1 , further comprising a “U”-shaped mark printed on the lower portion of the flashing, and disposed so that the U-shaped mark partially surrounds the aperture.

11. A flat flashing for use in mounting solar panels to a roof, the flashing comprising:
a flat sheet of metal or plastic with an aperture disposed in a lower portion of the flashing;
a first pair of rounded upper corners disposed at an upper end of the flashing;
a second pair of rounded lower corners disposed in the lower portion of the flashing;
a horizontal bar printed on the flashing, disposed above the aperture and aligned along an east-west direction; and
a “cross” printed on the flashing, disposed above the horizontal bar and aligned along an east-west/north-south direction.

12. A flat flashing for use in mounting solar panels to a roof, the flashing comprising:
a flat sheet of metal or plastic with an aperture disposed in a lower portion of the flashing;
a first pair of chamfered, rounded upper corners disposed at an upper end of the flashing;
a second pair of rounded lower corners disposed in the lower portion of the flashing;
a pair of parallel lines printed on the flashing, disposed equidistant on either side of the aperture and aligned along a north-south direction;
a horizontal bar printed on the flashing, disposed above the aperture and aligned along an east-west direction;
a “cross” printed on the flashing, disposed above the horizontal bar and aligned along an east-west/north-south direction; and
a pair of printed side marks located on east and west sides of the flashing, at a height equal to a height of the aperture;
wherein a ratio of height divided by width of the flashing is equal to 1.4; and
wherein the aperture is located midway across the flashing in an east-west direction, and approximately ¼ of the way up from a southernmost edge.

13. A flat flashing for use in mounting solar panels to a roof, the flashing comprising:
a flat sheet of metal or plastic with an aperture disposed in a lower portion of the flashing;
a first pair of rounded upper corners disposed at an upper end of the flashing;
a second pair of rounded lower corners disposed in the lower portion of the flashing;
a pair of parallel lines printed on the flashing, disposed equidistant on either side of the aperture, and aligned along a north-south direction;
a horizontal bar printed on the flashing, disposed above the aperture, and aligned along an east-west direction;
a “cross” printed on the flashing, disposed above the horizontal bar, and aligned along an east-west/north-south direction; and
a pair of printed side marks located on east and west sides of the flashing, at a height equal to a height of the aperture;
wherein a ratio of height divided by width of the flashing is equal to 2.0; and
wherein the aperture is located midway across the flashing in an east-west direction, and approximately ¼ of the way up from a southernmost edge.

14. An assembly for mounting a solar panel to a roof, the assembly comprising:
a flashing including a flat sheet of metal or plastic with an aperture disposed in a lower portion of the flashing, first and second pairs of rounded upper corners disposed at an upper end of the flashing, with a pair of angled straight-line segments of flashing perimeter disposed in between each adjacent first and second pairs of rounded upper corners, and a third pair of rounded lower corners disposed in the lower portion of the flashing;
a bracket;
a lag-screw including a head;
an elastomeric washer disposed between the head of the lag screw and a lower flange of the bracket; and
a sealing pad disposed in-between the lower flange of the bracket and the flashing for the purpose of water sealing.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein a ratio of height divided by width of the flashing is greater than or equal to 2.0.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the rounded lower corners disposed in the lower portion of the flashing combine to make a semi-circular rounded lower end of the flashing.

17. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein a ratio of height divided by width of the flashing ranges from 1.4 to 2.0.

18. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the sealing pad comprises an elastomeric or butyl rubber.

19. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the sealing pad comprises an adhesive material.

20. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein a radius of the rounded lower corners is at least 5 times greater than a radius of the rounded upper corners.

21. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein a width of the flashing is less than or equal to 7 inches.

22. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the bracket is a slider bar; the elastomeric washer is disposed in-between the head of the lag screw and the slider bar; and the sealing pad is disposed in-between the slider bar and the flashing.

23. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the bracket is an L-foot.

Assignees

• Unirac Inc

Inventors

• Mayfield Jason
• Schuit Nathan

Classifications

• F24S25/636

  clamping by screw-threaded elements · CPC title

• F24S2025/021

  Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface · CPC title

• H02S20/23 Primary

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title

• F24S2025/6005

  by screwed connection · CPC title

• F24S2025/6006

  by using threaded elements, e.g. stud bolts · CPC title