Roof Attachment Assembly for Solar Panels and Installation Method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016142006-A1
Application number	US-201514946569-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a roof attachment assembly for mounting a solar panel on a roof without the use of rails. The assembly includes a flashing member, a pivot bracket member, a clamp member, an array skirt and a splice member. The flashing member anchors the roof attachment assembly to the roof. The pivot bracket member is rotatably connected to the flashing member. The clamp member is connected to the pivot bracket member and is rotatably connected thereto. The clamp member includes grounding elements for electrically grounding the solar panel. The array skirt is removably connected to the clamp member. The splice member includes grounding elements for electrically grounding the solar panel and is removably connected to the array skirt. Also disclosed is a method of using the assembly and an assembly kit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rail-less roof attachment assembly for mounting a solar panel on a roof having a flashing member, comprising:
A. a clamping member comprising;
i. a first and a second side positioned on opposite sides of the clamping member and an opening positioned between the first and second sides;
ii. a grounding element embedded in each of the first and second sides;
a. the first and second sides respectively further comprising a top and a bottom arm forming an opening for receiving an item;

B. a pivot bracket member comprising;
i. a first side for rotatably coupling the pivot bracket member to the flashing assembly;
ii. a second side for rotatably coupling the pivot bracket member to the clamping member.

2 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the grounding element is positioned on the bottom arm of at least one of the first and second sides of the clamping member and defines a grounding pin for making secure electrical connection.

3 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises a leveling bolt, the leveling bolt located in the opening, positioned between the first and second sides of the clamping member, for connecting the pivot bracket member to the clamping member and wherein the leveling bolt facilitates adjustment of the height of the clamping member relative to the pivot member.

4 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the leveling bolt is threaded and further comprises an adjustment nut and a socket drive on one end of the leveling bolt and wherein the rotation of the adjustment nut and the socket drive allows the height of the clamping member to be adjusted relative to the pivot bracket member.

5 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the clamping member—further comprises a level indicator located in the opening positioned between the first and second sides of the clamping member.

6 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second bottom arms further comprises a wire harness conduit.

7 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the clamping member is made from a spring-like material and wherein the arms are normally urged toward one another.

8 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the clamping member rotates 360° relative to the pivot bracket member.

9 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the pivot bracket member rotates 360° relative to the roof.

10 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes an array skirt member.

11 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 10 , wherein at least one of the lower arms of the clamping member further comprises a reverse notch and wherein the skirt member includes a compatible mating notch, whereby the array skirt member is connected to the clamping member through the notches to the clamping member.

12 . A rail-less roof attachment assembly for mounting two or more solar panels on a roof having flashing members, comprising:
A. a clamping member comprising;
i. a first and a second side positioned on opposite sides of the clamping member and an opening positioned between the first and second sides;
ii. a grounding element embedded in each of the first and second sides;
a. the first and second sides respectively further comprising a top and a bottom arm forming an opening for receiving an item;

B. a pivot bracket member comprising;
i. a first side for rotatably coupling the pivot bracket member to the flashing assembly; and
C. a splice member for joining two solar panels together comprising;
i. a first and a second side positioned on opposite sides of the splice member;
ii. a grounding element embedded in at least one of the first and second sides;
iii. the first and second sides respectively further comprising a top and a bottom arm forming an opening for receiving an item.

13 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the grounding element is positioned on the bottom arm of the splice member and defines a grounding pin for making secure electrical connection.

14 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second bottom arms of the splice member further comprises a wire harness conduit.

15 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the splice member is made from a spring-like material and wherein the arms are normally urged toward one another.

16 . The rail-less roof attachment assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein at least one bottom arm of the splice member includes a separator for spacing apart the solar panels.

17 . A splice assembly for use in a solar panel installation in a rail-less mounting system where at least two solar panels are connected together and where a flashing member is used on the roof, the splice assembly, comprising:
A. a splice member for joining at least two solar panels together comprising;
i. a first and a second side positioned on opposite sides of the splice member;
ii. a grounding element embedded in each of the first and second sides;
a. the first and second sides respectively further comprising a top and a bottom arm forming an opening for receiving an item.

18 . The splice assembly as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the item defines a solar panel.

19 . The splice assembly as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the item defines an array skirt member.

20 . The method of attaching solar panels to a group without the use of rail guides, the steps comprising:
A. supplying a roof attachment assembly, which includes a flashing member, a pivot bracket member, a clamping member, and a first array skirt member and a splice member; B. mounting the flashing member on the roof in secure fashion; C. connecting the pivot bracket member to the flashing member; D. rotatably connecting the clamping member to the pivot bracket member; E. connecting the array skirt member to the clamping member; and F. connecting the splice member to the first array skirt member.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the splice member connects a second array skirt member to the first array skirt member.

22 . The method as set forth in claim 21 , wherein in another clamping member is used to secure the second array skirt member.

23 . The method as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the height of the clamping member is adjustable.

24 . The method as set forth in claim 21 which further comprises the steps of:
A. attaching a solar panel to the clamping member; and
B. adjusting the height of the clamping member, thereby adjusting the height of the solar panel.

Assignees

• Ironridge Inc

Inventors

• Meine Shawn
• Ash Jon
• Kim William
• Taggart David
• Pereira William

Classifications

• H02S20/23 Primary

  specially adapted for roof structures · CPC title

• F24S25/61

  for fixing to the ground or to building structures · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title