Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
12
초록▼
A system for supporting a plurality of solar panels includes elongated support members each having a first portion, a coextensive second portion, and a longitudinally extending mid portion between the first and second portions. The first and second portions each have a base for contacting a surface
A system for supporting a plurality of solar panels includes elongated support members each having a first portion, a coextensive second portion, and a longitudinally extending mid portion between the first and second portions. The first and second portions each have a base for contacting a surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an edge of a solar panel at a height above the base, with the heights placing one edge higher than the other. When installed, support members are disposed generally parallel to each other and spaced apart on a surface, with the edge receiving portions facing each other. The upper edge of a solar panel is received in the edge receiving area of the first portion of one of the support members and a lower edge of the solar panel is received in the edge receiving area of the second portion of the other support members.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for supporting a plurality of solar panels on a surface, the solar panels each having an upper edge, an opposed lower edge, and a pair of opposed side edges extending between the upper and lower edges, the solar panels being disposed in adjacent rows wherein the lower edge of one panel i
1. A system for supporting a plurality of solar panels on a surface, the solar panels each having an upper edge, an opposed lower edge, and a pair of opposed side edges extending between the upper and lower edges, the solar panels being disposed in adjacent rows wherein the lower edge of one panel is adjacent the upper edge of another panel in an adjacent row, the system comprising: a plurality of elongated support members each having a first edge and an opposed second edge extending longitudinally between a pair of opposed ends, each support member having an elongated first portion including the first edge and a coextensive elongated second portion including the second edge, each support member further having a longitudinally extending mid portion extending between and interconnecting the first and second portions;the first portion having a base for contacting a surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an upper edge of a solar panel at a first height above the base; andthe second portion having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive a lower edge of a solar panel at a second height above the base, the second height being less than the first height;the mid portion horizontally spacing the first portion from the second portion and having an exposed generally upwardly facing surface between the first and second portions, the generally upwardly facing surface being at a height offset from the edge receiving area of the first portion;the system having an installed configuration wherein a first one of the support members and a second one of the support members are disposed generally parallel to each other and spaced apart on the surface, the support members being positioned such that the first portion of the first one of the support members is directed toward the second elongated portion of the second one of the support members, the upper edge of a solar panel being received in the edge receiving area of the first portion of the first one of the support members and a lower edge of the solar panel being received in the edge receiving area of the second portion of the second one of the support members. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the elongated support members are each formed as a unitary piece. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein: the elongated support members are each molded from a plastic material. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein: the elongated support members each form a generally continuous surface between the edge of the first portion and the edge of the second portion. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein: the first portion includes a first wall forming a generally continuous surface between the base and the edge receiving area. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein: the first portion includes a second wall forming a generally continuous surface between the mid portion and the edge receiving area. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein: the second wall is a curved wall. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein: one of the edge receiving areas includes a ledge for receiving a lower surface of an edge of a solar panel and a plurality of tabs for extending above an upper surface of an edge of a solar panel. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of end pieces, each end piece configured to cooperate with one of the ends of a support member so as to close off the end. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein: each support member having a snap element adjacent one end and a receiving opening at an opposite end for connecting to the end of another support member so as to provide a generally continuous support member assembly. 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a lower support member having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive a lower edge of a solar panel at the second height above the base, the lower support member not having any additional edge receiving area;the system in the installed configuration supporting a plurality of rows of solar panels, the lower support member supporting the lower edge of solar panels in a last row of the solar panels. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: an upper support member having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an upper edge of a solar panel at the first height above the base, the upper support member not having any additional edge receiving area;the system in the installed configuration supporting a plurality of rows of solar panels, the upper support member supporting the upper edge of solar panels in a first row of the solar panels. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein: the first height and the second height are selected such that a solar panel is supported at approximately 10 degrees with respect to the surface. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein: the system is for supporting the solar panels at an angle on a generally flat roof surface; andthe second height is significantly lower than the first height such that the solar panel is angled with respect to the roof surface under the support members. 15. A system for supporting a plurality of solar panels on a surface, the solar panels each having an upper edge, an opposed lower edge, and a pair of opposed side edges extending between the upper and lower edges, the solar panels being disposed in adjacent rows wherein the lower edge of one panel is adjacent the upper edge of another panel in an adjacent row, the system comprising: a plurality of elongated support members each having a first edge and an opposed second edge extending longitudinally between a pair of opposed ends, each support member having an elongated first portion including the first edge and a coextensive elongated second portion including the second edge, each support member further having a longitudinally extending mid portion between the first and second portions;the first portion having a base for contacting a surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an upper edge of a solar panel at a first height above the base; andthe second portion having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive a lower edge of a solar panel at a second height above the base, the second height being less than the first height;at least a part of the mid portion being coplanar with the bases of the first and second portions such that each is supported on the surface in the installed configuration;the system having an installed configuration wherein a first one of the support members and a second one of the support members are disposed generally parallel to each other and spaced apart on the surface, the support members being positioned such that the first portion of the first one of the support members is directed toward the second elongated portion of the second one of the support members, the upper edge of a solar panel being received in the edge receiving area of the first portion of the first one of the support members and a lower edge of the solar panel being received in the edge receiving area of the second portion of the second one of the support members. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein: the elongated support members are each formed as a unitary piece and are each molded from a plastic material. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein: the elongated support members each form a generally continuous surface between the edge of the first portion and the edge of the second portion;the first portion includes a first wall forming a generally continuous surface between the base and the edge receiving area; andthe first portion includes a second wall forming a generally continuous surface between the mid portion and the edge receiving area, the second wall being a curved wall. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein: one of the edge receiving areas includes a ledge for receiving a lower surface of an edge of a solar panel and a plurality of tabs for extending above an upper surface of an edge of a solar panel. 19. The system of claim 15, further comprising: a plurality of end pieces, each end piece configured to cooperate with one of the ends of a support member so as to close off the end;one or more lower support members each having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive a lower edge of a solar panel at the second height above the base, the lower support members not having any additional edge receiving area, the system in the installed configuration supporting a plurality of rows of solar panels, the lower support members supporting the lower edge of solar panels in a last row of the solar panels; andone or more upper support members each having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an upper edge of a solar panel at the first height above the base, the upper support member not having any additional edge receiving area, the system in the installed configuration supporting a plurality of rows of solar panels, the upper support member supporting the upper edge of solar panels in a first row of the solar panels. 20. The system of claim 15, wherein: each support member having a snap element adjacent one end and a receiving opening at an opposite end for connecting to the end of another support member so as to provide a generally continuous support member assembly. 21. The system of claim 15, wherein: the system is for supporting the solar panels at an angle on a generally flat roof surface; andthe second height is significantly lower than the first height such that the solar panel is angled with respect to the roof surface under the support members. 22. A system for supporting a plurality of solar panels on a surface, the solar panels each having an upper edge, an opposed lower edge, and a pair of opposed side edges extending between the upper and lower edges, the solar panels being disposed in adjacent rows wherein the lower edge of one panel is adjacent the upper edge of another panel in an adjacent row, the system comprising: a plurality of elongated support members each having a first edge and an opposed second edge extending longitudinally between a pair of opposed ends, each support member having an elongated first portion including the first edge and a coextensive elongated second portion including the second edge, each support member further having a longitudinally extending mid portion between the first and second portions;the first portion having a base for contacting a surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an upper edge of a solar panel at a first height above the base; andthe second portion having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive a lower edge of a solar panel at a second height above the base, the second height being less than the first height;the mid portion having a generally horizontal upper surface defining a walking surface;the system having an installed configuration wherein a first one of the support members and a second one of the support members are disposed generally parallel to each other and spaced apart on the surface, the support members being positioned such that the first portion of the first one of the support members is directed toward the second elongated portion of the second one of the support members, the upper edge of a solar panel being received in the edge receiving area of the first portion of the first one of the support members and a lower edge of the solar panel being received in the edge receiving area of the second portion of the second one of the support members. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein: the elongated support members are each formed as a unitary piece and are each molded from a plastic material. 24. The system of claim 22, wherein: the elongated support members each foil a generally continuous surface between the edge of the first portion and the edge of the second portion;the first portion includes a first wall forming a generally continuous surface between the base and the edge receiving area; andthe first portion includes a second wall forming a generally continuous surface between the mid portion and the edge receiving area, the second wall being a curved wall. 25. The system of claim 22, wherein: one of the edge receiving areas includes a ledge for receiving a lower surface of an edge of a solar panel and a plurality of tabs for extending above an upper surface of an edge of a solar panel. 26. The system of claim 22, further comprising: a plurality of end pieces, each end piece configured to cooperate with one of the ends of a support member so as to close off the end;one or more lower support members each having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive a lower edge of a solar panel at the second height above the base, the lower support members not having any additional edge receiving area, the system in the installed configuration supporting a plurality of rows of solar panels, the lower support members supporting the lower edge of solar panels in a last row of the solar panels; andone or more upper support members each having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an upper edge of a solar panel at the first height above the base, the upper support member not having any additional edge receiving area, the system in the installed configuration supporting a plurality of rows of solar panels, the upper support member supporting the upper edge of solar panels in a first row of the solar panels. 27. The system of claim 22, wherein: each support member having a snap element adjacent one end and a receiving opening at an opposite end for connecting to the end of another support member so as to provide a generally continuous support member assembly. 28. The system of claim 22, wherein: the system is for supporting the solar panels at an angle on a generally flat roof surface; andthe second height is significantly lower than the first height such that the solar panel is angled with respect to the roof surface under the support members. 29. A method for supporting a plurality of solar panels on a surface, the solar panels each having an upper edge, an opposed lower edge, and a pair of opposed side edges extending between the upper and lower edges, the solar panels being disposed in adjacent rows wherein the lower edge of one panel is adjacent the upper edge of another panel in an adjacent row, the method comprising: providing a plurality of elongated support members each having: a first edge and an opposed second edge extending longitudinally between a pair of opposed ends, each support member having an elongated first portion including the first edge and a coextensive elongated second portion including the second edge, each support member further having a longitudinally extending mid portion extending between and interconnecting the first and second portions;the first portion having a base for contacting a surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive an upper edge of a solar panel at a first height above the base; andthe second portion having a base for contacting the surface and an edge receiving area configured to receive a lower edge of a solar panel at a second height above the base, the second height being less than the first height;the mid portion horizontally spacing the first portion from the second portion and having an exposed generally upwardly facing surface between the first and second portions, the generally upwardly facing surface being at a height offset from the edge receiving area of the first portion;disposing a first one of the support members and a second one of the support members generally parallel to each other and spaced apart on the surface, the support members being positioned such that the first portion of the first one of the support members is directed toward the second portion of the second one of the support members;receiving an upper edge of a solar panel in the edge receiving area of the first portion of the first one of the support members and a lower edge of the solar panel in the edge receiving area of the second portion of the second one of the support members. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein: the surface is a generally flat roof having a roof membrane; andthe support system is self supporting and the method does not require anchoring to the roof, thereby avoiding penetrating the roof membrane.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
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