초록 ▼

A solar panel support assembly (12) for movably supporting a solar panel (10) relative to a surface (22) of a vehicle (624) comprises a fixed support member (14), a movable support member (16), and a locking assembly (20). The fixed support member (14) is fixedly coupled to the surface (22). The mov

A solar panel support assembly (12) for movably supporting a solar panel (10) relative to a surface (22) of a vehicle (624) comprises a fixed support member (14), a movable support member (16), and a locking assembly (20). The fixed support member (14) is fixedly coupled to the surface (22). The movable support member (16) is configured to retain the solar panel (10), the movable support member (16) being movably coupled to the fixed support member (14). The locking assembly (20) is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the locking assembly (20) is in the locked position, the movable support member (16) is substantially inhibited from moving relative to the fixed support member (14). The solar panel support assembly (12) can further comprise a mover assembly (18) that moves the movable support member (16) relative to the fixed support member (14).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A solar panel support assembly for movably supporting a solar panel relative to a surface of a vehicle, the solar panel support assembly comprising: a fixed support member that is fixedly coupled to the surface;a movable support member that is configured to retain the solar panel, the movable sup

1. A solar panel support assembly for movably supporting a solar panel relative to a surface of a vehicle, the solar panel support assembly comprising: a fixed support member that is fixedly coupled to the surface;a movable support member that is configured to retain the solar panel, the movable support member being movably coupled to the fixed support member, the movable support member including a top edge, an opposed bottom edge, a first side edge, an opposed second side edge, and an inner support bracket that is coupled to and extends between the top edge and the bottom edge between the first side edge and the second side edge, wherein the inner support bracket includes a pair of spaced apart slotted apertures;a locking assembly that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the movable support member is substantially inhibited from moving relative to the fixed support member, the locking assembly including (i) a first locking component that includes a locking bar that is coupled to the movable support member, the locking bar having a first end, a second end, a pair of side segments, and a middle segment that extend between and connects to each of the side segments, and (ii) a second locking component that includes a pair of locking apertures formed within the fixed support member, and wherein each of the first end and the second end of the locking bar extend through one of the locking apertures when the locking assembly is in the locked position; anda mover assembly that moves the movable support member relative to the fixed support member between a first position and a second position, wherein the mover assembly includes a mover having a first mover end that is coupled to the fixed support member, and a second mover end that is coupled to the inner support bracket, and wherein the second mover end is coupled to the middle segment of the locking bar between the slotted apertures. 2. The solar panel support assembly of claim 1 wherein the slotted apertures each include a first locking end and a second unlocking end; wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the first locking end of the slotted apertures; and wherein when the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the second unlocking end of the slotted apertures. 3. A solar panel support assembly for movably supporting a solar panel relative to a surface of a vehicle, the solar panel support assembly comprising: a fixed support member that is fixedly coupled to the surface;a movable support member that is configured to retain the solar panel, the movable support member being movably coupled to the fixed support member, the movable support member including a top edge, an opposed bottom edge, a first side edge, an opposed second side edge, and an inner support bracket that is coupled to and extends between the top edge and the bottom edge between the first side edge and the second side edge, wherein the inner support bracket includes a pair of spaced apart slotted apertures;a mover assembly that moves the movable support member to adjust a tilt angle of the movable support member relative to the fixed support member between a first position and a second position, wherein when the movable support member is in the first position, a plurality of the top edge, the bottom edge, the first side edge and the second side edge of the movable support member are positioned substantially adjacent to the fixed support member; and wherein when the movable support member is in the second position, substantially the entire top edge, first side edge and second side edge of the movable support member are spaced apart from the fixed support member, and wherein the mover assembly includes a mover having a first mover end that is coupled to the fixed support member, and a second mover end that is coupled to the inner support bracket; anda locking assembly that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking assembly including (i) a first locking component that includes a locking bar that is coupled to the movable support member, the locking bar having a first end, a second end, a pair of side segments and a middle segment that extends between and connects to each of the side segments, and (ii) a second locking component that includes a pair of locking apertures formed within at least one of the other of the fixed support member and the movable support member, and wherein each of the first end and the second end of the locking bar extend through one of the locking apertures when the locking assembly is in the locked position;wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the movable support member is substantially inhibited from moving relative to the fixed support member to selectively adjust the tilt angle;wherein the locking assembly is only movable between the locked position and the unlocked position when the movable support member is in the first position relative to the fixed support member; andwherein the second mover end is coupled to the middle segment of the locking bar between the slotted apertures. 4. The solar panel support assembly of claim 3 wherein the slotted apertures each include a first locking end and a second unlocking end; wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the first locking end of the slotted apertures; and wherein when the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the second unlocking end of the slotted apertures. 5. A solar panel support assembly for movably supporting a solar panel relative to a surface of a vehicle, the solar panel support assembly comprising: a fixed support member that is fixedly coupled to the surface;a movable support member that is configured to retain the solar panel, the movable support member being movably coupled to the fixed support member;a locking assembly that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the movable support member is substantially inhibited from moving relative to the fixed support member; anda linear actuator that (i) moves the movable support member relative to the fixed support member between a first position and a second position, and (ii) moves the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position in a direction that is non-perpendicular to a direction of movement of the linear actuator;wherein at least a portion of time the linear actuator moves only one of (i) the movable support member relative to the fixed support member between the first position and the second position, and (ii) the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position. 6. The solar panel support assembly of claim 5 wherein the locking assembly is only movable between the locked position and the unlocked position when the movable support member is in the first position relative to the fixed support member. 7. The solar panel support assembly of claim 5 wherein the linear actuator moves the movable support member to adjust a tilt angle of the movable support member relative to the fixed support member between the first position and the second position. 8. The solar panel support assembly of claim 7 further comprising a mover assembly that rotates the movable support member relative to the fixed support member. 9. The solar panel support assembly of claim 5 wherein the movable support member includes a top edge, an opposed bottom edge, a first side edge, and an opposed second side edge; wherein when the movable support member is in the first position, a plurality of the top edge, the bottom edge, the first side edge and the second side edge of the movable support member are positioned substantially adjacent to the fixed support member; and wherein when the movable support member is in the second position, substantially the entire top edge, first side edge and second side edge of the movable support member are spaced apart from the fixed support member. 10. The solar panel support assembly of claim 5 wherein the locking assembly includes (i) a locking bar that is coupled to the movable support member, the locking bar having a first end and a second end, and (ii) a pair of locking apertures formed within the fixed support member, and wherein each of the first end and the second end of the locking bar extend through one of the locking apertures when the locking assembly is in the locked position. 11. The solar panel support assembly of claim 10 wherein the movable support member includes a top edge, an opposed bottom edge, a first side edge, an opposed second side edge, and an inner support bracket that is coupled to and extends between the top edge and the bottom edge between the first side edge and the second side edge; and wherein the linear actuator has a first mover end that is coupled to the fixed support member, and a second mover end that is coupled to the inner support bracket. 12. The solar panel support assembly of claim 11 wherein the inner support bracket includes a pair of spaced apart slotted apertures; wherein the locking bar includes a pair of side segments and a middle segment that extends between and connects to each of the side segments; and wherein the second mover end is coupled to the middle segment of the locking bar between the slotted apertures. 13. The solar panel support assembly of claim 12 wherein the slotted apertures each include a first locking end and a second unlocking end; wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the first locking end of the slotted apertures; and wherein when the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the second unlocking end of the slotted apertures. 14. A solar panel support assembly for movably supporting a solar panel relative to a surface of a vehicle, the solar panel support assembly comprising: a fixed support member that is fixedly coupled to the surface;a movable support member that is configured to retain the solar panel, the movable support member being movably coupled to the fixed support member, the movable support member including an inner support bracket that includes a pair of spaced apart slotted apertures;a locking assembly that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the movable support member is inhibited from moving relative to the fixed support member, the locking assembly including (i) a first locking component that includes a locking bar that is coupled to the movable support member, the locking bar having a first end, a second end, a pair of side segments, and a middle segment that extends between and connects to each of the side segments, and (ii) a second locking component that includes a pair of locking apertures formed within the fixed support member, and wherein the first end of the locking bar extends through one of locking apertures of the pair of locking apertures, and the second end of the locking bar extends through the other locking apertures of the pair of locking apertures when the locking assembly is in the locked position; anda mover that moves the movable support member relative to the fixed support member between a first position and a second position, the mover having a first mover end that is coupled to the fixed support member, and a second mover end that is coupled to the inner support bracket, and wherein the second mover end is coupled to the middle segment of the locking bar between the slotted apertures. 15. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 wherein the locking assembly is only movable between the locked position and the unlocked position when the movable support member is in the first position relative to the fixed support member. 16. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 wherein the mover moves the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position. 17. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 wherein the mover includes a linear actuator that (i) moves the movable support member relative to the fixed support member between a first position and a second position, and (ii) moves the locking assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position. 18. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 wherein the movable support member further includes a top edge, an opposed bottom edge, a first side edge, and an opposed second side edge, wherein the inner support bracket is coupled to and extends between the top edge and the bottom edge between the first side edge and the second side edge, and wherein when the movable support member is in the first position, a plurality of the top edge, the bottom edge, the first side edge and the second side edge of the movable support member are positioned substantially adjacent to the fixed support member; and wherein when the movable support member is in the second position, substantially the entire top edge, first side edge and second side edge of the movable support member are spaced apart from the fixed support member. 19. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 further comprising a hinge that movably couples the movable support member to the fixed support member, and wherein when the mover moves the movable support member relative to the fixed support member, the mover adjusts a tilt angle between the movable support member and the fixed support member between the first position and the second position. 20. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 further comprising a second mover that rotates the movable support member relative to the fixed support member. 21. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 further comprising a remote control device that wirelessly controls the mover assembly and the locking assembly. 22. The solar panel support assembly of claim 14 wherein the slotted apertures each includes a first locking end and a second unlocking end; wherein when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the first locking end of the slotted apertures; and wherein when the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the middle segment of the locking bar is at the second unlocking end of the slotted apertures.