US 11,916,509 B2
Photovoltaic roofing elements and photovoltaic roofing systems
Robert D. Livsey, Limerick, PA (US); Joseph Charles Gombarick, Phoenixville, PA (US); Peter Chihlas, Lansdale, PA (US); Husnu M. Kalkanoglu, Swarthmore, PA (US); Michael E. Blackburn, Wichita, KS (US); Stephen W. Steffes, McPherson, KS (US); Gregory F. Jacobs, Oreland, PA (US); and Michael J. Noone, Wayne, PA (US)
Assigned to CERTAINTEED LLC, Malvern, PA (US)
Filed by CertainTeed LLC, Malvern, PA (US)
Filed on Jun. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/335,405.
Application 17/335,405 is a continuation of application No. 16/566,407, filed on Sep. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,025,192.
Application 16/566,407 is a continuation of application No. 15/683,401, filed on Aug. 22, 2017, granted, now 10,454,408, issued on Oct. 22, 2019.
Application 15/683,401 is a continuation of application No. 14/993,901, filed on Jan. 12, 2016, granted, now 9,755,573, issued on Sep. 5, 2017.
Application 14/993,901 is a continuation of application No. 14/715,278, filed on May 18, 2015, granted, now 9,270,224, issued on Feb. 23, 2016.
Application 14/715,278 is a continuation of application No. 14/159,978, filed on Jan. 21, 2014, granted, now 9,032,672, issued on May 19, 2015.
Application 14/159,978 is a continuation of application No. 13/326,094, filed on Dec. 14, 2011, granted, now 8,631,614, issued on Jan. 21, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/429,053, filed on Dec. 31, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/528,631, filed on Aug. 29, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/559,614, filed on Nov. 14, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2022/0021329 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02S 20/25 (2014.01); H02S 20/00 (2014.01); E04D 13/04 (2006.01); E04D 1/12 (2006.01); E04D 1/30 (2006.01); E04D 13/16 (2006.01); E04D 13/158 (2006.01); F24S 25/61 (2018.01); E04D 1/00 (2006.01); E04B 1/70 (2006.01); H01L 31/048 (2014.01); H02S 20/23 (2014.01); E04D 13/00 (2006.01); E04D 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC H02S 20/25 (2014.12) [E04B 1/7069 (2013.01); E04D 1/12 (2013.01); E04D 1/2916 (2019.08); E04D 1/30 (2013.01); E04D 13/00 (2013.01); E04D 13/04 (2013.01); E04D 13/158 (2013.01); E04D 13/16 (2013.01); F24S 25/61 (2018.05); H01L 31/048 (2013.01); H01L 31/0481 (2013.01); H02S 20/00 (2013.01); H02S 20/23 (2014.12); E04D 13/1415 (2013.01); E04D 2001/308 (2013.01); Y02B 10/10 (2013.01); Y02E 10/50 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck having a top end and a bottom end, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements each comprising
a frame structure having an upward-facing surface and a downward-facing surface having a top end and a bottom end; and
one or more photovoltaic elements held in the frame structure, the photovoltaic roofing elements being contiguously disposed on the roof deck to provide contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements together having a top edge facing the top end of the roof deck, a bottom edge facing the bottom end of the roof deck, and two side edges, wherein in each photovoltaic roofing element the frame structure includes sidelap portions disposed at lateral edges of the frame structure, the sidelap portions having geometries interlocking with sidelap portions of adjacent photovoltaic roofing elements to provide water drainage channels;
a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent and along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements; and
side flashing elements disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, each of the side flashing elements having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature disposed adjacent one of the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements and a flange extending away from a lateral side at a downward end of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing away from the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements and being at least partially disposed between at least one of the plurality of roofing elements and the roof deck,
wherein
in each photovoltaic roofing element, the sidelap portion at one lateral edge includes an upward-facing channel having disposed therein a downward-facing flange of an adjacent photovoltaic roofing element or a downward-facing flange of the vertically extending feature of an adjacent side flashing element; and the sidelap portion at the other lateral edge includes a downward-facing flange disposed in the upward-facing channel of an adjacent photovoltaic roofing element or an upward-facing channel of the vertically extending feature of an adjacent side flashing element;
the photovoltaic roofing system further comprising one or more top flashing elements disposed along the top edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements, the one or more top flashing elements having a bottom end disposed over the top edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing element, and a top end disposed under one or more of the plurality of roofing elements disposed along the top edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic roofing elements; and
a cant strip disposed under the bottom edge of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements and on top of an underlying course of roofing elements of the plurality of roofing elements.