US 11,674,537 B2
Clip for mounting a solar module to a rail system
Tyler Watson, San Francisco, CA (US); and Ricardo Delgado-Nanez, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to NEXTRACKER LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed by NEXTracker Inc., Fremont, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/903,431.
Prior Publication US 2021/0396255 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. F16B 5/06 (2006.01); H02S 20/20 (2014.01); F16B 2/22 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 5/0635 (2013.01) [F16B 2/22 (2013.01); H02S 20/20 (2014.12)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clip suitable for mounting at least one solar module to a railing system, the clip comprising,
a top plate including a top proximal end portion, a top distal end portion, and opposite first and second top side end portions extending therebetween,
a first sidewall extending downwardly from the first top side end portion of the top plate, the first sidewall including a first upper portion defining a first upper length, a first lower portion defining a first lower length greater than the first upper length, and a first locking member positioned on a first lower distal end portion of the first lower portion, the first upper portion and the first lower portion separated in part by a first slot and a first recess proximal to the first slot, the first recess connecting a first upper edge of the first slot to a first lower edge of the first slot, at least one of the first upper edge, the first lower edge, or the recess is serrated, wherein the first upper edge of the first slot is generally coplanar with the top plate and the first lower edge of the first slot extends distally from the first recess at an acute angle relative to the first upper edge,
a second sidewall extending downwardly from the second top side end portion of the top plate, the second sidewall including a second upper portion defining a second upper length, a second lower portion defining a second lower length greater than the first upper length, and a second locking member positioned on a second lower distal end portion of the second lower portion, the second upper portion and the second lower portion separated in part by a second slot and a second recess proximal to the second slot, the second recess connecting a second upper edge of the second slot to a second lower edge of the second slot, at least one of the second upper edge, the second lower edge, or the recess is serrated, and
a rear wall connected to at least one of the top proximal end portion of the top plate, a first sidewall proximal end portion, or a second sidewall proximal end portion.