US 11,757,398 B2
Universal sloped roof solar panel mounting system
Christopher John Bamat, Lafayette, CO (US); and Devin Glen MacRostie, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to Unirac Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by ECOUNI, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Aug. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/92.
Application 17/000,092 is a division of application No. 16/126,441, filed on Sep. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,756,668.
Application 16/126,441 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/387,481, filed on Dec. 21, 2016, granted, now 10,312,853.
Application 15/387,481 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/068,370, filed on Mar. 11, 2016, granted, now 10,340,837.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/556,486, filed on Sep. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/192,529, filed on Jul. 14, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/131,743, filed on Mar. 11, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0058023 A1, Feb. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. H02S 20/23 (2014.01); F16B 5/00 (2006.01); F24S 25/636 (2018.01); H02S 30/00 (2014.01); F16B 2/12 (2006.01); F16B 5/06 (2006.01); F24S 25/61 (2018.01); F24S 25/70 (2018.01); F16B 2/00 (2006.01); F24S 40/44 (2018.01); F24S 25/00 (2018.01)
CPC H02S 20/23 (2014.12) [F16B 2/12 (2013.01); F16B 5/0028 (2013.01); F16B 5/065 (2013.01); F16B 5/0628 (2013.01); F24S 25/61 (2018.05); F24S 25/636 (2018.05); F24S 25/70 (2018.05); H02S 30/00 (2013.01); F16B 2/005 (2013.01); F24S 40/44 (2018.05); F24S 2025/021 (2018.05); Y02B 10/10 (2013.01); Y02B 10/20 (2013.01); Y02E 10/47 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clamping device configured to secure a photovoltaic module to a support surface, the clamping device comprising:
a clamp assembly including:
an upper coupling member including:
a flange extending in a longitudinal direction,
a base protruding from a lower surface of the flange near a first end of the flange such that the base extends in the longitudinal direction along the flange and protrudes in a direction transverse to a plane parallel to the lower surface of the flange,
a shortened protruding member protruding from the lower surface of the flange near a second end of the flange, opposite the first end, such that the shortened protruding member extends in the longitudinal direction along the flange and protrudes in the direction transverse to the plane parallel to the lower surface of the flange, the shortened protruding member being shortened relative to the base and disposed spaced apart from the base,
a groove extending along an underside of the second end of the flange in the longitudinal direction, the groove being spaced apart from the base a distance that is greater than a distance between the base and the shortened protruding member, and a width and depth of the groove being sized to receive a protrusion of an elongated skirt, and
one or more first elongated teeth disposed on the base, the one or more first elongated teeth being elongated in the longitudinal direction along a side of the base; and
a lower coupling member that is adjustably connected to the upper coupling member via a fastener, the lower coupling member including:
an inner wall section extending in the longitudinal direction,
a ledge extending from a lower edge of the inner wall section such that the ledge extends in the longitudinal direction along the inner wall section and protrudes in a direction transverse to a plane parallel to a side of the inner wall section, and
one or more second teeth disposed on the inner wall section, the one or more second teeth being elongated in the longitudinal direction along the side of the inner wall section,
wherein the one or more second teeth are correspondingly shaped to engage the one or more first elongated teeth when the fastener is tightened, and
wherein the ledge extends outwardly to protrude in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the base protrudes, thereby providing a clamp gap in which the photovoltaic module is clampable.