US 12,255,574 B2
Photovoltaic module accessory clamp
Robert A. Lemos, Walnut Creek, CA (US); and Duane Menton, Vallejo, CA (US)
Assigned to Wencon Development, Inc., Hayward, CA (US)
Appl. No. 15/328,052
Filed by Wencon Development, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 22, 2014, PCT No. PCT/US2014/047693
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 22, 2017,
PCT Pub. No. WO2016/014042, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2017/0207743 A1, Jul. 20, 2017
Int. Cl. H02S 20/20 (2014.01); H02S 40/32 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 20/20 (2014.12) [H02S 40/32 (2014.12)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bracket assembly for mounting an accessory to a photovoltaic (PV) system, the bracket assembly comprising:
a first bracket for attaching the accessory to a rail of a photovoltaic (PV) module, the first bracket consisting of a first and second clamp member and a tightening means:
the first clamp member having a first plate (108), a second plate (110) with an open ended slot (112), the first plate and the second plate being attached to one another to form an angle therebetween;
the second clamp member (118) having a substantially planar clamp plate (120) with a hole (122) and a first and second flange together making a pair of flanges (124), wherein the first flange is attached to and extends away from a first edge of the clamp plate (120) and the second flange is attached to and extends away from a second clamp plate edge opposite said first clamp plate edge of the clamp plate (120), wherein a nut is positioned on the hole (122) of the clamp plate (120), and wherein the second clamp member is a monolithic piece;
wherein one flange of the pair is angled towards the photovoltaic (PV) module and another flange of the pair is angled away from the photovoltaic (PV) module; and
wherein the tightening means (128) attaches both the first clamp member and the second clamp member to both the rail and the accessory, the tightening means being a screw configured to slidably pass through the open ended slot (112) on the second plate and the clamp plate nut; and
whereby the first bracket holds the rail of the PV module and holds the accessory without penetrating through the rail of the PV module.