US 12,278,594 B1
Solar panel support structure
Cal L. Couillard, Deerfield, WI (US); and Amer B. Arafat, Madison, WI (US)
Assigned to Couillard Solar Foundation, Inc., Deerfield, WI (US)
Filed by Couillard Solar Foundation, Inc., Deerfield, WI (US)
Filed on May 31, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/679,868.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/470,401, filed on Jun. 1, 2023.
Int. Cl. H02S 30/10 (2014.01); H02S 40/22 (2014.01); F16B 5/12 (2006.01)
CPC H02S 30/10 (2014.12) [H02S 40/22 (2014.12); F16B 5/121 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar panel support structure comprising:
two horizontal beams spaced from one another;
two inclined first members each fastened by brackets between the two horizontal beams, wherein each first member has an upper head with an upwardly opening channel, and wherein each upper head has upper holes and lower holes which extend into the upwardly opening channel;
a clamping member mounted to each of the first members, each clamping member having a base which is received within the upwardly opening channel of one of the heads of one of the two first members, wherein the base has an inclined lower surface and an inclined upper surface, and wherein each clamping member has an upper flange;
portions of each first member head which define a lip disposed to underlie a solar panel extending between the two first members; and
a plurality of set screws with conical interior ends, wherein when the set screws are positioned in the lower holes in the two first members, the conical interior ends of the set screws engage against the lower surfaces of the clamping member bases, and the clamping members are supported with the clamping member flanges spaced above a solar panel, and when the set screws are disposed in the upper holes in the two first members, the set screws engage against the upper inclined surfaces of the clamping member bases such that the clamping member flanges are secured against the solar panel.