US 11,988,247 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 LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/198,837.
Application 18/198,837 is a division of application No. 16/903,431, filed on Jun. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,674,537.
Prior Publication US 2023/0287915 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. F16B 5/06 (2006.01); F16B 2/22 (2006.01); H02S 20/20 (2014.01)
CPC F16B 5/0635 (2013.01) [F16B 2/22 (2013.01); H02S 20/20 (2014.12)] 18 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,
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, wherein the rear wall further includes a first rear wall end portion connected to the first sidewall, a second rear wall end portion connected to the second sidewall and a rear slit separating the first rear wall end portion from the second rear wall end portion.