US 12,352,099 B2
Electrical spacer bar transfer device for electricity-generating surface
John A. Conklin, Apalachin, NY (US); and Patrick T. Sargent, Canton, GA (US)
Assigned to SolarWindow Technologies, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed by SolarWindow Technologies, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/650,461.
Application 17/650,461 is a continuation of application No. 16/855,715, filed on Apr. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,274,488.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/837,103, filed on Apr. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290490 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. E06B 3/663 (2006.01); E06B 3/667 (2006.01)
CPC E06B 3/663 (2013.01) [E06B 3/667 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an electrical transfer device configured to be attached to a spacer bar along an edge of an electricity-generating surface, wherein:
the spacer bar spaces apart the electricity-generating surface from a second surface and defines a perimeter of a volume between the electricity-generating surface and the second surface,
the electrical transfer device is configured to, when attached to the spacer bar, be physically contiguous with the spacer bar and physically seal off the volume,
the electrical transfer device includes:
a plurality of first electrical contacts that are external to the volume, wherein the plurality of first electrical contacts includes:
a first electrical contact having a first shape, and
a second electrical contact having a second shape different from the first shape, and
a plurality of internal electrical connections that are internal to the volume,
the plurality of first electrical contacts are electrically connected, one-to-one, with the plurality of internal electrical connections, and
the plurality of internal electrical connections are configured to be connected to electricity-generating components of the electricity-generating surface; and
an electrical receiving device configured to be connected to a frame that is configured to receive the spacer bar, wherein:
the electrical receiving device includes a plurality of second electrical contacts that are configured to mate, one-to-one, with the plurality of first electrical contacts of the electrical receiving device when the spacer bar is mounted to the frame to create an electrical connection between the plurality of second electrical contacts and the plurality of first electrical contacts,
the plurality of second electrical contacts includes:
a third electrical contact having the first shape, and
a fourth electrical contact having the second shape, and
the first, second, third, and fourth electrical contacts are configured to permit electrical connection of the plurality of first electrical contacts to the plurality of second electrical contacts in only one way.