US 12,476,576 B2
Ballast systems for securing photovoltaic modules
Jonathan Neal, Albuquerque, NM (US); Nikhil Babu, Hyderabad (IN); Ernest Gallegos, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Deepthi Gangumalla, Hyderabad (IN)
Assigned to Unirac, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by Unirac Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/851,996.
Application 17/851,996 is a continuation of application No. 29/834,009, filed on Apr. 8, 2022, granted, now D1036219.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/297,177, filed on Jan. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0216441 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. H02S 20/24 (2014.01); H02S 30/10 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 20/24 (2014.12) [H02S 30/10 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ballast system to secure a plurality of photovoltaic modules, the ballast system comprising:
a first ballast tray including:
a ballast base member disposed in a first direction,
a south leg extending from a first end of the ballast base member of the first ballast tray in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, the south leg of the first ballast tray having a first length, and
a north leg extending from a second end of the ballast base member of the first ballast tray in the second direction, the north leg of the first ballast tray having a second length that is shorter than the first length; and
a second ballast tray including:
a ballast base member disposed in the first direction,
a south leg extending from a first end of the ballast base member of the second ballast tray in the second direction, the south leg of the second ballast tray having a third length, and
a north leg having:
a first portion extending from a second end of the ballast base member of the second ballast tray in the second direction,
a second portion extending from the first portion in a third direction that is transverse to the second direction,
a third portion extending from the second portion in the second direction, and
a fourth length defined by adding respective lengths of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion, the fourth length being greater than the third length, the fourth length being greater than the first length.