SOLAR PANEL GROUNDING SYSTEM AND CLIP
First Claim
1. A solar panel grounding clip for securing a grounding wire to a solar panel frame, the solar panel comprising:
- a strip of spring steel of a predetermined width that is formed and cut to define a generally U-shaped receptacle having a top clamping jaw and a bottom clamping jaw configured to receive a panel;
wherein the receptacle has a back wall and a forward positioned mouth;
wherein the receptacle height adjacent the back wall conforms to the thickness of the solar panel frame and narrows towards the forward positioned mouth;
wherein the top clamping jaw and bottom clamping jaw each have one or more rearwardly and inwardly directed teeth, respectively;
wherein the mouth further defines two outwardly converging lips defining a panel receiving opening forward the mouth;
wherein one lip is formed into a wire crimping loop that is configured to receive and affix by compression or crimping a grounding wire at one end of the grounding wire.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a clip and related grounding device. The grounding device has a wire connected to two clips at either end. Each clip is configured to be attached to the frame of a solar panel. The device eliminates fasteners that require bolts or screw to make a sufficient electrical connection between the panel frames. Because the grounding connects frame to frame, it is not necessary to ensure that the frames have a grounding connection to the underlying solar panel mounting system. This enables use of mounting systems that do not conduct electricity. The grounding device is has sufficient gripping strength that the anchoring teeth penetrate through paint, oxidized coating, or annealed finish to create an electrical connection.
63 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A solar panel grounding clip for securing a grounding wire to a solar panel frame, the solar panel comprising:
-
a strip of spring steel of a predetermined width that is formed and cut to define a generally U-shaped receptacle having a top clamping jaw and a bottom clamping jaw configured to receive a panel; wherein the receptacle has a back wall and a forward positioned mouth; wherein the receptacle height adjacent the back wall conforms to the thickness of the solar panel frame and narrows towards the forward positioned mouth; wherein the top clamping jaw and bottom clamping jaw each have one or more rearwardly and inwardly directed teeth, respectively; wherein the mouth further defines two outwardly converging lips defining a panel receiving opening forward the mouth; wherein one lip is formed into a wire crimping loop that is configured to receive and affix by compression or crimping a grounding wire at one end of the grounding wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A solar panel grounding device for securing a grounding wire between a first solar panel frame and a second solar panel frame, the device comprising:
-
a wire having a first end and a second end; a first clip formed from a first strip of spring steel of a predetermined width that is formed and cut to define a generally U-shaped first receptacle configured to receive a first panel, the first clip has a first top clamping jaw and a first bottom clamping jaw;
wherein the first receptacle has a first back wall and a forward positioned first mouth;
wherein the receptacle height adjacent the back wall conforms to the thickness of the solar panel frame and narrows towards the first mouth;
wherein the first top clamping jaw and first bottom clamping jaw each have one or more rearwardly and inwardly directed teeth adjacent the first mouth, respectively;
wherein the first mouth further defines two outwardly converging first lips defining a panel receiving first opening forward the first mouth; and
wherein one first lip is formed into a wire crimping loop and crimp holds the first end of the wire; anda second clip formed from a second strip of spring steel of a predetermined width that is formed and cut to define a generally U-shaped first receptacle configured to receive a second panel, the second clip has a second top clamping jaw and a second bottom clamping jaw;
wherein the second receptacle has a second back wall and a forward positioned second mouth;
wherein the receptacle height adjacent the back wall conforms to the thickness of the solar panel frame and narrows towards the second mouth;
wherein the second top clamping jaw and second bottom clamping jaw each have one or more rearwardly and inwardly directed teeth adjacent the second mouth, respectively;
wherein the second mouth further defines two outwardly converging second lips defining a panel receiving second opening forward the second mouth; and
wherein one second lip is formed into a wire crimping loop that is configured to receive and clip a grounding wire at one end of the grounding wire. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification