CORNER CONNECTION BRACKET FOR SOLAR ENERGY PANELS

• US 20150204583A1
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pegasus Solar Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pegasus Solar Inc.
• Inventors: Stephan, Erich Kai, Harris, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 10,024,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/16 Hinged elements; Pin connections
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/67 for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements F24S25/63
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/75 having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members

Abstract

Solar panel connection assemblies for mounting solar energy panels to buildings as well as for affixing multiple solar energy panels together. Solar panel corner connection assemblies including a bracket that can be fastened to the corner edge of solar panel frames. Solar panel corner connection assemblies including flanges extending from the corner of a bracket for connecting with a neighboring flange on a neighboring bracket.

Claims

1. A solar panel connection assembly comprising:

a bracket having a first arm and a second arm disposed at a substantially right angle to one another; and

a flange extending from the bracket substantially at an outside corner of the substantially right angle, wherein the flange is configured to mate with a neighboring similarly-configured flange on an neighboring bracket in an upside-down orientation.

2. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange further includes an aperture disposed in a direction orthogonal to a plane defined by the first arm and second arm, wherein the aperture is configured to align with a neighboring aperture on a neighboring similarly-configured flange on an neighboring bracket in an upside-down orientation.

3. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a pin configured to be installed in the aperture and neighboring aperture when the flange is mated with a neighboring similarly-configured flange.

4. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the first arm and second arm are each configured to align with a respective corner edge of a solar panel frame.

5. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the first arm and second arm each include at least one fastener hole disposed therein.

6. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one fastener hole disposed in the first arm and second arm are configured to accept a threaded fastener.

7. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the an electrical bonding path is created between adjacent solar energy panels when the bracket of one solar energy panel is mated with the bracket of a second solar energy panel.

8. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the first arm and second arm are each configured to fit within a frame chamber of a first frame member and a second frame member, respectively, thereby joining the first frame member and second frame member and creating a corner of a solar panel frame.

9. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange is configured on a first one-half of the height of the intersection of the first arm and the second arm, thereby allowing the flange to mate with a neighboring similarly configured flange on a neighboring bracket in an upside-down orientation.

10. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an additional flange having substantially the same shape as the flange and extending from the bracket in substantially the same orientation,

wherein the flange is configured on a first one-quarter of the height of the intersection of the first arm and the second arm and the additional flange is configured on a third one-quarter of the of the height of the intersection of the first arm and the second arm, thereby allowing the flange and additional flange to mate with a pair of neighboring similarly-configured flanges on a neighboring bracket in an upside-down orientation.

11. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket further comprises surface features and underside features such that the underside features of a bracket nests in the surface features of an additional bracket stacked upon the bracket.

12. A solar panel connection assembly comprising:

a first frameless solar panel connection subassembly comprising;

a first plate configured to provide structural support to a corner of a first solar panel; and

a first flange bracket coupled with the first plate and including a first flange extending from an outside corner of the first plate; and

a paired frameless solar panel connection subassembly comprising;

an additional plate configured to provide structural support to a corner of a neighboring solar panel; and

a paired flange bracket coupled with the first plate and including a paired flange extending from an outside corner of the additional plate,

wherein the first flange and the paired flange are configured to mate when the corners of the first solar panel and the neighboring solar panel are brought together.

13. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 12, wherein the first flange is configured on a first one-half of the height of the first flange bracket, and wherein the paired flange is configured on a second one-half of the height of the paired flange bracket, thereby allowing the first flange and the paired flange to mate when the corners of the first solar panel and neighboring solar panel are brought together.

14. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 12,

wherein the first flange bracket further includes a second flange, wherein the first flange is configured on a first one-quarter of the height of the first flange bracket and the second flange is configured on a third one-quarter of the height of the first flange bracket,

wherein the paired flange bracket further includes an additional paired flange, wherein the paired flange is configured on a second one-quarter of the height of the paired flange bracket and the additional paired flange is configured on a fourth one-quarter of the height of the paired flange bracket, thereby allowing the first flange and the paired flange to mate when the corners of the first solar panel and neighboring solar panel are brought together.

15. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 12, wherein the first flange further comprises an aperture disposed in a direction orthogonal to a plane defined by the plate, wherein the paired flange further comprises an paired aperture disposed in a direction orthogonal to a plane defined by the additional plate, and wherein the first aperture and paired aperture align when the corners of the first solar panel and neighboring solar panel are brought together.

16. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a pin configured to be installed in the aperture and paired aperture when the corners of the first solar panel and neighboring solar panel are brought together.

17. The solar panel connection assembly of claim 12, wherein the first plate and the additional plate are offset within the first flange bracket and paired flange bracket respectively, by a degree substantially equal to the thickness of a solar panel.