A solar panel attachment assembly including a purlin bent into a U-shaped channel with a mounting wall, an upright wall and a cross piece attached to the upper edge. A solar panel having a frame with a lower horizontal wall forming a mounting surface and a vertical wall forming an outer surface. An inwardly directed channel formed on the upper edge of the vertical wall surrounds and fixedly engages the edges of solar sensors. Attachment bolts with a portion of the body being threaded and a tip portion of the body having a drill bit formed therein. The drill bit has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the bolt threads, and the attachment bolts are positioned to extend through the cross piece of the purlin and through the lower horizontal wall of the cross-section to hold the solar panel in abutting engagement with the purlin.

Single-piece hinged-clamps employed used in assemblies used to mount solar power modules to surface installation are disclosed. In some embodiments, a clamp with a right portion with a right notch having a right platform, a left portion with a left notch having a left platform, and a base portion with a flexible hinge is disclosed. The left portion also includes a threaded aperture extending downwardly from the left platform. In some embodiments, a method of securing a component with the clamp is disclosed in which a right member of a component is inserted into a right notch of a clamp, an applied force imparts movement of a left notch away from the right notch, and a buildup of potential energy in the flexible hinge during the application of the force moves the left notch in the opposite direction to engage the left member of the component.

A roof mount assembly includes a bottom plate securable to a roofing structure and a top plate mounted on top of the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a first compressible sealing pad affixed to a bottom surface and compressed between bottom plate and roofing surface. The top plate includes a second compressible sealing pad affixed to its bottom surface that is compressed when the top plate is secured mounted over the bottom plate via fasteners extending through holes in the top plate and threaded into bores in the bottom plate. The top plate may include a central crown and a connector projecting upward therefrom to secure an object over the roofing structure.

An equipment mounting system for mounting equipment to a support structure is described. An equipment mounting system including: (i) a mounting plate having defined therein a plate aperture of a particular shape; (ii) a bolt having a shaft portion including a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion that is of a complementary shape that complements the particular shape of the plate aperture; and (iii) a washer having defined therein a scored aperture that includes multiple radially extending scorings. In an assembled configuration of the mounting plate, the bolt and the washer, the plate aperture of the particular shape aligns with the scoring aperture such that both of the plate aperture and the scoring aperture receive the non-threaded portion of the complementary shape, and the particular shape of the mounting plate engages with the complementary shape of the bolt to prevent rotational displacement of the bolt around the mounting plate.

Disclosed herein is a roof mount installation assembly. The roof mount installation assembly includes a roof mount, a flashing patch, and an adapter cap. The roof mount has a base and a threaded post. The flashing patch has an opening. The flashing patch is configured to surround the base. The opening is configured to allow the threaded post to extend therethrough. The adapter cap is configured to be removably mounted over the flashing patch. The adapter cap is configured to apply a force to the flashing patch for sealing the flashing patch around the roof mount.

A mounting system 110 for a solar panel 11 includes a base plate 114 having an elongated mounting slot 116, a spacer beam 124 with a slot 128, a first T-shaped fastener 131 having a mounting plate 132 with a width slightly smaller than the size of the slot and a length larger than the size of the slot, so that the mounting plate may be passed through the slot and then rotated so that it then cannot pass back through the slot. A second T-shaped fastener 137 having the same configuration couples the solar panel to the spacer. The system optionally has a ballast system 145 which includes a ballast tray 146 and third T-shaped fastener 155 of the same configuration for coupling the tray to the base plate. An anti-creep strip 161 is coupled to the base member through fourth T-shaped fasteners 162 of the same configuration.

In various representative aspects, an assembly for securing a solar panel rail and rail-less support structures to a shingle roof. More specifically, the apparatus includes a connection bracket and flashing device for use in installing solar panel rail support structures. The connection bracket is secured to the flashing device by rotating its base around a threaded connection until it locks in place so that a solar panel rail support guide can be connected to a generally U-shaped connection on the top of the bracket. The apparatus also offers an improved means to cover the penetration point on the flashing to protect it and prevent water from leaking into the roof as well as an improved way to install the apparatus over existing products. An alternate embodiment of the apparatus is offered to support a rail-less pivot mount as well.

Disclosed herein is a roof mount installation assembly. The roof mount installation assembly includes a roof mount, a flashing patch, and an adapter cap. The roof mount has a base and a threaded post. The flashing patch has an opening. The flashing patch is configured to surround the base. The opening is configured to allow the threaded post to extend therethrough. The adapter cap is configured to be removably mounted over the flashing patch. The adapter cap is configured to apply a force to the flashing patch for sealing the flashing patch around the roof mount.

A solar module for installation on a structure includes a laminate for converting solar energy into electricity. The solar module also includes a mount releasably connected to the laminate for mounting the solar module on a surface of the structure. The mount includes openings to receive fasteners for securing the mount to the surface of the structure. The solar module has a pre-mount configuration in which the mount is connected to the laminate as a single unit. The mount is sized to allow the solar module to be shipped in the pre-mount configuration.

A solar panel mounting system forming an opening for holding solar panels therein for easy installation and removal and replacement. The system includes a plurality of support members adapted for positioning on a support surface. A roof panel is positioned on a top surface of adjacent support members and compressibly held in place by an astragal which is fastened to the support member sandwiching the roof panel between the astragal and the support member. A solar panel opening is formed between projecting portions on opposing sides of the roof panel which extend at an angle substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the support member.