Ohio Patent of the Month – April 2021
Adding solar panels to the roof of houses has become increasingly common as people seek out environmentally and cost friendly energy sources. However, the method of actually attaching these solar panels to the roof provides some limitations. Roofing might need upgrades to support the additional weight, bolts might reduce the watertight seal the roof provides, and the supports can rust over time. Garland Industries, Inc. has designed a new roofing system to attach solar panels that removes these limitations.
This design works well for flat or slanted roofs as well as the side of a house. The connection method involves strips of connection material which are applied to the bottom surface of the solar panel. If two strips are applied to the solar panel, then two strips are applied equidistant on the roof. The method of connecting the strips to the roof and solar panel can vary – using adhesives, staples, nails or other options. The solar panels are then aligned along the roof so that the strips on each match up. To actually connect these two connection strips together, an adhesive is applied on both top surfaces of connection strips. This simple double sided adhesion method is designed to be durable, lightweight and compatible with a variety of roof and solar panel types. This connection system helps to make solar panels a more accessible purchase for homeowners.
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