Patents Assigned to UniRac, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11967924
    Abstract: A solar panel system includes a rail including a horizontal flange, a rib, and a channel. A clamp assembly includes a first member having a first side having a groove for receiving a portion of the rib and an anchor member for inserting into the channel. The clamp assembly further includes a second member slideably disposed on a second side of the first member and an actuator. When the actuator is actuated, the second member moves in a direction towards a bottom surface of a solar panel such that a top portion of the second member comes into contact with a bottom portion of the solar panel and electrically bonds with the solar panel, and an anchor member of the actuator comes into contact with an inside surface of the channel and electrically bonds with the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: UNIRAC INC.
    Inventor: Nathan Schuit
  • Patent number: 11962137
    Abstract: An electrical junction box mount apparatus including a base for mounting to a mounting surface and a lid sized to seal against the base. The base includes a mounting portion having a penetration area. A periphery of the penetration area is circumscribed via a groove formed into a bottom surface of the base such that upon placing the base on a mounting surface, the groove encloses empty space within the groove against the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: UNIRAC INC.
    Inventor: Shawn J. Meine
  • Patent number: 11949369
    Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a clamp with a lateral edge support portion that extends in a first direction to support against a lateral edge of the module. A flange extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction to clamp against an upper surface of the solar panel module in coordination with the lateral edge support portion. A nut is configured to align with the clamp. The nut receives a fastener. The nut has an outer surface to engage the second surface of the lateral edge support portion to prevent rotation of the nut. A connection member extends from the nut in a position that is fixed. A head of the connection member is shaped such that, in a first orientation, the head is accommodated passage through a slot in the intermediary member, and in a second orientation, the head is prevented from passage through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: UNIRAC INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Neal, Todd Ganshaw
  • Patent number: 11942892
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: UNIRAC INC.
    Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, December Cowen, Darren Womacks
  • Patent number: 11894800
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel in a solar panel mounting assembly is disclosed. The solar panel mounting assembly includes a mounting bracket and a helical drive, where the mounting bracket is vertically adjustable by the helical drive. The helical drive engages with a stanchion that is variably positioned along a base member that is fixed to a roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, Klaus Nicolaedis, Todd Ganshaw
  • Patent number: 11824489
    Abstract: A clamp assembly configured to clamp a frame of a photovoltaic (PV) module, the clamp assembly including a first clamp portion shaped to receive an outside surface of the frame and a second clamp portion shaped to secure a flange of the frame between the second clamp portion and a portion of the first clamp portion, wherein the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are mounted on a bolt. The clamp assembly further includes a stanchion having a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side including apertures through which the bolt is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Basarich, Chris Kauffman, Nathan Schuit
  • Patent number: 11808042
    Abstract: A bracket includes a base configured to be mounted to a mounting surface and a flange extending from the base and positioned to bisect the base thereby forming a first side and a second side of the base. The base includes a first hole disposed along a central axis of the base and in the first side of the base, a second hole disposed along the central axis of the base and in the second side of the base, and one or more divots formed in a top side of the base and disposed on the first side of the base. Fasteners are inserted through the first hole and the second hole when the bracket is secured to a first mounting structure. Furthermore, fasteners are inserted through the first hole, the second hole, and are drilled through the one or more divots when the bracket is secured to a second mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Gallegos
  • Patent number: 11774144
    Abstract: A tiered mounting system includes a base plate including a mounting guide rail having a plurality of mounting grooves that extend along opposing sides of the guide rail. The system also includes an object mount connector having a plurality of mounting ridges. The object mount connector is configured to: slidingly engage the mounting guide rail via insertion of one or more of the plurality of mounting ridges within a corresponding one or more of the plurality of mounting grooves, and lock in place along the mounting guide rail via a bolt placed through the object mount connector and secured tightly to an inner track of the mounting guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Robinson
  • Patent number: 11757398
    Abstract: A universal mounting system for supporting a plurality of photovoltaic modules on a sloped support surface, such as a sloped roof, is disclosed herein. The universal mounting system may include one or more support surface attachment devices, each support surface attachment device configured to attach one or more photovoltaic modules to a support surface; and one or more module coupling devices, each module coupling device configured to couple a plurality of photovoltaic modules to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Bamat, Devin Glen MacRostie
  • Patent number: 11739785
    Abstract: A channel having a base portion, an open central region, and an integral pair of sidewalls. The integral pair of sidewalls having an upper portion of each sidewall that includes an inward-facing downturned internal flange and an outward-facing upturned external flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Todd Ganshaw
  • Patent number: 11689148
    Abstract: A support assembly for mounting photovoltaic modules on a support surface and a mounting system including the same are disclosed herein. The support assembly may comprise a the body portion including a base portion and at least one upright support member coupled to the base portion, the at least one upright support member comprising an integrally formed ballast tray slot in one side thereof for receiving an upturned edge of a ballast tray; and at least one clamp subassembly coupled to the at least one upright support member of the body portion, the at least one clamp subassembly configured to be coupled to one or more photovoltaic modules. In addition to a plurality of support assemblies, the mounting system may further comprise at least one ballast tray support bracket, the ballast tray support bracket supporting a portion of a ballast tray on the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Brian Dick, Brian James Wildes, Ridhvik Gopal
  • Patent number: 11581844
    Abstract: A solar panel mounting system including a rail and a clip. When a first notch of the rail receives a portion of a rib of the rail, the clip is positioned on the rail to receive an end of a first solar panel having a first thickness, and when a second notch of the rail receives the portion of the rib, the clip is positioned on the rail to receive an end of a second solar panel having a second thickness different than the first thickness of the first solar panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Sai Uppu, Todd Ganshaw
  • Patent number: 11572690
    Abstract: A mounting device includes a base having an internal cavity, a top, and an open bottom in communication with the internal cavity. The device includes a first upper member above the base, wherein the first upper member extends upwardly from the base, and a second upper member is above the base, wherein the second upper member extends upwardly from the base. The device further includes a fastener opening formed though the base for receiving a fastener when the mounting device is secured to a roof. The fastener opening is in communication with the internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn J. Meine
  • Patent number: 11522489
    Abstract: A bonding clamp includes a top bracket including opposing side walls defining a channel therebetween. The top bracket has an aperture through a central portion thereof. The top bracket is shaped to receive a first photovoltaic (“PV”) module on a first side and a second PV module on a second side. A bottom bracket includes a body and a pair of top flanges extending vertically from a top surface of the body. The pair of top flanges are spaced apart from each other. The bottom bracket also includes anti-rotation flanges extending from a bottom surface of body. A fastening mechanism fastens the top bracket in a fixed position with respect to the bottom bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Sai Uppu
  • Patent number: 11486133
    Abstract: A mounting device including a base having an open bottom, a longitudinal axis, and a linear guide on the base. The linear guide guides support hardware in linear movement along the longitudinal axis. An internal cavity is under the base for containing a sealant against and in cooperation with a roof when the mounting device is secured to the roof. An opening is though the base is for receiving a fastener when the mounting device is secured to the roof. The opening is in communication with the internal cavity. The linear guide extends beyond the internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn J. Meine
  • Patent number: D973015
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Sai Uppu
  • Patent number: D987412
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Meine
  • Patent number: D988853
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Gallegos
  • Patent number: D993163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Ganshaw, Ernest Gallegos, Sai Uppu
  • Patent number: D993164
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Unirac Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Ganshaw, Ernest Gallegos, Sai Uppu