Patents by Inventor Brian Despard West

Brian Despard West has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10158321
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mounting an array of photovoltaic modules atop a rooftop are disclosed. In particular the mounting hardware includes a photovoltaic module tray supported above the rooftop by a number of support structures fastened to the rooftop. The photovoltaic module trays include bottom and sidewalls configured to support and align photovoltaic modules along the rooftop. Since the bottom wall supports the weight of the photovoltaic module, the sidewalls can have a thin form-factor that allows the photovoltaic modules trays to be tightly spaced. In this way, the photovoltaic module tray can occupy very little area on the roof allowing the effective collection area of photovoltaic modules supported by the photovoltaic module trays to be significantly larger than photovoltaic modules using wider photovoltaic module frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor B. Guthrie, Gregory Philip Patnude, Brian Despard West, David Molina, Ryan Devine
  • Publication number: 20180191290
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mounting an array of photovoltaic modules atop a rooftop are disclosed. In particular the mounting hardware includes a photovoltaic module tray supported above the rooftop by a number of support structures fastened to the rooftop. The photovoltaic module trays include bottom and sidewalls configured to support and align photovoltaic modules along the rooftop. Since the bottom wall supports the weight of the photovoltaic module, the sidewalls can have a thin form-factor that allows the photovoltaic modules trays to be tightly spaced. In this way, the photovoltaic module tray can occupy very little area on the roof allowing the effective collection area of photovoltaic modules supported by the photovoltaic module trays to be significantly larger than photovoltaic modules using wider photovoltaic module frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Trevor B. Guthrie, Gregory Philip Patnude, Brian Despard West, David Molina, Ryan Devine
  • Publication number: 20180019703
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wire clip for securing wires to a flange of a photovoltaic module frame. The wire clip includes a base having a first end and a second end. The first end of the base is opposite the second end. The wire clip also includes an attachment arm extending from and cooperating with the base to define an opening that faces the first end and that leads into a frame-receiving slot. A wire gather extends from the base and defines an opening that faces the second end and that leads into a wire-receiving slot. The wire gather extends from a portion of the base closer to the second end than the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Bernardo Almy, Brian Despard West