Patents by Inventor Brian Wares

Brian Wares 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).

  • Publication number: 20260230030
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2026
    Publication date: August 6, 2026
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan M. Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Publication number: 20260221927
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module..
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2026
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan M. Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Patent number: 12597879
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2025
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Unirac, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Patent number: 12587127
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Unirac, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Publication number: 20250296202
    Abstract: An end clamp for installation of a solar module comprising a cap member configured to cover an end of a rail and an assembly. The assembly includes a base member, a slider member straddling a portion of the base member, a spring member disposed to wrap around an end of the base member and to extend between the base member and the slider member, and a fastener to attach the cap member to the assembly. The slider member is configured to move relative to the base member to clamp down on a flange of the solar module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2025
    Publication date: September 25, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan M. Ely
  • Publication number: 20250293631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Publication number: 20250274073
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2025
    Publication date: August 28, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Patent number: 12343851
    Abstract: An end clamp for installation of a solar module includes a cap member that is installed in an opening of a rail. The end clamp also includes an assembly having a slider member and a base member, and also includes a fastener that attaches the assembly to the cap member. The slider member moves relative to the base member to clamp down on a flange of the solar module based on tightening of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Unirac, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan M. Ely
  • Publication number: 20240364255
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bracket assembly for securing a photovoltaic (PV) module. The bracket assembly may include a bracket having a top portion and a bottom surface and a clip coupled to the bracket. The clip may include a hooked portion, wherein the clip is configured to be displaced by a PV module from a first position to a second position. The clip may be biased toward the first position, and the hooked portion may be configured to engage an edge feature of the PV module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Brian WARES, Ethan ELY, Sushrut BAPAT, Gary ROSSI
  • Patent number: 12119779
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides photovoltaic (PV) module mounting systems and bracket assemblies for securing PV modules to roofs. The photovoltaic module mounting systems may include a roofing panel having a base layer, a flashing panel coupled along an edge of the roofing panel, and a bracket assembly coupled to the roofing panel, where the bracket assembly includes a bracket and a clip, and where the clip is configured to couple with an edge feature of a PV module to secure the PV module to the roofing panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Patent number: 12034398
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides junction boxes for use with roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) modules. The junction boxes may include a housing having a plurality of sides, a bottom having an aperture, and a top edge having a top opening, where the top edge has a lip disposed around the top edge and projecting upward from the top edge. The junction boxes may further include a lid removably coupled to the top edge of the housing and a seal disposed on an outer surface of the bottom of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
  • Patent number: 12003208
    Abstract: A solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system having several PV modules mounted on a torque tube is described. The torque tube may include several sections joined by a torque tube coupler. For example, the torque tube coupler may having a medial section and end sections to join to the torque tube sections. The medial section and the torque tube sections may have a same outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Sushrut Bapat, Tyler Grushkowitz, Nicholas James McKibben, Brian Wares
  • Publication number: 20240075588
    Abstract: An end clamp for installation of a solar module includes a cap member that is installed in an opening of a rail. The end clamp also includes an assembly having a slider member and a base member, and also includes a fastener that attaches the assembly to the cap member. The slider member moves relative to the base member to clamp down on a flange of the solar module based on tightening of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian WARES, Ethan M. ELY
  • Publication number: 20220345075
    Abstract: This specification describes angled polymer solar modules, methods for producing angled polymer solar modules, and methods for installing angled polymer solar modules. In some examples, a method includes producing a flat polymer sheet including one or more photovoltaic cells. The method includes applying force to the flat polymer sheet to curve the flat polymer sheet in at least one region, forming an angled polymer sheet from the flat polymer sheet. The method includes mounting the angled polymer sheet on a roof deck such that the photovoltaic cells are angled with respect to the roof deck by virtue of the at least one region being curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: David Okawa, Tamir Lance, Gabriela Bunea, Brian Wares, Zachary Judkins
  • Patent number: 11424714
    Abstract: This specification describes angled polymer solar modules, methods for producing angled polymer solar modules, and methods for installing angled polymer solar modules. In some examples, a method includes producing a flat polymer sheet including one or more photovoltaic cells. The method includes applying force to the flat polymer sheet to curve the flat polymer sheet in at least one region, forming an angled polymer sheet from the flat polymer sheet. The method includes mounting the angled polymer sheet on a roof deck such that the photovoltaic cells are angled with respect to the roof deck by virtue of the at least one region being curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Okawa, Tamir Lance, Gabriela Bunea, Brian Wares, Zachary Judkins
  • Patent number: D928079
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamir Lance, David Okawa, Ryan Reagan, Brian Wares, Laurence Mackler, Hikaru Iwasaka, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: D953972
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamir Lance, David Okawa, Ryan Reagan, Brian Wares, Laurence Mackler, Hikaru Iwasaka, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: D1016736
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Tamir Lance, David Okawa, Ryan Reagan, Brian Wares, Laurence Mackler, Hikaru Iwasaka, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: D1046761
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
  • Patent number: D1116992
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Tamir Lance, David Okawa, Ryan Reagan, Brian Wares, Laurence Mackler, Hikaru Iwasaka, Alexander Keller