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).

  • 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: 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: 11465388
    Abstract: Hybrid fibrous composite materials incorporating at least two different fabric components and a multicomponent adhesive system for adhering the fabric components together. The adhesive system enhances the bond strength between the fabric components, which would otherwise easily delaminate from each other and peel apart. The components of the adhesive system bond strongly to each other as well as to the fabric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Lori L. Wagner, Gregory A. Davis, Brian Duane Arvidson, Henry Gerard Ardiff, Brian Waring
  • 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: 11046047
    Abstract: Multilayer composite materials combining a low tenacity nylon fabric with a fabric formed from high tenacity fibers. The fabrics are bonded with a compatibilizing adhesive system that achieves a peel strength of at least 1.5 lbs/inch. The nylon is colored with a camouflage pattern and the high strength fabric is colored with a color that does not stand out relative to the camouflage pattern. The composite materials are used for forming vest covers and plate carrier materials, particularly webless plate carrier materials having slots for hanging modular accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brian Duane Arvidson, Henry Gerard Ardiff, Brian Waring, Lori L. Wagner, Gregory A. Davis
  • Patent number: 11027501
    Abstract: Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having high interlaminar lap shear strength between component fiber plies or fiber layers, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The high lap shear strength, low backface signature composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Yiu-Tai Tam, Brian Waring, Henry Gerard Ardiff, Bradley Grunden, David A. Hurst, John Armstrong Young, Ralf Klein, Brian Duane Arvidson
  • Patent number: 11005416
    Abstract: Modular photovoltaic (PV) panel, system, and method of mounting. The system including a mounting flashing configured to mounted to a mounting surface and a folding PV panel. The folding PV panel including: a first subpanel including first PV cells, wherein the first subpanel extends along a first lateral plane and comprises a plurality of mounting hooks extending laterally from and affixed to a backside of the first subpanel, the mounting hooks configured to couple to the mounting flashing; a second subpanel including second PV cells, wherein the second subpanel extends along a second lateral plane, wherein the second subpanel comprises a front edge support configured to hold a front edge of the second subpanel away from the mounting surface; and a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first subpanel and the second subpanel to allow an angle between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
  • Patent number: 10958208
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for a photovoltaic (PV) module, and systems including such mounting assemblies, are described. In an example, the mounting assembly includes a top support and a bottom support having respective mounting walls, and holes through the mounting walls. A pin assembly may extend through the holes in the mounting walls to constrain the supports, for example, relative to a torque member of a solar-tracking PV system. The pin assembly may include end collars to engage and distribute loading from the torque member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Oh, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
  • Patent number: 10804837
    Abstract: Various systems and methods enabling low cost solar tracker systems including lower cost mounting assemblies and fasteners are described herein. Reducing the material, manufacturing costs and/or labor required for assembly of solar tracker components can present significant reductions in the cost of solar tracker systems. In an embodiment, a hollow fastener can significantly lower the cost of solar tracker mounting and coupling assemblies while still maintaining strength and structural integrity of the solar tracker system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Wares
  • Publication number: 20200153384
    Abstract: Modular photovoltaic (PV) panel, system, and method of mounting. The system including a mounting flashing configured to mounted to a mounting surface and a folding PV panel. The folding PV panel including: a first subpanel including first PV cells, wherein the first subpanel extends along a first lateral plane and comprises a plurality of mounting hooks extending laterally from and affixed to a backside of the first subpanel, the mounting hooks configured to couple to the mounting flashing; a second subpanel including second PV cells, wherein the second subpanel extends along a second lateral plane, wherein the second subpanel comprises a front edge support configured to hold a front edge of the second subpanel away from the mounting surface; and a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first subpanel and the second subpanel to allow an angle between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane to change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
  • Patent number: 10630232
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module clip, and methods of fastening a PV module to a structural member using the PV module clip, are described. In an example, a PV module clip includes a toe portion interconnected with several legs by a neck portion. The toe portion may be inserted through several aligned holes of a PV module frame and a mounting assembly strut to an underside of the strut. The neck portion may extend upward from the toe portion through the aligned holes to the legs above the strut. The legs may extend around a portion of the strut in a tensioned state, and engage with a retaining feature to hold the legs in the tensioned state. Accordingly, the legs may clamp the PV module to the mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth Dix Schulte, Brian Wares, Nicholas James McKibben
  • Patent number: D879031
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamir Lance, David Okawa, Ryan Reagan, Brian Wares, Laurence Mackler, Hikaru Iwasaka, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: D904289
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamir Lance, David Okawa, Ryan Reagan, Brian Wares, Laurence Mackler, Hikaru Iwasaka, Alexander Keller
  • Patent number: D921573
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
  • 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