Patents by Inventor Donald R. Mapes

Donald R. Mapes 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: 8124866
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array includes a plurality of elongated rails and rectangular photovoltaic modules. Each rail can have an extruded resin construction and can include a lower base and an upper cap that cooperate to define a pair of grooves that open in opposite directions from each other. The elongated rails can be mounted on a support surface and extend in a spaced and parallel relationship with each other. During mounting, edges of the photovoltaic modules can be received by the grooves. In this way, the photovoltaic modules can be mounted above the support surface in a spaced relationship from the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Mapes, David J. Aitchison, Larry G. Crosser, James B. Foote, Benjamin L. Richie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7307209
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array includes a plurality of elongated rails and rectangular photovoltaic modules. Each rail can have an extruded resin construction and can include a lower base and an upper cap that cooperate to define a pair of grooves that open in opposite directions from each other. The elongated rails can be mounted on a support surface and extend in a spaced and parallel relationship with each other. During mounting, edges of the photovoltaic modules can be received by the grooves. In this way, the photovoltaic modules can be mounted above the support surface in a spaced relationship from the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Mapes, David J. Aitchison, Larry G. Crosser, James B. Foote, Benjamin L. Richie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6617507
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array (20, 20′) includes a plurality of elongated rails (28) each of which has a lower base (30) and an upper cap (32) of an extruded resin construction defining a pair of grooves (36) that open in opposite directions from each other to receive edges 36 of rectangular photovoltaic modules (22) so as to provide mounting thereof on a support surface (20, 24). The photovoltaic modules (22) are arranged in pairs (38) with the modules of each pair abutting each other and with each pair of modules being spaced along the elongated lengths of the rails from each adjacent pair of modules to provide openings (40) therebetween. Cross members (42) extend between the lower bases (30) of the rails to space the rails from each other and have upwardly opening shapes that receive electrical wiring (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: First Solar, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Mapes, Larry G. Crosser, James B. Foote, Benjamin L. Richie, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030094193
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array (20, 20′) includes a plurality of elongated rails (28) each of which has a lower base (30) and an upper cap (32) of an extruded resin construction defining a pair of grooves (36) that open in opposite directions from each other to receive edges 36 of rectangular photovoltaic modules (22) so as to provide mounting thereof on a support surface (20, 24). The photovoltaic modules (22) are arranged in pairs (38) with the modules of each pair abutting each other and with each pair of modules being spaced along the elongated lengths of the rails from each adjacent pair of modules to provide openings (40) therebetween. Cross members (42) extend between the lower bases (30) of the rails to space the rails from each other and have upwardly opening shapes that receive electrical wiring (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: First Solar, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Mapes, Larry G. Crosser, James B. Foote, Benjamin L. Richie