Patents by Inventor Emil Johansen

Emil Johansen 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: 20150200618
    Abstract: A skirt and other devices for photovoltaic arrays, as well as photovoltaic arrays with a skirt(s) and/or other device(s) installed, related modules, and foothold devices and systems are herein disclosed. Various such embodiments include one or more array skirt(s), T-locks, grip(s), inside and outside corner cap(s), array trim(s), pest abatement screen(s), wire clip(s), foothold(s), groove adaptor bracket(s), magnetic skirt embodiment(s), as well as other structures and embodiments which are herein disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: ZEP SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: John Raymond West, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen, Ian Capsuto, Chad Medcroft, Nate Coleman, Brian West, Brian Atchley
  • Publication number: 20150180405
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array, including: (a) supports laid out on a surface in rows and columns; (b) photovoltaic modules positioned on top of the supports; and (c) fasteners connecting the photovoltaic modules to the supports, wherein the supports have an upper pedestal surface and a lower pedestal surface such that the photovoltaic modules are positioned at a non-horizontal angle when edges of the photovoltaic modules are positioned on top of the upper and lower pedestal surfaces, and wherein a portion of the fasteners rotate to lock the photovoltaic modules onto the supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Jack Raymond West, Brian Atchley, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen
  • Publication number: 20150155823
    Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a structure where the apparatus includes a base portion, a stud portion, and a coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a male portion that acts as a spring under load and a clip portion that penetrates the PV module frame to create a grounding bond. The apparatus includes a lower jaw, shaped to pry open a groove, and a key portion that can compress to allow for tolerances. The invention further includes a clip with one or more tabs and one or more teeth. The invention further includes a replacement roof tile which includes a support structure with a horizontal flange, a vertical component, a horizontal component, a flashing with an upper surface and a lower surface, and a tile-shaped metal surface having a curvilinear shape that reflects the shapes of adjacent tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Jack Raymond West, Brian Atchley, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen
  • Patent number: 9003729
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array, including: (a) supports laid out on a surface in rows and columns; (b) photovoltaic modules positioned on top of the supports; and (c) fasteners connecting the photovoltaic modules to the supports, wherein the supports have an upper pedestal surface and a lower pedestal surface such that the photovoltaic modules are positioned at a non-horizontal angle when edges of the photovoltaic modules are positioned on top of the upper and lower pedestal surfaces, and wherein a portion of the fasteners rotate to lock the photovoltaic modules onto the supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Zep Solar, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Raymond West, Brian Atchley, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen
  • Publication number: 20150075100
    Abstract: A tile hook and flashing assembly, having: (a) a lower flashing; (b) an upper flashing; (c) a tile hook; and (d) a seal, wherein tile hook extends through an aperture passing between overlapping portions of the upper and lower flashings, and wherein the seal extends across the aperture and seals around the tile hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jack Raymond West, Emil Johansen, David Molina
  • Patent number: 8898971
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a surface, including a support with an upper surface, a lower surface, tabs, one or more openings, and a clip comprising an arm and a notch, where the apparatus resists wind forces and seismic forces and creates a grounding electrical bond between the PV module, support, and clip. The invention further includes a method for installing PV modules on a surface that includes arranging supports in rows along an X axis and in columns along a Y axis on a surface such that in each row the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the longest side of a PV module and in each column the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the shortest side of a PV module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Zep Solar, LLC
    Inventors: John Raymond West, Brian Atchley, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen
  • Publication number: 20140299179
    Abstract: A photovoltaic array, including: (a) supports laid out on a surface in rows and columns; (b) photovoltaic modules positioned on top of the supports; and (c) fasteners connecting the photovoltaic modules to the supports, wherein the supports have an upper pedestal surface and a lower pedestal surface such that the photovoltaic modules are positioned at a non-horizontal angle when edges of the photovoltaic modules are positioned on top of the upper and lower pedestal surfaces, and wherein a portion of the fasteners rotate to lock the photovoltaic modules onto the supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jack Raymond West, Brian Atchley, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen
  • Publication number: 20140175244
    Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module onto a structure where the apparatus includes a base portion, a stud portion, and a coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a male portion that acts as a spring under load and a clip portion that penetrates the PV module frame to create a grounding bond. The apparatus includes a lower jaw, shaped to pry open a groove, and a key portion that can compress to allow for tolerances. The invention further includes a clip with one or more tabs and one or more teeth. The invention further includes a replacement roof tile which includes a support structure with a horizontal flange, a vertical component, a horizontal component, a flashing with an upper surface and a lower surface, and a tile-shaped metal surface having a curvilinear shape that reflects the shapes of adjacent tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: ZEP SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: John Raymond West, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen
  • Publication number: 20140174511
    Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a surface, comprising a support with an upper surface, a lower surface, tabs, one ore more openings, and a clip comprising an arm and a notch, where the apparatus resists wind forces and seismic forces and creates a grounding electrical bond between the PV module, support, and clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Zep Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Raymond West, Brian Atchley, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen
  • Publication number: 20140158184
    Abstract: A skirt and other devices for photovoltaic arrays, as well as photovoltaic arrays with a skirt(s) and/or other device(s) installed, related modules, and foothold devices and systems are herein disclosed. Various such embodiments include one or more array skirt(s), T-locks, grip(s), inside and outside corner cap(s), array trim(s), pest abatement screen(s), wire clip(s), foothold(s), groove adaptor bracket(s), magnetic skirt embodiment(s), as well as other structures and embodiments which are herein disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: ZEP SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: John Raymond West, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen, Ian Capsuto, Chad Medcroft, Nate Coleman, Brian West, Brian Atchley
  • Publication number: 20120301661
    Abstract: A skirt for photovoltaic arrays provides a screen portion, a groove portion, and a separate coupling adapted to couple the skirt to the skirt of an adjacent photovoltaic array and to a photovoltaic module. Another embodiment provides a screen portion comprising an angled louver and is adapted to partially obscure an area substantially beneath a PV module in a PV array. A further embodiment provides an edge blocking skirt for a PV array comprising a screen portion adapted for mounting a bottom of the screen portion substantially close to a roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: John Raymond West, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen, Ian Capsuto, Chad Medcroft, Brian Atchley, Nate Coleman
  • Publication number: 20120234378
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for quickly and easily assembling PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In some embodiments, the PV modules may have a grooved frame where the groove is angled into the frame with respect to the planar surface of the modules. Various components may engage within the angled groove to assemble the PV modules into the PV array using what may be referred to as a pivot-fit connection between the components and angled groove. Other embodiments may operate with PV modules having frames without angled grooves as by use of wraparound brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: John Raymond West, Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Emil Johansen, Brian Atchley