Patents by Inventor Ethan Ely
Ethan Ely 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).
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Patent number: 12597879Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 30, 2025Date of Patent: April 7, 2026Assignee: Unirac, Inc.Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
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Patent number: 12587127Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 9, 2024Date of Patent: March 24, 2026Assignee: Unirac, Inc.Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
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Publication number: 20250317095Abstract: A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2025Publication date: October 9, 2025Inventors: Gary Rossi, Ethan Ely
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Publication number: 20250293631Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2025Publication date: September 18, 2025Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
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Publication number: 20250274073Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2025Publication date: August 28, 2025Inventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
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Patent number: 12283915Abstract: A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2023Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Unirac, Inc.Inventors: Gary Rossi, Ethan Ely
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Publication number: 20240364255Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Inventors: Brian WARES, Ethan ELY, Sushrut BAPAT, Gary ROSSI
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Patent number: 12119779Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
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Patent number: 12034398Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Brian Wares, Ethan Ely, Sushrut Bapat, Gary Rossi
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Publication number: 20240039465Abstract: A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Gary ROSSI, Ethan ELY
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Patent number: 11728764Abstract: A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Gary Rossi, Ethan Ely
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Publication number: 20210249990Abstract: A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Gary ROSSI, Ethan ELY
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Patent number: 11018620Abstract: A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Gary Rossi, Ethan Ely
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Publication number: 20200382053Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Brian WARES, Ethan ELY, Sushrut BAPAT, Gary ROSSI
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Publication number: 20200382049Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Brian WARES, Ethan ELY, Sushrut BAPAT, Gary ROSSI
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Publication number: 20200099332Abstract: A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Gary ROSSI, Ethan ELY
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Patent number: 10547270Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, adjacent photovoltaic modules may be oriented so that a boundary between an up-roof photovoltaic module and a down-roof photovoltaic module is not noticeable by observers positioned at typical viewing angles of the roof.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: SolarCity CorporationInventors: Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Charles Almy, Martin Seery, Daniel Preston Flanigan, Jack Raymond West, Garret Anthony Bautista, William Paul Buchanan, Johann Fritz Karkheck, Ethan Ely
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Publication number: 20170237390Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, adjacent photovoltaic modules may be oriented so that a boundary between an up-roof photovoltaic module and a down-roof photovoltaic module is not noticeable by observers positioned at typical viewing angles of the roof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Charles Almy, Martin Seery, Daniel Preston Flanigan, Jack Raymond West, Garret Anthony Bautista, William Paul Buchanan, Johann Fritz Karkheck, Ethan Ely