Patents by Inventor Kai Stephan

Kai Stephan 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: 12292075
    Abstract: A twist-lock clamp to attach a solar module to a rail system includes a spring between a top clamp and a t-nut, with features on the spring and top clamp to restrict rotation relative to each other. The t-nut includes features allowing rotation of about 90 degrees when the t-nut is inserted in a rail, but restrict rotation beyond about 90 degrees. The spring serves to hold the top clamp and t-nut apart while allowing the twist-lock clamp to resist sliding in the rail during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 12281750
    Abstract: Apparatuses for clamping rails and methods for rail installation are provided. A clamp apparatus may include a first grip body that includes a first groove and a second grip body that includes a second groove. Alignment of the first groove and the second groove may form a groove pair configured to couple to one or more flanges of a rail. The clamp apparatus may further include a fastener, as well as a flange spring that extends from the first grip body and that flexibly engages with the second grip body. Flexing the flange spring may allow the first grip body to move away from the second grip body along a length of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC
    Inventor: Erich Kai Stephan
  • Publication number: 20250105775
    Abstract: A multi-rail system for mounting solar modules to a surface, such as a roof, uses two rails to support a first row of solar modules, and a single rail to support each subsequent row of solar modules. Splices connect edges of solar modules between rows, providing support along one edge of the solar modules for the subsequent rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Nicholas Wenzel, Peter Wilke
  • Publication number: 20250096721
    Abstract: A system and a method of securing and sealing a roof attachment to a roof surface is disclosed. A roof attachment may include a base, a protective covering, volume of sealant, and a release mechanism. The release mechanism includes one or more release slides. The release slides may have one or more mechanism apertures to receive a fastener. The release slide may have one or more flexible tabs that cooperate with one or more indentation or flanges or grooves in base to substantially retain the release slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Ian Wogan, Erich Kai Stephan, Ian Lennox
  • Publication number: 20250055408
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mounting solar modules are disclosed herein. A mounting system for solar modules includes a first-row solar module and a second-row solar module having a bottom edge and a top edge opposite the bottom edge, a structural clamp configured to connect the top edge of the first-row solar module to a bottom edge of a second-row solar module, roof attachments configured to secure the first-row solar module and the second-row solar module, and structural clamps that connect the first-row solar module to the second-row solar module. The mounting system for solar modules may be installed by installing a first row of roof attachments to a roof surface using fasteners, installing a second row of roof attachments to a roof surface using fasteners, and installing a third row of roof attachments to a roof surface using fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventor: Erich Kai Stephan
  • Publication number: 20250003208
    Abstract: A splice having a main body and one or more protrusions extending from the main body. The one or more protrusions can be operable to interfere with a rail when the main body is installed into an opening of the rail. The one or more protrusions may be operable to cut into a coating of the rail and form an electrical connection between the rail and the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 12139905
    Abstract: A splice having a main body and one or more protrusions extending from the main body. The one or more protrusions can be operable to interfere with a rail when the main body is installed into an opening of the rail. The one or more protrusions may be operable to cut into a coating of the rail and form an electrical connection between the rail and the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20240360863
    Abstract: A capsule for delivering sealant for fastener is disclosed. A capsule includes a cavity that contains an amount of sealant, a perimeter wall and a top cap that define the cavity, where the top cap is configured align with an interior contour of the perimeter wall and collapse through the perimeter wall; and one or more breakaway tabs disposed on the perimeter wall, wherein the breakaway tabs are configured to resist a release of sealant within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Ian Wogan, Erich Kai Stephan
  • Publication number: 20240263842
    Abstract: A system to support solar energy modules is described. The system includes an upper tilt leg assembly and a lower tilt leg assembly. The upper tilt leg assembly includes an upper horizontal rail, a support leg, and an upper tilt bracket assembly. The upper bracket assembly may include a lower body pivotally connected to the support leg and an upper body pivotally connected to the upper horizontal rail. The lower body of the tilt bracket may include one or more fasteners and one or more flanges that protrude into the cross-section of the support leg. A method of installing supports for solar energy modules is described. The method includes installing one or more roof attachments onto an installation surface, attaching one or more leg supports to the roof attachments and tilt brackets, and attaching horizontal rails to roof attachments and the tilt brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventor: Erich Kai Stephan
  • Publication number: 20240171116
    Abstract: A multi-rail system for mounting solar modules to a surface, such as a roof, uses two rails to support a first row of solar modules, and a single rail to support each subsequent row of solar modules. Splices connect edges of solar modules between rows, providing support along one edge of the solar modules for the subsequent rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Nicholas Wenzel, Peter Wilke
  • Patent number: 11990862
    Abstract: A u-shaped clamp that includes offset bends at distal ends, accepts a threaded fastener through two apertures, where tightening the fastener brings two flanges of the u-shaped clamp together to grip a wire, a cable or a pipe. An offset bend on one end of one flange serves to hold a wire or cable in position until the fastener is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20240154570
    Abstract: A coupling clamp is provided that includes a top clamp and a bottom clamp. The top clamp may include a top vertical flange and a top lateral flange. The bottom clamp may include a bottom vertical flange and one or more bottom lateral flanges that extend laterally in opposite directions. At least one of the bottom lateral flanges may include a first portion having a surface configured to engage with a solar module and a second portion connected to the bottom vertical flange at an intersection below the surface of the first portion. The coupling clamp may be installed onto one or more solar modules that are positioned onto a rail that has an installed rail clamp. Another solar module may be positioned on the coupling clamp and rail and then slid under the rail clamp, which may be tightened to secure the other solar module to the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Ian Wogan, Ian Lennox, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20240060598
    Abstract: Apparatuses for roof attachment are provided, as well as methods for assembling and installing roof attachment apparatuses. An exemplary roof attachment apparatus may include a mount and a fastener configured to engage with an installation surface. The fastener may be configured to attach the mount to the installation surface when engaged with the installation surface. The roof attachment apparatus may further include a compressible sealant disposed between a bottom of the mount and the installation surface when the mount is attached to the installation surface. The sealant may thus be compressed based on the engagement between the fastener and the installation surface, and the compressed sealant may flow to fill a volume of space between the bottom of the mount and the installation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Ian Wogan, Erich Kai Stephan
  • Patent number: 11848636
    Abstract: A multi-rail system for mounting solar modules to a surface, such as a roof, uses two rails to support a first row of solar modules, and a single rail to support each subsequent row of solar modules. Splices connect edges of solar modules between rows, providing support along one edge of the solar modules for the subsequent rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Nicholas Wenzel, Peter Wilke
  • Publication number: 20230287674
    Abstract: A splice having a main body and one or more protrusions extending from the main body. The one or more protrusions can be operable to interfere with a rail when the main body is installed into an opening of the rail. The one or more protrusions may be operable to cut into a coating of the rail and form an electrical connection between the rail and the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11757399
    Abstract: A structural support block cooperates with a cone-shaped protrusion in a roof flashing. The support block and protrusion have a through-hole allowing a fastener to secure the support block and flashing to a roof. Cooperation of the support block and the cone-shaped protrusion in the roof flashing diverts water, particularly on sloped surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris
  • Publication number: 20230234649
    Abstract: Vehicle tailgate systems are provided. Exemplary vehicle tailgate systems may include a tailgate wall having one or more cavities and one or more securement mechanisms. The cavities may be used to install a set of one or more interchangeable pods. Each pod may have a common interface that is configured to demountably install into the one or more cavities using the one or more securement mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventor: Erich Kai Stephan
  • Publication number: 20230235489
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt strap for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one hollow section which has at least one cavity for receiving electronic components and/or lines, wherein the cavity is formed by two fabric layers and the fabric layers are formed by a plurality of warp threads and weft threads. The fabric layers are connected to each other in the outer edge sections by means of edge weave threads. A single layer section adjoins the at least one hollow section, in which the fabric layers are connected to each other by a plurality of central weave threads, the central weave threads in the hollow section being woven together in only one of the fabric layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Ioan IONITA, Kai-Stephan MUELLER, Crina TIRON, Willi WELZ, Mihaela COSTEA
  • Publication number: 20230228372
    Abstract: Apparatuses for clamping rails and methods for rail installation are provided. A clamp apparatus may include a first grip body that includes a first groove and a second grip body that includes a second groove. Alignment of the first groove and the second groove may form a groove pair configured to couple to one or more flanges of a rail. The clamp apparatus may further include a fastener, as well as a flange spring that extends from the first grip body and that flexibly engages with the second grip body. Flexing the flange spring may allow the first grip body to move away from the second grip body along a length of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventor: Erich Kai Stephan
  • Patent number: D1004141
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel