Patents by Inventor Michael R. Jolley

Michael R. Jolley 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).

  • Solar panel clamp system
    Patent number: 8875401
    Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a solar panel clamp system for mounting solar panels on ground-level and raised purlins. Such systems include left-handed and right-hand clamps that can be attached to opposite sides of solar panel assemblies that include mounting frames. Left-handed clamps can attach to the mounting frame of a solar panel and include surfaces that can rest on the top surfaces of purlins and include a lip or shelf surface onto which the right-handed clamps of a mounting frame of a neighboring solar panel can rest to increase the speed and safety of installing solar panels on raised purlins. Through holes in the left-handed and right-handed clamps can then be used as guide holes for drilling into the purlins. The majority of, if not all of, the solar panel installation using the clamps of the present invention can be completed from underneath the raised purlins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Solarcity Corporation
    Inventor: Michael R. Jolley
  • SOLAR PANEL CLAMP SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140020230
    Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a solar panel clamp system for mounting solar panels on ground-level and raised purlins. Such systems include left-handed and right-hand clamps that can be attached to opposite sides of solar panel assemblies that include mounting frames. Left-handed clamps can attach to the mounting frame of a solar panel and include surfaces that can rest on the top surfaces of purlins and include a lip or shelf surface onto which the right-handed clamps of a mounting frame of a neighboring solar panel can rest to increase the speed and safety of installing solar panels on raised purlins. Through holes in the left-handed and right-handed clamps can then be used as guide holes for drilling into the purlins. The majority of, if not all of, the solar panel installation using the clamps of the present invention can be completed from underneath the raised purlins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: SOLARCITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael R. Jolley