Patents by Inventor Peter Wilkes

Peter Wilkes 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20230178904
    Abstract: A u-shaped splice that is used to connect two solar mounting rails, includes barbs that interact with the rails, requiring more force to remove the splice from the rails than the force required to insert the splice into the rails. Wedges, located at a mid-point between ends of the splice interact with the rails, creating an interference fit between the splice and the rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Peter Wilke, Glenn Harris
  • Patent number: 11608627
    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: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11611310
    Abstract: A solar mount, for use with a bracket attachment, has an open and a closed state. In the open state, grip flanges on two hinged arms can pass through a slot opening on the bracket attachment. In the closed state, the grip flanges cooperate with respective groves in the bracket attachment to secure the solar mount to the bracket attachment. In the closed state, a fastener attaches a solar accessory, such as a rail, and holds the two hinged arms together. A flexible mount helps hold the two hinged arms together in the open state, and also helps hold the two hinged arms in the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11492167
    Abstract: A method for packaging solar mounting attachments by forming a package box having a first end and a second end, sealing the first end of the package box, placing attachment brackets into compartments defined by dividers in the package box, placing a container of fasteners onto at least one of the attachment brackets, and placing flashings onto at least one other attachment bracket. The flashings, the container of fasteners, and attachment brackets may be removed from the package box from the second end in the order of flashings, the container of fasteners, and attachment brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nick Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20220298776
    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: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11437952
    Abstract: A mount for use over a roof flashing on a composition roof. The mount includes a central aperture for a fastener, a top surface with a horizontal platform extending laterally from the top surface, and a conical inner surface to cooperate with a conical protrusion on the roof flashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Nick Wenzel, Peter Wilke
  • Publication number: 20220263458
    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: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20220239247
    Abstract: A solar mount, for use with a bracket attachment, has an open and a closed state. In the open state, grip flanges on two hinged arms can pass through a slot opening on the bracket attachment. In the closed state, the grip flanges cooperate with respective groves in the bracket attachment to secure the solar mount to the bracket attachment. In the closed state, a fastener attaches a solar accessory, such as a rail, and holds the two hinged arms together. A flexible mount helps hold the two hinged arms together in the open state, and also helps hold the two hinged arms in the closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11377840
    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: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20220190781
    Abstract: An electrically conductive bond jumper connects two solar modules, and is affixed to the solar modules with u-shaped spring grips on each end. The spring grips have sharp pointed teeth to penetrate coatings on the solar modules and enhance the electrical connection between the solar modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11236510
    Abstract: A roof pan with raised ridges along lateral edges, where the raised ridges of one pan cooperate raised ridges of another pan to prevent water movement. A formed edge that is offset from the roof surface when the pan is installed on the roof allows a flashing to slide under the formed edge when the roof pan is installed on the roof surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Nicholas Wenzel, Peter Wilke
  • Patent number: 11185920
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments presently described, metal-containing particles may be made by a method that includes introducing a molten material into a reaction zone of a reactor system, passing a process gas into the reaction zone in a direction substantially tangential to a sidewall of the reaction zone, and contacting the process gas with the molten material in the reaction zone to form metal-containing particles. The molten material may be introduced into an upper portion of the reaction zone The reaction zone may include a substantially circular cross-section, and the molten metal may be introduced into the reaction zone in a laminar flow or as atomized particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hammond Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Hyde Murphy, William Peter Wilke, IV, Philip Michael Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11185919
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments presently described, a mixture of lead oxide and lead metal particles may be formed by a method that includes forming a molten metal lead material from a solid lead metal supply material, introducing the molten metal lead material into a reaction zone of a reactor, and contacting the molten metal lead material with an oxidizing gas in the reaction zone to oxidize a portion of the molten metal lead material and form at least solid lead oxide particles and solid lead metal particles. The molten metal lead material may be introduced to the reaction zone in a laminar flow or as atomized molten particles. The weight ratio of formed solid lead oxide particles to solid lead metal particles may be less than 99:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hammond Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence Hyde Murphy, William Peter Wilke, IV, Philip Michael Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11143436
    Abstract: A clamp particularly designed for use on the end of a solar module mounting rail, includes two hinged parts that can be adjusted by a fastener to clamp a solar module to the rail. A pull-tab with toothed catches helps to position the clamp during installation, and also prevents the clamp from sliding too far into the rail, while a grip body increases friction and electrical contact between the solar module and the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20210156413
    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: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20210156135
    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: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20210067083
    Abstract: Combinations of various solar module mounting components are tested and certified for use in mounting solar modules. The components are tested and certified for use in different configurations, allowing them to be cross-compatible. The different configurations include dual-rail systems, shared-rail systems, and rail-free systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel
  • 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