Patents by Inventor Trevor B. Guthrie

Trevor B. Guthrie 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: 10985688
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for assembly a roofing structure that incorporates photovoltaic modules as shingles of the roofing structure. A sidelap is used to both establish consistent spacing between the solar shingles and prevent water passing between adjacent shingles from collecting beneath the solar shingles by guiding the water passing through the solar shingles and redirecting the water down-roof. In some embodiments, the sidelaps can have additional functionality. For example, a sidelap can include tabs configured to interact with lateral securing features positioned on downward-facing surfaces of the solar roofing modules to help keep the lateral sides of the photovoltaic modules from pulling away from the roofing structure during severe weather conditions. The sidelap could also include means for attaching a wire clip to one end of the sidelap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Seery, David Molina, Trevor B. Guthrie, Thomas Anderson, Jonathan Hewlett
  • Patent number: 10158321
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mounting an array of photovoltaic modules atop a rooftop are disclosed. In particular the mounting hardware includes a photovoltaic module tray supported above the rooftop by a number of support structures fastened to the rooftop. The photovoltaic module trays include bottom and sidewalls configured to support and align photovoltaic modules along the rooftop. Since the bottom wall supports the weight of the photovoltaic module, the sidewalls can have a thin form-factor that allows the photovoltaic modules trays to be tightly spaced. In this way, the photovoltaic module tray can occupy very little area on the roof allowing the effective collection area of photovoltaic modules supported by the photovoltaic module trays to be significantly larger than photovoltaic modules using wider photovoltaic module frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor B. Guthrie, Gregory Philip Patnude, Brian Despard West, David Molina, Ryan Devine
  • Publication number: 20180351501
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for assembly a roofing structure that incorporates photovoltaic modules as shingles of the roofing structure. A sidelap is used to both establish consistent spacing between the solar shingles and prevent water passing between adjacent shingles from collecting beneath the solar shingles by guiding the water passing through the solar shingles and redirecting the water down-roof. In some embodiments, the sidelaps can have additional functionality. For example, a sidelap can include tabs configured to interact with lateral securing features positioned on downward-facing surfaces of the solar roofing modules to help keep the lateral sides of the photovoltaic modules from pulling away from the roofing structure during severe weather conditions. The sidelap could also include means for attaching a wire clip to one end of the sidelap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Seery, David Molina, Trevor B. Guthrie, Thomas Anderson, Jonathan Hewlett
  • Publication number: 20180191290
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mounting an array of photovoltaic modules atop a rooftop are disclosed. In particular the mounting hardware includes a photovoltaic module tray supported above the rooftop by a number of support structures fastened to the rooftop. The photovoltaic module trays include bottom and sidewalls configured to support and align photovoltaic modules along the rooftop. Since the bottom wall supports the weight of the photovoltaic module, the sidewalls can have a thin form-factor that allows the photovoltaic modules trays to be tightly spaced. In this way, the photovoltaic module tray can occupy very little area on the roof allowing the effective collection area of photovoltaic modules supported by the photovoltaic module trays to be significantly larger than photovoltaic modules using wider photovoltaic module frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Trevor B. Guthrie, Gregory Philip Patnude, Brian Despard West, David Molina, Ryan Devine
  • Patent number: 9839154
    Abstract: A multi-component inverter rack formed from sheet metal is disclosed. Some of the sheet metal derived parts used to form the multi-component inverter rack can be interchangeable. The multi-component inverter rack can include attachment points for an inverter, a load center and other supporting electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick O'Connor, Trevor B. Guthrie, Kathryn Austin Pesce, Nicholas S. Cohon
  • Publication number: 20170311475
    Abstract: A multi-component inverter rack formed from sheet metal is disclosed. Some of the sheet metal derived parts used to form the multi-component inverter rack can be interchangeable. The multi-component inverter rack can include attachment points for an inverter, a load center and other supporting electrical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick O'Connor, Trevor B. Guthrie, Kathryn Austin Pesce, Nicholas S. Cohon