Unitary solar window panel

Claim 1

A solar panel adapted for use as a window for a structure located at a particular latitude of the earth, which panel combines light transmitting and light reflecting members to permit passage of direct solar radiation at a low solar altitude and to prevent passage of direct solar radiation at a high solar altitude, and which panel provides insulating dead air spaces to retard heat transfer through the panel structure, which panel comprises an inner face and an outer face spaced therefrom, each face being essentially planar and being adapted to be positioned along the inner and outer portions of the structure to which it is connected, respectively and a plurality of fixed integral rib members connected to and extending between the inner face and the outer face, at least some of which are essentially opaque to solar radiation, those ribs which are not essentially opaque to solar radiation being essentially transparent, said inner face, outer face and ribs being integrally formed of fixed, rigid unitary construction, said rib member having a slope in the range from horizontal to upwardly inclined from the inner face toward the outer face of the panel, the fixed angle of inclination, the width of the rib members and the relative spacing of the opaque rib member being selected for the particular latitude of the building to determine a cut-off angle for solar radiation at that latitude, so that when the sun is below a particular altitude, there is direct transmission of light and energy into the structure, but when the sun is above the particular altitude the panel will absorb or reflect substantially all solar radiation impinging upon the panel.