§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4886554A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solar roofing assembly

Assignee: PLUTO ACQUISTION Co LLC
•
Filing: 1988-09-29
•
Granted: 1989-12-12
•
Expires: 2008-09-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A solar roofing assembly is provided including a roofing membrane, a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of the roofing membrane, a plurality of pavers disposed as a layer on top of the plurality of insulation blocks, and a plurality of photovoltaic cells, each supported on a respective paver. In a second embodiment, each paver has a respective photovoltaic cell bonded to the top surface of the paver and has a respective insulation block bonded to the bottom surface of the paver forming a shop assembled, three-layer unit. The insulation block is also tapered with one side edge being thicker than an opposite side edge so that rain water will run off the top surface of the photovoltaic cell. The three-layer paver units are arranged on top of the roofing membrane, so that the top surfaces of the photovoltaic cells face south or in the direction of increased sun exposure. The insulation blocks have interlocking side surfaces. The joints between the pavers and the insulation blocks permit drainage therethrough of rain water for flow of rain water over the top of the roofing membrane. A method of manufacture is provided, wherein three-layer units of insulation block, paver and photovoltaic cell are made in the shop, and wherein the three-layer units are installed in the field over a field-installed roofing membrane.

Inventors

  • 👤 William J. Woodring
  • 👤 Charles J. Horner, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 20:32
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02S; H02S20/00; H02S20/20; H02S20/22; H02S20/23; F; F24; F24S; F24S20/00; F24S20/60; F24S20/67; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/10; Y02B10/20; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y02E10/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 56 words
A solar roofing assembly comprising: a roofing membrane; a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of the roofing membrane; a plurality of pavers disposed as a layer on top of the plurality of insulation blocks; and a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed as a layer on top of the plurality of pavers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 56 words
A solar roofing assembly comprising: a roofing membrane; a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of the roofing membrane; a plurality of pavers disposed as a layer on top of the plurality of insulation blocks; and a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed as a layer on top of the plurality of pavers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein each paver has a respective photovoltaic cell mounted on top of the paver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The assembly of claim 2, wherein each pair of pavers with adjoining side surfaces has a joint disposed between the surfaces for water drainage, and each pair of insulation blocks with adjoining side surfaces has a joint disposed between the surfaces for water drainage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The assembly of claim 3, wherein each insulation block has a respective paver positioned on top of the insulation block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The assembly of claim 4, wherein each paver has a top surface which is bonded to its respective photovoltaic cell, forming a two-layer integral block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein each paver has a bottom surface which is bonded to its respective insulation block, forming a three-layer integral block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The assembly of claim 6, wherein each insulation block is a tapered insulation block, and the photovoltaic cell disposed above the insulation block has a top surface which can be installed so as to face in a direction of increased sun exposure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 69 words
The method of making a solar roofing assembly including: shop assembling a paver with a respective photovoltaic cell bonded to a top surface of the paver and a tapered insulating block bonded to a bottom surface of the paver forming a three-layer paver unit; installing in the field a roofing membrane; installing in the field the shop-assembled three-layer paver units as a layer on top of the roofing membrane.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 69 words
The method of making a solar roofing assembly including: shop assembling a paver with a respective photovoltaic cell bonded to a top surface of the paver and a tapered insulating block bonded to a bottom surface of the paver forming a three-layer paver unit; installing in the field a roofing membrane; installing in the field the shop-assembled three-layer paver units as a layer on top of the roofing membrane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 8, including positioning the three-layer paver units in the field in substantially straight lines with their photovoltaic cells facing in a direction of maximum sun exposure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
A solar roofing assembly comprising: a roofing membrane of substantially watertight construction; a plurality of pavers disposed as a layer above the roofing membrane; and a plurality of photovoltaic cells respectively disposed on top of the plurality of pavers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 39 words
A solar roofing assembly comprising: a roofing membrane of substantially watertight construction; a plurality of pavers disposed as a layer above the roofing membrane; and a plurality of photovoltaic cells respectively disposed on top of the plurality of pavers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4674244A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-12-11 1993-06-12 1993-12-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-12-11 1997-06-12 1997-12-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-12-11 2001-06-12 2001-12-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag