Solar panel

Claim 2

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, a bottom edge portion having an extending first lip which includes raised and recessed portions on a back surface of the first lip, a top edge portion having an extending second lip which includes raised and recessed portions of a front surface of the second lip which are configured to matingly join with the raised and recessed portions of the first lip of the bottom edge portion of a top-adjacent one of said solar panels, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 3

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said first lip is configured to overlap the second lip of the top edge portion of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels.

Claim 4

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 5

The solar panel of claim 3, wherein said base substrate is formed by reaction injection molding.

Claim 6

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said first and second ridges are respectively spaced apart from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between abutting side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap.

Claim 7

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said first and second ridges respectively protrude from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap when the respective first and second edges of the side-adjacent panels are mounted on the roof substructure to be spaced apart.

Claim 8

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said first and second ridges each include a tongue proximate said top edge portion of said base substrate and a groove proximate said bottom edge portion of said base substrate, said groove being configured to matingly receive the tongue of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels.

Claim 9

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said base substrate has a substantially rectangular shape.

Claim 10

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said first and second ridges protrude substantially perpendicularly to said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 11

The solar panel of claim 1, wherein said first and second longitudinally extending side edges are substantially parallel.

Claim 12

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels, wherein said first and second ridges each include a tongue proximate said top edge portion of said base substrate and a groove proximate said bottom edge portion of said base substrate, said groove being configured to matingly receive the tongue of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 13

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels, wherein said first and second ridges each include a tongue proximate said top edge portion of said base substrate and a groove proximate said bottom edge portion of said base substrate, said groove being configured to matingly receive the tongue of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 14

The solar panel of claim 11, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 15

The solar panel of claim 12, wherein said base substrate is formed by reaction injection molding.

Claim 16

The solar panel of claim 11, wherein said first and second ridges are respectively spaced apart from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between abutting side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap.

Claim 17

The solar panel of claim 11, wherein said first and second ridges respectively protrude from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap when the respective first and second edges of the side-adjacent panels are mounted on the roof substructure to be spaced apart.

Claim 18

The solar panel of claim 11, wherein said base substrate has a substantially rectangular shape.

Claim 19

The solar panel of claim 11, wherein said first and second ridges protrude substantially perpendicularly to said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 20

The solar panel of claim 11, wherein said first and second longitudinally extending side edges are substantially parallel.

Claim 21

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels, wherein said first and second ridges are respectively spaced apart from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between abutting side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 22

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels, wherein said first and second ridges are respectively spaced apart from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between abutting side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 23

The solar panel of claim 19, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 24

The solar panel of claim 20, wherein said base substrate is formed by reaction injection molding.

Claim 25

The solar panel of claim 19, wherein said base substrate has a substantially rectangular shape.

Claim 26

The solar panel of claim 19, wherein said first and second ridges protrude substantially perpendicularly to said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 27

The solar panel of claim 19, wherein said first and second longitudinally extending side edges are substantially parallel.

Claim 28

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 29

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 30

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said bottom edge portion has an extending first lip, and said top edge portion has an extending second lip configured to matingly join with the first lip of the bottom edge portion of a to adjacent one of said solar panels.

Claim 31

The solar panel of claim 26, wherein said first lip is configured to overlap the second lip of the top edge portion of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels.

Claim 32

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said base substrate is formed by reaction injection molding.

Claim 33

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said first and second ridges are respectively spaced apart from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between abutting side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap.

Claim 34

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said first and second ridges respectively protrude from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap when the respective first and second edges of the side-adjacent panels are mounted on the roof substructure to be spaced apart.

Claim 35

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said first and second ridges each include a tongue proximate said top edge portion of said base substrate and a groove proximate said bottom edge portion of said base substrate, said groove being configured to matingly receive the tongue of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels.

Claim 36

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said base substrate has a substantially rectangular shape.

Claim 37

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said first and second ridges protrude substantially perpendicularly to said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 38

The solar panel of claim 25, wherein said first and second longitudinally extending side edges are substantially parallel.

Claim 39

A solar panel array for mounting on a roof substructure, comprising: a plurality of standing seam caps; and a plurality of solar panels; each said solar panel comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion having an extending first lip which includes raised and recessed portions on a back surface of the first lip, a top edge portion having an extending second lip which includes raised and recessed portions on a front surface of the second lip which are configured to matingly join with the raised and recessed portions of the first lip of the bottom edge portion of a top-adjacent one of said solar panels, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive one of said plurality of standing seam caps to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of a side-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 40

A solar panel array for mounting on a roof substructure, comprising: a plurality of standing seam caps; and a plurality of solar panels; each said solar panel comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion having an extending first lip which includes raised and recessed portions on a back surface of the first lip, a top edge portion having an extending second lip which includes raised and recessed portions on a front surface of the second lip which are configured to matingly join with the raised and recessed portions of the first lip of the bottom edge portion of a top-adjacent one of said solar panels, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive one of said plurality of standing seam caps to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of a side-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate.

Claim 41

The solar panel of claim 35, wherein said first and second ridges are respectively spaced apart from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between abutting side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap.

Claim 42

The solar panel of claim 35, wherein said first and second longitudinally extending side edges are substantially parallel.

Claim 43

A solar panel array for mounting on a roof substructure, comprising: a plurality of standing seam caps; and a plurality of solar panels; each said solar panel comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive one of said plurality of standing seam caps to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of a side-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 44

A solar panel array for mounting on a roof substructure, comprising: a plurality of standing seam caps; and a plurality of solar panels; each said solar panel comprising: a base substrate including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, a bottom edge portion, a top edge portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, and first and second ridges protruding from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive one of said plurality of standing seam caps to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of a side-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 45

The solar panel of claim 38, wherein said first and second ridges are respectively spaced apart from said first and second side edges such that a wiring duct is formed between abutting side-adjacent ones of said solar panels and the standing seam cap.

Claim 46

The solar panel of claim 38, wherein said first and second longitudinally extending side edges are substantially parallel.

Claim 47

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate formed by reaction injection molding and having a substantially rectangular shape, including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, first and second substantially parallel and longitudinally extending side edges, a bottom edge portion having an extending first lip, a top edge portion having an extending second lip configured to matingly join with the first lip of the bottom edge portion of a top-adjacent one of said solar panels, said first lip being configured to overlap the second lip of the top edge portion of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels, and first and second ridges protruding substantially perpendicularly from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and spaced apart from said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels, said first and second ridges each including a tongue proximate said top edge portion of said base substrate and a groove proximate said bottom edge portion of said base substrate, said groove being configured to matingly receive the tongue of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.

Claim 48

A solar panel for use in an array of said solar panels mounted on a roof substructure wherein each panel is secured to a side-adjacent one of said solar panels by a standing seam cap, each of said solar panels comprising: a base substrate formed by reaction injection molding and having a substantially rectangular shape, including a front surface, a back surface for mounting onto the roof substructure, first and second substantially parallel and longitudinally extending side edges, a bottom edge portion having an extending first lip, a top edge portion having an extending second lip configured to matingly join with the first lip of the bottom edge portion of a top-adjacent one of said solar panels, said first lip being configured to overlap the second lip of the top edge portion of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels, and first and second ridges protruding substantially perpendicularly from the front surface and respectively disposed parallel and spaced apart from said first and second side edges, each of said first or second ridges being configured to receive the standing seam cap to be mounted thereon and onto the second or first ridge, respectively, of the side-adjacent one of said solar panels, said first and second ridges each including a tongue proximate said top edge portion of said base substrate and a groove proximate said bottom edge portion of said base substrate, said groove being configured to matingly receive the tongue of a bottom-adjacent one of said solar panels; and a photovoltaic module mounted on said front surface of said base substrate, wherein said front surface of said base substrate includes an overlapping portion that extends over a peripheral edge of said photovoltaic module to secure said photovoltaic module onto said front surface.