Patent ID: 9169646
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: E04D,H02S,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A slate-style solar roof comprising: a roof deck; a plurality of generally planar solar panels arranged in courses on the roof deck with a lower edge portion of each solar panel in a first course overlapping an upper edge portion of at least one solar panel of a next lower second course, the solar panels of the second course being staggered with respect to the solar panels of the first course; the upper edge portions of at least some of the solar panels including top corners; each solar panel having a top surface facing away from the roof and a bottom surface facing the roof; a plurality of solar cells on each solar panel arranged for exposure to sunlight on the top surface of the panel and consequent production of electrical energy, the solar cells being electrically interconnected to aggregate electrical energy produced by the solar cells; a junction box on the bottom surface of each solar panel located within the lower edge portion thereof; electrical connections for directing the aggregated electrical energy produced by the solar cells to the junction box; and a cutout formed within at least one of the top corners of the upper edge portion of each solar panel with the cutout extending through the panel, the cutout being sized and located such that the cutouts of a lower second course of solar panels are covered by the lower edge portions of solar panels in an upper first course of solar panels with the junction boxes of the first course of solar panels residing within the cutout of a solar panel in the second course of solar panels to lower the profile of the plurality of solar panels on the roof.