Abstract:
In various representative aspects, an apparatus for securing conduit to solar panel arrays that are typically installed on roof structures. More specifically, the assembly comprises a mount that is coupled to a solar panel module or a rail-less wire conduit structure for securing wire conduit alongside the perimeter of an array of solar panel modules.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for securing conduit to solar panel arrays that are typically installed on roof structures. More specifically, the assembly comprises a mount that is coupled to a solar panel module or a rail-less wire conduit structure for securing wire conduit alongside the perimeter of an array of solar panel modules. A method of installation is also disclosed. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    Any discussion of the prior art in the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that the prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
         [0003]    Installing a solar panel array on a roof can be challenging. One difficult aspect of the process is installing conduit that stores the wiring used as part of the solar panel array installation, and doing it in a manner that minimizes the visibility of the conduit on the roof in a simple and effective manner. 
         [0004]    A typical conduit acts as a rigid passage to protect and assist in routing electrical wiring for the solar panel array. The most common conduit sizes for residential solar installations are ¾-inch and 1-inch conduits and are made from either metal (EMT) or PVC plastic. 
         [0005]    There are three common installation techniques to install electrical wiring conduit. The first technique is a roof-mounted conduit as shown in  FIG. 1 . This technique mounts the conduit  120  to a roof  110  using wood, metal, or plastic blocks  100  coupled with fasteners or clamps  105  as shown. 
         [0006]    The second technique mounts the conduit  120  directly to the roof  110  using flashings  130  as shown in  FIG. 2 . This technique typically includes a small mount  100  that is secured to the flashing  130  that also uses a mounting clip  150  to secure the conduit  120  to the mount  100  This technique is cumbersome to install and requires several extra parts as well. Another variation of the technique shown in  FIG. 2  is the use of a conduit mount  170  that simply sits directly on top of a roof as shown in  FIG. 3 . The use of these mounts  170  keeps the conduit  120  open and viewable on the roof, which is not desirable. 
         [0007]    The third technique utilizes a rail-mounted installation as shown in  FIG. 4 . This technique is used in rail-mounted solar panel arrays. The conduit  120  is mounted directly to the solar panel array structure  180  as shown. 
         [0008]    Examples of standard conduit mounts  192 ,  194 ,  196 , and  198  are shown in  FIG. 5 . Each of these mounts require a support structure to secure the mount to a roof. 
         [0009]    The known prior art does not enable conduit to be secured directly to solar panel frames. The present invention overcomes these limitations and offers a solution that requires minimal parts and is easy to install, use, and manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The invention is summarized below only for purposes of introducing embodiments of the invention. The ultimate scope of the invention is to be limited only to the claims that follow the specification. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting assembly for securing a conduit to a solar panel frame. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention for the mounting assembly to have an upper end and a lower end. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the present invention for the bottom end to comprise a conduit retainer. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention for the upper end to comprise a first mouth for receiving a flange of a solar panel mounting frame. 
         [0015]    It is a further object of the present invention for the upper end to further comprise a second mouth beneath the first mouth for receiving a terminating end of a wire management structure that is attached to a rail-less solar panel mounting structure. 
         [0016]    It is a further object of the present invention for the upper end to further comprise a top surface coupled to the first mouth that forms a resilient structure. 
         [0017]    It is a further object of the present invention that the resilient structure is s-shaped. 
         [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention that the conduit retainer is generally c-shaped. 
         [0019]    It is a further object of the present invention that the first and second mouths are resilient. 
         [0020]    A person with ordinary skill in the relevant art would know that any shape or size of the elements described below may be adopted. Any combinations of suitable number, shape, and size of the elements described below may be used. Also, any materials suitable to achieve the object of the current invention may be chosen as well. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a prior art roof-mounted conduit assembly. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a perspective view of the prior art roof-mounted conduit assembly that utilizes a flashing. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a pair of prior art conduit roof mounts. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a prior art conduit mount secured to a solar panel rail array. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of several prior art conduit mounts. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view illustrating a typical rail-less solar panel array structure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates front and rear perspective views of an exemplary solar panel array conduit mount. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates is a side view of a rail-less solar panel mount that includes a wire management apparatus with the conduit mount being utilized in two ways. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view showing the conduit mount secured to a solar panel frame. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates a rear perspective view of the conduit mount secured to a solar panel frame. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of the conduit mount installed to the wire management feature of a rail-less solar panel mount. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  illustrates the view of  FIG. 11  showing a conduit installed in the conduit mount. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  illustrates front and rear perspective views of an alternate exemplary embodiment of the conduit mount shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are provided to thoroughly understand the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed embodiments may be applied. The full scope of the invention is not limited to the example(s) that are described below. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a typical rail-less solar panel array structure  200  supported by a series of rail-less support mounts  205 . Line  215  indicates a proposed conduit path with dots  215  indicating possible locations where a conduit  120  can be installed along the solar panel array structure  200 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front and rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the conduit mount  300 . The conduit mount  300  comprises a c-shaped retainer  310  on a lower end that receives and holds a generally cylindrically shaped conduit  120 . It is understood that the shape of the retainer is not limited to c-shaped retainers and that other similar shapes of retainers could be used as well. The upper end includes a top lip  320  and a middle lip  360  that forms a flexible and resilient first mouth  340 . The upper end also includes a lower lip  370  that when combined with the middle lip  360  forms a second mouth  350  beneath the first mouth  340 . The upper end also includes a resilient s-shaped structure formed by top surface  315 , top lip  320 , and bottom surface  325  and opening  330 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary rail-less solar panel array support structure  400  that includes a solar panel frame  420  inserted on one side of the structure  400  and a wire management apparatus  430  on the opposite end of the rail-less support structure  400 . The resiliency of the top lip  320  and middle lip  360  allows the first mouth  340  of the conduit mount  300  to be inserted onto a wide range of sizes and thicknesses of solar panel module flanges like the flange  410  shown in  FIG. 8 . The upper end can also be rotated 90 degrees so that upper end can be inserted into a wire management apparatus  430  by fitting the second mouth  350  over the terminating end  435  of the wire management apparatus  430  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The resiliency of the s-shaped structure enables the upper end to conform more snuggly to within the wire management apparatus  430 . 
         [0040]    Each type of installation is a two-step process. When securing the conduit mount  300  to the solar panel module  420 , the first step is to pull the conduit mount  420  onto the solar panel frame flange  410  through the first mouth  340  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The next step is to pull the conduit  160  into the c-shaped retainer  310  of the conduit mount  300  as shown in  FIG. 10 . No tools are typically needed to complete the installation. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the rail-less support structure  500  focusing on the side that includes the wire management apparatus  430 . The conduit mount  300  can also be installed in a wire trough  440  of the wire management apparatus  430 . The wire trough  440  in this exemplary embodiment is a J-shaped structure that includes the terminating end  435 . 
         [0042]    The installation is also a two-step process. The first step is sliding the conduit mount  300  into the wire trough as shown below in  FIG. 12 . This is accomplished by either inserting the upper end of the conduit mount  300  so that the terminating end  435  of the J-shaped structure fits into the second mouth  350  so that the s-shaped structure fits within the trough  440  and the middle lip  360  and the lower lip  370  fit snuggly on to the terminating end  435 . The last step involves inserting the conduit  160  into the c-shaped retainer  310  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Essentially no tools are necessary to complete the installation process. 
         [0043]      FIG. 14  illustrates a front and rear perspective view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of the conduit mount  600 . In this embodiment, the conduit mount  600  provides for the conduit mount  600  to be installed solely on the solar panel module frame flange  410 . The shape of the upper end has been slightly altered to provide only the clip function with a slot  385  and includes top lip  380  and bottom lip  390  to form the c-shaped mouth that is resilient so that it can be secured to the solar panel frame flange  410  without the need for any additional tools. The conduit mount  600  also includes the c-shaped retainer  310  for receiving the conduit  160 .