Abstract:
A plurality of solar modules are connected to one another to form a solar panel. Each solar module has a frame. A support attached to the frame and a guide attaches to the guide to maintain the guide above the solar panel. A plurality of supports enable guides to traverse the solar panel in any desired configuration. Wires attached to the guides can therefore be placed anywhere about the solar panel in order to carry electricity generated by the solar panel, The supports include linear supports and right angle supports that support two guides that are perpendicular to one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Solar panels create usable energy from the sun. The solar panel may use the sun to heat a fluid, such as water, flowing through the solar panel. The heated fluid can be used as a source of hot water or used in radiators to heat a building, such as a house. Alternatively, the solar panel may be a photovoltaic panel that converts the sun&#39;s energy directly to electricity. The electricity then is used to power a building. Photovoltaic panels require wires extending through the panel to carry the generated electrical power. The wires must be attached to the panels in a manner that is both secure and stable but also easily accessible and replaceable in the event that repair or upgrades are necessary. 
         [0002]    Previous solar panels have addressed the issue of securing wires to a solar panel, particularly when a plurality of smaller solar modules are connected to one another to form the larger panel. One such panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,724 to Garvison et al. The panel has photovoltaic modules  106  having side rails and end rails fastened together to form a rectangular frame  162 . An L-shaped flange  190  defines an outer electrical wire raceway  194  through which jumper cables  196  run and an internal electrical wire raceway  202  accommodating wires  164 ,  166 . The raceways of adjacent modules join together to allow the wires to traverse the full extent of the panel. The wires are concealed, increasing the difficulty of accessing the wires when they are in need of repair, replacement or installation after the modules have been joined to one another. 
         [0003]    US 2008/0006321 to Munch et al. discloses photovoltaic modules having a plate module  2  supporting a base body  3 . The base body  3  contains a contact element  5  and connection cables attach to and extend from the contact element in the base body  3 . There is no support between the base bodies for the connection cables so that the connection cables must have enough rigidity to support themselves. In addition, the base body is connected to the top surface of the plate module in an unspecified manner. However, the attachment method must be strong enough to secure the base body to the module. 
         [0004]    There is a need in the art for a system and method of securing wires to solar panels in a stable and secure manner that allows the wires to be repaired, replaced or added in a simple manner requiring few or no tools and able to be accomplished in a minimal amount of time. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide a system for securing wires to a solar panel in a secure, stable manner that is easy to maintain. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide supports for guides, the guides extending about the solar panel with wires attached to the guides. 
         [0007]    It is still another object of the invention to provide supports for a solar panel that are easily attached and removed from the solar panel. 
         [0008]    These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading the disclosure of the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a solar panel that includes an edge defining the perimeter of the solar panels, a plurality of guides extending over the solar panel for supporting or holding wires, the guides including a first guide and a second guide perpendicular to the first guide and at least one linear support connecting the first guide to the solar panel. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, a right angle support connects the first guide to the second guide. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, a plurality of modules are connected to one another to form the solar panel. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, a frame extends about the perimeter of the solar panel, and the at least one linear support engages the frame to secure the at least one linear support to the solar panel. 
         [0013]    In yet another aspect, the at least one linear support includes a body, an aperture extending through the at least one linear support for receiving a guide, and a groove extending across the body for receiving an edge of the frame. 
         [0014]    In another aspect, the right angle support comprises a first aperture and a second aperture perpendicular to the first aperture. 
         [0015]    In a further aspect, the right angle support further includes a first half and a second half, the first aperture formed by a first groove in the first half and a second groove in the second half, and the second aperture extending through the first half and the second half 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a solar panel with a section shown in detail; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a linear support; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a right-angle support; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a two piece right angle support; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the two piece right angle support. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts a solar panel  10  formed by a plurality of modules  12  connected to one another to form a panel. The use of modules allows the construction of a panel of any shape and size. The modules can be connected end to end to form a linear panel or formed end to end and side to side to form a rectangle or other shaped grid. Each module is bounded by a frame  14  and has at least one support rail  16 . A series of guides  20  extend over the panel and are maintained above the panel by a series of supports. The supports are formed of any suitable material, such as aluminum. Wires are attached to the guides in any suitable manner. Attaching the wires to the guide, instead of within the guide, allows easy access to the wires and facilitates the wires making a right angle turn. The guides form a network extending across the panel, allowing wires to be placed anywhere along the panel. The wires remain accessible and are easily added, removed and repair when necessary. 
         [0022]    The supports, to be described in more detail later, are easily attached at desired locations about the panel. Once the guides are secured to the supports, wires can be attached to the guides. The guides may be made of any suitable size, shape and material, such as a half inch aluminum rod. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the support rails  16  extend across several modules. By doing so, the support rail provides structural integrity to the panel. Also, the height of the support rails  16  can be selected to be the same height as the guides  20  extending transverse to the rails  16 . In this manner, the support rails contribute to supporting the guides. 
         [0023]    The first support located near a corner of the panel is a linear support  30 . A linear support is best seen in  FIG. 2 . The linear support has a base  32  containing a groove  34  for securing to a panel. A protrusion  36  extends upwardly from the base  32  to provide enough height to accommodate an aperture  38 . The size and the shape of the aperture  38  correspond to the size and shape of the guide  30  to be retained. While a circular aperture is shown, any other suitable shape, such as rectangular, triangular or square could be used. A plurality of set screw holes  39  are formed in the top surface of the linear connector  30 , At least one set screw hole is formed in the base  32 , the set screw hole extending to the groove to allow a set screw to secure the body to an edge of a panel. Another screw hole is formed in the protrusion  36  and extends to the aperture  38  to allow a set screw to secure a guide within the aperture. The set screw is shown in the top surface of the protrusion  36  but may be formed in a side surface. 
         [0024]    As seen in the detailed view of  FIG. 1 , the groove  34  receives an edge of the module frame  14  to secure the support to the panel  12 . The tightening of set screws in the set screw holes formed in the base  32  securely hold the support in place, but also allows for easy removal. A single guide  20  may extend through the aperture or ends of two guides  20  may each be retained within the aperture, so that the support not only maintains the guides over the panel but can connect two guides to one another. If two guides are held by a single support, it is advantageous to use two set screws, so that each guide is secured by a set screw. 
         [0025]    As seen in the detailed view of  FIG. 1 , it is often desirable to have one guide extend perpendicularly to another. In that situation, a right angle support can be used. One type of right angle support is seen in  FIG. 3 . The right angle support  40  has a body with a first aperture  44  and a second aperture  46 . The apertures may extend through the support so that the guide extends from both sides of the support. Needless to say, the apertures  44 ,  46  can be made any shape and side to match the cross section of the guides to be retained. Similar to the linear support  30 , threaded apertures  48  in the body  42  allow set screws to secure the guides within the apertures. A set screw hole may be provided for the lower aperture  44  and a set screw hole  48  may be provided for the upper aperture  46 . While the set screw hole  48  is shown in the top surface, the set screw hole may be formed in the side surface. 
         [0026]    Situations may occur where it is desired to add a right angle support to a guide that is already in place. While it is always possible to remove the guide in order to add a right angle support  40  to the guide, it would be advantageous to be able to add a right angle support to an existing guide without needing to remove the guide. For such situations, a two piece right angle support  50 , seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , may be utilized. 
         [0027]    The two piece right angle support  50  has a first half  52  and a second half  62 . The first half has a first groove  54  and a first aperture  56 . Similarly, the second half has a second groove  64  and a second aperture  66 . Each half has connector screw holes  59  allowing a screw (not shown) to secure the two halves together. When the two halves are connected, the two grooves  54 ,  64  form an aperture and the first aperture  56  and second aperture  66  align with one another to receive a guide. The first half  52  has a threaded hole  58  for a set screw and the second half  62  has a threaded hole  68  for a set screw. As can be readily understood, the threaded holes can be provided in either half. The two piece construction of the support allows one half to be placed on one side of a guide and the other half to be placed on the other side of a guide and then connected to one another so that the guide is enveloped by the two grooves  54 ,  64 . Once secured, the perpendicular guide can be attached to the support  50  by placing the guide within the upper aperture  66 . 
         [0028]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, variations and modifications would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The invention encompasses such variations and modifications.