Abstract:
A solar panel system may include a case having built-in space for housing equipment, such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) hardware and other components. The solar panel case may provide a face angled at approximately 45 degrees for mounting at least one solar panel. A modular system that may include a battery holder may be easily placed inside of the case and quickly removed from the case. The solar panel case and solar panel system may be provided to simultaneously house equipment and support at least one solar panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/220,012 filed Aug. 6, 2015, entitled “SOLAR PANEL CASE,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates generally to a solar panel system including a case. In particular, the disclosure relates to a solar panel case for housing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) hardware or similar applications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Generally, mounting devices and support structures support solar panels. These mounting devices and support structures may be angled in order to orient solar panels at a certain angle for receiving light rays. However, no mounting devices and support structures provide a case for both supporting solar panels and housing equipment, such as AMI hardware, at a 45-degree angle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a solar panel case and a solar panel system including a solar panel holder provided to support at least one solar panel. A modular system may be provided to secure equipment, such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) hardware, inside of the solar panel case, and the modular system may be removable. Furthermore, a face of the case may be angled at approximately 45 degrees with respect to a base of the case. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a solar panel case for housing AMI and supporting at least one solar panel, simultaneously. 
         [0005]    An embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a solar panel case that may include a solar panel holder that may be provided to support at least one solar panel. A modular system may be provided to secure and house equipment in an interior of the case, and the modular system may be removable. A face may be angled at approximately 45 degrees with respect to a base of the case. The face may be provided to form a frame that may secure the at least one solar panel to the case. The modular system may house a battery holder and a controller. The solar panel holder may secure the at least one solar panel in the interior of the case. The solar panel holder may secure the at least one solar panel to an exterior of the case. The solar panel holder may form a tight seal with the face of the case and may be provided to prevent liquid and solids from entering the interior of the case. The modular system may be fixed in the interior of the case, may includes at least one compartment, and may maximize space and efficiency of the case. The face may be perpendicular to the base of the case and may maximize an amount of light that may be received by the at least one solar panel. One or more mounting components may be attached through a side of the case, and the components may secure the case to a supporting surface. The modular system may provide safe removal of the equipment in the interior of the case and may be secured inside of a recess of the base of the case. The case may be configured to house advanced metering infrastructure hardware while supporting the at least one solar panel secured to the case. 
         [0006]    An embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a solar panel system that may include a case that may have a face angled at approximately 45 degrees with respect to a base of the case. At least one solar panel may be mounted inside of a holder, and the holder may be provided to secure the at least one solar panel to an exterior of the case. A removable battery holder may be secured in an interior of the case. A modular system may be configured to hold equipment that may include the battery holder in the interior of the case. The face may be provided perpendicular to the base and may maximize an amount of light that may be received by the at least one solar panel. The holder may secure the at least one solar panel inside of the case or outside of the case. The modular system may be removable and may provide safe removal of the equipment that may be held in the interior of the case. The modular system may include at least one compartment and may maximize space and efficiency of the case. One or more mounting components may be provided to secure the case to a supporting surface. The modular system may be secured inside of a recess of the base of the case. The case may be configured to house advanced metering infrastructure hardware while supporting the at least one solar panel secured to the case. 
         [0007]    Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following drawings, descriptions and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts an exploded perspective view of a solar panel case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective rear view of a solar panel case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective front view of an open solar panel case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts a perspective front view of an open solar panel case including mounting components according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective front view of an open solar panel case including equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts a sectional view of a solar panel case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of a modular assembly that may secure equipment within a solar panel case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present disclosure generally provides a solar panel case including a solar panel ( FIG. 1 ), a solar panel holder attached to a face of the case ( FIG. 1 ), a battery holder ( FIG. 5 ), and a modular system ( FIG. 7 ). The case may provide the solar panel at approximately a 45-degree angle with respect to a base of the case and house equipment, such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) hardware. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-6  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, case  100  may include face  120 , sides  122 , and base  128 . Sides  122  may be laterally arranged between base  128  and face  120 , so as to support face  120  at approximately a 45-degree angle. Face  120  may form a frame to which holder  110  may secure solar panel  112  to case  100 , so as to provide solar panel  112  at an angle of approximately 45 degrees ( FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 ). By providing face  120  and solar panel  112  at approximately a 45-degree angle, the maximum amount of light may be received by solar panel  112 . It should be appreciated that case  100  provides a more efficient solar panel system, as no motor or mechanical components should be required in order to set solar panel  112  at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Further regarding  FIGS. 1-6 , case  100  may provide an area for securing solar panel  112  to face  110  and an area for storing equipment  116  ( FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 ). It should be appreciated that equipment may include, but is not limited to, a battery holder, a controller, and AMI hardware. It should be appreciated that by securing solar panel  112  to case  100 , case  100  may be sealed, thereby preventing, or at least reducing the likelihood of, liquid and debris from entering the interior of case  100 . It should further be appreciated that solar panel  112  may be secured to an exterior of case  100  using any attachment means including, but not limited to, an adhesive, a snap-fit, and/or other hardware without departing from the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that face  120  and solar panel  112  may be arranged at any angle between less than approximately 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees with respect to base  128 . It should further be appreciated that case  100  may assume any shape and size. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, mounting components  118  may be arranged through a side of case  100 . One or more mounting components  118  may provide the tools necessary to attach case  100  to a supporting surface. It should be appreciated that mounting components  118  may be arranged anywhere along case  100 . It should also be appreciated that mounting components  118  may include hardware arranged along the interior and/or exterior of case  100 . It should further be appreciated that mounting components  118  may include, but are not limited to, clamps, bolts, screws, lugs, and other types of mounting hardware. It should further be appreciated that there may be embodiments of the present disclosure wherein mounting components  118  may not be required ( FIG. 3 ) in order to attach case  100  to a supporting surface. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-5  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, holders  124  may be provided along opposite walls of case  100  and receive a portion of solar panel  112  ( FIG. 4 ) and/or holder  110  ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ). It should be appreciated that any number of holders  124  and/or any arrangement of holders  124  inside case  100  may be provided without departing from the present disclosure. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5-7 , modular system  114  may be provided to hold and secure equipment inside of base  128 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , modular system  114  may snap inside supporting structure or recess  126  of base  128 . Any number of brackets and/or compartments may be formed by modular system  114  in order to secure equipment  116  inside of case  100 . Further, modular system  114  may snap inside supporting structure or recess  126  of base  128 . By including modular system  114 , case  100  may provide rapid assembly as well as safe and easy removal of the contents inside of case  100 . Furthermore, inclusion of modular system  114  may maximize space and efficiency of case  100 . It should be appreciated that modular system  114  may attach to base  128  using any fastening means including, but not limited to, hardware and adhesive without departing from the present disclosure. It be appreciated that equipment  116  may attach to modular system  114  using any fastening means including, but not limited to, a snap-fit, hardware and/or an adhesive without departing from the present disclosure. It should further be appreciated that equipment may include, but is not limited to, repeaters, controllers, batteries, AMI hardware, and/or electronics. For example, modular system  114  may house a battery holder including two batteries and a controller arranged in front of the battery holder. It should be appreciated that equipment  116  may be housed in holders that may assume a variety of shapes and/or sizes according to the type of equipment to be housed. 
         [0021]    It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “AMI hardware” may include any electronic equipment, non-electronic equipment, batteries, and repeaters. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
         [0022]    While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.