Patent ID: 7807918

Claim:
A modular shade system comprising: a support structure, supportable by a support surface, defining an elevated, generally horizontal first area having a length and a width, the first area having a periphery; a planar array of modular panels, having upper and lower surfaces, mounted to and supported by the support structure at the first area to form the shade system, the modular panels covering at least about 80% of the first area, the upper surfaces of the modular panels being exposed surfaces; the shade system being a wall-less shade system having open side regions extending downwardly from the periphery of the first area; the modular panels comprising PV panels acting as a source of electricity and supplemental panels; a separate protective panel for each of the PV panels, the protective panels mounted to the shading system opposite and covering substantially the entire lower surfaces of each of the PV panels, the protective panels comprising at least one of a wire mesh and a sheet of material, the modular shade system defining open regions below the protective panels; the protective panels being spaced apart from the lower surfaces of the PV panels to define open regions therebetween; and the supplemental panels being other than PV panels and optionally providing shading.