Patent ID: 8875394

Claim:
A solar energy collecting assembly comprising: a solar energy collecting panel including a solar energy collecting face with photovoltaic cells, and a rear face; a frame extending peripherally around said solar energy collecting panel and comprising a plurality of frame components fastened together, said frame components coupled to one another with only a plurality of locking links that extend into each of adjacent ones of said frame components; a rib disposed along said rear face and coupled to said frame components disposed along opposed edges of said panels; and a fastener securing each of opposed ends of said rib to said frame, each fastener comprising a shaft extending through an opening in a wall of said frame, a duality of first flanges coupled to said shaft and positioned behind said wall and a duality of second flanges coupled to said shaft, spaced from said duality of first flanges and received within a corresponding one of said opposed ends of said rib, wherein said opening has an elongate shape and a bulbous central portion and each of said duality of second flanges is received in a cavity, respectively, in said corresponding end of said rib.