Patent ID: 7694466

Claim:
An apparatus for holding a plurality of solar cell units that are plate-shaped, comprising: a roof mount fixture configured to be fixed onto a roof; a mounting member configured to be fixed to the roof mount fixture and including at least one side plate; a plurality of modules; and a frame member including to-be-sandwiched portions configured to be sandwiched and fixed between the mounting member and the fixture, and unit supporting portions configured to support ends of the solar cell units, wherein the frame member includes projection plane regions configured to project the solar cell units and the unit supporting portions directly underneath, the to-be-sandwiched portions are positioned inside the projection plane regions, the roof mount fixture includes a convex portion that contacts the at least one side plate of the mounting member from an inner side of the at least one side plate for preventing a deformation of the mounting member, wherein, the unit supporting portion includes a groove in which a first end of the solar cell unit is fitted, and a downward extending portion that bends and extends downward from any one of a middle and an end of a lower plate of the groove substantially perpendicular to the lower plate, and the to-be-sandwiched portion projects sideward from the downward extending portion, the mounting member is convex in shape and has steps, and is placed such that the convex portion faces towards sunlight, the frame member has holes in which electrical cables of the solar cell unit are inserted, and is arranged on the steps of the mounting member, and a space surrounded by a pair of facing frame members and an upper surface of the mounting member houses the electrical cables.