Patent ID: 7156088

Claim:
A solar collector support system for mounting a solar collector to a mounting surface, the support system comprising: a first plurality of leg members, each leg member comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and a first junction element configured to receive: the proximal end of each of the first plurality of leg members; a first footing adapted to engage frictionally the mounting surface; and a first structural support member connected to the solar collector; wherein the first plurality of leg members are pivotally connected to the first junction element; the plurality of leg members being configured to pivot between: a deployed configuration in which the plurality of leg members reside in a common plane at the mounting surface, and a stowed configuration in which the plurality of leg members are substantially parallel; wherein the plurality of leg members in the deployed configuration are configured to hold the solar collector upright; wherein the support system further comprises a plurality additional junction elements, each of the additional junction elements being configured to receive the distal end of one of said plurality of leg members; and wherein the first junction element and additional junction elements are substantially identical.