Shingle system

Abstract

A barrier, such as a PV module, is secured to a base by a support to create a shingle assembly with a venting region defined between the barrier and base for temperature regulation. Water resistant junctions may be formed between the bases of adjacent shingle assemblies of an array of shingle assemblies. The base may include an insulation layer underlying a water barrier. The base may also include a waterproofing element; the width and height of the barrier may be shorter than the width and height of the waterproofing element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shingle system, for use on an inclined surface having an upper edge and a lower edge, comprising: 
 a plurality of shingle assemblies, at least some of said shingle assemblies comprising: 
 a barrier;  
 a water resistant base;  
 a support securing the barrier to the base; and  
 a venting region defined between the barrier and the base and fluidly coupled to the ambient atmosphere for temperature regulation;  
   said shingle assemblies arranged in an array; and    means for forming water resistant junctions between the water resistant bases of adjacent ones of said shingle assemblies in said array.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said base has first and second edges, and said first and second edges comprises first and second interengageable elements so that said first edge of one base is interengageable with said second edge of an adjacent base to be capable of resisting first and second disengaging forces, said first disengaging force oriented perpendicular to said edges along a plane oriented parallel to the base, said second disengaging force oriented perpendicular to said edges along a plane oriented perpendicular to the base.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said array comprises a plurality of rows of said shingle assemblies.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the base comprises an insulation layer underlying a water barrier, said water barrier having a lower water barrier portion extending beyond said underlying insulation barrier so said lower water barrier portion of one said row of shingle assemblies overlies an upper portion of the water barrier of an adjacent row of shingle assemblies.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein the lower and upper water barrier portions have interengaging regions which help to create water breaks.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the insulation layers comprise recessed regions corresponding to the interengaging regions.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein said shingle assemblies of one said row are laterally offset from the shingle assemblies of an adjacent one of said rows.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein said shingle assemblies of one said row are laterally aligned with the shingle assemblies of an adjacent one of said rows.  
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the barriers of one said row overlap the barriers of an adjacent one of said rows.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9  wherein said overlapping barriers define a gap therebetween, said gap having an average separation.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9  wherein said average separation is about 0-5 cm.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9  wherein said average separation is about 0.6-2.5 cm.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 9  wherein said average separation is about 0.6-1.9 cm.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 9  further comprising an air-permeable debris barrier at said gap.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the barriers comprise PV modules having electrical connection elements.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the electrical connection elements comprise wires and connectors in said venting regions.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the electrical connection elements comprise electrical connectors formed integrally with at least one of the PV module, base and support.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the water resistant base is an effectively waterproof base.  
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the joint forming means comprises means for forming effectively waterproof junctions.  
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein said barrier comprises a photovoltaic (PV) module and said shingle assembly comprises a PV shingle assembly.  
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the array has an edge, and further comprising a deflector at the array edge so to help promote proper airflow through the venting regions while helping to prevent debris from entering a venting region.  
     
     
         22 . A shingle system, for use on an inclined surface having an upper edge and a lower edge, comprising: 
 a plurality of shingle assemblies, at least some of said shingle assemblies comprising: 
 a barrier;  
 a water resistant base;  
 a support securing the barrier to the base; and  
 a venting region defined between the barrier and the base and fluidly coupled to the ambient atmosphere for temperature regulation;  
   said shingle assemblies arranged in an array, said array comprising a plurality of rows of said shingle assemblies; and    the base comprising an insulation layer underlying a water barrier, said water barrier having a lower water barrier portion extending beyond said underlying insulation barrier so said lower water barrier portion of one said row of shingle assemblies overlies an upper portion of the water barrier of an adjacent row of shingle assemblies.    
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein the lower and upper water barrier portions have interengaging regions which help to create water breaks.  
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23  wherein the insulation layers comprise recessed regions corresponding to the interengaging regions.  
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein said shingle assemblies of one said row are laterally offset from the shingle assemblies of an adjacent one of said rows.  
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein said shingle assemblies of one said row are laterally aligned with the shingle assemblies of an adjacent one of said rows.  
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein the barriers of one said row overlap the barriers of an adjacent one of said rows.  
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 27  wherein said overlapping barriers define a gap therebetween, said gap having an average separation.  
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 27  wherein said average separation is about 0-5 cm.  
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 27  wherein said average separation is about 0.6-2.5 cm.  
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 27  wherein said average separation is about 0.6-1.9 cm.  
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 27  further comprising an air-permeable debris barrier at said gap.  
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein the barriers comprise PV modules having electrical connection elements.  
     
     
         34 . The assembly according to  claim 33  wherein the electrical connection elements comprise wires and connectors in said venting regions.  
     
     
         35 . The assembly according to  claim 33  wherein the electrical connection elements comprise electrical connectors formed integrally with at least one of the PV module, base and support.  
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein the water resistant base is an effectively waterproof base.  
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein said barrier comprises a photovoltaic (PV) module and said shingle assembly comprises a PV shingle assembly.  
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 22  wherein the array has an edge, and further comprising a deflector at the array edge so to help promote proper airflow through the venting regions while helping to prevent debris from entering a venting region.  
     
     
         39 . A shingle assembly, for use on an inclined surface, comprising: 
 a base comprising a waterproofing element comprising first and second lateral sides, a top side and a bottom side, the waterproofing element having a width W 1  extending between the first and second lateral sides and a height H 1  extending between the top and bottom sides;    a barrier mounted to the base, said barrier being smaller than the base and having a width W 2  and a height H 2 ; and    width W 2  being shorter than width W 1  and height H 1  being shorter than height H 2 .    
     
     
         40 . The assembly according to  claim 39  wherein width W 2  is about 102%-200% of width W 1  and height H 1  is about 110%-220% of height H 2 .  
     
     
         41 . The assembly according to  claim 39  wherein width W 2  is about 102%-150% of width W 1  and height H 1  is about 110%-150% of height H 2 .  
     
     
         42 . The assembly according to  claim 39  wherein width W 2  is about 120%-150% of width W 1  and height H 1  is about 120%-150% of height H 2 .  
     
     
         43 . The assembly according to  claim 39  further comprising a support securing the barrier to the base to create a venting region between the barrier and the base to help regulate the temperature of the barrier.  
     
     
         44 . The assembly according to a  claim 39  wherein the barrier is mounted to the base at a position such that the barrier is spaced apart from the bottom side by about 0 to 5 cm and is spaced apart from the first lateral side by about 3 to 50 mm.  
     
     
         45 . The assembly according to a  claim 39  wherein the barrier is mounted to the base at a position such that the barrier is spaced apart from the bottom side by about 0 to 2.5 cm and is spaced apart from the first lateral side by about 3 to 13 mm.  
     
     
         46 . The assembly according to  claim 39  wherein said barrier comprises a photovoltaic (PV) module and said shingle assembly comprises a PV shingle assembly.  
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 39  wherein the PV module comprises an electrical connection element.  
     
     
         48 . The assembly according to  claim 47  wherein the electrical connection element comprises a wire and a connector in said venting region.  
     
     
         49 . The assembly according to  claim 47  wherein the electrical connection element comprises an electrical connector formed integrally with at least one of the PV module, base and support.  
     
     
         50 . A photovoltaic (PV) module shingle system, for use on an inclined surface having an upper edge and a lower edge, comprising: 
 a plurality of shingle assemblies, at least some of said shingle assemblies comprising: 
 a PV module;  
 a water resistant base;  
 a support securing the PV module to the base;  
 said base comprising: 
 first and second edges, and said first and second edges comprising first and second interengageable elements so that said first edge of one base is interengageable with said second edge of an adjacent base to be capable of resisting first and second disengaging forces, said first disengaging force oriented perpendicular to said edges along a plane oriented parallel to the base, said second disengaging force oriented perpendicular to said edges along a plane oriented perpendicular to the base; and  
 an insulation layer underlying a water barrier; and  
 
 a venting region defined between the PV module and the base and fluidly coupled to the ambient atmosphere for temperature regulation;  
   said shingle assemblies arranged in an array, said array comprising a plurality of rows of said shingle assemblies;    the PV modules of one said row overlapping the PV modules of an adjacent one of said rows; and    a deflector at the array edge so to help promote proper airflow through the venting regions while helping to prevent debris from entering the venting region.