Snow fence for solar panel

Abstract

An accessory for a solar panel assembly includes a bracket defining an elongated portion extending in a first direction and including a slot, a connector coupled to the bracket and configured to engage at least one panel frame of the solar panel assembly, and a fence member including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion including a planar surface oriented at an angle relative to the bracket portion, and the second portion includes a projection that removably engages the slot.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An accessory for a solar panel assembly, the solar panel assembly including at least one solar panel having a panel frame supported on a surface, the accessory comprising:
 a bracket having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bracket defining an elongated portion extending in a first direction, the elongated portion including a slot; 
 a connector coupled to the bracket and configured to engage at least one of the panel frames; and 
 a fence member including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion extending above the third portion, the first portion including a planar surface oriented at an angle relative to the bracket, the second portion including a projection that removably engages the slot, and the third portion installable in and supportable by the bracket, wherein the bottom surface is configured to engage a solar panel frame and the top surface is configured to engage one of the second portion or the third portion, and wherein the first portion is configured to protrude above the solar panel frame to retain snow in response to being installed on the solar panel assembly; and  
 a locking member that engages the second portion of the fence member to secure the projection within the slot; 
 wherein the locking member includes a flange extending over the second portion of the fence and a fastener for coupling the flange to the bracket, wherein tightening the fastener causes the flange to clamp the projection of the fence member within the slot. 
 
     
     
       2. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the fence member extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
       3. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the slot of the bracket and the projection of the fence member engage one another in a dove-tail arrangement. 
     
     
       4. The accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap coupled to the bracket and configured to engage a second clamp spaced apart from the first clamp. 
     
     
       5. The accessory of  claim 4 , wherein the strap supports a microinverter that is in communication with the solar panel assembly. 
     
     
       6. The accessory of  claim 4 , wherein the strap supports a cleaning system for cleaning a surface of the solar panel assembly. 
     
     
       7. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further includes a protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the protrusion configured to be positioned between adjacent panel frames. 
     
     
       8. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a lower ridge configured to engage a front edge of the panel frame. 
     
     
       9. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector includes a threaded fastener and a nut engaging the fastener, the threaded fastener including a first end adjacent the bracket and a second end, the nut threadingly received onto the second end of the fastener and configured to contact the panel frame, wherein threading the nut onto the fastener clamps the bracket onto the frame. 
     
     
       10. An accessory for a solar panel assembly, the solar panel assembly including at least one solar panel having a panel frame supported on a surface, the accessory comprising:
 a bracket having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including a flange that bisects and protrudes from the bottom surface, the bracket defining an elongated portion extending in a first direction, the elongated portion including a surface configured to contact the panel frame; 
 a threaded bolt having a first end proximate the elongated portion of the bracket and a second end; 
 a nut received onto the second end of the bolt and threadingly engaging the bolt; 
 a fence installable on the bracket and supported by the top surface in response to being installed, the fence configured to at least partially protrude above a portion of the solar panel assembly and retain snow, the fence including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a planar surface extending at an angle relative to the first direction of the bracket, the second portion including a projection that removably engages the bracket; and 
 a locking member coupled to the bracket and including an end engaging the second portion of the fence to releasably secure the fence relative to the bracket; 
 wherein the bracket further includes a slot for receiving the projection of the fence; 
 wherein the end of the locking member is formed on a flange and extends over the second portion of the fence, the locking member further including a fastener for coupling the flange to the bracket, wherein tightening the fastener causes the flange to clamp the projection of the fence member within the slot. 
 
     
     
       11. The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the slot of the bracket and the projection of the fence engage one another in a dove-tail arrangement. 
     
     
       12. The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the flange is configured to be positioned between adjacent panel frames. 
     
     
       13. The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the bracket includes a lower ridge configured to engage a front edge of the panel frame. 
     
     
       14. The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein threading the nut on the bolt causes the nut to contact the panel frame, thereby clamping the panel frame between the bracket surface and the nut. 
     
     
       15. A snow fence comprising:
 a bracket;   a locking member operatively coupled to the bracket, the locking member defines a flange;   a fence member coupled to the bracket by the locking member, the fence member including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion,
 the first portion extending above the third portion and including a planar surface oriented at an angle relative to the bracket, 
 the second portion including a projection that removably engages the bracket and the flange of the locking member, 
 the third portion formed as parallel support members defined between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion installable on and supportable by the bracket, 
 wherein a top surface of the bracket is configured to engage the second portion, and wherein the first portion is configured to retain snow; and 
   the locking member engaging the second portion of the fence member to secure the projection, wherein the locking member is coupled to the bracket.    
     
     
       16. The snow fence of claim 15, further comprising a fastener coupling the locking member to the bracket, wherein tightening the fastener causes the flange to clamp the projection of the fence member.  
     
     
       17. The snow fence of claim 15, further comprising a splice plate positioned between the parallel support members of the fence member.  
     
     
       18. The snow fence of claim 17, further comprising a second fence member adjacent the first fence member, wherein the splice plate extends between the first fence member and the second fence member to align the first fence member and the second fence member.  
     
     
       19. The snow fence of claim 15, wherein the snow fence is mounted to a roof.  
     
     
       20. The snow fence of claim 19, wherein the planar surface of the first portion is perpendicular to the roof.  
     
     
       21. The snow fence of claim 20, further comprising a bolt extending through the bracket to secure the bracket to the roof.  
     
     
       22. The snow fence of claim 15, wherein the bracket comprises a substantially flat lower surface.  
     
     
       23. The snow fence of claim 15, the bracket having a first end and a second end defining an axis therebetween, wherein the planar surface of the first portion of the fence member is perpendicular to the axis.  
     
     
       24. A snow fence for mounting on a roof to preventing an avalanche effect, comprising:
 a bracket having a substantially flat lower surface, the bracket having a first and a second end defining a first axis therebetween;   a fence member coupled to the bracket an including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion,   the first portion including a generally planar surface and extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis,   the second portion including a projection configured to removably engage the bracket and extending generally parallel to the first axis,   the third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion and formed as a pair of parallel support members, the fence member installed on and supported by the bracket and   a locking member coupled to the bracket by a fastener, the locking member defining a flange, with a first edge of the projection engaging the bracket and a second member of the projection engaging the flange of the locking member,
 wherein tightening the fastener causes the locking member to clamp the projection of the fence member.  
   
     
     
       25. The snow fence of claim 24, further comprising a splice plate positioned between the parallel support members of the fence member.  
     
     
       26. The snow fence of claim 25, further comprising a second fence member adjacent the first fence member, wherein the splice plate extends between the first fence member and the second fence member to align the first fence member and the second fence member.  
     
     
       27. The snow fence of claim 24, wherein the snow fence is mounted to a roof.  
     
     
       28. The snow fence of claim 27, wherein the planar surface of the first portion is perpendicular to the roof.  
     
     
       29. The snow fence of claim 24, further comprising a bolt extending through the bracket to secure the bracket.  
     
     
       30. The snow fence of claim 24, wherein the bracket comprises a substantially flat lower surface.  
     
     
       31. The snow fence of claim 24, the bracket having a first end and a second end defining an axis therebetween, wherein the planar surface of the first portion of the fence member is perpendicular to the axis.  
     
     
       32. The snow fence of claim 24, wherein the bracket includes a projection member.