A mounting frame for solar panels

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of solar panel technology, and in particular to a mounting frame for solar panels, used for fixing or connecting external accessories. It includes a frame body fixed around the solar panel, the frame body being composed of multiple profile bodies spliced ​​and fixed together. One side of each profile body has a fixing groove for mates with the edge of the solar panel, and the profile body is fixedly connected to the solar panel through the fixing groove. Users do not need to drill holes, splice, or apply adhesive to the car body; they only need to adapt the external device to the corresponding external accessories and T-shaped screw fasteners for quick assembly. Furthermore, the standardized structure of the T-shaped groove is compatible with different types of T-shaped screw fasteners. Users do not need to replace the entire mounting frame; they can replace external accessories as needed, achieving "scenario-based switching," significantly improving the reusability and service life of the mounting frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of solar panel technology, and in particular to a mounting frame for solar panels. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, to ensure the structural stability of solar panels and protect their edges, a fixing frame is typically installed around the perimeter of the solar panel during installation. This fixing frame, as an important component of the solar panel, effectively resists external forces such as impacts and friction, preventing damage and cracking of the solar panel's edges, thus protecting the area around the panel. Furthermore, it serves as a bracket to connect and fix to the vehicle body or other mounting carriers, providing stable support for the solar panel and ensuring it maintains a reliable installation posture while the vehicle is in motion. This allows for stable and efficient photovoltaic conversion, providing users with additional power during outdoor activities and meeting their outdoor electricity needs.

[0003] However, traditional solar panels, when fixedly installed on car roofs, house roofs, boat roofs, etc., often require drilling holes in the mounting frame of the solar panel to install it onto the mounting carrier, or connecting mounting brackets through the holes and then mounting the panel onto the carrier, making the installation process rather cumbersome. Furthermore, in recent years, with the rise of outdoor camping, outdoor adventure, and self-driving tours, cars are no longer just a means of transportation but have gradually taken on the auxiliary function of temporary living spaces. Users install various devices such as lights, audio systems, and ambient decorations in their cars to meet their needs for decorative lighting, music playback, and atmosphere creation in camping environments. In areas with weak signals, satellite antennas are also installed in cars to overcome the limitations of ground signal coverage, enabling the vehicle's systems to stably receive various data transmitted by satellite and meet the functional needs of vehicles in complex or remote environments.

[0004] However, in existing technologies, installing such equipment on a car often requires destructive or abrasive processing operations on the car's exterior, such as drilling, splicing, and applying adhesives. These operations not only damage the car's original exterior structure and protective coating, leading to problems like rust and aging, thus reducing the car's lifespan and resale value; but also, improper drilling operations can damage critical components such as internal wiring and piping, causing vehicle malfunctions and posing safety hazards.

[0005] Further analysis reveals that existing solar panel mounting frames have a relatively simple functional design, limited to fixing the solar panel and protecting its edges. They fail to consider the diverse needs of users in outdoor scenarios and lack structural designs for mounting external devices such as lights, audio equipment, ambient decorations, and satellite antennas. This prevents the solar panel mounting frames from fully realizing their added value as mounting platforms in practical applications. If users need to install related decorative or functional components, they still need to make destructive modifications to the car body, increasing user costs and operational difficulties. Furthermore, they cannot achieve integrated functionality between the solar panel system and the car's auxiliary functions, limiting the overall practicality and market competitiveness of solar panels in outdoor applications. Therefore, designing a solar panel mounting frame that combines solar panel fixing and protection with the ability to mount other equipment, thereby addressing the problems of easy damage to the car body from adding decorative items and the limited functionality of existing mounting frames, has become a critical technical challenge that the industry urgently needs to overcome. Utility Model Content

[0006] To overcome the shortcomings mentioned above, this utility model aims to provide a technical solution that can solve the above problems.

[0007] A mounting frame for solar panels is used to fix or connect external accessories. It includes a frame body fixed around the solar panel. The frame body is spliced ​​and fixed by multiple profile bodies. One side of the profile body is formed with a fixing groove for matching the edge of the solar panel. The profile body is fixedly connected to the solar panel through the fixing groove. The other side of the profile body is formed with a T-shaped groove, and the lower edge of the T-shaped groove has a notch. The T-shaped screw fastener is inserted into the T-shaped groove through the notch and can slide in the T-shaped groove. The profile body is fixed or connected to external accessories through the T-shaped screw fastener.

[0008] Preferably, the T-screw fastener is provided with a screw rod, and a tightening knob is threaded onto the screw rod. The T-screw fastener is used to fix or connect external accessories through the screw rod and the tightening knob.

[0009] Preferably, the T-screw fastener consists of a T-nut and a screw threaded onto the T-nut. The T-screw fastener is used to fix or connect external accessories through the T-nut and the screw.

[0010] Preferably, the external accessory has at least two holes or at least two slots that mate with the T-screw fasteners, and the external accessory is connected to at least two T-screw fasteners through the at least two holes or at least two slots.

[0011] Preferably, the fixing groove is formed at the upper part of one side of the profile body, and the lower end of the profile body located on this side is formed with a first reinforcing part, and a second reinforcing part is formed between the first reinforcing part and the fixing groove.

[0012] Preferably, the main body of the profile is made of aluminum profile or alloy, and a protective coating is applied to the surface of the main body of the profile.

[0013] Preferably, the frame body is formed by splicing and fixing four profile bodies. Both ends of the profile bodies are cut with beveled surfaces at a 45° angle, and plastic end caps are provided at the beveled surfaces of two adjacent profile bodies. The two adjacent profile bodies are spliced ​​together by the beveled surfaces and then fixed by the four plastic end caps.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: Compared to traditional methods of fixing solar panels, which require drilling holes in the frame and then connecting mounting brackets, this solution utilizes a pre-assembled structure with T-shaped grooves and T-shaped screw fasteners. This eliminates the need for additional drilling to connect the mounting brackets to the frame. Installers simply slide the T-shaped screw fasteners into the groove through the notch and then align them with the mounting brackets to secure the main body of the panel. A single person can complete the basic installation, significantly reducing installation steps. Furthermore, regardless of the installation environment—whether it's a campervan, rooftop, or boat roof—the T-shaped screw fasteners can be freely adjusted within the groove, eliminating the need to readjust the frame dimensions or drill holes based on the mounting bracket spacing. For example, when installing on a car roof, the T-shaped screw fasteners can be flexibly moved to the appropriate position according to the roof's load-bearing distribution, without requiring any modifications to the roof structure.

[0015] For scenarios where cars need to be equipped with external devices such as lights, audio systems, ambient trim, and satellite antennas during outdoor travel, the T-shaped groove on the main frame can directly serve as the connection structure for these external devices. Users do not need to drill, assemble, or apply adhesive to the car body; they can quickly assemble the external devices by simply matching the corresponding external accessories with the T-shaped screw fasteners. Furthermore, the standardized structure of the T-shaped groove is compatible with different types of T-shaped screw fasteners, allowing users to replace external accessories as needed without replacing the entire mounting frame. This "scenario-switching and replacement" functionality significantly improves the reusability and lifespan of the mounting frame.

[0016] Furthermore, traditional methods of adding decorative parts require drilling and splicing into the car's exterior, which can easily damage the protective coating, leading to rust and aging. It may also damage internal wiring or piping, increasing the risk of vehicle malfunction. This solution uses a mounting frame with T-bolts to secure or connect external accessories, completely eliminating the need for modifications to the car's structure. This fundamentally avoids damage to the exterior and internal components, preserving the car's original protective performance and structural integrity, and reducing repair costs due to rust and wiring faults.

[0017] Therefore, through the above structural design, the mounting frame effectively solves the pain points of existing technologies, realizes quick installation of solar panels, allows T-screw fasteners to be freely adjusted according to the installation position, and integrates external equipment mounting, thereby improving the overall practicality of solar panels in various application scenarios.

[0018] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the profile body and the T-shaped screw fastener in this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the main body of the profile and the external accessories in the fixed state of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a planar structure of the profile body and the T-shaped screw fastener in this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another planar structure of the profile body and the T-shaped screw fastener in this utility model; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the main body of the profile in this utility model; Figure 7 This is a rendering of the present invention connected to a solar panel bracket; Figure 8 This is a typical application example of this utility model, showing the effect of assembling it on a car.

[0021] The reference numerals and names in the figure are as follows: Profile body 10, fixing groove 11, T-shaped slide groove 12, notch 13, first reinforcing part 14, second reinforcing part 15, inclined surface 16, T-shaped screw fastener 20, screw 21, tightening knob 22, T-shaped nut 23, screw 24. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0023] Please see Figure 1-6 In this embodiment of the utility model, a mounting frame for solar panels is used to fix or connect external accessories. That is, the mounting frame can be directly fixed to the mounting carrier. If the mounting carrier does not have a corresponding connection structure, the mounting frame can also be fixed to the mounting carrier by connecting mounting parts. In addition, the mounting frame can also connect external accessories to connect external devices. Specifically, it includes a frame body fixed around the solar panel. The frame body is spliced ​​and fixed by multiple profile bodies 10. One side of the profile body 10 is formed with a fixing groove 11 for matching the edge of the solar panel. The profile body 10 is fixedly connected to the solar panel through the fixing groove 11. The other side of the profile body 10 is formed with a T-shaped groove 12, and the lower edge of the T-shaped groove 12 (T-channel) has a notch 13. The T-shaped screw fastener 20 is inserted into the T-shaped groove 12 through the notch 13. The T-shaped screw fastener 20 can slide in the T-shaped groove 12. The profile body 10 is fixed or connected to external accessories through the T-shaped screw fastener 20.

[0024] Through the cooperative structure of the T-shaped groove 12 and the T-shaped screw fastener 20, the frame body has the functions of "solar panel fixing and protection", "easy installation" and "external equipment mounting". Without the need for destructive operations such as drilling and splicing on the car body, various external equipment can be flexibly installed, avoiding damage to the car body and protecting the appearance and structural integrity of the car.

[0025] In addition, the T-screw fastener 20 can slide freely along the T-slot 12. Users can adjust the position of the T-screw fastener 20 according to their needs, thereby adjusting the position of external devices, such as the lighting angle of lamps or the position of storage shelves, to adapt to the needs of different scenarios. At the same time, the notch 13 design simplifies the installation process of the T-screw fastener 20. The T-screw fastener 20 can be installed and removed without disassembling the frame body, improving the user's ease of operation. That is, some external accessories fixed on lamps or storage shelves and their T-screw fasteners 20 can be removed directly through the notch 13 without disassembling them. The number of T-screw fasteners 20 can also be increased or decreased through the notch 13 to adapt to the installation of a certain external device. The notch 13 also has a drainage function. During outdoor use, rainwater or condensed water droplets can be discharged through the notch 13 to prevent water from accumulating in the T-slot 12 and corroding the groove. In addition, the spliced ​​frame body ensures overall strength, and the T-shaped mating structure of the T-shaped groove 12 and the T-shaped screw fastener 20 can withstand the external force when directly fixed, and can also withstand the weight of external equipment, preventing the connection from loosening and falling off. The specifications of the main body 10 can be adjusted according to the different sizes of solar panels, and the types of external accessories can also be flexibly replaced. It is suitable for various types of vehicles, ships, roofs, etc., and meets the diverse outdoor application needs of various solar panel specifications, possessing strong versatility and market application value. Therefore, through the above structural design, the mounting fixed frame effectively solves the pain points of existing technologies, realizes the integrated installation of solar panels and external equipment, and improves the overall practicality of solar panels in various application scenarios.

[0026] Please see Figure 4 The T-screw fastener 20 is provided with a screw 21, and a tightening knob 22 is threaded onto the screw 21. The T-screw fastener 20 is used to fix or connect external accessories through the screw 21 and the tightening knob 22.

[0027] Compared to traditional snap-fit ​​connections, the threaded connection between the screw 21 and the tightening knob 22 allows for a stable and adjustable clamping force through rotation of the knob. If necessary, elastic washers or shims can be added to further secure the connection, making the profile body 10 more robust during installation. When installing external accessories, it ensures that the connected external devices are more securely locked to the outside of the profile body 10, effectively preventing loosening, displacement, or even detachment due to vehicle vibrations or outdoor wind. This significantly improves structural stability and safety after fixing or connecting external accessories. Furthermore, this structure is extremely convenient to operate. Users can disassemble and assemble the main body of the profile or external accessories simply by manually rotating and tightening the knob 22 without the need for professional tools. This lowers the operational threshold and makes it easy to install or replace different types of external equipment, such as lights, speakers, ambient decorations, satellite antennas, etc., according to the needs of the camping scene. At the same time, the socket design of the screw 21 is compatible with various hole sizes or slots. Combined with the adjustable clamping force of the tightening knob 22, it can be compatible with external accessories of different thicknesses and structures, further expanding the applicability of the mounted fixing frame. This makes the overall structure more flexible and versatile while ensuring the reliability of the fixation.

[0028] Another implementation method is also proposed; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 5 Specifically, the T-screw fastener 20 consists of a T-nut 23 and a screw 24 threaded onto the T-nut 23. The T-screw fastener 20 uses the T-nut 23 and screw 24 to fix or connect external accessories. This structure functions similarly to the structures described above, achieving fixation through threaded connections. The specific structure used depends on the actual structure used to fix the profile body or connect external accessories. Of course, besides the two implementation methods mentioned above, this technical solution can also use other structures capable of connection and fixation, which will not be listed here.

[0029] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 7The external accessory has at least two holes or at least two slots that mate with the T-screw fasteners 20. The external accessory is connected to at least two T-screw fasteners 20 through these holes or slots. By using at least two holes or slots to cooperate with the corresponding T-connectors, a multi-point fixing structure is formed. Compared with single-point fixing, this effectively restricts the rotation and offset of the external accessory on the profile body 10. Even under the influence of vehicle bumps or outdoor wind, the installation stability of the external accessory and its mounted components can be ensured, eliminating the risk of loosening. In addition, the planar structure of the external accessory can flexibly expand the application scenarios. For example, by drilling additional holes or splicing auxiliary structures on the external accessory, it can simultaneously carry various small external devices. The design of multiple holes or slots can adapt to the installation requirements of T-connectors with different spacings, further improving the adaptability of the external accessory and the profile body, and better meeting the diverse functional needs of users in outdoor camping.

[0030] Please see Figure 3-6 The fixing groove 11 is formed on the upper part of one side of the profile body 10. The lower end of the profile body 10 on this side extends to form a first reinforcing part 14. A second reinforcing part 15 is also formed between the first reinforcing part 14 and the fixing groove 11. The first reinforcing part 14 and the second reinforcing part 15 can significantly improve the overall structural strength and bending resistance of the profile body 10 by increasing the cross-sectional thickness and support nodes. This effectively resists the vibration and impact during vehicle operation and the external forces in the outdoor environment, preventing the profile body 10 from deforming due to long-term stress. This ensures the stability of the solar panel after installation and extends the service life of the frame. In addition, the two reinforcing parts can jointly raise the solar panel, so that a reserved space is formed between the solar panel and the car body or other fixed surfaces. This space can be used to accommodate the junction box, cables, heat sink and other components installed on the back of the solar panel. This avoids the squeezing damage or cable wear caused by direct contact between these components and the fixed surface, and provides sufficient installation and maintenance space for the components.

[0031] Furthermore, the main body 10 of the profile is made of aluminum profile or alloy, and a protective coating is applied to the surface of the main body 10. Aluminum profile itself has the characteristics of being lightweight, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant, which can reduce the overall weight of the fixed frame, avoid increasing the extra load on the car, and can be used for a long time in outdoor humid and dusty environments without easily rusting. With the protective coating applied to the surface, it can further isolate the main body 10 of the profile from ultraviolet rays, rainwater, and pollutants, and greatly improve the frame's anti-aging ability and service life.

[0032] Please see Figure 1-2The frame body is composed of four profile bodies 10 spliced ​​and fixed together. Both ends of the profile body 10 are cut with beveled surfaces 16 at a 45° angle. Plastic end caps (not shown in the figure) are provided at the beveled surfaces of two adjacent profile bodies 10. The two adjacent profile bodies 10 are spliced ​​together by the beveled surfaces 16 and then fixed by the four plastic end caps. The splicing of the two adjacent profile bodies 10 by the beveled surfaces 16 ensures that the frame body has a neat and beautiful appearance. The four plastic end caps also enhance the structural strength of the splicing parts and effectively prevent the frame body from cracking or deforming during long-term use or under vibration. This ensures that the frame body provides stable support for the solar panel. At the same time, the neat right-angle structure can better adapt to the installation dimensions of the car body and the solar panel, improving the overall assembly accuracy and adaptability.

[0033] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention.

Claims

1. A mounting frame for solar panels, used for fixing or connecting external accessories, characterized in that, Includes a frame body fixed around the solar panel. The frame body is spliced ​​and fixed by multiple profile bodies (10). One side of the profile body (10) is formed with a fixing groove (11) for matching the edge of the solar panel. The profile body (10) is fixedly connected to the solar panel through the fixing groove (11). The other side of the profile body (10) is formed with a T-shaped groove (12), and a notch (13) is opened at the lower edge of the T-shaped groove (12). The T-shaped screw fastener (20) is inserted into the T-shaped groove (12) through the notch (13). The T-shaped screw fastener (20) can slide in the T-shaped groove (12). The profile body (10) is fixed or connected to external accessories through the T-shaped screw fastener (20).

2. The mounting frame for solar panels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The T-screw fastener (20) is provided with a screw (21), and a tightening knob (22) is threaded onto the screw (21). The T-screw fastener (20) is used to fix or connect external accessories through the screw (21) and the tightening knob (22).

3. The mounting frame for solar panels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The T-screw fastener (20) consists of a T-nut (23) and a screw (24) threaded onto the T-nut (23). The T-screw fastener (20) is used to fix or connect external accessories through the T-nut (23) and the screw (24).

4. A mounting frame for solar panels according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The external accessory has at least two holes or at least two slots that mate with the T-screw fasteners (20), and the external accessory is connected to at least two T-screw fasteners (20) through the at least two holes or at least two slots.

5. The mounting frame for solar panels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing groove (11) is formed on the upper part of one side of the profile body (10), and the lower end of the profile body (10) on this side is formed with a first reinforcing part (14). A second reinforcing part (15) is also formed between the first reinforcing part (14) and the fixing groove (11).

6. The mounting frame for solar panels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The profile body (10) is made of aluminum profile or alloy, and a sprayed protective layer is coated on the surface of the profile body (10).

7. The mounting frame for solar panels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frame body is made up of four profile bodies (10) spliced ​​together. Both ends of the profile body (10) are cut with a 45° angled bevel (16). Plastic end caps are provided on the bevels of two adjacent profile bodies (10). The two adjacent profile bodies (10) are spliced ​​together by the bevels (16) and then fixed by the four plastic end caps.

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