Door slab

Abstract

A door slab 1 comprising: a panel 10 including a solar cell module 13; and a slab frame 20 provided so as to surround the four peripheral ends of the panel, wherein a power transmission part 14 for transmitting power generated by the solar cell module is provided to the outer peripheral side of the panel, and a power reception part 17 for receiving the power by contacting the power transmission part is provided to the inner peripheral side of the slab frame.

Description

Building materials

[0001] The present disclosure relates to building materials.

[0002] Windows and other fixtures incorporating solar cell modules have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a window in which a heating wire attached along the inner surface of the indoor-facing glass pane of double-glazed glass inserted and fixed inside a window frame is connected by electrical wiring to a solar cell module attached to the outside of the window frame.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-194864

[0004] However, in the window door described in Patent Document 1, the solar cell module and the heating wire must be connected by electrical wiring, and further improvement is desired.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a fixture that allows for easy electrical connection between a panel portion including a solar cell module and a frame portion side.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the building fixture of the present disclosure comprises a panel portion including a solar cell module and a frame portion arranged to surround the four peripheral edges of the panel portion, and is characterized in that a power transmission portion that transmits power generated by the solar cell module is provided on the outer periphery of the panel portion, and a power receiving portion that receives power by contacting the power transmission portion is provided on the inner periphery of the frame portion.

[0007] The fitting according to the present disclosure has the above-described configuration, which makes it easy to electrically connect the panel portion including the solar cell module to the frame portion side.

[0008] 1A and 1B are schematic views of an example of a fitting according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where (a) is a schematic front view and (b) is a partially omitted schematic front view. 1A is a partially cutaway schematic front view of the fitting with a portion omitted, (b) is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view of the fitting with a portion omitted, and (c) is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view of the fitting with a portion omitted. 1A is a partially cutaway schematic front view of the fitting with a portion omitted, and (b) and (c) are partially cutaway schematic cross-sectional views of the fitting with a portion omitted. 1A to 1C are schematic views of a modified version of the fitting, where (a) is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view of the fitting with a portion omitted, (b) is a partially cutaway schematic front view of the fitting with a portion omitted, and (c) is a partially cutaway schematic cross-sectional view of the fitting with a portion omitted. 1A to 1C are schematic views of a modified version of the fitting, respectively.

[0009] The following describes embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. In some drawings, some of the detailed reference numerals used in other drawings are omitted. In the following embodiments, directions such as up and down directions are described based on the state in which an example of a fitting according to this embodiment is installed.

[0010] 1 to 5 are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a fitting according to the present embodiment and a modified example thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b), the fitting 1 according to the present embodiment includes a panel unit 10 including a solar cell module 13 and a frame unit 20 surrounding the four periphery of the panel unit 10. This configuration allows the solar cell module 13 of the fitting 1 to generate electricity. As shown in FIG. 2(a), a power transmission unit 14 that transmits power generated by the solar cell module 13 is provided on the outer periphery of the panel unit 10, and a power receiving unit 17 that receives power through contact with the power transmission unit 14 is provided on the inner periphery of the frame unit 20. With this configuration, when the panel unit 10 including the solar cell module 13 is assembled within the frame unit 20, the power transmission unit 14 on the outer periphery comes into contact with the power receiving unit 17 on the inner periphery of the frame unit 20, enabling electricity to flow. This makes it easier to electrically connect the panel section 10 and the frame section 20 side compared to a configuration that requires connecting electrical wiring, etc.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1( b) and 3( a)-(c), the fixture 1 includes a receiving base (vertical receiving base) 26 arranged between the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10 and the inner peripheral surface 20a of the frame unit 20. The receiving base 26 holds the electric wires 19 that transmit power generated by the solar cell module 13. This configuration allows the electric wires 19 routed around the outer periphery of the panel unit 10 to be held, reducing the interference of the electric wires 19 when assembling the panel unit 10 and the frame unit 20, improving workability. Furthermore, by adjusting the thickness of the receiving base 26 to fit the gap between the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10 and the inner peripheral surface 20a of the frame unit 20, dimensional variations in the panel unit 10 and the frame unit 20 can be accommodated, facilitating assembly. An example of the specific configuration of the receiving base 26, the power transmission unit 14, and the power receiving unit 17 will be described later.

[0012] This fitting 1 may be installed in an appropriate fitting frame installed in an opening that penetrates a wall that separates the interior and exterior of a building. Such a fitting frame may be a rectangular frame having an upper frame, a lower frame, and left and right vertical frames, or may be fixed to an appropriate frame substrate such as a lintel, a window sill, or a pillar that separates the four sides of the opening. This fitting 1 may constitute a window device such as a waist-high window that extends from about waist height of an adult to a suitable height above the ceiling, or a bay window that extends from floor to a suitable height above the ceiling, or may even constitute a door device. This fitting 1 may constitute, for example, a movable window or door such as a bay window, a sliding window such as a double sliding window, a casement window such as an outward-opening or inward-opening casement window, a double-hung window, a tilting window such as an outward-opening or inward-opening window, or a draped window (tilts inward and inward-opening), or even a fixed window.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1( a), 1(b), and 2(c), the panel portion 10 has a rectangular plate shape. As shown in FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c), the panel portion 10 has a multi-layer structure having multiple (two in the illustrated example) light-transmitting plates 11, 11 in the thickness direction of the fixture. These light-transmitting plates 11, 11 may be glass plates or may be made of a synthetic resin material such as acrylic or polycarbonate. The light-transmitting plates 11, 11 are spaced apart in the thickness direction via appropriate spacers 12 formed in a roughly frame shape along their four peripheral edges. Additionally, an appropriate sealant may be provided around the outer periphery of the spacer 12 to seal the vacuum layer or hollow space filled with various gases between the light-transmitting plates 11, 11.

[0014] The solar cell module 13 is disposed along one thickness-wise surface of one of the light-transmitting plates 11 of the panel unit 10. The solar cell module 13 may be disposed, for example, along the exterior-facing surface of the exterior-side light-transmitting plate 11, or may be disposed in another location. The solar cell module 13 may include a single or multiple thin-film solar cells including a photoelectric conversion layer formed by coating or the like on the light-transmitting plate 11 or an appropriate substrate. Examples of such thin-film solar cells include perovskite solar cells using a perovskite compound as a light-absorbing material, as well as other solar cells such as silicon solar cells. The solar cell module 13 is translucent and may be disposed over substantially the entire thickness-wise surface of the light-transmitting plate 11 of the panel unit 10. The solar cell module 13 has positive and negative electrodes electrically connected to the power transmission unit 14.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the frame portion 20 is formed into a rectangular frame shape by an upper frame portion 22 and a lower frame portion 23 that are elongated in the left-right direction and left and right vertical frame portions 24, 24 that are elongated in the up-down direction. The upper frame portion 22, the lower frame portion 23, and the vertical frame portions 24, 24 may be made of metal, or may be made of resin from the viewpoint of thermal insulation, or may be made of so-called fiber-reinforced resin containing reinforcing fibers such as glass fiber or carbon fiber. The upper frame portion 22, the lower frame portion 23, and the vertical frame portions 24, 24 may each be an extrusion molded product having a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape along its entire length. The upper frame portion 22, the lower frame portion 23, and the vertical frame portions 24, 24 may be joined to each other by suitable fasteners such as screws, welding, or the like. In the illustrated example, the longitudinal ends of the upper and lower frame sections 22 and 23 are joined to the longitudinal ends of the left and right vertical frame sections 24, 24 in a so-called jointed manner, but the joints may also be in a vertical or horizontal manner.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3(b), panel receiving grooves 21 that receive the four peripheral edges of the panel section 10 are provided on the inner periphery of each of the upper frame section 22, the lower frame section 23, and the vertical frame sections 24, 24. The bottom surfaces of these panel receiving grooves 21 form the inner periphery 20a of the frame section 20. One side of the panel receiving groove 21 in the groove width direction is defined by an extension piece 28 that extends from one end of the inner periphery of each of the upper frame section 22, the lower frame section 23, and the vertical frame sections 24, 24 in the thickness direction of the building fixture so as to cover the end of the panel section 10. The other side of the panel receiving groove 21 in the groove width direction is defined by a ledge member 29 attached to the other end of each of the upper frame section 22, the lower frame section 23, and the vertical frame sections 24, 24 in the thickness direction of the building fixture. The extension piece 28 and the pressing edge member 29 are provided so as to extend around the entire periphery of the inner periphery of the frame portion 20. An appropriate gasket that comes into close contact with the panel portion 10 may be provided so as to extend around almost the entire periphery within the panel receiving groove 21. The panel receiving groove 21 that receives the four peripheral ends of the panel portion 10 is not limited to a configuration in which the other side in the groove width direction is defined by the pressing edge member 29 as in the example shown, and various other configurations may be used.

[0017] The upper stile portion 22, the lower stile portion 23, and the vertical stile portions 24, 24 may be provided with appropriate engaging portions or the like that engage with the fixture frame to which the fixture 1 is to be installed, depending on the type of the fixture 1, etc. For example, if the fixture 1 constitutes a sliding window, the upper stile portion 22 and the lower stile portion 23 may be provided with rail receiving grooves that accept rail portions provided on the upper and lower frames, and the lower stile portion 23 may be provided with appropriate door rollers, etc. Also, an appropriate handle portion may be provided in an appropriate location on the door end stile portion that is one of the left and right vertical stile portions 24, 24, and an appropriate locking device such as a crescent lock may be provided on the other door joint stile portion. The upper stile portion 22, the lower stile portion 23, and the vertical stile portions 24, 24 may be configured in various other ways depending on the type of the fixture 1, etc.

[0018] 2( a), in this example, one of the power transmitting unit 14 and the power receiving unit 17 is provided on a receiving base (upper receiving base) 16 disposed between the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10 and the inner peripheral surface 20a of the frame portion 20. This configuration can reduce poor contact between the power transmitting unit 14 and the power receiving unit 17 due to assembly errors, etc., compared to a configuration in which the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10 and the inner peripheral surface 20a of the frame portion 20 are assembled so that they abut or are close to each other around the entire circumference without providing such a receiving base. Also, as described above, by adjusting the thickness of the receiving base (upper receiving base) 16 to fit into the gap between the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10 and the inner peripheral surface 20a of the frame portion 20, dimensional variations in the panel unit 10 and the frame portion 20 can be accommodated, and they can be easily assembled.

[0019] At least one of the power transmitting unit 14 and the power receiving unit 17 has a terminal 18 biased toward the other. This configuration allows for stable power supply even in the event of assembly errors. The power transmitting unit 14 is provided on the upper end side of the panel unit 10, and the power receiving unit 17 is provided on the upper frame portion 22 side of the frame portion 20. This configuration positions the power transmitting unit 14 and the power receiving unit 17 on the upper end side of the building fixture 1, making them less susceptible to the effects of rainwater, etc. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2( c), the panel unit 10 is provided with a pair of power transmitting units 14, 14. One of these power transmitting units 14, 14 may be electrically connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell module 13 via an appropriate electric wire, etc., and the other may be electrically connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell module 13 via an appropriate electric wire, etc.

[0020] The power transmitting units 14, 14 are terminals 15, 15 formed to protrude upward from the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10 toward the power receiving unit 17. The terminals 15, 15 are configured to be able to abut against a pair of power receiving units 17, 17, which will be described later. In the illustrated example, the terminals 15, 15 are positioned offset to one side of the upper end surface constituting the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10, but this position is not limited thereto. In the illustrated example, the terminals 15, 15 are positioned at the same circumferential position on the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10, spaced apart in the thickness direction of the fixture, but this is not limited thereto. The terminals 15, 15 are configured in a truncated cone shape tapering upward, but this shape is not limited thereto. The terminals 15, 15 may be formed from an appropriate metal or the like with good conductivity.

[0021] 2(a) and 2(b), a pair of power receiving portions 17, 17 are provided on the inner periphery of the frame portion 20, which abut against the terminal portions 15, 15 that constitute the pair of power transmitting portions 14, 14, respectively. One of the pair of power receiving portions 17, 17 may be electrically connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell module 13 via one terminal portion 15, etc., and the other may be electrically connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell module 13 via the other terminal portion 15, etc. The building fixture 1 may configure a photovoltaic power generation system by electrically connecting the power receiving portions 17, 17 to an appropriate power storage device or the like provided outside the building fixture 1 via appropriate electric wires 19, etc. In this example, the power receiving portions 17, 17 are terminal portions 18, 18 that are biased toward the terminal portions 15, 15 that constitute the power transmitting portions 14, 14. These terminal portions 18, 18 are provided on an upper receiving base 16 arranged between the bottom surface of a groove facing downward that forms the inner peripheral surface 20a of the upper frame portion 22 and the upper end surface that forms the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel portion 10. An appropriate electric wire that is electrically connected to the power receiving portions 17, 17 and that is conductive to an electric wire 19 described below may be provided within this upper receiving base 16. This upper receiving base 16 is arranged within the panel receiving groove 21.

[0022] The upper support 16 is a rectangular plate with its thickness aligned vertically. The dimension of the upper support 16 along the thickness direction of the fixture corresponds to the width of the panel receiving groove 21 and may be smaller than the width of the panel receiving groove 21. The dimension of the upper support 16 along the longitudinal direction of the upper frame portion 22 (the left-right direction of the fixture) is smaller than the length of the upper frame portion 22, and may be, for example, approximately 20 mm to 200 mm or approximately 30 mm to 150 mm. In the illustrated example, the upper support 16 is positioned to one side in the left-right direction to correspond to the positions of the power transmission units 14, 14, but is not limited to this position. The upper support 16 may be fixed to the inner peripheral surface 20a of the upper frame portion 22 via adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, screws, or other fasteners. In addition to the upper receiving base 16, a receiving base that does not have a similar upper receiving base 16 or a power receiving unit 17, 17 may be provided between the inner surface 20a of the upper frame portion 22 and the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel portion 10.

[0023] The terminals 18, 18 are arranged to protrude downward from the inner periphery of the upper frame portion 22 (the underside of the upper support base 16) toward the power transmission unit 14. These terminals 18, 18 are arranged at the same circumferential positions as the terminals 15, 15 constituting the power transmission units 14, 14, spaced apart in the thickness direction of the fixture, but this is not a limitation. Because these terminals 18, 18 have the same configuration, only one of them will be described below. Each terminal 18 includes a fixed piece 18a fixed to the upper support base 16 and a spring-like piece 18b connected to the fixed piece 18a and protruding downward. In its natural state (when not elastically deformed), the spring-like piece 18b extends diagonally downward from one end of the fixed piece 18a. The spring-like piece 18b is elastically deformable generally in the vertical direction. The spring-like piece 18b is brought into contact with the terminal 15 by its elastic deformation. The dimension of the spring-like piece 18b along the thickness direction of the fixture may be larger than the dimension of the terminal 15 along the thickness direction of the fixture. The terminal 18 may be made of an appropriate metal or the like having good conductivity.

[0024] The terminal 18 is not limited to a configuration in which a cantilevered spring piece 18b is provided on a fixed piece 18a as shown in the figure, but may have various other shapes, such as a pantograph shape (diamond shape). Furthermore, the terminal 18 biased toward the terminal 15 constituting the power transmitting unit 14 is not limited to a configuration in which the contact portion with the terminal 15 itself is the spring piece 18b. The contact portion with the terminal 15 may be biased by an appropriate spring or the like separate from the contact portion, allowing it to expand and contract generally in the vertical direction. For example, the terminal 18 may include a pin-shaped electrode or an umbrella-shaped electrode biased in the vertical direction by a spring or the like. Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the terminal 18 constituting the power receiving unit 17, the terminal 15 constituting the power transmitting unit 14 may be biased toward the power receiving unit 17.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3( a) to 3(c), the receiving base (vertical receiving base) 26, which has the function of holding the electric wire 19, is provided with a receiving groove 27 for receiving the electric wire 19 in this example. With this configuration, the electric wire 19 can be held in the receiving groove 27 of the receiving base (vertical receiving base) 26. The receiving groove 27 is provided so as to open on the surface of the receiving base (vertical receiving base) 26 facing outward in the thickness direction of the building fixture. With this configuration, after the receiving base (vertical receiving base) 26 is fixed to the frame portion 20 or the panel portion 10, the electric wire 19 can be held in the receiving groove 27 of the receiving base (vertical receiving base) 26 from the outside in the thickness direction of the building fixture, improving workability. The width of the receiving groove 27 is smaller on the groove opening side than on the groove bottom side. With this configuration, unintended detachment of the electric wire 19 from the receiving groove 27 can be effectively reduced.

[0026] Specifically, as shown in Figures 1(b) and 3(a), the receiving base (vertical receiving base) 26 is a vertical receiving base arranged between the groove bottom surface forming the inner peripheral surface 20a of one vertical stile portion 24 and facing the other vertical stile portion 24, and the side end surface forming the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel portion 10. Similar to the upper receiving base 16 described above, this vertical receiving base 26 is arranged within the panel receiving groove 21. This vertical receiving base 26 is a square plate arranged so that its thickness direction is the left-right direction of the fixture. Similar to the upper receiving base 16 described above, the dimension of this vertical receiving base 26 along the thickness direction of the fixture is set to a dimension corresponding to the groove width of the panel receiving groove 21, and may be smaller than the groove width of the panel receiving groove 21. The dimension of the vertical support 26 along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the vertical stile 24 is smaller than the length of the vertical stile 24. For example, similar to the upper support 16, it may be approximately 20 mm to 200 mm, or approximately 30 mm to 150 mm. In the illustrated example, the vertical support 26 is positioned to one side in the vertical direction, but is not limited to this position. The vertical support 26 may be fixed to the inner peripheral surface 20a of the vertical stile 24 via adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, screws, or other fasteners.

[0027] The receiving groove 27 opens on the surface of the vertical receiving base 26 facing outward in the thickness direction of the fixture (either the outside or the inside of the room) and extends over the entire vertical receiving base 26 in the up-down direction (the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the vertical stile 24). As shown in Figure 3(c), this receiving groove 27 is configured to be exposed when viewed in the thickness direction of the fixture when the batten 29 defining the other side of the panel receiving groove 21 in the groove width direction is removed. With this configuration, after the panel 10 is assembled by fitting it into the stile 20 with the batten 29 removed, the electric wire 19 can be easily held in the receiving groove 27 of the vertical receiving base 26.

[0028] The groove depth of the receiving groove 27 corresponds to the outer diameter of the electric wire 19. In the illustrated example, the groove width of the receiving groove 27 at the bottom corresponds to the sum of the outer diameters of the two electric wires 19. That is, the receiving groove 27 is capable of receiving two electric wires 19. These electric wires 19 may be electrically connected to the pair of power receiving portions 17. The groove width of the receiving groove 27 at the opening side may be slightly smaller than the sum of the outer diameters of the two electric wires 19. The groove width of the receiving groove 27 at the opening side may be an appropriate dimension from the viewpoint of improving the ease of insertion and removal of the electric wires 19, or from the viewpoint of reducing unintentional detachment of the electric wire 19 from the receiving groove 27. The configuration is not limited to one having a receiving groove 27 capable of receiving two electric wires 19, 19, but may be one having two receiving grooves 27 each receiving one of the two electric wires 19, 19, or the like.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1( b ), in addition to the upper support 16 and the vertical support 26, the inner periphery of the frame portion 20 is provided with a lower support 16A disposed between the lower frame portion 23 and the lower end face of the panel portion 10, and a vertical support 26A disposed between the other vertical frame portion 24 and the side end face of the panel portion 10. In other words, a support is provided between each of the four peripheral end faces of the panel portion 10 and each of the upper frame portion 22, the lower frame portion 23, and the vertical frame portions 24, 24. The lower support 16A is a rectangular plate-shaped plate whose thickness is aligned vertically. In the illustrated example, the lower support 16A is positioned offset to the other left-right direction, opposite the upper support 16, but this position is not limited thereto. The vertical support 26A is a rectangular plate-shaped plate whose thickness is aligned horizontally. In the illustrated example, the vertical receiving base 26A is positioned offset to the other side in the vertical direction, opposite the vertical receiving base 26, but this position is not limited to this. The lower receiving base 16A and the vertical receiving base 26A may be fixed to the inner peripheral surfaces 20a of the lower stile 23 and the vertical stile 24 via adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, screws, or other fasteners, as described above. The lower receiving base 16A and the vertical receiving base 26A may both have receiving grooves 27 similar to those described above. The upper receiving base 16A, the lower receiving base 16A, and the two vertical receiving bases 26, 26A may be made of resin and may have thicknesses selected from a plurality of thicknesses to fit the gap between the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel 10 and the inner peripheral surface 20a of the stile 20.

[0030] Next, modified examples of the fittings will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. In each of the following modified examples, differences from the previously described examples will be mainly described, and explanations of similar configurations will be omitted or briefly explained. In addition, in each of the following modified examples, explanations of the effects achieved similarly to the previously described examples will be omitted or briefly explained.

[0031] 4(a) to 4(c) are schematic diagrams of a fitting 1A according to a first modification. This modification differs primarily from the above-described example in the configuration of the power transmission unit 14A and the power receiving unit 17A. In this modification, the power transmission unit 14A is provided on the lower end of the panel unit 10A, and the power receiving unit 17A is provided on the lower frame portion 23A side of the frame portion 20A. This configuration allows the power transmission unit 14A at the lower end of the panel unit 10A to stably contact the power receiving unit 17A on the lower frame portion 23A side by the weight of the panel unit 10A. In this modification, one of the power transmission unit 14A and the power receiving unit 17A is a terminal portion 18A, and the other is a circumferentially elongated current-carrying portion 15A. This configuration ensures stable current flow even in the presence of assembly errors.

[0032] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4( a), elongated conductive portions 15A, 15A constituting a pair of power transmission units 14A, 14A are provided at the lower end of the panel unit 10A so as to extend in the circumferential direction, i.e., the left-right direction of the fixture. These elongated conductive portions 15A, 15A are provided at a distance in the thickness direction of the fixture on the lower end surface constituting the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel unit 10A. As described above, one of these elongated conductive portions 15A, 15A may be electrically connected to the positive electrode of the solar cell module 13 via an appropriate electric wire, and the other may be electrically connected to the negative electrode of the solar cell module 13 via an appropriate electric wire. These elongated conductive portions 15A, 15A have the same width. These elongated conductive portions 15A, 15A may be provided so as to extend across substantially the entire panel unit 10A in the left-right direction of the fixture. These long conductive portions 15A, 15A may be made of an appropriate metal or the like having good conductivity.

[0033] The terminals 18A, 18A constituting the pair of power receiving units 17A, 17A are provided on a lower support 16B disposed between the upward-facing groove bottom surface constituting the inner peripheral surface 20a of the lower frame portion 23A and the lower end surface constituting the outer peripheral end surface 10a of the panel portion 10A. The lower support 16B is a rectangular plate disposed with its thickness oriented vertically, as described above. The terminals 18A, 18A are provided to protrude upward from the inner peripheral side of the lower frame portion 23A (the upper surface of the lower support 16B) toward the power transmitting unit 14A. The terminals 18A, 18A are provided at the same circumferential position as the elongated current-carrying units 15A, 15A constituting the power transmitting units 14A, 14A, with a gap in the thickness direction of the fixture, but are not limited to this example. In the illustrated example, the terminals 18A are each formed in a truncated cone shape that tapers upward, but the shape is not limited to this. The terminals 18A may be formed from a suitable metal or the like that has good electrical conductivity.

[0034] In this modified example, the power transmitting unit 14A is an elongated current conducting unit 15A, but instead of or in addition to this configuration, the power receiving unit 17A may be an elongated current conducting unit, etc. In the above examples, the power transmitting unit 14, 14A is provided on the upper end side or lower end side of the panel unit 10, 10A, and the power receiving unit 17, 17A is provided on the upper frame portion 22 side or the lower frame portion 23A side, but this is not limited to this configuration. For example, the power transmitting unit 14, 14A may be provided on one left-right end side of the panel unit 10, 10A, and the power receiving unit 17, 17A may be provided on one left-right vertical frame portion 24 side. In addition, while the above examples show examples in which the power receiving unit 17, 17A is provided on the receiving stand 16, 16B fixed to the frame unit 20, 20A side, instead of such a configuration, a configuration in which the power transmitting unit is provided on the receiving stand fixed to the panel unit 10, 10A side may be used. Furthermore, without providing such a receiving stand, a configuration in which the power transmitting unit on the outer periphery of the panel unit 10, 10A and the power receiving unit on the inner periphery of the frame unit 20, 20A are abutted against each other to be electrically connected.

[0035] FIG. 5(a) schematically illustrates a fitting 1B according to a second modification. This modification differs primarily from the above-described example in the configuration of the vertical receiving base 26B. In this modification, the receiving groove 27A of the vertical receiving base 26B opens on the surface of the vertical receiving base 26B facing the inner peripheral surface 20a of the vertical stile 24. With this configuration, the vertical receiving base 26B can be secured along the inner peripheral surface 20a of the vertical stile 24 while the electric wire 19 is held in the receiving groove 27A, thereby reliably holding the electric wire 19 and preventing unintended detachment. In the illustrated example, the vertical receiving base 26B has two receiving grooves 27A, 27A for receiving two electric wires 19, 19, respectively. Unlike the receiving groove 27 described above, the width of these receiving grooves 27A, 27A is larger at the groove opening side than at the groove bottom side.

[0036] FIG. 5(b) is a schematic diagram of a fitting 1C according to a third modified example. In this modified example, the main difference from the above-described examples is the configuration of the vertical receiving base 26C. In this modified example, the vertical receiving base 26C is provided with an insertion hole 27B through which the electric wire 19 is inserted. With this configuration, although the electric wire 19 needs to be inserted into the insertion hole 27B of the vertical receiving base 26C, the electric wire 19 can be securely held and unintentional detachment can be prevented. In the illustrated example, the vertical receiving base 26C is provided with two insertion holes 27B, 27B through which each of the two electric wires 19, 19 is inserted. These insertion holes 27B, 27B are provided so as to penetrate the vertical receiving base 26C in the vertical direction.

[0037] FIG. 5(c) shows a schematic diagram of a fourth modified fitting 1D. This modification differs primarily from the above examples in the configuration of the vertical stile portion 24A and the vertical receiving base 26D of the stile portion 20B. In this modification, the vertical stile portion 24A is provided with a receiving groove 25 for receiving the electric wire 19, and the vertical receiving base 26D is positioned to block the opening of the receiving groove 25. With this configuration, the electric wire 19 is held in the receiving groove 25 of the vertical stile portion 24A, and the vertical receiving base 26D is fixed along the inner peripheral surface 20a of the vertical stile portion 24A, thereby reliably holding the electric wire 19 and preventing unintended detachment. In other words, in this modification, the vertical receiving base 26D does not have a receiving groove, but the receiving groove 25 is provided in the vertical stile portion 24A.

[0038] The receiving groove 25 of the vertical stile portion 24A opens on the inner peripheral surface 20a and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vertical stile portion 24A. This receiving groove 25 may be provided over substantially the entire length of the vertical stile portion 24A. This receiving groove 25 is capable of receiving two electric wires 19, 19. Furthermore, the width of the receiving groove 25 is smaller at the groove opening side than at the groove bottom side. In this modified example, the receiving groove 25 is provided in the vertical stile portion 24A. However, instead of or in addition to this configuration, a receiving groove that is closed by a receiving base may be provided in the upper stile portion 22 or the lower stile portion 23. Furthermore, the different configurations described in the above examples may be appropriately modified, rearranged, or combined as needed. The configuration of each member and each part of the fittings 1, 1A to 1D according to this embodiment is merely an example, and various other modifications are possible.

[0039] <Supplementary Notes> The above description of the embodiments discloses the following technologies. <Technology 1> A fitting comprising a panel unit including a solar cell module and a frame unit provided to surround the four periphery of the panel unit, wherein a power transmission unit that transmits power generated by the solar cell module is provided on the outer periphery of the panel unit, and a power receiving unit that receives power by contacting the power transmission unit is provided on the inner periphery of the frame unit. <Technology 2> The fitting according to Technology 1, wherein one of the power transmission unit and the power receiving unit is provided on a receiving base that is arranged between the outer periphery of the panel unit and the inner periphery of the frame unit. <Technology 3> The fitting according to Technology 1 or Technology 2, wherein at least one of the power transmission unit and the power receiving unit is a terminal unit that is biased toward the other. <Technology 4> The fitting according to any one of Technology 1 to Technology 3, wherein one of the power transmission unit and the power receiving unit is a terminal unit, and the other is a long, circumferentially long current-carrying unit. <Technology 5> The fitting according to any one of technologies 1 to 4, wherein the power transmission unit is provided on the upper end side of the panel unit, and the power receiving unit is provided on the upper frame side of the frame unit. <Technology 6> The fitting according to any one of technologies 1 to 4, wherein the power transmission unit is provided on the lower end side of the panel unit, and the power receiving unit is provided on the lower frame side of the frame unit.

[0040] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A to 1D Fitting 10, 10A Panel section 10a Outer peripheral end surface 13 Solar cell module 14, 14A Power transmission section 15 Terminal section 15A Long current-carrying section 16 Upper receiving base (receiving base) 16B Lower receiving base (receiving base) 17, 17A Power receiving section 18, 18A Terminal section 20, 20A, 20B Frame section 20a Inner peripheral surface 22 Upper frame section 23A Lower frame section

Claims

1. A fixture comprising a panel section including a solar cell module and a frame section provided to surround the four periphery of the panel section, wherein a power transmission section for transmitting the power generated by the solar cell module is provided on the outer periphery of the panel section, and a power receiving section for receiving power by contacting the power transmission section is provided on the inner periphery of the frame section.

2. The fixture according to claim 1, wherein one of the power transmitting unit and the power receiving unit is provided on a receiving base arranged between the outer peripheral end face of the panel portion and the inner peripheral face of the frame portion.

3. A fixture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the power transmitting unit and the power receiving unit is a terminal unit that is biased toward the other.

4. A fixture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the power transmitting section and the power receiving section is a terminal section, and the other is a long current-carrying section that is long in the circumferential direction.

5. A fixture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the power transmission unit is provided on the upper end side of the panel unit, and the power receiving unit is provided on the upper frame side of the frame unit.

6. A fixture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the power transmission unit is provided on the lower end side of the panel unit, and the power receiving unit is provided on the lower frame side of the frame unit.

Images