Retaining element for solar element and method of connecting the retaining elements

Abstract

A retaining element (1a, 1b) for solar elements (6) comprises a base portion (2), a first solar element inclination support (3a, 3b), and at least a first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), for connection to a mating connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of an adjacent retaining element (1a, 1b) The connectors (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) comprise an aperture (7) and a depressed portion (9). The depressed portion (9) is insertable into the aperture (7) of the mating connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d). A set of connectors (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) may be arranged at a selection of distances from a first transversal edge (10) of the retaining element (1a, 1b), and at least a third opposing connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) at a distance from an opposing second transversal edge. A method of connecting two retaining elements (1a, 1b) comprises inserting a portion (9a) of a connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the second retaining element (1a, 1b) at least partially into an aperture (7) of a connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the first retaining element (1a, 1b), and then pivoting the second retaining element (1a, 1b) until the inserted portion (9a) of the connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the second retaining element (1a, 1b) is fully inserted into the aperture (7).

Description

[0001]RETAINING ELEMENT FOR SOLAR ELEMENT AND METHOD OF CONNECTING THE RETAINING ELEMENTS Field of the invention The present invention relates to a retaining element for holding at least one solar element on a substrate, the retaining element comprising a base portion, configured to rest on the substrate, at least a first solar element inclination supportprojecting away from the base portion, and at least a first connector, for connection toa corresponding, mating connector of an adjacent retaining element. The invention also relates to a retaining element for holding at least one solar element on a substrate, the retaining element comprising a base portion, configured to rest on the substrate, at least a first solar element inclination support projectingaway from the base portion, and a first set of connectors, including a first connectorand a second connector, each for connection to at least one corresponding, mating connector of an adjacent retaining element. The invention further relates to a method of connecting two retaining elementsfor solar elements on a substrate, comprising positioning of a first retaining element on the substrate. Background In order to catch as much sunlight as possible, solar elements are oftenarranged to face south. However, such an arrangement is not always possible or preferred, due to environmental factors, such as the direction of available roof areas, the inclination of the roof, shades from nearby buildings or vegetation, etc. Also, the available substrate areas facing south may not be sufficient for fulfilling the energy needs, and other areas may need to be utilized. Also, there may be a desire to arrange the solar elements such that their performance is maximized during the peak hours of energy consumption. For these reasons, an east-west arrangement may be the best option. In east-west arrangements, the solar elements are arranged in atilted manner, relative to the substrate. Dedicated retaining elements may be used forobtaining such arrangements. Such retaining elements are known in the field in a general sense. EP3828479 B1 discloses one example of retaining elements that may beinterconnected to form various arrangements of inclination supports for solarelements. Although the disclosed retaining elements may provide inclination supports, there seems to be some disadvantages in a limited versatility, i. e. thenumber of configurations that may be obtained with the disclosed elements is limited.Thereby the number of variations of the inclination of the solar elements may belimited. Further a more robust construction of the connectors may be desirable, fromthe manufacturing aspect as well as the installation aspect. Summary It is an object of the present invention to solve, or at least mitigate, parts or all of the above mentioned problems. To this end, there is provided a retaining element, wherein said first connector comprises an aperture and a depressed portion, which is at least partially cut out from the aperture, and the depressed portion of the firstconnector matching the contour of the aperture, for insertion of the depressed portionin a coupling direction into the aperture of the mating connector at interconnection of adjacent retaining elements. Hereby lengths of retaining elements with a selectable configuration may be obtained easily. The possibility of obtaining any desired configuration with any selected sequence of low and high solar element inclination supports may result in a versatile mounting system with a limited number of parts needed. The strong and reliable connection of retaining elements means that cost-efficient arrangements may be quickly and easily obtained. The retaining elements are easy to store and transport, since they are non-bulky and may be nested into one another in space- saving configurations before they are used. The retaining elements are easily interconnected on the building site, without the need for welding or the use ofcomplex tools. By making cuts along at least a part of the contour around a portion ofthe material of the retaining element, and then displacing the portion from its originalposition, the aperture is formed. The displaced portion may be displaced e.g. bypressing the portion to a position at a distance from the main plane of extent of thesurrounding material of the retaining element. An aperture may be formed in theretaining element even if the displaced or depressed portion is still attached to the retaining element at a part of the contour. The outline of the aperture approximately coincides with the outline of the depressed portion. Further, there is provided a retaining element, with said first and secondconnectors being arranged at a selection of distances from a first transversal edge of the retaining element, and at least a third opposing connector at a distance from an opposing second transversal edge of the retaining element, for providing a choice of positions of the mating connector at interconnection in a coupling direction of adjacent retaining elements. Hereby lengths of retaining elements with a selectable configuration may also be obtained easily. The possibility of obtaining any desired configuration with any selected sequence of low and high solar element inclination supports is enhanced further by the possibility of varying the distance between the solar element inclinationsupports further. The assortment of distances between the respective connectorsand an adjacent edge means that there may be a choice of one connector at eachretaining element to be interconnected, and hence the degree of overlap of theinterconnected retaining elements is variable. This means that the inclination of thesolar elements may be further varied. The many options for interconnecting the retaining elements may result in a versatile mounting system with a still limited number of parts needed. The possibility of varying the degree of overlap between the retaining elements means that a particularly high degree of versatility may be reached. The retaining elements are still easily interconnected on the building site, without the need for welding or the use of complex tools. In further embodiments at least the first connector is arranged at the baseportion of the retaining element. By arranging the connectors at the base portion, a durable interconnection may be obtained. The interconnection is further supported by the substrate, typically a roof. Connectors arranged at the same base level are easily interconnected, and any sequence of high and low solar element inclination supports may be constructed. This leads to a great versatility in the arrangements, while keeping the number of different parts needed in the arrangements low. In still further embodiments, the retaining element is corrugated with at least one raised section and the first connector is arranged in a raised section. Hereby there may be ample space below the raised section, and the space may be utilized for the connector, in particular if the connector utilizes a depressed portion. If more than one connector is present, which is often the case, several, or all, of the connectors may be arranged in a raised section. Another advantage is that overlapping parts of the retaining elements may be guided relative to one another by the corrugation, and thereby straight lines of interconnected retaining elements may be effortlessly attained. In even further embodiments, the depressed portion of the first connector comprises a lug for insertion in the coupling direction into the aperture of the mating connector and interlocking with the bottom face of the base portion. Hereby the connector may be connected to another one of the same configuration, but with an opposite orientation. If more than one connector is present, which is often the case, several, or all, of the connectors may comprise a lug in theirdepressed portions. The connectors, that are arranged at a number of differentdistances from one and the same edge, may preferably have the same orientation,such that a connector at another retaining element to be interconnected may be connected to either of them. The lug provides a counterpart, which acts as a fulcrum when it is inserted into the aperture under an edge thereof, and the retaining element is pivoted such that the two connectors interconnect. In still further embodiments the lug in each connector is arranged on that side of the depressed portion proximal to the nearest end of the retaining element, facing in the coupling direction. Hereby the lug provides a counterpart, which acts as a fulcrum when it is inserted into the aperture under an edge thereof, and the retaining element is pivoted such that the two connectors interconnect. In further embodiments the depressed portion extends transversally to the coupling direction. Hereby the resistance against movements in the longitudinal direction of the retaining elements may be maximized, and the risk of unintentional disconnection minimized. In some embodiments at least one edge of the depressed portion of the first connector is arranged to be blocked from movement in the coupling direction by at least one edge of the aperture of the mating connector. Hereby the resistance against movements in the longitudinal direction of the retaining elements may be maximized, and the risk of unintentional disconnection minimized. In some embodiments the depressed portion is joined to the side edges of the aperture. Hereby the manufacture of the retaining element and its connector may be uncomplicated and easy to perform industrially. There are no loose parts that need tobe assembled, neither in a factory setting nor at the building site. The material thathas been at least partially cut from the retaining element is used to form thedepressed portion of the connector, and the aperture of the connector is formed inthe retaining element. The contour of the depressed portion and the aperture of one connector are approximately coinciding, although they are arranged at two separate levels. In some embodiments the depressed portion extends towards the substrate in a normal position of use of the retaining element. Hereby the connector needs a minimal amount of space. In some embodiments at least one stop flap is arranged on the base portion abreast with a connector, extending in a direction away from the substrate, for contact with an end edge of said adjacent retaining element. Hereby a fulcrum is provided, such that a pivoting connection motion may be performed. Also, the end edge of the retaining element is kept in its place after the interconnection, and the connection is further stabilized. In some further embodiments the distance, in the longitudinal direction of the retaining element, between the stop flap and the depressed portion is selected such that when the depressed portion is in register with the aperture of the mating connector, an edge of the retaining element is pivotable around a mutual contact point, of the retaining element and the mating element, on the stop flap. Hereby the correct position to perform the connection of the two retaining elements is more easily attained. In some further embodiments at least one stop flap opening is arranged in atleast one of the raised sections, for receiving the at least one stop flap of the first connector on the adjacent retaining element, at interconnection with the second connector, thereby allowing an overlap of adjacent retaining elements. Hereby the overlap of the retaining elements may be varied, while at the same time the interconnected retaining elements form a smooth path without the need for manual adjustments of the stop flaps or other parts of the retaining elements on the building site. In some further embodiments, the raised sections are provided with projections, directed away from the substrate, for retaining of ballast elements. Hereby the arrangement of solar elements and retaining element may be less prone to damages from high winds, that might otherwise risk lifting the arrangement from the substrate. In some other embodiments, the raised sections extend in the longitudinal direction of the retaining element. Hereby the retaining elements may be easily aligned with one another, since the raised sections may nest when two retaining elements partly overlap in the areas where they are interconnected. Also, longitudinal raised sections may improve the bending stiffness of the retaining elements around a transversal axis. An increased bending stiffness in this direction may provide particularly durable solar element inclination supports. When the stiffness is improved in this way, the thickness of the material may be limited, which is advantageous from many points of view, such as weight, transportation, costs, and environment. In some other embodiments, stiffening ridges are arranged transversally to the raised sections, preferably interconnecting the raised portions in pairs. Hereby the bending stiffness may be improved also around a longitudinal axis of the retaining elements. The retaining elements will hereby be kept from unintentional curling at their outer edges. In some other embodiments, the base portion comprises drainage holes in the areas between the raised sections. Hereby rain and meltwater may be drained from the areas between the raised sections, and any wear from excessive amounts of stagnant water may be avoided. In some embodiments at least one solar element inclination support comprises a hook-shaped anchoring element, integrally formed therein, to retain the solar element in contact with the solar element inclination support. Hereby the solar element, resting on the solar element inclination support, may be secured to the retaining element. Also, or as an alternative, electric cables may be attached to the anchoring element, either directly or via any known cable storage or bundling device, that may be secured to the anchoring element. In further embodiments a second solar element inclination support is comprised in the retaining element and the first and second solar element inclination supports project from the base portion to mutually different heights. Hereby there may be several options for variation of the inclination of the solar elements. A solar element may be arranged to rest against the first and second elements, which may result in a certain inclination of the solar element if the distance between them is fixed. If the distance between a higher and a lower solar element inclination support is varied, the inclination is varied as well. A variation of the distance between the solar element inclination supports may be attained by reversing and interconnecting the retaining elements in various configurations. Also, varying the overlap of two retaining elements may also result in a varied distance between two adjacent solar element inclination supports. Further, varying the points of contact between the solar element and the respective solar element inclination supports may also result in a variation of the inclination of the solar elements. Finally, there may also be the option of allowing a lower portion of the solar element to rest against any selected portion of the base portion of the retaining element, while an upper portion of the solar element contacts either of the first and second solar element inclination supports. In still further embodiments, the retaining element is formed in sheet metal, and said first connector is formed integrally therein. Hereby a durable retaining element may be produced and surface treated industrially. Drainage holes, stop flaps, and other features may be punched and / or stamped by a series of operations well known in the art of metal manufacture. No loose parts will be necessary to assemble in order to form the connector. According to a second aspect, parts or all of the above mentioned problems are solved, or at least mitigated, by a method comprising positioning a second retaining element at an angle to the first retaining element, inserting a portion of a connector of the second retaining element at least partially into an aperture of aconnector of the first retaining element, and then pivoting the second retainingelement to a position where the inserted portion of the connector of the second retaining element is fully inserted into the aperture of the connector on the first retaining element, and where the second retaining element is fully aligned with the first retaining element. Hereby a method for forming longer strips of series of retaining elements may be attained. The retaining elements may then be used for mounting solar elements on a substrate, such as a roof. In a further embodiment the step of inserting a portion of the connector furthercomprises inserting a lug of the depressed portion of the connector of the second retaining element into the aperture of the connector on the first retaining element, and then pivoting the lug into a position under a distal edge of the aperture of the connector on the first retaining element, as seen from the nearest edge of the first retaining element. Hereby the retaining elements may be connected by a pivoting motion, which may be easily performed on the building site without the use of any special tools. The orientation of the lug, in the respective connectors, pointing in the coupling direction at each side of each retaining element, enables the insertion of the lug under the distal, opposite edge of the aperture of the corresponding connector, and hereby the quick and easy interconnection of the elements. In still further embodiments the method comprises bringing an end edge of the second retaining element into contact with a stop flap of the first retaining element, before pivoting the second retaining element into the position aligned with the first retaining element. Hereby the pivoting of the element is further facilitated, since the end edge is kept in a constant position and neither moves along the retaining element past the stop flaps nor in a direction transversal to the retaining element. The fixed position of the end edge keeps the pivoting connector moving in an arcuate path during the process of interconnection. Also, the parts of the pivoting connector, including the side edges of the depressed portion, move in arcuate paths, concentric with one another and with the end edge as their center. It is noted that embodiments of the invention may be embodied by all possible combinations of features recited in the claims. Further, it will be appreciated that the various embodiments described for the device are all combinable with the method as defined in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, and vice versa. Brief description of the drawings The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non- limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, withreference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will beused for similar elements, wherein: Fig.1 is a diagrammatic view in perspective of a solar element arrangement; Fig. 2a is a diagrammatic view in perspective of a retaining elementcomprised in the arrangement according to Fig.1; Fig. 2b is a view, similar to Fig. 2a, of another retaining elementcomprised in the arrangement of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a partial view in perspective of the interconnection of tworetaining elements;Fig. 4 is a view according to that of Fig. 3 of the completedinterconnection; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of interconnected retaining elements; andFig. 6 is a side view of the arrangement of Fig. 1, where side platesare omitted. All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the embodiments, wherein other parts may be omitted. Detailed description of the exemplary embodiments Fig. 1 illustrates an arrangement 5 of a number of solar elements 6 in an east-west arrangement. The arrangement 5 is intended for placement on a substrate, such as a roof or any other fixed structure, e. g. posts for ground-mounted solar panels in solar parks. By the term solar element 6 is to be understood any type of panel-shaped element intended to collect solar energy, in the form of heat energy and / or electrical energy. The arrangement 5 comprises a number of retaining elements 1a, 1b thathave been interconnected to form lengths of retaining elements 1a, 1b with a seriesof inclination supports 3a, 3b of different heights. In Fig.1, the lengths of retainingelements 1a, 1b have been placed in parallel, such that each solar element 6 may besupported at its side edges and at its middle portion. In some embodiments, not shown in Fig.1, very wide solar elements 6 may be supported in two or more placesbetween their side edges. In some other embodiments, the lengths of retainingelements 1a, 1b may not be arranged at the side edges of the solar elements 6, but rather at some distance from the side edges. Two lengths of retaining elements 1a,1b, arranged in this manner, may be sufficient for supporting solar elements 6 ofmany commercially available standard widths. The different heights of the inclination supports 3a, 3b have the effect ofkeeping solar elements 6 arranged thereon in a tilted position. As seen to the left inFig. 1, the retaining elements 1a, 1b may be interconnected such that the solarelements resting thereon are tilted in the same direction. To the right in fig.1, the retaining elements 1 have been interconnected in such a manner that the solar elements 6 are tilted in different directions. Side plates 21 are arranged below the solar elements 6 on the retaining elements 1a, 1b, partly for aesthetical reasons, and partly as a protection from wind affecting the solar elements 6 from below. While the general concept of east-west arrangements is known in the art, Fig. 2 shows in greater detail retaining elements 1a, 1b that are comprised in the invention. A first retaining element 1a, which comprises a lower solar element inclinationsupport 3a, is seen in Fig. 2a. The first retaining element 1a is depicted in a positionon its way to be brought into contact with the second retaining element 1b, shown infig.2b, in order to obtain an interconnection between them. Both the first and the second retaining element 1a, 1b comprise base portions 2, which are provided forresting against a substrate, such as a roof, whereon the retaining elements 1a, 1bare to be mounted. The solar element inclination supports 3a and 3b are arranged onthe first and second retaining elements 1a, 1b, respectively. They are each integrallyformed with the base portions 2, and the base portions 2 may preferably extend onboth sides of the respective solar element inclination support 3a, 3b. However, theextent of the base portions 2 on either side of the solar element inclination supports3a, 3b may differ between various embodiments of the disclosure.In the embodiment disclosed in Figs.2a and 2b, there is at least one firstconnector 4a, 4c arranged in the base portions 2 on either side of the solar elementinclination supports 3a, 3b. In some embodiments, there may be further connectors4b, 4d arranged in the base portions 2, some distance from the first connectors andfrom the nearest end edge. It may be noted that all of the connectors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4dare of a more or less identical shape, although their orientation may be reversed. InFigs. 2a and 2b the orientation of connectors 4a and 4b, on one side of the solarelement inclination support 3a, 3b are mutually the same, while the connectors onthe other side of the solar element inclination supports 4c, 4d are oriented in an opposite direction. In some embodiments there may be only one single connector 4a,4b, 4c, 4d on each side of the inclination supports 3a, 3b. Also, there areembodiments wherein there is one single connector 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d at one end of the retaining element 1, and two or more at the other end of the retaining element 1. All of the connectors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d comprise an aperture 7 in a raised section8 of the base portion 2. An aperture is formed in the material of the retaining element1 by cutting, stamping, etc. along at least parts of the contour of the aperture, suchthat the material inside the contour is at least partly separated from the surroundingmaterial of the retaining element 1. Thereafter the material inside the contour isdisplaced, typically depressed, from the level of the surrounding material. In many embodiments, the displaced portion is still partly attached to at least one side of the aperture. The shape of the aperture approximately corresponds to the shape of thedisplaced, or depressed, portion. In some embodiments the shape of the apertureand the shape of the depressed portion may even be identical. In some embodiments, the material cut out from the aperture 7 is still partlyattached to the raised section 8 of the base portion 2 but has been pressed to alower level, relative to the raised portion and forms a depressed portion 9 comprisinga lug 9a. In a position of use of the retaining elements 1a, 1b, the depressed portion9 is positioned at a level closer to the substrate, e, g. the roof on which the solarelements 5 are to be mounted. The connectors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are preferablyarranged such that their apertures 7 are accessible from an upper surface of the base portion 2, in a normal position of use of the retaining elements 1a, 1b. The solar element inclination supports 3a, 3b also comprise solar elementrests 20a, 20b, respectively. The solar element rests 20a, 20b comprise lug-like projections designed to interact with the frame of the solar elements 5 in order to secure the solar elements in their positions on the solar element inclination supports3a, 3b. Between the solar element rests 20a, 20b, there may be one or morefastening openings 22, which may be utilized for fastening arrangements, such as brackets or clips for holding the solar element 6 by interacting with an edge thereof. In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 2a, 2b, and 3, the depressed portion 9comprises a lug 9a, which together with the depressed portion 9 has been cut, at least partly from the material of the raised section 8. The lug 9a of each connector 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is pointing in the coupling direction, i. e. towards the nearest end edge10 of the retaining element 1a, 1b. Since the lug has been cut from the material ofthe retaining element 1a, 1b, the aperture 7 has a forward edge 11 which has a shape which is complementary to that of the lug. On the opposite side from the lug9a, the aperture 7 has a rear edge 12 which is complementary to the opposite side ofthe depressed portion 9, preferably straight. The coupling direction is preferably seen as the direction, in which the retaining elements 1a, 1b are moving towards oneanother on the interconnection of them. Mainly, the retaining elements 1a, 1b arebrought towards one another in a motion along the longitudinal direction of the retaining elements 1a, 1b, that are about to be interconnected. Undeniably, there may also a be a motion component which is approximately normal to the surface of at least one of the retaining elements 1a, 1b, in particular when one of the retaining elements 1a, 1b is pivoted into a connected position. Fig. 3 discloses, in a close-up view, the interconnection of two retainingelements 1a, 1b. The outermost, first connector 4c of the retaining element 1a, to theleft in the figure, is about to be inserted into the mating, second connector 4a, on thesecond retaining element 1b. The lug 9a of the first connector 4c is inserted into theaperture 7 of the second connector 4a in the coupling direction of the first connector 4c. The lug 9a is hereby inserted under the rear edge 12 of the aperture 7 of thesecond connector 4a. The first retaining element 1a may then be pivoted into aposition aligned with the second retaining element. Simultaneously, the depressedportion 9 of the first connector 4c is pivoted into a connected position in the aperture 7 of the second connector 4a. In the connected position, the side edges of the depressed portion 9 of the first connector 4c are blocked from motion in the longitudinal direction of the retaining elements 1a, 1b by the edges 11, 12 of the aperture 7 of the second connector 4a, into which aperture 7 the depressed portion 9 has been pivoted. In order to further stabilize the interconnection of the two retaining elements1a, 1b, at least one, and preferably two, stop flaps 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d are arrangedabreast with each of the connectors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. The stop flaps 13a, 13b, 13c, 13dare not arranged in line with the apertures 7 of the connectors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, but rather in such positions that the distance from the base of the stop flap 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d to the rear edge 12 of the aperture 7 on one retaining element 1a, 1b, approximately corresponds to the distance from the nearest end edge 10 of the otherretaining element 1a, 1b to the depressed portion 9. Hereby, when the end edge 10of the retaining element 1a contacts the stop flaps 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, the retaining element 1a may be in an optimized position for being pivoted into the position where the depressed portion 9 of the first connector 4c easily connects with the aperture 7of the second connector 4a. After the connection is made, the stop flaps 13a, 13b,13c, 13d keep the end edge of the retaining element from moving upwards, and the interconnection will be stable. However, it is still possible to reverse the pivoting motion performed during the interconnection, in order to disconnect the retaining elements 1a, 1b from one another. Fig.4 shows the interconnection when it is completed, and connector 4c in the first retaining element 1a has been fully connected with the mating connector 4a on the second retaining element 1b. Further, third, connectors 4b, 4d are visible on the base portions 2 in Fig.4, but these connectors 4b, 4d are not utilized forinterconnection with other connectors.Fig. 5 discloses a sectional view of an interconnection similar to that of Fig. 4,but with the overlapping reversed. The connectors 4b and 4d are not in use, and hence the respective apertures 7 and the depressed portions 9 are clearly visible. Also, the forward 11 and rear 12 edges of the apertures 7 may be discerned. Looking at the connectors 4a, 4c which have been interconnected, it may be seen that the depressed portion 9 of the first connector 4c is arranged directly on top of the depressed portion 9 of the mating connector 4a. The side edges of the depressed portion 9 of the first connector 4c are close to the forward 11 and rear 12 edges of the aperture 7 of the mating connector 4a, and any motions in thelongitudinal direction of the base portions 2 are blocked by contact between theedges 11, 12 of the aperture and the side edges of the depressed portion 9. The lug9a of the first connector 4c is positioned just beneath the rear edge 12 of the aperture 7 of the mating connector 4a. In a case where the user wants to connect the first connector 4c with the third connector 4b on the second retaining element 1b, the end edge 10 of the firstretaining element 1a is brought into contact with the stop flaps 13b, which arearranged abreast with the third connector 4b, and the first retaining element 1a ispivoted into an interconnection including a connection of the first connector 4c withthe third connector 4b. Due to the increased overlap of the retaining elements 1a, 1b,as compared to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, there may also be an interconnection of connector4d with connector 4a, although this latter connection does not involve the overlappedstop flaps 13a next to the overlapped connector 4a. The end edge 10 interacts solelywith the stop flaps 13b for the pivoting motion during connection. In order to attain anapproximately flat interconnection of the base portions 2 of the retaining elements 1a, 1b, in this connection case also, stop flap openings 14 are provided in the raised sections 8 of the base portions 2. The overlapped stop flaps 13a, which are not inuse for the pivoting motion at the interconnection, may extend through the stop flapopenings 14, to enable a close contact between the overlapping parts of the baseportions 2. In some embodiments, the stop flaps 13a, 13b may be bent from aposition wherein they are flush with the surrounding material of the retaining element1, into a position wherein they are raised up. The bending may be performed with asimple tool such as a screwdriver.Even when the first retaining element 1a has been illustrated as overlappingthe second retaining element 1b in the figs.2a, 2b, 3, 4, and 5, the skilled person easily realises that the connection may just as well take place with a reversed overlap, i. e. the second retaining element 1b overlaps the first retaining element 1a, as shown in Fig 5. Such an arrangement is feasible due to the identical configuration of the connectors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, the stop flaps 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and the stop flap openings 14. As seen in Figs.3, 4, and 5, a number of transversal stiffening ridges 16 are provided in the base portions 2. The stiffening ridges 16 extend between the raised sections 8 and serve to strengthen the base portions 2 from bending in a transversal direction. The stiffening ridges 16 are provided at regular distances from one another, and they are arranged to nest in one another, when the interconnected base portions2 overlap. Further, the stiffening ridges 16 may also be provided with drainage holes17, such that rain and meltwater may be drained from the base portions 2. Further, as also seen in Figs 3, 4, and 5, there are a number of small projections 15 arranged on the raised sections 8 of the base portions 2. The projections 15 are provided for interaction with ballast elements 18, which may be placed on the base portions 2 underneath the solar elements 5, as seen in Fig.6. The purpose of the ballast elements 18 is to counteract any forces from the wind, and thereby prevent the solar elements 5 and the retaining elements 1a, 1b from being lifted from the substrate whereon they are mounted, in case of strong adverse winds. The projections 15 may fit into recesses in the bottom of the ballast elements 18.Also, the projections 15 may be provided with apertures for screws or similaranchoring elements, which may extend from the projections 15 and through the ballast elements. The retaining elements 1a, 1b, may optionally comprise a hook-like anchoring element 19, which may be seen in Figs.2b and 6 on the retaining element 1b, which comprises the higher solar element inclination support 3b. It may indeed be possible to include similar anchoring elements also on the lower solar element inclination supports 3a, if desired. The hook-like anchoring elements 19 may be used for additionally securing the solar elements 5 to the retaining elements 1a, 1b. Theanchoring elements 19 may alternatively, or additionally, be used for holding electriccables, including e.g. bundles of cables, cable trays, or other holders for cables. The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

Claims

Claims1. A retaining element (1a, 1b) for holding at least one solar element (6) on asubstrate, the retaining element (1a, 1b) comprising a base portion (2),configured to rest on the substrate, at least a first solar element inclinationsupport (3a, 3b) projecting away from the base portion (2), and at least a firstconnector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), for connection to a corresponding, matingconnector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of an adjacent retaining element (1a, 1b), whereinsaid first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) comprises an aperture (7) and adepressed portion (9), which is at least partially cut out from the aperture (7),and the depressed portion (9) of the first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) matchingthe contour of the aperture (7), for insertion of the depressed portion (9) in acoupling direction into the aperture (7) of the mating connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d)at interconnection of adjacent retaining elements (1a, 1b).

2. A retaining element (1a, 1b) for holding at least one solar element (6) on asubstrate, the retaining element (1a, 1b) comprising a base portion (2),configured to rest on the substrate, at least a first solar element inclination support (3a, 3b) projecting away from the base portion (2), and a first set ofconnectors (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), including a first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and asecond connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), each for connection to at least onecorresponding, mating connector(4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of an adjacent retaining element (1a, 1b), said first and second connectors (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) beingarranged at a selection of distances from a first transversal edge (10) of theretaining element (1a, 1b), and at least a third opposing connector (4a, 4b, 4c,4d) at a distance from an opposing second transversal edge of the retainingelement (1a, 1b), for providing a choice of positions of the matingconnector(4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) at interconnection in a coupling direction of adjacent retaining elements (1a, 1b).

3. The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at leastthe first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is arranged at the base portion (2) of theretaining element (1a, 1b).

4. The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein theretaining element (1a, 1b) is corrugated with at least one raised section (8)and the first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is arranged in a raised section (8).

5. The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the depressed portion (9) of the first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d)comprises a lug (9a) for insertion in the coupling direction into the aperture (7)of the mating connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and interlocking with the bottom faceof the base portion (2).

6. The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 5, wherein the lug (9a) ineach connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is arranged on that side of the depressed portion (9) proximal to the nearest end of the retaining element (1a, 1b), facingin the coupling direction.

7. The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the depressed portion (9) extends transversally to the couplingdirection.

8. The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein at least one edge of the depressed portion (9) of the first connector(4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is arranged to be blocked from movement in the coupling direction by at least one edge of the aperture (7) of the mating connector (4a,4b, 4c, 4d).

9. The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the depressed portion (9) is joined to the side edges of the aperture (7). 10.The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the depressed portion (9) extends towards the substrate in a normalposition of use of the retaining element (1a, 1b).11.The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein at least one stop flap (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) is arranged on the baseportion (2) abreast with a connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), extending in a directionaway from the substrate, for contact with an end edge (10) of said adjacentretaining element (1a, 1b).The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 11, wherein the distance, inthe longitudinal direction of the retaining element (1a, 1b), between the stopflap (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) and the depressed portion (9) is selected such thatwhen the depressed portion (9) is in register with the aperture (7) of the matingconnector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), an edge of the retaining element (10) is pivotablearound a mutual contact point, of the retaining element (1a, 1b) and the matingelement (1a, 1b), on the stop flap (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d).The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 11 or claim 12, asdependent on claim 2, wherein at least one stop flap opening (14) is arrangedin at least one of the raised sections (8), for receiving the at least one stop flap(13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) of the first connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d)on the adjacentretaining element (1a, 1b), at interconnection with the second connector (4a,4b, 4c, 4d), thereby allowing an overlap of adjacent retaining elements (1a,1b).The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 4, or any claim dependentthereon, wherein the raised sections (8) are provided with projections (15),directed away from the substrate, for retaining of ballast elements (18).The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 4, or any claim dependentthereon, wherein the raised sections (8) extend in the longitudinal direction ofthe retaining element (1a, 1b).The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 4 or any claim dependentthereon, wherein stiffening ridges (16) are arranged transversally to the raisedsections (8), preferably interconnecting the raised sections (8) in pairs.The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to claim 4 or any claim dependentthereon, wherein the base portion (2) comprises drainage holes (17) in theareas between the raised sections (8).The retaining element according (1a, 1b) to any of the previous claims,wherein at least one solar element inclination support (3a, 3b) comprises ahook-shaped anchoring element (19), integrally formed therein, to retain thesolar element (5) in contact with the solar element inclination support (3a, 3b).The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein a second solar element inclination support (3a, 3b) is comprised in theretaining element (1a, 1b) and the first and second solar element inclination supports (3a, 3b) project from the base portion (2) to mutually different heights.The retaining element (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the retaining element (1a, 1b) is formed in sheet metal, and said firstconnector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is formed integrally therein.A method of connecting two retaining elements (1a, 1b) for solar elements (5) on a substrate, comprising positioning of a first retaining element (1a, 1b) onthe substrate, positioning a second retaining element (1a, 1b) at an angle tothe first retaining element (1a, 1b), inserting a portion (9a) of a connector (4a,4b, 4c, 4d) of the second retaining element (1a, 1b) at least partially into anaperture (7) of a connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the first retaining element (1a,1b), and then pivoting the second retaining element (1a, 1b) to a positionwhere the inserted portion (9a) of the connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the secondretaining element (1a, 1b) is fully inserted into the aperture (7) of the connector(4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) on the first retaining element (1a, 1b), and where the secondretaining element (1a, 1b) is fully aligned with the first retaining element (1a,1b).The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of inserting a portion (9a)of the connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) further comprises inserting a lug (9a) of thedepressed portion (9) of the connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the second retainingelement (1a, 1b) into the aperture (7) of the connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) on thefirst retaining element (1a, 1b), and then pivoting the lug (9a) into a positionunder a distal edge (12) of the aperture (7) of the connector (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) onthe first retaining element (1a, 1b), as seen from the nearest edge (10) of thefirst retaining element (1a, 1b).The method according to claim 21 or 22, comprising bringing an end edge ofthe second retaining element (1a, 1b) into contact with a stop flap (13a, 13b,13c, 13d) of the first retaining element (1a, 1b), before pivoting the secondretaining element (1a, 1b) into the position aligned with the first retainingelement (1a, 1b).

Images