The present invention relates generally to anti-theft apparatus for use with photovoltaic panels.
The following patent publications are believed to represent the current state of the art:
U.S. Published Patent Applications 2010/0206018 and 2010/0141424.
The present invention seeks to provide improved anti-theft apparatus for use with photovoltaic panels.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention anti-theft apparatus for protecting solar electricity generating panels from theft including at least a first lockable element configured for engagement with a first solar electricity generating panel, at least a second lockable element configured for engagement with a second solar electricity generating panel, at least one locking element for securing the at least first and the at least second lockable elements together in a locking arrangement whereby the first and second solar electricity generating panels are at least locked together, and a top securing element arranged for non-removable engagement with the locking element, the top securing element being operative to resist disengagement of the first and the second solar electricity generating panels from the locking element.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is also configured to be securable to a support upon which the first and the second solar electricity generating panels are mounted. Preferably, each of the at least first and the at least second lockable elements are configured for engagement with a protective cable.
There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a theft-protected array of solar electricity generating panels, the theft-protected array including a multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels mounted on a support structure, and a locking assembly for locking adjacent ones of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels to each other, but not locking each of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels to all of the panels adjacent thereto in the array, the locking assembly being configured to be securable to the support structure and being operative to prevent lateral movement of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels relative to the support structure.
Preferably, the locking assembly includes at least a first lockable element configured for engagement with a first solar electricity generating panel of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels, at least a second lockable element configured for engagement with a second solar electricity generating panel of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels, and at least one locking element for securing the at least first and the at least second lockable elements together in a locking arrangement whereby the first and second solar electricity generating panels are at least locked together.
Preferably, the theft-protected array of solar electricity generating panels also includes a tamper responsive protective cable extending through the locking assembly, whereby tampering with the locking assembly provides an alarm indication.
There is further provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention a theft-protected array of solar electricity generating panels, the theft-protected array including a multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels mounted on a support structure, a locking assembly for locking adjacent ones of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels to each other, the locking assembly being configured to be securable to the support structure and also being operative to prevent lateral movement of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels respective the support structure, and a tamper responsive protective cable extending through the locking assembly, whereby tampering with the locking assembly provides an alarm indication.
Preferably, the locking assembly includes at least a first lockable element configured for engagement with a first solar electricity generating panel of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels, at least a second lockable element configured for engagement with a second solar electricity generating panel of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels, and at least one locking element for securing the at least first and the at least second lockable elements together in a locking arrangement whereby the first and second solar electricity generating panels are at least locked together.
There is yet further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention anti-theft apparatus for protecting solar electricity generating panels from theft including a first lockable element configured for engagement with a first solar electricity generating panel a second lockable element configured for engagement with a second solar electricity generating panel a spacer element, and a top securing element arranged for non-removable engagement with the spacer element, the top securing element being operative to resist disengagement of the first and the second solar electricity generating panels from the spacer element, the first and second lockable elements and the spacer element being lockable together in a locking arrangement whereby the first and second solar electricity generating panels are prevented by the spacer element from being brought closer together to each other.
Preferably, the apparatus is also configured to be securable to a support upon which the first and the second solar electricity generating panels are mounted. Preferably, the apparatus is configured for engagement with a protective cable.
There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a theft-protected array of solar electricity generating panels, the theft-protected array including a multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels mounted in a mutually spaced arrangement in a plane on a support structure, and a locking assembly for locking adjacent ones of the multiplicity of solar electricity generating panels to each other, the locking assembly being configured to be securable to the support structure, the locking assembly including a spacer element operative to prevent the first and second solar electricity generating panels from being brought closer together to each other than in the mutually spaced arrangement in the plane, and engagement elements operative to prevent lateral movement of the first and second solar electricity generating panels relative to the support structure.
Preferably, the theft-protected array of solar electricity generating panels also includes a tamper responsive protective cable extending through the locking assembly, whereby tampering with the locking assembly provides an alarm indication.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Reference is now made to
As seen in
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a top securing element 114 is arranged for non-removable engagement with intermediate lockable element 106, thereby to resist disengagement of the first and second solar electricity generating panels from the intermediate lockable element 106 by lifting them in a direction 116, perpendicular to axis 110.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention first and second engagement elements 118 are provided for tight engagement with the first and second solar electricity generating panels when threaded rod 108, on which they are mounted is tightly engaged by nut 112.
A pair of hardened pins 120 are preferably provided for inserting into each of first lockable element 102 and second lockable element 104.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Upper, shorter leg 202 preferably is formed with three side-by-side recesses 210, 212 and 214, preferably having generally square cross-sections. Lower, longer leg 204 preferably is formed with three side-by-side throughgoing bores 220, 222 and 224, preferably having generally round cross-sections. Bore 222 is preferably formed with a broadened recess 226, at one end thereof. Recess 226 communicates with slot 206 preferably by means of an intermediate slit 228.
A pair of recesses 230 extend partially through joining portion 208 from a top surface 234 thereof. Hardened pins 120 (
Shallow pin sockets 236 and 238 extend through lower, longer leg 204 from an end surface 240 thereof.
Reference is now made to
Preferably, element 300 is integrally formed from a suitable material, typically a plastic such as Nylon 66. In the sense shown in
Rectangular bore 306 preferably includes two gear racks 312 integrally formed on opposite walls of bore 306, each of gear racks 312 comprising an array of saw tooth-like elements 314, and is arranged for receiving top securing element 114 (
Element 300 also includes a lower portion 320, formed with three side-by-side throughgoing bores 322, 324 and 326, preferably having generally round cross-sections. Alignment pins 332 and 334 extend outwardly from lower portion 320 at side 335 of element 300 and alignment pins 336 and 338 extend outwardly from lower portion 320 at side 339 of element 300.
A bore 340 extends through most of lower portion 320, generally perpendicularly to and intersecting bores 322, 324 and 326 from a edge 342 of element 300 and terminates in a reduced size aperture 344 at an opposite facing edge 346 of element 300. Bore 340 also perpendicularly intersects bore 306.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Reference is now made to
A recess 520 integrally formed in element 500 preferably extends from a bottom end 522 of side 512 upwards alongside gear rack 508, along a generally chord-like path over an upper surface of dome-like portion 502 and downwards to a bottom end 524 of side 510 alongside gear rack 506 (not shown).
Reference is now made to
Turning to
Elements 102 and 104 are aligned in mutually facing, spaced arrangement such that their upper, shorter legs 202 are arranged to be partially inserted between strips 614 and 616 of respective rims 608 of adjacent solar electricity generating panels 602. Slots 206 of respective elements 102 and 104 are arranged to receive respective strips 616 of adjacent solar electricity generating panels 602. Threaded rod 108 is shown extended through bore 410 of engagement element 118 and through bore 222 of element 102.
It is appreciated that hardened pins 120 (
Turning now to
It is a particular feature of the present invention that pressure applied to side portions 404 by screw end 109 and nut 122 is transferred to upwardly curving serrated edges 408 of upper portions 402 thereby causing serrated edges 408 to bite into strips 616 and retain them, and thereby preventing lateral movement of elements 102 and 104 relative to strips 616.
Access to nut 112 and to screw end 109 is preferably blocked by plugs of epoxy, indicated by reference numeral 622. Rod 108 blocks access to screw 620 in bore 340.
As further shown in
Cable 630 is disposed within recess 520 of element 114 (
As seen further in
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IL2011/000278 | Mar 2011 | IL | national |
Reference is hereby made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/360,613, filed Jul. 1, 2010 and entitled “SECURITY SYSTEM FOR SOLAR PANELS”, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/423,755, filed Dec. 16, 2010 and entitled “ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FOR SOLAR PANELS”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which are hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a)(4) and (5)(i). Reference is also made to PCT Patent Application PCT/IL2011/000278, filed Mar. 27, 2011 and entitled “ANTI-THEFT APPARATUS FOR SOLAR PANELS”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a)(1) and (2)(i).
Number | Date | Country | |
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61360613 | Jul 2010 | US | |
61423755 | Dec 2010 | US |