Weatherproof Multipurpose Enclosure With Integrated Flashing
Patent No. US12068592 (titled "Weatherproof Multipurpose Enclosure With Integrated Flashing") was filed by Unirac Inc on May 31, 2022.
What is this patent about?
’592 is related to the field of weatherproof enclosures for mounting accessories on rooftops, particularly enclosures designed to protect electrical or mechanical components and their connections from the elements. The background acknowledges the increasing need to mount such components, like solar panels, and the challenges of routing necessary cables or connectors through the roof while maintaining a watertight seal.
The underlying idea behind ’592 is to create a flashed enclosure that can be installed without requiring the installer to cut or significantly modify existing roof shingles. This is achieved by designing the base of the enclosure with an asymmetrical raised portion , leaving an 'uphill' section of the base exposed that can slide directly under a course of shingles. This eliminates the need to cut shingles to accommodate the entire enclosure, simplifying installation and reducing the risk of leaks.
The claims of ’592 focus on an enclosure assembly comprising a base with a bottom wall and a raised portion defining an interior space, and a cover that joins to the raised portion. A key feature is that the bottom wall includes protruding location markers within the interior space for securing the base to the rooftop or securing a component within the interior space. Critically, the bottom wall *outside* of the interior space does not include any apertures or location markers for securing the base, emphasizing the 'no-cut' installation approach.
In practice, the enclosure is installed by sliding the 'uphill' portion of the base under existing shingles. Fasteners are then applied through the location markers within the raised portion's interior space to secure the base to the roof. A sealant, often applied in a horseshoe pattern, further protects against water intrusion. The cover is then attached to the raised portion, creating a sealed environment for the electrical or mechanical components housed inside.
This design differentiates itself from prior art by eliminating the need to cut shingles, which was a common practice with traditional flashed enclosures. The asymmetrical raised portion and the strategic placement of location markers within the interior space are key to this 'no-cut' installation. Furthermore, features like angled side walls to prevent debris accumulation and the use of lightweight materials contribute to a more robust and easier-to-install solution compared to existing methods.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’592 was filed, electrical systems were at a time when rooftop solar installations were becoming more common, and at a time when installers commonly relied on junction boxes and enclosures to protect electrical connections from the elements. At that time, routing cables from solar panels to the interior of a building often required penetrating the roof, and when hardware or software constraints made ensuring a weatherproof seal around these penetrations non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the claims because the prior art does not teach or fairly suggest, in combination with the other claimed limitations, an enclosure assembly for protecting a component on a rooftop with a specific configuration of a raised portion, bottom wall, cover, protruding location markers, and the absence of apertures outside the interior space. Similarly, the prior art does not teach or fairly suggest a method of installing such an enclosure with the specified steps of positioning the base, mounting it with fasteners through location markers, and sealing the cover. Finally, the prior art does not teach or fairly suggest a system for securing electrical components to a rooftop with a specific configuration of a raised portion, side walls, internal portion, apertures, planar uncovered portion, and cover, including protruding location markers around the periphery of the interior space.
Claims
This patent contains 19 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 8, and 13. The independent claims generally focus on an enclosure assembly, a method of installing the assembly, and a system for securing electrical components, all related to rooftop applications. The dependent claims elaborate on specific features, components, and configurations of the enclosure assembly, installation method, and securing system.
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Date
Description
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US12068592
- Application Number
- US17828943
- Filing Date
- May 31, 2022
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jul 9, 2038
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents