(19)Fresh off Patent
(45) Week of Oct 5, 2026 No. 5 3,852 lapsed 197 picks
Energy & batteries · lapsed Sep 2, 2026

Flat-roof mount for solar modules that sticks down with bitumen pads

A preassembled, two-rail support that holds one or more photovoltaic or thermal solar modules above a flat roof and fastens to the roof with broad, plane-parallel support sections that can be covered by adhesive panels (preferably bitumen) rather than drilled anchors or heavy ballast. Installers place the preassembled unit, weld or glue the bitumen panels to the roof membrane, and connect adjacent units by built-in connector features to form an array. The device targets rooftop installers and commercial PV contractors working on low-slope or flat membrane roofs.

Sheet 1 of the patent drawingsSheet 2 of the patent drawingsSheet 3 of the patent drawings

(57) What the patent covered

The main independent claim covered a preassembled holding and fastening device composed of two parallel carrier elements separated by vertical stabilizing members, each carrier having a raised receiving surface lined with elastomeric vibration-damping material, at least one flat support section for plane-parallel support on the roof, and connector means on a carrier to fasten to another like unit; the method claim required placing the preassembled device on the roof and bonding its support section (for example with a bitumen adhesive panel) to the roof membrane without penetrating it.

The distinctive part: Using a flat, plane-parallel support section covered by an adhesive/weldable bitumen panel as the primary fastening method and integrating connector features to couple preassembled two-rail supports into arrays.

Novelty 3/5. At filing, rack-and-ballast systems, roof-penetrating anchors and side-wall mountings were common; the patent combined a bonded wide support pad and preassembled two-rail carriers with vibration-damping liners, a useful improvement rather than a wholly new product class.

Making it

Likely extruded or roll-formed aluminum rails and stamped/machined steel connectors, elastomeric liners die-cut and bonded, adhesive bitumen panels factory-applied to support sections, final assembly by bolting or riveting the vertical stabilizers to rails.

Materials: Extruded or roll-formed aluminum for carrier rails and vertical stabilizers, Elastomeric rubber or EPDM for vibration-damping linings, Bitumen adhesive panels (roofing membrane material), Stamped or molded galvanized steel brackets (possible)

Manufacturability 4/5. Parts are typical building-product components (extrusions, stamped fittings, cut elastomer pads) requiring moderate tooling and manual assembly; bitumen panels are standard roofing material so supply is straightforward.

Is anyone buying?

We haven't run a demand check on this one yet. Shoppers would likely search for flat roof solar mount adhesive bitumen, non-penetrating PV roof mount, two-rail solar panel bracket bonded; the links on the right open those searches.

Who buys it: commercial PV installers and roofing contractors for flat-membrane roofs

Before you make it

We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.

Practical risks include roof-warranty or membrane compatibility with bonding/welding, wind/uplift certification requirements, and crowded market of non-penetrating mounts; patent has lapsed so no legal advice implied.

Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.

Claim 1, as granted

1. A method of mounting a holding and fastening device for at least one solar module in a predetermined alignment on a roof surface, the holding and fastening device having two carrier elements that are arranged parallel at a predetermined distance from each other, each of the two carrier elements having a receiving surface for receiving the solar module at a distance above a roof surface, the receiving surface of one of the two carrier elements being arranged at a different distance from the roof surface than the receiving surface of the other carrier element, both receiving surfaces having a lining of elastomeric vibration-damping material; at least two vertical stabilizing elements connecting the carrier elements at the predetermined distance from each other; and fastening means for fastening to the roof surface, the fastening means having at least one flat support section with a support surface for a plane-parallel support on the roof surface, wherein at least one of the carrier elements is provided with connector means for fastening to at least one further carrier element of a further holding and fastening device, the method comprising the steps of: preassembling the two carrier elements and the at least two vertical stabilizing elements with one another to form the holding and fastening device in absence of the solar module to form a preassembled holding and fastening device; placing the preassembled holding and fastening device on the roof surface with the planar support section in a plane-parallel manner; placing a fastening layer over the support section, the fastening layer extending beyond the support section; and creating an adhesive connection between the fastening layer and the roof surface in such a way that the support section of the preassembled holding and fastening device is pressed onto the roof surface and secured thereto by the fastening layer in absence of the solar module while the roof surface remains intact.