US 12,021,360 C1 (13,265th)
Junction box with lid retention system
Benjamin Wade, Holladay, UT (US); and Lee Hatley, Arvada, CO (US)
Filed by Easy Solar Products, Inc., Holladay, UT (US)
Assigned to EASY SOLAR PRODUCTS, INC., Holladay, UT (US)
Reexamination Request No. 90/019,674, Sep. 23, 2024.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 12,021,360, issued Jun. 25, 2024, Appl. No. 18/525,442, Nov. 30, 2023.
Application 90/019,674 is a continuation of application No. 18/212,669, filed on Jun. 21, 2023, granted, now 12,438,350.
Application 18/212,669 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/966,493, filed on Oct. 14, 2022, granted, now 11,695,261.
Application 17/966,493 is a continuation of application No. 16/709,682, filed on Dec. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,515,693.
Application 16/709,682 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/259,887, filed on Jan. 28, 2019, granted, now 10,505,354.
Application 16/259,887 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/963,707, filed on Apr. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,230,227.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate issued on May 26, 2026.
Int. Cl. H02G 3/08 (2006.01); H02G 3/10 (2006.01); H02G 3/14 (2006.01); H02G 3/22 (2006.01)
CPC H02G 3/081 (2013.01) [H02G 3/088 (2013.01); H02G 3/10 (2013.01); H02G 3/14 (2013.01); H02G 3/22 (2013.01)]
OG exemplary drawing
AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:
Claims 10-11 and 15-17 are cancelled.
Claims 1, 8, 14 and 18 are determined to be patentable as amended.
Claims 2-7, 9 and 12-13, dependent on an amended claim, are determined to be patentable.
1. A junction box comprising:
a housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising an attachment portion, the bottom portion comprising a first portion on an exterior side of the housing and a second portion opposite the first portion, the first portion of the bottom portion configured to be mounted to a roof of a structure, the second portion comprising a groove defining an area for creating a hole in the bottom portion
[ a plurality of anchor openings comprising ] a first anchor opening in the bottom [ portion ] adjacent to a first side of the area ; [ and ] a second anchor opening in the bottom [ portion ] adjacent to a second side of the area, wherein the housing is compressed against the roof structure in response to a first anchor being installed in the first anchor opening and/or [ and ] a second anchor being installed in the second opening;
a lid configured to be mounted on the attachment portion of the housing; and
a retention system configured to retain the lid in proximity to the to the housing [ ; and
a sealant disposed on the first portion of the bottom portion, the sealant surrounding at least an upper portion and side portions of a central area of the first portion of the bottom portion and the plurality of anchor openings, the central area of the first portion corresponding to the area for creating the hole, wherein the upper portion is oriented toward an upper side of the bottom portion with respect to a slope of the roof;
wherein securing an anchor through each of the plurality of anchor openings contributes to securing the housing to the roof and applies a force directed toward the roof that compresses a portion of the sealant adjacent to and/or surrounding the anchor opening] .
8. A junction box comprising:
a housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising an attachment portion, the bottom portion comprising a first portion on an exterior side of the housing and a second portion opposite the first portion, the first portion of the bottom portion configured to be mounted to a roof of a structure;
a lid configured to be mounted on the attachment portion of the housing; and
a retention system configured to retain the lid in proximity to the to the housing,
[ a plurality of anchor openings in the bottom portion, each anchor opening configured for an anchor, and
a sealant disposed on the first portion of the bottom portion, the sealant surrounding at least an upper portion and side portions of a central area of the first portion of the bottom portion and the plurality of anchor openings, the central area of the first portion corresponding to a central area of the second portion,
wherein the upper portion is oriented toward an upper side of the bottom portion with respect to a slope of the roof;
wherein securing an anchor through an anchor opening of the plurality of anchor openings contributes to securing the housing to the roof and applies a force directed toward the roof that compresses a portion of the sealant adjacent to and/or surrounding the anchor opening;]
wherein the second portion of the bottom portion comprises a drill zone marking on the second portion of the bottom portion along a perimeter of the central area of the second portion and/or within the central area, the drill zone configured for penetrations through the bottom portion and the roof into the structure.
14. A junction box comprising:
a housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising an attachment portion, the bottom portion comprising a first portion on an exterior side of the housing and a second portion opposite the first portion, the first portion of the bottom portion configured to be mounted to a roof of a structure;
a lid configured to be mounted on the attachment portion of the housing;
a flashing attached to the bottom portion of the housing and extending away from the bottom portion in a same plane as the bottom portion; and
a retention system configured to retain the lid in proximity to the to the housing [ ;
a plurality of anchor openings in the bottom portion, each anchor opening configured for an anchor, and
a sealant disposed on the first portion of the bottom portion, the sealant surrounding at least an upper portion and side portions of a central area of the first portion of the bottom portion and the plurality of anchor openings, the central area of the first portion corresponding to a central area of the second portion, wherein the upper portion is oriented toward an upper side of the bottom portion with respect to a slope of the roof; and
wherein securing an anchor through an anchor opening of the plurality of anchor openings contributes to securing the housing to the roof and applies a force directed toward the roof that compresses a portion of the sealant adjacent to and/or surrounding the anchor opening] .
18. The junction box of claim 17 [ claim 1] , further comprising a compression ring positioned along the plurality of anchor openings, the compression ring configured to stiffen the bottom portion of the housing, wherein each anchor positioned through the plurality of anchor openings and secured to the roof provides a force between the plurality of anchor openings sufficient to compress the sealant to create a seal to the roof continuously along the compression ring.