US Patent 10432134 Support structure for solar module

A solar module (2) comprising; (a) an active portion (4) and (b) a support portion (6), wherein the support portion (8) includes a plurality of reinforcement ribs (20) in a series of interconnected or partially interconnected patterns. The solar module (2) may include an intermediate portion (6C) acting as a structural interface between the active portion (4) and the support portion (6). The intermediate portion (6C) may include one or more gate locations (10, 12). The plurality of reinforcement ribs (20) may extend at an angle along the support portion (6) so that an effective modulus of the support portion (6) along a width direction is substantially equal to an effective modulus of the support portion (6) along a length direction.