Solar energy collector unit

Claim 2

A solar energy collector unit comprising a top portion, a plurality of side portions and a bottom portion, a single cavity defined by said top, side and bottom portions said cavity adapted for the entrapment of said solar energy and for the passage therethrough of air to be heated by any said entraped solar energy in said cavity, one of said side portions defining an output port through which said air to be heated may pass out of said entrapment cavity in contact with said defined output port, and at least one other of said side portions defining an input port through which said air may pass into said entrapment cavity in contact with said defined input port, said input port having a shape adapted for mating relationship with an output port of a next adjacent one of said solar collector units, and wherein a third side portion of said solar collector unit defines a groove along an outside surface thereof, said groove being parallel to said top and bottom portions, and wherein a fourth side portion of said solar collector unit defines a lip along an outside surface thereof, said lip being parallel to said top and bottom portions and adapted for mating relationship with a groove of a next adjacent one of said solar collector units.

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said input port shape is a lip extending outward from said side and wherein said output port is an opening shaped to receive said input port lip of said next adjacent one of said solar collector units.

Claim 4

A solar energy collector system comprising a plurality of individual solar energy collector units, arranged into columns, each said unit being self-contained for the entrapment of solar energy and each said unit defining a cavity through which air to be heated by said trapped solar energy can be moved, each unit further comprising interconnecting means for connecting said cavities of all said units in a column of said units, said interconnecting means including an input port and an output port integral with said unit where said input port of one said unit is adapted for direct mating relationship with said output port of a next adjacent one of said units in said column of units and where air moving through said ports is in direct contact with said integral input and output ports, means for interlocking each unit of a column with a unit in a next adjacent column in a manner such that said units of each adjacent column abut each other directly, wherein said input port is a lip extending outward from said unit and wherein said output port is an opening in said unit shaped to accept said lip, and wherein said interlocking means includes a groove formed in one exterior side of said unit and a lip formed in an opposite side of said unit, said lip and said groove arranged for mating relationship with the respective groove and lip of adjacent ones of said units.

Claim 5

A solar energy collector system comprising a plurality of individual solar energy collector units, arranged into columns, each said unit being self-contained for the entrapment of solar energy and each said unit defining a cavity through which air to be heated by said trapped solar energy can be moved, each unit further comprising interconnecting means for connecting said cavities of all said units in a column of said units, said interconnecting means including an input port and an output port integral with said unit where said input port of one said unit is adapted for direct mating relationship with said output port of a next adjacent one of said units in said column of units and where air moving through said ports is in direct contact with said integral input and output ports, means for interlocking each unit of a column with a unit in a next adjacent column in a manner such that said units of each adjacent column abut each other directly, wherein said input port is a lip extending outward from said unit and wherein said output port is an opening in said unit shaped to accept said lip, and wherein said interlocking means includes a groove formed in one exterior side of said unit and a lip formed in an opposite side of said unit, said lip and said groove arranged for mating relationship with the respective groove and lip of adjacent ones of said units.

Claim 6

The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein each said solar energy collector unit cavity is defined by a unitary structure having both structural rigidity and insulating properties.

Claim 7

The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein said unitary structure is foamed polyurethane.

Claim 8

A preformed solar energy collector unit arranged with a cavity for heating air, said cavity comprising an input port integral with said cavity and formed in a side portion thereof, an output port integral with said cavity and formed in a side portion thereof, said input port having a structure adopted for connection to said output port of another said preformed solar energy collector unit, said structure serving to pass said heated air from one solar collector unit to a mated collector unit and serving to mechanically maintain said mated collector units in a fixed relationship with respect to each other and wherein said cavity said input port and said output port are constructed from an insulating material, wherein said insulating material is preformed into a unitary structure defining said cavity and wherein said input and output ports define areas through which said passing air moves in contact with said formed input and output ports, said area being larger than could be formed by a circle through a side wall of said cavity, said collector unit having a top and a bottom portion, and wherein a third side portion of said solar collector unit defines a groove along an outside surface thereof, said groove being parallel to said top and bottom portions, and wherein a fourth side portion of said solar collector unit defines a lip along an outside surface thereof, said lip being parallel to said top and bottom portions and adapted for mating relationship with a groove of a next adjacent one of said solar collector units.

Claim 9

A preformed solar energy collector unit arranged with a cavity for heating air, said cavity comprising an input port integral with said cavity and formed in a side portion thereof, an output port integral with said cavity and formed in a side portion thereof, said input port having a structure adopted for connection to said output port of another said preformed solar energy collector unit, said structure serving to pass said heated air from one solar collector unit to a mated collector unit and serving to mechanically maintain said mated collector units in a fixed relationship with respect to each other and wherein said cavity said input port and said output port are constructed from an insulating material, wherein said insulating material is preformed into a unitary structure defining said cavity and wherein said input and output ports define areas through which said passing air moves in contact with said formed input and output ports, said area being larger than could be formed by a circle through a side wall of said cavity, said collector unit having a top and a bottom portion, and wherein a third side portion of said solar collector unit defines a groove along an outside surface thereof, said groove being parallel to said top and bottom portions, and wherein a fourth side portion of said solar collector unit defines a lip along an outside surface thereof, said lip being parallel to said top and bottom portions and adapted for mating relationship with a groove of a next adjacent one of said solar collector units.