Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With support for antenna – reflector or director
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-15
2001-02-27
Phan, Tho (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With support for antenna, reflector or director
C343S878000, C343S890000, C343S892000, C248S237000, C052S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195066
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to satellite dishes, and more specifically, the invention relates to a self supporting cantilever support arm which gets the satellite dish above the roof line without attaching the dish directly to the roof, fascia, or soffit.
2. Background of the Invention
In an emerging technology, which is known as Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), small, dish-shaped antennas are used to receive television signals, which are broadcast by satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
Various mounts for mounting small, dish-shaped antennas or other antennas on horizontal surfaces or on sloped roofs are exemplified in prior art patents including U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,502 to Hovland et al which discloses a dish antenna mounting structure including an upright mast for supporting the dish antenna. The mast has an upper end for attachment to the dish and a lower end for anchoring to a rigid type structure. The structure also has a bent strut having a lower end for anchoring to a rigid-type structure and an upper end for attachment to the mast.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,990 to Robinson discloses a portable satellite dish antenna system comprising a dish-shaped member having an inner surface that includes a central flat area and a plurality of annular parabolically-shaped segments concentric with the central circular flat area for providing a plurality of focal points over the inner surface of the dish-shaped member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,680 to Beatty discloses a satellite dish mounting structure having an elevated bridge portion for supporting a mounting foot of the satellite dish. The bridge portion is integrally connected to and supported by two narrow leg positions which in turn are integrally connected to and supported by two narrow foot portions. The bridge portion is elevated from two top portions by the leg portions in order to clear the uneven surface of the roof or wall of the house.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,567 to Pugh, Jr. et al discloses an antenna mounting bracket that reinforces the eaves of a building roof. The bracket has a telescoping support having a rigid tubular form. The telescoping support has a back plate on one end that is secured to the sidewall of the building adjacent to the eave of the building. The telescoping support is braced by a brace.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,724 to Duncan discloses a primary strut, which is tubular, and has a straight, upper portion, a straight intermediate portion, and a straight, lower portion. The upper portion is bent at a juncture between the upper and intermediate portions and at a lower juncture between the intermediate and lower portions.
It is important that a satellite dish, whatever the size, have an unobstructed view of the sky in the direction of the location of a broadcasting satellite. To achieve this unobstructed southern exposure, the manufacturer's mounting recommendations for these small satellite dish systems are limited to three choices: strapped to a chimney; mounted on top of a pitched roof; or positioned adjacent to the southern wall of a building. Another method of mounting the satellite dish is mounting the dish to the eave of the building. Unfortunately, a problem arises due to the inherent structural weakness of a typical household eave. Even the manufacturer's of the small dish antenna specifically advise users to avoid mounting on the eave of a house because of the eave's lack of rigidity.
A need has arisen, to which this invention is addressed, for an antenna-mounting structure that can be readily adapted for mounting an antenna, such as a small, dish-shaped antenna, to a vertical wall.
The instant invention is designed to overcome the problems and difficulties with prior art dish antenna mountings which are obviated by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention, is a self supporting cantilever support arm which gets the satellite dish above the roof line without attaching the dish directly to the roof, fascia, or soffit, thus eliminating pathways for water penetration into the roof system. The arm consists of a square receiver tube having a wall mount plate affixed to one end, three screw nuts mounted on one side of the arm, two for holding set screws and the third for mounting a ground screw. The locations of the holes in the foot plate make it possible to mount the wall mount plate on all types of structure walls such as concrete block, frame with various veneers, etc. At the wall mount plate end of the receiver tube, a bolt is provided to attach a ground wire for the dish.
A telescope tube, having a dish assembly foot plate, is fit into the receiver tube and the required length is set. The dish assembly foot plate has slotted holes to accommodate all major brands of satellite dishes. At the front bottom of the telescope tube, a hole is provided for routing the dish hookup co-axial cable through the arm assembly.
With the mounting of the instant invention, a greater versatility in choosing dish mounting locations is provided. The arm adjusts to an overhang with or without a gutter. The arm is made of heavy gauge steel with all stainless hardware and is completely assembled ready for installation. It is universal and will accept all major brands of satellite dishes and mounts to solid concrete, concrete block, brick, stone or framed wall with suitable veneer.
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Hood Eugene L.
Pegues, Jr. Thomas C.
Lukasik Frank A.
Phan Tho
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