Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-09-25
Phan, Tho G (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
Combined
C439S578000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295037
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an antenna for television sets and, more particularly, it relates to an emergency antenna to be used with television sets which are connected by a coaxial cable to a cable television outlet to provide reception from local television stations when signals from the cable television outlet are disrupted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At a variety of locations, primarily apartment buildings, the only operable connection for television sets is to a wall cable television outlet which is provided by the landlord or management of the building. The interconnection thereto is effected by a coaxial cable which extends between the television cable outlet in a wall of the building and the television set. In such cases, in severe adverse weather conditions such as ice storms, signals from the local cable TV company may be disrupted. Unfortunately, at such times, it is particularly important for the people who have such systems to receive information on local weather and road conditions. There are, on the market, a great variety of indoor television antenna such as, for example, those known as “rabbit ears” which can be connected to the television set and, indeed, switching means are available for the operator of the television set to switch from cable television signals, if any are being received, to such an antenna for receiving electromagnetic signals from local TV stations. However, such antenna may not be desired except in times of emergency and the cost of the antenna, per se, or the antenna and the switching means, are more than most people desire to invest to have available for what is essentially an emergency need which seldom occurs. Accordingly, there is a need for an inexpensive and easily installable emergency antenna which can be stored and, when needed, installed without difficulty whereby the owner of the television set will be provided with television broadcasts from local stations with acceptable reception fidelity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention comprises an emergency antenna which is intended for use with television sets that are connected by coaxial cables to the cable connection from a cable television company. Such coaxial cables comprise a central copper conductor which is retained in a centered position by an insulation material which, in turn, is surrounded by a conductor which may be a steel mesh shield or an aluminum foil shield or the like. I have discovered that by connecting the central signal conductor, which is normally connected to the cable from a local television cable company, with the metal shield of the coaxial cable, the shield effectively functions as an antenna for local television stations; it provides a reception fidelity from local television stations in the area which is as good as, if not better than, antennas known as “rabbit ears.”
My invention comprises an insert which can be attached directly to a television set or to a wall connection for the cable TV coaxial cable. Such an insert is relatively small, much less expensive than conventional indoor television antennas and can be conveniently stored for use when needed which is not true of most indoor antennas. By inserting a switch in the connection between the central conductor and the shield, it is possible for the user to switch from cable TV signals to signals from local television stations as desired, whereby the insert can be retained permanently where installed between the cable TV outlet and the television set.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5168280 (1992-12-01), Blaese
patent: 5448254 (1995-09-01), Schneeman et al.
patent: 5523768 (1996-06-01), Hemmie et al.
patent: 5995053 (1999-11-01), Curtis
patent: 6069588 (2000-05-01), O'Neill
Penrose Lucas Albright
Phan Tho G
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