Abstract:
An antenna support structure has the outward appearance of a palm tree. The antenna support structure has a vertical support pole with an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion. The lower portion is of a color and texture to resemble the trunk of a palm tree. Disposed outwardly from the intermediate portion is a plurality of antenna receptor members appropriately configured to receive desired electromagnetic signal waves. At the top of the support pole is a plurality of green members having the appearance of new palm fronds. Below the green members are a plurality of drooping members disposed downwardly about the intermediate portion of the support pole and covering the antenna receptor members. The drooping members have colors and textures to resemble a palm tree skirt.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is related to, and claims priority from, provisional patent application Serial No. 60/265,021, filed Jan. 31, 2001. The entirety of that application is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to antenna support structures and, more particularly, to antenna support structures intended to blend in with their surroundings.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Antenna support structures are an increasingly common site in both rural and urban neighborhoods. To many, however, antenna support structures are unsightly and significantly detract from the appearance of the landscape.  
           [0004]    Attempts have been made to minimize the problem by supporting a multiple of different antenna receptor members on a single support structure (so as to support multiple carriers and thereby minimize the number of support structures cluttering up the landscape). Such attempts at “co-location,” however, have not addressed the fundamental problem regarding the perceived ugliness of the support structures themselves.  
           [0005]    Attempts have been made to “disguise” antenna support structures as ordinary trees. However, such previous attempts have been largely unsuccessful. In most cases, the resulting appearance of the antenna support structure is unduly artificial and is, therefore, even more unsightly than an ordinary (undisguised) antenna support structure. In those limited cases where tree disguises provide a relatively authentic tree appearance, the structure is unduly complicated, expensive to build and expensive and awkward to maintain.  
           [0006]    Also, such prior art attempts to “disguise” antenna support structures have not addressed the problem of how to provide such antenna support structures with multiple antenna receptor types, so as to allow the antenna support structure to support multiple carriers.  
           [0007]    In my presently pending application Ser. No. 09/620,921, I proposed a design for a unique antenna support structure wherein the antenna has the appearance of a palm tree with the antenna receptor members disposed within a cover which simulates a palm tree skirt. The present application discloses new variations on that design.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of an antenna support structure having features of the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a top portion useable in the support structure of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a base cover useable in the support structure illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a isometric view of a drooping member useable in the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the drooping member illustrated in FIG. 4, showing the strip folded in half;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of several drooping members of the type illustrated in FIG. 4, showing how such drooping members are hung on the netting of the support lattice of the support structure illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a section of a second support structure having features of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a third support structure having features of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the support structure illustrated in FIG. 8;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a fourth support structure having features of the invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the support structure illustrated in FIG. 10;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 is a side view of a fifth antenna support structure having features of the invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a top portion useable in the support structure of FIG. 12;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a base cover useable in the support structure illustrated in FIG. 12;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a portion of the support structure illustrated in FIG. 12 showing how the drooping members are disposed through holes in the cylinder portion of the support structure;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 16 is a side view of a sixth antenna support structure having features of the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 17 is a side view of the support structure of FIG. 16, shown without the skirt portion;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a top portion of the support structure illustrated in FIG. 16;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 19 is an isometric detail view of the top portion illustrated in FIG. 18;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 20 is a plan view of the top portion of the support structure illustrated in FIG. 18;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 21 is a detailed side view of a portion of the top portion illustrated in FIG. 18;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 22 is a detailed side view of a portion of the top portion illustrated in FIG. 18;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 23 consists of four detailed views of simulated palm fronds useable in the invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 24 is an inner portion of a base cover useable in the support structure illustrated in FIG. 16;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 25 is an outside portion of a base cover useable in the support structure illustrated in FIG. 16;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 26 is a side view of a support member useable in the support structure illustrated in FIG. 16;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic side view of the two moieties of the support member illustrated in FIG. 26;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic view of the fully assembled support member illustrated in FIG. 27;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 29 is an exploded side view of the support member illustrated in FIG. 26;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 30 consists of four detailed views of various portions of the support member illustrated in FIG. 26;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 31 consists of three cross-sectional views of the support structure illustrated in FIG. 17;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 32 is a detailed view of a support lattice useable in the invention; and  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 33 is a second detailed view of a support lattice useable in the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0042]    The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.  
         [0043]    As noted above, I presently have a pending application Ser. No. 09/620,921, the contents of which are incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference. FIGS.  1 - 6  illustrate a portion of an antenna support structure  10  having features similar to that which is disclosed and claimed in my presently-pending application, except that the drooping members  12  are now folded over horizontal portions  14  of the support lattice (“netting”)  16  as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The drooping members  12  can be retained on the support lattice  16  by adhesives or by any appropriate mechanical fasteners.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 7 illustrates a somewhat different embodiment. In this embodiment, a tube  18  is disposed inside the support lattice  16  and outside of the antenna receptor members  20 . The tube  18  is made from a plastic or other material which is non-reflective of radio waves. In this embodiment, access to the antenna receptor members  20  must be from below the support lattice  16 . This embodiment preserves the round configuration of the simulated palm tree skirt at all times, even in windy conditions. The tube  18  also prevents the support lattice  16  and the drooping members  12  from contacting the antenna receptor members  20 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment similar to that which is illustrated in FIG. 7, except that an access door  22  has been provided in the tube  18  to provide convenient access to an antenna receptor member  20 . FIG. 9 is a detailed view of this embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 showing how the access door (“inspection door”)  22  provides access through the support lattice  16  and through the tube  18  to the interior of the support lattice  16 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a slightly different embodiment. In this embodiment, the access door  22  is hinged across the top of the opening, rather than along the side of the opening. This embodiment has the additional advantage of minimizing the chance that the access door  22  will be blown open in a strong wind.  
         [0047]    FIGS.  12 - 15  illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the support lattice  16  is replaced with a perforated cylinder  24  made from a material which is non-reflective to radio waves. The drooping members  12  are supported by the perforated cylinder  24  by being clipped or otherwise attached within the perforations  26  in the cylinder  24 .  
         [0048]    FIGS.  16 - 33  illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 16 illustrates this embodiment with the support lattice  16  in place. FIG. 17 illustrates this embodiment with the support lattice  16  removed, and with typical specifications listed.  
         [0049]    FIGS.  18 - 22  illustrate the top portion  28  of the support structure  10  into which can be disposed green members  30  which typically are simulated green palm fronds. The top portion  28  can be a welded steel structure which is mechanically held in place atop the support pole (“monopole shaft”)  32  with what can be stainless steel pins. In a typical embodiment, the top portion  28  is made from a one quarter inch thick hot roll steel material which has been galvanized with a green powder coat. The uppermost portion of the support lattice  16  can be mechanically anchored between the top portion  28  and the support pole  32 . The green members  30  can be held in place by two stainless steel pins opposed to each other at 90°. Typically, the stainless steel pins are about one inch in diameter. In a typical embodiment, the green members  30  are disposed within the top portion  28  at a 15′ offset for each column of green members  30 . This replicates the natural placement found on a Washingtonia Filifera.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 23 illustrates four views of a typical green member  30  useable in the invention. Each of these green members  30  has the appearance of a palm frond. The frond can be made of materials that simulate natural movement of palm fronds in dynamic wind conditions. Such materials may include a polyurethane shaft to provide the linear and rotational flex found in natural palm fronds. Polyurethane also provides a “memory” ensuring that the shaft returns to its original shape after periods of great flexing. The fan portion of the green member  30  can be composed of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, such as BASF&#39;s Loran S. Such materials ensure long-term weatherability for both structural integrity and color fastness.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate components of a typical base cover  34  useable in the invention. This base cover  34  comprises an inner member  36  made from a hinged pair of carbon steel members, such as members made from ⅛ inch hot rolled carbon steel. An outside member  38  is attached to the inner member  36 . The outside member  38  is designed to simulate the base of a palm tree. In a typical embodiment, the outside member  38  can be made from a polyurethane (U.V. inhibited).  
         [0052]    FIGS.  26 - 30  illustrate a support member  40  useable in this embodiment. The support member  40  is made from a pair of opposed fiberglass rings  42  which are assembled to one another using fiberglass bolts. The support member  40  is held in place on the support pole  32  by opposed sets of brackets  44 . These support members  40  are non-R.F. reflective.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 32 and 33 illustrate how the support lattice  16  is attached to the support member  40 . As can be seen in the drawings, individual sections of support lattice  16  are supported at both the top and bottom by adjacent support members  40 . By this design, the space between support members  40  is wholly enclosed in a “cage” having support lattice  16  for walls. This feature provides an important safety function, in that workers working between the support members  40  are prevented from falling off of the support pole  32  because of the enclosed “cage” provided by the cooperation of the adjoining support members  40  and the support lattice  16 . As illustrated in FIG. 32, an access opening can be provided in the “cage” which can be closed and opened using access clips  46 . The vertical openings can be disposed about every 12 feet along the circumference of the skirt. Each location can have three separate openings for easy access to all of the antenna receptor members  20 .  
         [0054]    A support lattice  16  is secured to the support members  40  by securing the lattice  10  to itself on vertical runs and to the support members  40  on horizontal runs using lattice support clips  48  which are non-R.F. reflective. Such lattice support clips  48  maintain the appearance of the uniform frond skirt and are easily opened and closed for antenna service.  
         [0055]    The support lattice  16  can be a type  72  netting, with 1 ½ inch squares. Construction of the support lattice can be using 32 ends per mesh side of 840 denier nylon which is protruded with U.V. inhibitors for outdoor use. The breaking strength of such a support lattice  16  is about 864 pounds per strand (27 pounds per end). The circumference of the support lattice  16  is supported by a ¾ inch stranded nylon rope. Additional support can be provided by vertical lengths of ⅜ thick rope every two feet along the nettings 12 feet.  
         [0056]    The drooping members  12  are composed of BASF&#39;s Loran S, ensuring the same structural and color fastness as the green fan fronds above the skirt. Each drooping member  12  is about five feet long and is folded in half over a strip of the support lattice  16  and adhered to itself. This creates a mechanical loop which is locked to the support lattice  16 . The drooping members  12  are placed in horizontal rows spaced apart by about nine inches. This allows for better sind resistance. The ends of the drooping members  12  are frayed to better replicate a true frond skirt  50 . Two similar but different colors are used to give the appearance of a naturally weathered frond skirt  50 .  
         [0057]    Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove.