Means for mounting a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle

Several different embodiments are illustrated for attaching, supporting or mounting a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle or supported by the vehicle. In two of the embodiments, the satellite antenna is secured to the roof rack of the vehicle. In a third embodiment, the satellite antenna is secured to the upper ends of the sides of a pickup truck. Alternative methods for mounting or supporting the portable satellite antenna are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a means for mounting a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle and more particularly to a means for mounting a portable satellite antenna on the roof rack of a vehicle or on the sides of the box of a pick-up truck. This invention further relates to an antenna supporting structure which is stabilized by a tire of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many ways of mounting a portable satellite antenna have been previously provided but it is not believed that any of the previous devices enable a portable satellite antenna to be quickly and easily mounted on the roof rack of a vehicle or on the box of a pick-up truck. In any device for mounting a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle, a problem encountered is that the vehicle will not always be perfectly level with the result being that the mast of the satellite antenna will not be plumb. It is important to be sure that the mast is level or plumb in any installation. If it is not plumb, the elevation setting of the antenna will be incorrect. Further, the problem encountered in the mounting of a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle is that the antenna does not interfere with the normal use of the vehicle which is extremely important when the vehicle is being used for tailgating functions or the like. A further problem encountered in the mounting of a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle is that the vehicle must not interfere with the reception of the satellite signal by the antenna.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Four different methods of mounting or supporting a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle are disclosed with two of the methods enabling the portable satellite antenna to be mounted on the roof rack of a vehicle with the third method enabling the portable satellite antenna to be mounted on the box of a pick-up truck. The fourth method of supporting the satellite antenna includes a tire of the vehicle. In the first mounting method, the mounting structure for the antenna is secured to and is extended between the longitudinally extending side rails of the roof rack. In the second method, the mounting structure for the antenna is secured to and extends between a pair of transversely extending rack members which are selectively slidably mounted on the side rails of the roof rack. In the third method, the mounting structure is secured to and is extended between the upper ends of the side walls of the box of the pick-up truck. In the fourth method, a tire of a vehicle is positioned upon a base plate with a mast or pole extending upwardly therefrom upon which the antenna is adjustably mounted.

In the first three installations, a vertically disposed tubular member is connected to an adjustable base plate with the base plate being secured to the upper end of a swivel with the lower end of the swivel being secured to a fixed plate positioned below the base plate with the fixed plate being secured to a mounting structure. A bubble level is provided on the base plate so that the tubular member may be oriented in a plumb condition regardless of the attitude or levelness of the vehicle. The mast of the satellite antenna is slipped over the upstanding tubular member and is held in place by means of a locking bolt or stud. Preferably, a compass is also provided on the upper surface of the base plate to aid a person in rotating the mast with respect to the tubular member so that the proper azimuth alignment of the antenna is achieved. The fourth installation also includes the adjustable mounting structure so that the proper azimuth alignment of the antenna is achieved. A fourth structure is also described for mounting the antenna on a picnic table or the like. Yet another structure is disclosed for mounting a flag on the roof rack of the vehicle.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide novel means for mounting or supporting a portable satellite antenna on or with a vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting a portable satellite antenna on the roof rack of a vehicle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting a portable satellite antenna on the upper ends of the side walls of a pick-up truck box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for a portable satellite antenna including means for quickly and easily plumbing a supporting tube so that the mast of the antenna when placed thereon will be plumb.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle which is quickly and easily mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, the numeral10refers to vehicle such a van, SUV or the like which has a roof rack12mounted thereon. Roof rack12normally includes a pair of longitudinally and horizontally spaced apart side rack members or rails14and16and which has two or more transversely extending rack members or rails18and20slidably adjustably mounted on the rails14and16.

InFIGS. 6 and 7, the numeral22refers to a pick-up truck having a box or bed which includes upstanding side walls24and26having upper ends.

In the drawings, the numeral28refers to a conventional satellite antenna including a reflector or dish30, reflector support32, LNB horn36, and an LNB support arm38extending therefrom to the mounting bracket assembly40of the antenna28. The mounting bracket assembly40includes conventional means for adjusting the elevation of the reflector30and means for adjusting the skew of the reflector30. Normally, a mast extends from the mounting bracket assembly40for connection to another mounting bracket which may be secured to a post, building, etc. In this case, the conventional mast has been replaced by a tubular mast member referred to generally by the reference numeral42. A threaded bolt extends inwardly in to the mast member42and is referred to generally by the reference numeral44.

The numeral46refers to the first mounting means of this invention while the numeral48refers to the second mounting means of this invention with the numeral50referring to the third mounting means of this invention. A mounting means51is also described for supporting the satellite antenna with the tire of a vehicle.

Mounting means46includes a support structure52which is length adjustable and which has brackets or connectors54and56secured to the outer ends thereof. The brackets or connectors54and56are secured to the side rails14and16of the roof rack12of the vehicle, as seen inFIG. 4. As seen, the brackets54and56are C-shaped in cross section and are adapted to receive the inner sides of the rails14and16. Locking bolts58and60extend downwardly through the brackets54and56respectively for engagement with the upper surface of the rails14and16respectively to hold the support structure52in place.

Plate62is secured to and extends between the support members64and66of support structure52by welding or the like and is adapted to rotatably support the lower ends of three adjustment bolts68,70and72which extend upwardly therefrom.

A collar74is welded to plate62and receives the lower end of swivel ball assembly76therein. The upper end of the swivel ball assembly76is welded to plate78which is adjustably positioned above plate62. Three lock nuts80are welded to the underside of plate78and threadably receive the adjustment bolts68,70and72therein. The upper ends of the bolts68,70and72each have a wing nut82welded thereto.

The upper surface of plate78is provided with a bubble level84and is also provided with a compass86. A tubular support88has its lower end secured to the center of plate78by any convenient means and extends upwardly therefrom. The tubular support88is adapted to be selectively rotatably received by the lower end of mast member42, as seen inFIG. 3.

The length adjustable support structure52is positioned between the rails14and16of the roof rack12and adjusted until the brackets54and56receive the rails14and16, as seen inFIG. 4. The locking bolts58and60are then threadably rotated until the lower ends thereof engage the rails14and16to maintain the support structure52and the mounting means46in place on the roof rack12. The vehicle may be driven to the desired location for tailgating, picnics, etc. At that time, the adjustment bolts68,70and72are adjusted so that plate78is level and the tubular support88is plumb, as indicated by the bubble level84. The antenna28may then be mounted on the tubular support88by lowering the mast member42onto the support88. The antenna may then be rotated with respect to support88until the antenna is aimed along the proper azimuth as indicated by the compass86. The locking bolt44is then tightened to maintain the antenna28in position. The azimuth, elevation and skew of the antenna is determined by way of a look up table based on the zip code of the location of the vehicle. The fact that the tubular support88is plumb, regardless of the levelness of the vehicle, ensures that the elevation and skew of the receiver will be accurate which is not possible if the tubular support88and mast member42are not plumb.

The television in the vehicle or adjacent the vehicle may then be turned on to enhance the tailgating and/or picnic activities.

The mounting means48is quite similar to the mounting means46except it is positioned between the transversely extending rails18and20and clamped thereto, as illustrated inFIG. 10, rather than being extended between the rails14and16and secured thereto. As seen inFIG. 10, the mounting means48includes a clamping structure90which is clamped onto the rails18and20. The remaining structure on mounting means48is identical to mounting means46except that the plate78has downwardly extending flanges F.

The mounting means50is almost identical to mounting means46except that the brackets54and56are secured to the upper ends of the side walls24and26of the pickup truck22and that the locking bolts58′ and60′ extend downwardly through the brackets54and56rather than upwardly through the brackets54and56, respectively. The positioning of the bolts58′ and60′ in mounting means50is merely to avoid upwardly extending protrusions which might be a nuisance.

FIG. 9illustrates a mounting structure92for a flag94which may be clamped onto rails18and20of rack12. Structure92includes a tubular support96which extends upwardly from mounting structure92which is adapted to receive the pole98of the flag94.

FIG. 11illustrates a mounting structure100which is substantially identical to mounting structure50except that the brackets54′ and56′ in theFIG. 11structure corresponding to brackets54and56in mounting structure50face inwardly towards one another so that the brackets54′ and56′ at the opposite ends of structure100may receive the side edges of a picnic table102or the like and be clamped onto the table102. The mounting structure100is identical to mounting structure50in all other aspects.

FIG. 12illustrates a further means for supporting a satellite antenna by a vehicle and which is referred to by the reference numeral51. InFIG. 12, a rectangular, flat plate104is placed on the ground and is adapted to have a vehicle tire or wheel105positioned thereon. A support channel106is welded to one end of plate104and has a tubular support108extending upwardly therethrough. Pipe110is selectively mounted on tubular support108and held in place by locking bolt112. A tubular support114extends downwardly from base plate62and which is received by the upper end of pipe110and selectively rotatably maintained therein by locking bolt116. All of the antenna mounting structure above plate62is identical to that shown inFIG. 1.

In use, plate104is placed on the ground and the vehicle is driven so as to place one of the tires thereof thereon. Pipe110is placed on tubular support108and locked in place by locking bolt112. The tubular support114and the mounting structure thereabove and the antenna are then mounted on the upper end of pipe110. The plate78is then leveled as described hereinabove so that the tubular support88is plumb. The mast member42is then rotated until it is aligned on the proper azimuth, at which time the locking bolt44is tightened. The weight of the vehicle on the plate104stabilizes the antenna28.

Thus it can be seen that a novel means has been provided for mounting a portable satellite antenna on a vehicle which includes adjustment means to ensure that the mast of the antenna will be plumb. It can also be seen that the means of this invention enables a satellite antenna to be quickly installed on a vehicle and quickly and easily adjusted.