Abstract:
Enibodiments of the invention provide a single apparatus for connecting a flat antenna to a plurality of surfaces, including vertical, horizontal or other inclined surfaces, by screws, suction components or other connectors.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to antenna holders in general, and more particularly to a flat antenna holder apparatus.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There is a need for connecting and attaching a flat antenna to plurality of surfaces, for example, horizontal surfaces and vertical surfaces made of different materials, for example, wood, concrete, glass, plastic or other materials. Furthermore a flat antenna may be positioned in variety of locations in accordance with the specific use and/or user preferences, for example, indoor locations such as, a window, a wall, a desk or outdoor locations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     An apparatus for connecting a flat antenna to a surface. The apparatus may include an attachment base, having at least one hole for attachment to the surface by screw, at least one hole for attachment to the surface by suction device, and at least one peg for being fitted to a weight and an attachment to a flat antenna. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]     The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of section or part of a flat antenna holder in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a flat antenna holder attached to a smooth vertical surface in accordance with use of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a flat antenna holder attachment to a vertical surface in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the invention; and  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a flat antenna holder attached to a horizontal surface in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
       [0009]     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details.  
         [0011]     Reference is made now to  FIG. 1  which is a schematic illustration of section or part of a flat antenna holder in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that although in the discussion below, element  10  is referred to as a flat antenna holder base, it will be understood there may be various configurations of a flat antenna holder in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; for example, in some embodiments of the invention, element  10  may be a part of the apparatus to be used in connection with other parts; in other embodiments, element  10  of  FIG. 1  may be an interior section view of a single-piece flat antenna holder, etc.  
         [0012]     Flat antenna holder base  10  may be used to place or attach a flat antenna to a plain surface, e.g., a table, a wall, a window or any other plain surface. According to some embodiments of the invention flat antenna holder base  10  may include holes  11 ,  12  and  13  for attaching flat antenna holder base  10  to a surface plane of any orientation using screws, nails, bolts, or other connectors. Flat antenna holder base  10  may include holes  14 ,  15  and  16 , which may be key-shaped, for attaching flat antenna holder  10  to a smooth surface, e.g., glass, metal, plastic, etc. which may be vertical, horizontal or otherwise inclined, by using suction devices, such as small suction cups, as described in detail below. In an embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , set of holes  11 ,  12  and  13  and set of holes  14 ,  15  and  16 , may be spaced altematingly and uniformly around flat antenna holder base  10 .  
         [0013]     According to embodiments of the invention flat antenna holder base  10  may include a peg or stub  17  located in proximity to, but preferably not exactly at, center of flat antenna holder base  10 . Stub  17  may be used to attach a weight or joint load element to flat antenna holder base  10 , as described in detail below. Stub  17  may be raised from the surface of flat antenna holder base  10  in a direction orthogonal to the surface plane and may be molded with, or fixedly or removably attached to flat antenna holder base  10 .  
         [0014]     Reference is made now to  FIG. 2 , which is a perspective view of a flat antenna holder attached to a smooth vertical surface in accordance with use of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It will be noted that in the embodiment of the invention shown, the flat antenna holder is shown as a two-part apparatus, including both a base and a dome  28 . The based and dome may be attached by any suitable means, for example, by snaps, clips, adhesive, screws, etc. Flat antenna holder base  20  and dome  28  may connect a flat antenna  21  to a smooth surface  27 , for example a vertical surface such as a window, a mirror, etc. According to some illustrative embodiments of the invention flat antenna holder base  20  may include three key-shaped holes  24 ,  25 , and  26  similar to key-shaped holes shown in  FIG. 1 . Flat. antenna holder  20  may be attached to surface  27  by inserting suction devices  23  into key-shaped holes  24 ,  25  and  26 , and attaching suction devices  23  to smooth vertical surface  27 . Suction devices  23  may also be sticky connectors or any other connectors suitable for attaching flat antenna holder base  20  to a smooth vertical surface. Connectors  23  may have an external and internal diameter to fit first into the large part of key-shaped holes  24 ,  25  and  26  and then slide the interior diameter of the connector into the narrow portion of the key-shaped holes.  
         [0015]     According to some embodiments of the invention, flat antenna holder base  20  may include a dome  28  and a joint member  29  for attaching to a flat antenna  21 . Joint member  29  may allow flat antenna  21  to swivel rotationally around joint member  29  with reference to dome  28 . In addition, flat antenna  21  may include a hinge  22  which may be located at the bottom of flat antenna  21  and may be connected to joint member  29 . Hinge  22  may permit pivoting the angle of the flat antenna with reference to dome  28 . Flat antenna  21  may be fixedly or removably attached to flat antenna holder base  20  and/or dome  28 , e.g., by screws, by glue, by a snap or by any other means.  
         [0016]     Reference is made now to  FIG. 3 , which is a perspective view of a flat antenna holder attachment to a vertical surface in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 3 , the flat antenna holder base  30  may connect a flat antenna  31  to a surface  37  e.g., a vertical surface such as a wall, a door, or any other surface. According to some embodiments of the invention, flat antenna holder base  30  may include three round holes  34 ,  35  and  36 . Flat antenna holder  30  may be connected to surface  37  by screws or nails through holes  34 ,  35  and  36 .  
         [0017]     Reference is made now to  FIG. 4 , which is a perspective view of a flat antenna holder attached to a horizontal surface in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the invention. Flat antenna holder base  40  may be used to place a flat antenna  41  on a horizontal surface  47  e.g., a desk, a shelf, or any other horizontal surface. According to some embodiments of the invention, the base of flat antenna holder base  40  may include a stub  42 , on which may be placed a weight or load item  50 . Stub  42  may be located in proximity to flat antenna holder  40  center. In some embodiments of the invention, the location of stub  42  and the weight of weight or load item  50  may be calculated to provide a counterbalance for the weight of antenna  41  to prevent tipping. Stub  17  may be molded with or fixedly or removably attached to flat antenna holder base  40  and may be raised from flat antenna holder base  40  surface. Stub  42  may have the shape and size to fit smoothly into a cavity in the bottom of weight  50 . In some embodiments, dome  48  may have a peg  51  to fit into a cavity in the top of weight  50 . In some embodiments, weight  50  may have a cavity bored through its entirety to permit a screw to be placed from dome  48 , through weight  50  and attaching to stub  42 . Stub  42  may be used to hold and stabilize flat antenna  41  to flat antenna holder base  40 . It will be noted for purposes of illustration that the positions of flat antennas shown in the embodiments of the invention in  FIGS. 2 and 4  differ for example, in the pivot angle about hinge  22  shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0018]     While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.