Abstract:
The present invention is a method and apparatus to mount a satellite dish to a pole. This apparatus allows the mounting of a satellite dish without attaching the dish to the user&#39;s home or business.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/366,049, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Mounting a Satellite Dish to a Pole,” filed Mar. 1, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/949,617, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Mounting a Satellite Dish to a Pole,” filed Sep. 23, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/560,733, entitled “Pole Mount for Satellite Dish,” filed Sep. 24, 2003. Each of these applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the mounting of satellite dishes and corresponding hardware. More specifically, the invention relates to the mounting of a satellite dish to a pole using an apparatus that adjusts to the diameter of the pole. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Prior art relates to satellite television systems. These systems normally include a television converter and some related equipment. The related equipment may include the satellite dish, feedhorn, and low-noise block filter. To receive the satellite signal the satellite dish and corresponding equipment must be correctly mounted and pointed. 
   The prior art also includes various apparatuses to mount satellite dishes that receive television signals. Such prior art devices may include four parts. These parts are the foot, the mast, the dish, and the feedhorn. Installation of prior art satellite dishes may involve attaching the foot to the structure of the user&#39;s home or business, anchoring the mast to the foot, and placing the satellite dish and feedhorn on the mast. 
   The mounting of a satellite dish to a home may entail attaching the foot to a house. For a home installation of a satellite dish on the home&#39;s roof, the foot may be anchored above the shingles and into the roof trusses. Mounting the foot on the side of the house may require the anchoring of the foot to the siding of the house. Essentially, the foot may be screwed to the framing of the home. These screws may penetrate the siding or sheathing of the house and anchor into a wooden stud. 
   Businesses often have different physical structures. For instance, the building may be made of masonry or made from a steel frame. These buildings often have different exterior finishes, such as stucco. Many businesses may have flat roofs that may be sealed with tar or a polyurethane membrane. 
   Following a similar procedure, mounting a satellite dish to a business structure may also involve anchoring the foot to the building. The foot may be screwed or bolted to the framing of the building. The mounting may be on the side or roof of the building. 
   Secure mounting of the satellite dish is essential to the function of the system. Satellite systems typically require line-of-sight pointing at one or more satellites. If a satellite dish is not pointed at a satellite, the signal may be lost. Thus, keeping the satellite dish steady and secured is important to the customer receiving the signal. 
   Satellite dishes may also undergo wind loading. Wind loading occurs when movement in the air pushes on the satellite dish. The commonly oval or circular shape of a satellite dish may be susceptible to wind loading. Wind loading may make the satellite dish sway or rock. Again, this type of movement may cause a loss of signal. Thus, the mounting of the satellite dish must be secure enough to overcome wind loading. 
   Unfortunately, subscriber structures may not provide a sufficient anchor for a satellite dish. If mounted on these type of buildings, a satellite dish may become dislodged, fall down or move excessively. In these situations, the subscriber may lose their signal. Some mountings of the satellite dish may also cause damage to the building. For instance, drilling holes through a flat roof may create leaks in the roof. Anchoring to stucco may cause chipping of the stucco. Essentially, there are times when mounting to the building is either unwise or impossible. 
   Thus, there exists a need to provide a mount for the satellite dish that does not require attachment to the structure of the home or business. These and other deficiencies of the prior art are overcome by the present invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a method and apparatus to mount a satellite dish to a pole. This apparatus allows the mounting of a satellite dish without attaching the dish to the user&#39;s home or business. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of the apparatus for installing a satellite dish to a pole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus for installing a satellite dish to a pole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the apparatus for installing a satellite dish to a pole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a satellite dish antenna that is connected to a mast of the apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   For clarification, the drawings use a nomenclature for reference numerals that has two parts. The first part of the reference numeral is the drawing number, and it is followed by the second part, a two-digit identifier (drawing  1  uses  1 xx; drawing  3  uses  3 xx). For example, two reference numerals in drawing  1  may be “ 102 ” and “ 104 .” A reference numeral in one drawing may be referred to in subsequent drawings; the same reference numeral in later drawings refers to the same item. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes an apparatus and a method to mount satellite dishes onto poles.  FIGS. 1-3  show the mounting apparatus.  FIG. 1  shows a top-down view,  FIG. 2  shows a side view, and  FIG. 3  shows a front view of the apparatus.  FIG. 4  shows a side view of a satellite dish antenna that is connected to the mast of the mounting apparatus. 
   As set forth by the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may include a vertical member  104 , one or more cross members  106 , one or more chains  108 , and one or more dish mount mates  202 . The different components of the apparatus may be made from various materials, such as plastics, graphite, and aluminum. Preferably, the components would be made from steel. 
   In this preferred embodiment, the vertical member is placed against the pole  102  in a lengthwise orientation. This orientation is best seen in  FIG. 2 . The vertical member  104  may be flat or have another shape. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical member  104  may have a concave back. This concave shape of the vertical member  104  provides two ridges that contact the curved surface of the pole. Thus, the two ridges may provide a stable contact against the pole and may prevent rolling of the vertical member  104 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the vertical member  104  may include other forms to help provide a stable contact against the pole, including, but not limited to, a rubberized or metallic treaded back or adhesives. 
   One or more cross members  106  may be connected to the vertical member  104 . The cross members  106  may be welded to the vertical member  104 . One skilled in the art will recognize that bolting, gluing, or other attachment of the cross member  106  may be possible. While the cross member  106  may be designed with different shapes, the rectangular beam may be the simplest shape to make or use. The cross member  106  should be of sufficient length to allow the chain  108  to be attached and wrapped around the pole  102 . In the drawings, the cross member  106  is shown at the ends of the vertical member  104 . However, the placement of the cross members  106  may be at any point along the length of the vertical member  104 . A perpendicular orientation to the vertical member  104  is also preferred, but not required. 
   In a preferred embodiment, a chain  108  is attached to the cross members  106 . The chain  108  may be attached using eye bolts  110 . One skilled in the art will recognize that other ways of attaching the chain  108  to cross members  106  are possible, including, but not limited to, using quick link threaded fasteners to connect a chain to an eye bolt. The eye bolts  110  may be inserted through holes  120  placed in the cross member  106 . A washer  114  and bolt  112  may be placed on one or more sides of the cross member  106  to hold the eyebolt  110 . The depth of insertion of the eye bolt  110  may be adjusted. Adjustment may be accomplished by changing where the bolts  112  are placed along the eyebolt  110 . If the eyebolt  110  needs to be inserted further into the cross member  106 , the bolts  112  may be screwed further up the shank of the eyebolt  110 . Thus, by adjusting the eyebolt  110 , the chain  108  may be tightened. Having two eyebolts  110  may allow for the chain  108  to be tightened or loosened to a greater extent. However, in another embodiment, one end of the chain  108  may be welded or attached without an eyebolt  110 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, the chain  108  is wrapped around the pole  102 . Thus, the chain  108  may span the opposite side of the pole  102  from the vertical member  104 . In this way, the pole  102  is between the vertical member  104  and the chain  108 . When the chain  108  is tightened, a force pulls the vertical member  104  against the pole  102 . The vertical member  104  is held in place by friction. 
   To mount the foot  116  of the satellite dish in this preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a dish mounting mate  202 . The dish mounting mate  202  may be a plate that can mate with the foot  116 . In the drawings, the mate comprises a pair of two mounting members  202 . These mounting members  202  may be separated by a sufficient distance to accommodate the satellite foot  116 . Bolts  204  that are used to attach the foot  116  to the mounting members  202  may be inserted through the mounting members  202  and nuts  112 . The foot  116  may then hold the mast  118 , which secures the satellite dish  402 , feedhorn  404 , and low noise block filter (LNBF)  406 . One skilled in the art will recognize that fewer, more or different satellite dish components may be secured by the mast  118 . 
   One skilled in the art will recognize that fewer, more or different satellite dish components may be secured by the mast  118 . The installation of a satellite dish often requires pointing the satellite dish towards the signals transmitted by one or more satellites. Pointing the satellite dish may require adjusting the azimuth and elevation of the satellite dish. In order to get accurate azimuth and elevation for the satellite dish, the mast  118  must be oriented vertically to the horizon in all directions. To achieve this vertical orientation, in this preferred embodiment, the mast  118  may pivot to achieve vertical orientation with respect to a first axis. Additionally, bolts  204  can be used to achieve vertical orientation with respect to a second axis which is perpendicular to the first. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many methods for insuring that mast  118  is vertically oriented with good accuracy. Once the mast  118  is vertically oriented, the satellite antenna can be placed on it. The antenna will be preset with an appropriate elevation and the installer can then swing the antenna through various azimuth angles until the satellite is found. 
   It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment in the form of a satellite mount has been described for purposes of this disclosure, various changes and modifications may be made which are well within the scope of the present invention. For example, a vertical member  104  may also include, but is not limited to, metallic treads, rubberized treads or an adhesive backing. Numerous other changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.