Abstract:
A semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system having a portable mount for deploying a portable satellite antenna. The portable satellite antenna assembles for deployment using releasable connectors. The portable mount can be mounted to a post, a tripod, or a non-penetrating mount. The non-penetrating mount uses a pivoting pair of support wings that pivots upwardly for transportation and downwardly when deployed on a surface. When deployed, ballast is placed on the support wings to stabilize the semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to portable antenna systems and, more particularly, the invention relates to a portable satellite antenna system for semi-permanent use at a variety of rugged and remote locations. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Background 
         [0004]    Customers, especially business customers, continually require a lower cost portable automatic satellite acquisition antenna system especially for two-way internet applications at remote locations. 
         [0005]    In the past a number of portable collapsible satellite antenna systems have been patented. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,369,097 and 5,660,366 teach portable dish antennas supported by collapsible tripods. U.S. Publication No. 2007/0279308 discloses the use of suction cups to remove a satellite antenna from one surface to another. U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,638 provides a portable collapsible satellite dish antenna system for hand carrying from one location to another. And, U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,830 shows a portable adjustable stand for a satellite dish antenna using a stand having a pair of parallel spaced, laterally adjustable longitudinal brackets. Satellite antenna systems can be disassembled and/or folded for transportation in cases. U.S. Pat. No. 7,397,435 shows a quick release stowage system for transporting a mobile satellite antenna. U.S. Pat. No. 7,218,289 also shows a portable microwave reflector antenna that can be stowed in two hard shell airline cases. 
         [0006]    Some prior approaches use ballast to stabilize the deployed portable collapsible satellite antenna system especially when the deployed system is used for a period of time. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,682,029 and 5,760,751 shows a collapsible satellite dish antenna mount having a hollow base container for holding ballast. U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,387 sets forth a non-penetrating roof mount for a transportable satellite antenna using ballast such as cement blocks. 
         [0007]    A need further exists for an easily disassembled satellite antenna that is compactly transported, but easily assembled for use not only on a portable mount such as collapsible non-penetrating mount, but also mounted on a lightweight portable tripod or even mounted on a pole. The satellite antenna system has a further need to have automatic azimuth, automatic elevation and automatic skew mechanisms. 
         [0008]    A final need exists for such a semi-permanent satellite system that will be available with cases to transport the system such as military style plastic, panel type fabricated cases or even wooden crates. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system having a portable satellite antenna and a portable mount such as a non-penetrating mount, a tripod, or a pole for holding the portable satellite antenna on a surface when the semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system is deployed. The portable satellite antenna assembles for deployment on the portable mount and disassembles for portability. The non-penetrating mount also collapses for portability. 
         [0010]    The portable satellite antenna has an antenna mount with a reflector plate and a mount cap. The mount cap releasably connects to the portable mount when the semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system is deployed on the surface. The portable satellite antenna also has a reflector releasably connected to a reflector plate on the antenna mount. The reflector has a rear surface and an outer rim. A number of threaded knobs releasably connect the rear of the reflector to the reflector plate on the antenna mount. The antenna mount controls azimuth and elevation of said reflector. The portable satellite antenna also has three feed arms. A knob retained on each end of the feed arms releasably connects to the outer rim of the reflector. A feed having a skew mechanism releasably connects to the other ends of the three feed arms. When the portable satellite antenna is assembled for deployment on the surface, the antenna mount is first mounted to the portable mount. Then, knobs are used to assemble the reflector to the reflector plate in the antenna mount. The three feeds arms arm are then mounted to the rim of the reflector with the retained knobs. The feed is finally assembled to the remaining ends of the three feed arms. The process is reversed to disassemble the portable satellite antenna for transportation. 
         [0011]    The portable satellite antenna can be mounted to a pole, a tripod, or to a portable collapsible non-penetrating mount. The portable collapsible non-penetrating mount has an elongated channel with a post having one end of the post attached perpendicularly at the center of the channel with the other end holding the deployed portable satellite antenna. A pair of angled support braces has one end attached to the post and the other end attached to the channel to rigidly support the post with respect to the channel. A pair of folding support wings is pivotally connected on either side of the elongated channel. The pair of support wings pivots upwardly towards the post for transportation and pivots down to the surface when deployed. A pair of angled locking arms having one end releasably connected to the post and the other end releasably connected to a support wing to rigidly support the post with respect to the support wings and to orient the support wings to lay flat on the surface. The pair of locking arms easily release from the post and the support wings for portability. When deployed, ballast such as cement blocks are placed in the support wings to stabilize the satellite antenna mount to the surface. 
         [0012]    The summary set forth above does not limit the teachings of the invention especially as to variations and other embodiments of the invention as more fully set out in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system of the invention having a portable satellite antenna and a portable non-penetrating mount. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable non-penetrating mount deployed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is the portable non-penetrating mount of  FIG. 2  folded for transportation. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the deployed portable non-penetrating mount of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an illustration showing the steps of assembly of the portable satellite antenna to the portable non-penetrating mount. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a feed arm. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a detail side cut-away view of the feed arm connecting to the reflector. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a detail side cut-away view of the feed arm mounting to the feed. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a detail side cut-away view of the lower feed arm connecting to the feed of the feed attaching to the feed arms. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a planar view of the rear of the reflector. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a partial exploded view showing the connection of the reflector to the dish plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    In  FIG. 1 , the assembled portable satellite antenna  10  of the invention is shown held by the portable collapsible non-penetrating mount  20  of the invention on a surface  30  such as ground. This shows the semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system of the invention deployed for semi-permanent use on a surface. Any surface  30  could be used such as a platform, concrete pad, roof, wood decking, etc. The portable satellite antenna  10  of the invention has an antenna mount  40  and a reflector  50  having feed arms  60   a ,  60   b , and  60   c  (generally referred to as feed arms  60 ) and a feed  70 . The feed  70  preferably also has a mechanism for skew adjustment. Also shown are the electronics control box  80 , the elevation actuator  90 , and the azimuth motor  95 . The reflector  50 , depending on the application, may be a 1.2 or 0.96 meter dish, but any sized reflector  50  can be used. The antenna mount  40  can also be held by a post into the surface such as a ground surface  30 , held by a tripod on the surface  30 , etc. For purposes of this invention, the term “portable mount” is defined to be a post, a tripod, or a non-penetrating mount such as the non-penetration mount of the invention disclosed herein. 
         [0025]    Details of the collapsible non-penetrating mount  20  of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to include a pair of opposing support wings  100   a  and  100   b , a pair of releasable locking arms  110   a  and  110   b , an elongated channel  120  to which is attached a post  130  at one end  132 . The post  130  in one embodiment is integrally attached by welding the end  132  to the bottom of the channel  120  and the post  130  is oriented perpendicular to and in the center the channel  120 . The post  130  can be a metal pipe having any suitable diameter such as 3 inches or any suitable shape such as square or rectangular rather than circular. 
         [0026]    Support braces  140   a  and  140   b  provide rigid support to the post  130  from opposing sides  122   a  and  122   b  of the channel  120 . Support braces  140   a  and  140   b  are attached to the elongated channel  120  and to opposing sides of the support post  130  such as by welding, bolts or by any other suitable attachment. 
         [0027]    The portable satellite antenna  10  has a cylindrical mount cap  98  which goes over the post  130  and is connected with bolts  99  such as ⅜ inch bolts. In the event, the post  130  is not circular; the cap  98  will have a configuration that matches the post. The mount cap  98  mounts to any suitable portable mount. 
         [0028]    The angled locking arms  110   a ,  110   b  and the angled support braces  140   a ,  140   b  form a substantially pyramidal rigid support structure for post  130  which firmly holds the assembled portable satellite antenna  10  in the deployed position as shown. Each support brace  140   a  and  140   b  has one end is attached to the side of the channel  120  a first set distance from the post  130  as shown by arrow  280  and the other end attached to the post  130  a second set distance from the bottom of the channel  120  as shown by arrow  282 . Each releasable locking arm  110   a  (and  110   b ) has one end  114   a  (and  114   b ) attached to the support wing  100   a  (and  100   b ) a first distance from the post  130  as shown by arrow  284  and the other end  112   a  (and  112   b ) attached to the post  130  a second distance from the bottom of the channel  120  as shown by arrow  286 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , one end  112   a ,  112   b  of the locking arms  110   a ,  110   b  is connected with a bolt  150  having a knob  152  to the post  130  so as to be releasable. The opposing ends  114   a ,  114   b  of the locking arms  110   a  and  110   b  are connected to pivots  160   a  and  160   b  on center brackets  170   a  and  170   b  of support wings  100   a  and  100   b  so as to be releasable. The center brackets  170   a  and  170   b  are welded to the outer rectangular frame  180   a  and  180   b  of the support wings  100   a  and  100   b . Releasable hinge pins  190   a  and  190   b  are used to connect the locking arms  110   a  and  110   b  to the center brackets  160   a  and  160   b.    
         [0030]    The portable non-penetrating mount  20  shown deployed in  FIGS. 1 and 2  on surface  30 . The non-penetrating mount  20  is shown folded (collapsed) in the directions  200   a  and  200   b  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  for portability and for easy transport. The portability configuration shown is achieved by removing hinge pins  190   a  and  190   b  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In addition, the threaded knob  152  is removed from the bolt  150  to fully release the locking arms  110   a  and  110   b  from opposing sides of the post  130 . The support wings  100   a  and  100   b  are then moved in directions of  200   a  and  200   b  upwardly to assume the folded orientation shown in  FIG. 3 . Each support wing  100   a  and  100   b  is connected at pivot points  210  to the channel  120 . The locking arms  110   a  and  110   b  have been fully released and removed from the portable non-penetrating mount  20  and are put inside of the post  130  for stowing along with the hinge pins  190   a  and  190   b . The knob  152  and bolt  150  are then used to pass through formed holes  172  of the support brackets  170   a  and  170   b  through a corresponding formed hole  134  in the post  130  and above the locking arms  110   a  and  110   b  stored within the post  130 . The bolt  150  and the knob  152  firmly hold the two opposing support wings  100   a  and  100   b  firmly against opposing sides of the post  130  for portable transport as shown in  FIG. 3   a . The bolt  150  passing through the center of the post  130  holds the two locking arms in the post  130  for stowing. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1 and 4  show ballast  400  comprised, for example, of twelve cement cinder blocks placed in the support wings  100   a  and  100   b  to provide sufficient weight to firmly hold the portable non-penetrating mount  20  to the ground  30 . The blocks  400  rest on edges  102  of support wings  100   a  and  100   b , edges  122   a ,  122   b  of channel  120  and edges  174  of center brackets  170  as best shown in  FIG. 2 . The weight of the twelve cinder blocks is approximately 500-600 pounds. Any suitable ballast  400  can be provided such as sand bags, logs, or even large rocks. In other embodiments, the bottoms of the opposing support wings  100   a  and  100   b  are solid such as a plate of metal and sand or dirt can be placed on the plates as ballast  400 . 
         [0032]    The portable collapsible non-permanent mount  20  of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-4  has a folded state ( FIG. 3 ) for easy transport and a deployed state ( FIG. 2 ) for use in holding the satellite antenna  20 . During transport the locking arms  110  and hinge pins  190  are stowed inside the post  130  so that all components are transported together. 
         [0033]    In summary, the semi-permanent collapsible portable mount  20  of the invention uses an elongated channel  120  to support a perpendicular post  130  for holding the portable satellite antenna  10 . A pair of support braces  140  have one end attached a first set distance above the elongated channel  120  to the post  130  and the other end attached a second set distance from the post on the elongated channel  120 . The pair of support braces  140  opposes each other on the elongated channel  120 . A pair of support wings  100  is pivotally connected to the elongated channel  120 . The support wings  100  pivot to the post  130  when stowed for portable movement and pivot to onto a surface  30  when deployed. A pair of locking arms  110  have one end releasably connected a first distance above the elongated channel  120  to the post  130  and a second end releasably connected a second distance from the post  130  on one of the pair of support wings  100 . The pair of locking arms  110  opposes each other on the pair of support wings  100  when deployed, but the arms  110  release for portability. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 5 , the details and the assembly steps for the portable satellite antenna  10  of the invention are set forth. The portable satellite antenna  10  of the invention is shown disassembled and separate from the deployed portable non-penetrating mount  20  on surface  30 . The portable satellite antenna  10  can be used on any portable mount. 
         [0035]    In the first step, the semi-portable mount  40  having the mount cap  98 , the elevation actuator  90 , the outdoor electronics box  80 , and the azimuth motor  95  is moved as a unit in the direction of arrow  510  so that the mount cap  98  fits over and rests on the upper end  136  of post  130 . At this step, the six bolts  99  are tightened with a wrench to retain the cap  98  against the end  136 . Any suitable number of bolts can be used. The mount cap  98  can also mount to a post in the ground or onto a tripod on the ground. 
         [0036]    In the second step, the reflector  50  is moved as a unit in the direction of dotted lines  520  toward the dish plate  530  in the antenna mount  40  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The rear  52  of the reflector  50  has four posts  54  with threaded studs  55 . The threaded studs  55  pass through the formed holes  532  in the dish plate  530 . Knobs  534  are then used to quickly thread onto the studs  55  to firmly hold the reflector  50  to the dish plate  530  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each knob  534  has a formed threaded hole  536  in a collar portion  538 . Any suitable number of threaded posts  54  can be used. No tools are required to attach the reflector  50  to plate  530 . 
         [0037]    In the third step, the three feed arms  60  ( 60   a ,  60   b , and  60   c ) are attached as shown in  FIG. 5  to the rim of the reflector  50  using three stainless steel knobs  62   a ,  62   b , and  62   c  by moving the arms  60  in the direction of arrows  540  to affixation holes  704 . In  FIG. 6  feed arm  60   c  is shown with angled ends  610  and  620  with a body  630  therebetween. At each end  610 ,  620  is a knob  62   c . Each knob  62   c  has a cylindrical standoff portion  640  and a threaded stud portion  650 . A retainer clip  660  is used to hold the knob  62   c  to one of the ends  610 ,  620 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the reflector  50  has an outer rim  700  that has formed holes  704  (three, one for each feed arm  60   a ,  60   b , and  60   c ). Behind the rim  700  is a plate  720  that is held by two bolts  730  which engage threaded holes  740  in plate  720 . The threaded stud portion  650  of knob  62   c  engages a threaded hole  750  in the plate  720 . The structure of  FIG. 7  is the same for the engagement of all three knobs  60   a ,  60   b  and  60   c  to the rim  700  of the reflector. The other end  620  of feed arm  60   c  uses knob  62   c  in a similar fashion to engage a threaded hole  800  in the block  810  of the feed horn/skew mechanism  70 . Feed arm  60   c  connects in the same structural manner. The end  900  of feed arm  60   a  does not have a knob, but the end  900  slides into a formed slot  910  in the block  810  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The three ends  740   a ,  740   b , and  740   c  of arms  60   a ,  60   b , and  60   c  are easily attached to the rim  710  of the reflector  50  with knobs  62   a ,  62   b , and  62   c  respectively. The number of feed arms is a matter of design choice. No tools are required to attach the feed arms  60  to the reflector  50 . 
         [0038]    In the fourth step, the feed  70  is moved in the direction of arrow  550  and attaches to the feed arms  60 . In  FIG. 5 , the feed  70  is attached to the three feed arms  60  with two knobs  62   b  and  62   c  and with end  900  sliding into slot  910 . No tools are required. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the weight of feed  70  causes the feed  70  to firmly connect to end  900 . 
         [0039]    It is to be understood that a number of different mechanical designs can be utilized to quickly connect to and release from the feed arms  60   a ,  60   b , and  60   c  to the reflector  50  and to the feed  70 . 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 10 , the rear reflector  50  is shown with the three knobs  62   a ,  62   b , and  62   c  connecting the three feed arms  60   a ,  60   b  and  60   c . In the center of the reflector are four threaded posts  54  and four standoff posts  56 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the four standoff posts  56  abut the dish plate  530 . 
         [0041]    The portable satellite antenna  10  of the invention shown in FIGS.  1  and  5 - 11  has a disassembled state ( FIG. 5 ) for easy transport and a deployed state ( FIG. 1 ) mounted on a portable mount. 
         [0042]    In summary, the portable satellite antenna  10  has an antenna mount  40  with a dish plate  530  and a mount cap  98 . The mount cap  98  releasably connects to the portable mount  20  such as the semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system. The rear of the reflector  50  releasably connects to the reflector plate  530  in the antenna mount  40  by using a number of threaded knobs  534 . The antenna mount  40  controls azimuth and elevation of the reflector  50  when connected to the reflector plate  530 . The portable satellite antenna  10  has three feed arms  60 . A knob  62  is retained on each end of the feed arms  60  for releasably connecting to the outer rim of the reflector  50 . A feed  70  having a skew mechanism releasably connects to the three feed arms  60 . 
         [0043]    The above disclosure sets forth a basic embodiment of the invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings with a number of variations discussed. 
         [0044]    Certain precise dimension and weight values have been utilized in the specification. However, these dimensions do not limit the scope of the claimed invention and those variations in angles, spacings, dimensions, configurations, and dipole shapes can occur. 
         [0045]    It is noted that the terms “preferable” and “preferably,” are given their common definitions and are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed disclosure. Rather, these terms are intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0046]    For the purposes of describing and defining the present disclosure it is noted that the term “substantially” is given its common definition and it is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any shape or other representation. 
         [0047]    Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, use of other materials, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.