Abstract:
An antenna stand for holding a flexible or non-flexible planar antenna includes a base and support frame. The support frame includes two spaced apart legs and a horizontal cross member interposed therebetween. At least two lower antenna supports are provided on the support frame on which the bottom edge of the planar antenna may rest. An optional extendable antenna holding arm includes an upper antenna clip that engages the top edge of the planar antenna. The extendable antenna holding arm support is adjustably mounted to the support frame so that the distance between the lower antenna supports and the upper antenna clip can be varied to accommodate planar antennas of varying dimensions. The support frame may be arcuately shaped transversely to impart a slight lateral bend to a flexible planar antenna mounted on the stand. This helps to maintain the flexible planar antenna in an upright position on the stand.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/198,284, filed on Jul. 29, 2015, and entitled “Stand for Planar Antenna” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/271,794, filed on Dec. 28, 2015, and entitled “Stand for Planar Antenna”, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference and on which priority is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to television antennas, and more specifically relates to supports for holding such television antennas in an upright position. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    There are a number of planar indoor television antennas which receive digitally formatted high definition broadcast signals. Two such antennas, having a hard body, plastic planar housing, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,828, which issued to Prapan Paul Tinaphong, et al., and is entitled “VHF/UHF Self-Tuning Planar Antenna System”, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,269,672, which also issued to Prapan Paul Tinaphong, et al., and is entitled “Omni-Directional, Multi-Polarity Low-Profile Planar Antenna”, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. There are also planar television antennas currently on the market which are formed with an ultra-thin, flexible housing. An example of such a flexible planar antenna is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0054705, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,281,571, naming as inventors Prapan Paul Tinaphong, et al., and entitled “Ultra-Thin, Flexible, Broadband Low Profile Planar Wire Antenna”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0006]    Although the aforementioned planar high definition television antennas will work to receive signals when disposed in a horizontal position, it is usually recommended that such antennas be disposed in an upright, vertical position, preferably near a window or at a high elevation, for best reception of television broadcast signals. Some of these planar television antennas have openings or recesses on their housings for mounting the antennas on a wall or to a window in a vertical position. 
         [0007]    However, it may be desired by the owner of such a planar antenna not to mount the antenna permanently to a wall or window, and yet be able to secure the antenna in an upright, vertical position without it tipping over. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an antenna stand for mounting a planar television antenna in an upright, vertical position. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an antenna stand for holding flexible planar antennas in an upright position and provide support for such flexible antennas so that they do not bend while being held in such an upright position. 
         [0010]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an antenna stand for planar television antennas, which stand is adjustable so that it may receive and hold in an upright, vertical position planar antennas of differing dimensions. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an antenna stand for flexible and hard case planar television antennas which avoids the need for having to mount such antennas permanently or semi-permanently on a window or wall. 
         [0012]    In accordance with one form of the present invention, a stand for receiving and holding a planar television antenna includes a base, a support frame mounted on the base, and an extendable antenna holding arm which is adjustably mounted on the frame. The frame preferably includes a pair of lower clips that project outwardly from a surface thereof on which the bottom edge of a planar antenna may rest. The extendable arm includes an upper clip projecting from a surface thereof which may be used to engage the opposite upper edge of the planar antenna. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, a planar television antenna, such as those described previously, may be mounted on the antenna stand of the present invention and disposed between the lower clips of the frame and the upper clip of the extendable arm. The extendable arm may be adjusted on the frame so that the position of the upper clip relative to the lower clips may be adjusted such that the antenna stand may accommodate and support planar antennas having housings of different dimensions. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another form of the present invention, a stand for receiving and holding a planar television antenna includes a base and a laterally arcuate support frame mounted on the base. The frame preferably includes a pair of clips that project outwardly from a surface thereof on which the bottom edge of a planar antenna may rest. 
         [0015]    Accordingly, a planar television antenna, especially one which has a non-rigid, flexible housing such as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0054705 (now, U.S. Pat. No. 9,281,571), may be mounted on the antenna stand of the present invention and disposed on the clips of the frame. The curvature of the arcuate shape of the antenna support frame imparts a slight curvature or bend transversely (i.e., horizontally) to the flexible planar antenna mounted on the stand, and this slight curvature or bend will maintain the antenna in an upright position and prevent the antenna from folding over on itself. The antenna stand adds rigidity to a flexible planar antenna in the vertical direction, and the flexible planar antenna will remain in an upright position even though it only rests at its lower edge on the clips of the stand and without the need for the antenna stand to support its upper edge. 
         [0016]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front top perspective view of an antenna stand for holding a planar television antenna constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a rear bottom perspective view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a left elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a right elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a front top perspective view of the base component of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the frame component of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the extendable arm component of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-8  and illustrating the antenna stand holding a planar television antenna in an upright position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a front top perspective view of an antenna stand for holding a planar television antenna constructed in accordance with a second form of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a rear bottom perspective view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a right elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a left elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-15 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-16 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 18  is a bottom plan view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-17 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 19  is a front elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-18 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 20  is a rear elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-19 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 21  is a partially exploded, front elevational view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-20 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 22  is a partially exploded, rear bottom perspective view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-21 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 23  is a front perspective view of the antenna stand of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 13-22  and illustrating the antenna stand holding a flexible planar television antenna in an upright position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    Reference should be initially had to  FIGS. 1-11  of the drawings, where it will be seen that the antenna stand  2  constructed in accordance with a first form of the present invention basically includes three main components: a base  4 , a support frame  6  mounted on the base  4 , and an extendable arm  8  adjustably mounted on the support frame  6 . 
         [0041]    More specifically, the base  4  is a plate-like member which is preferably rectangular in shape with rounded corners to appear almost oval, although the base  4  can take on any shape, including round or oblong, as long as it provides adequate stability to the antenna stand  2  and an antenna  10  mounted thereon. The base  4  has a top side  12  and an opposite bottom side  14 . Preferably, there are two groups  16  of openings formed through the thickness of the base  4 , each group  16  consisting of four spaced apart slots  18 . As will be described in greater detail, these slots  18  receive prongs  20  extending downwardly from the support frame  6  so that the support frame  6  may be mounted on and secured to the base  4 . 
         [0042]    On the bottom side  14  of the base  4  there are preferably four partition walls  22 ,  24  extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom. Two of the walls  22  are preferably U-shaped and the other two walls  24  are preferably round in shape. The partition walls  22 ,  24  define an interior area  26  for receiving rubber feet (not shown) therewithin, the rubber feet being provided to minimize or prevent the base  4  and antenna stand  2  from slipping on or marring a surface of furniture or a window sill on which the antenna stand  2  is placed. The rubber feet may be secured to the surface of the bottom side  14  of the base  4  by using an adhesive or the like. 
         [0043]    The support frame  6  stands upright on and perpendicular to the base  4 . The support frame  6  is also generally a planar member preferably having a U-shape, with two opposite lateral, vertical legs  28  which are separated from and situated parallel to each other, and a transverse or horizontal cross member  30  joined to the upper sections of the lateral, vertical legs  28 . The support frame  6  includes a front side  32  and an opposite rear side  34 . The legs  28  are preferably spaced apart from each other to provide a space therebetween to accommodate a feed point housing found on some antennas, such as housing  40  disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0054705 (i.e., U.S. Pat. No. 9,281,571), which housing  40  covers the feed point and the connection of the antenna cable to the antenna. 
         [0044]    Each leg  28  of the support frame  6  includes an enlarged footing  36  formed by flaring outwardly in diverging directions the front and rear sides  32 ,  34  of the legs  28  at the bottom portion thereof. The bottom portion of each vertical leg  28  is formed with this enlarged footing  36  to provide a stable platform for resting on the base  4  of the antenna stand  2  and also to provide suitable surface area for forming thereon four spaced apart resilient prongs  20  on each leg  28 . Each prong  20  includes a hooked edge, and the prongs  20  of each leg  28  are dimensioned and spaced apart from each other such that they are in alignment with and may be received by corresponding slots  18  formed in the base  4 . The leg prongs  20  of the support frame  6  are inserted into respective slots  18  formed in the base  4  until their hooked edges pass below and engage the surface of the bottom side  14  of the base  4  to lock the support frame  6  in place on the base  4  in an upright, vertical position and perpendicular to the plane in which the base  4  resides. 
         [0045]    Each vertical leg  28  of the support frame  6  includes at least one L-shaped lower clip  38  which projects outwardly from the surface of the front side  32  of the support frame  6  on each leg  28 , although the lower clips  38  could be formed on the transverse cross member  30  in an alternative embodiment. The distance the L-shaped lower clips  38  project outwardly from the surface of the front side  32  of the support frame  6  is selected based on the overall thicknesses of commercially available planar television antennas such that an edge of the planar antenna  10  may be received by and rest on the L-shaped lower clips  38  of the support frame  6 . 
         [0046]    The transverse or horizontal cross member  30  of the support frame  6  includes a projection  40  formed on the rear side  34  of the support frame  6 , the projection  40  defining a U-shaped channel  42  in transverse cross-section extending therethrough vertically when the support frame  6  is mounted on the base  4  in an upright position. The U-shaped channel  42  is provided to receive the extendable arm  8  of the antenna stand  2 . 
         [0047]    More specifically, the extendable arm  8  is formed as an elongated member having a U-shape in transverse cross-section which is complementary to that of the channel  42  so that it may be received in the U-shaped channel  42  of the support frame  6 . The extendable arm  8  is closely received by the U-shaped channel  42  such that there is a friction fit between the interior walls of the channel projection  40  and the arm  8 , but with sufficient force the extendable arm  8  may be raised and lowered vertically with respect to the support frame  6  when received in the U-shaped channel  42  thereof. The extendable arm  8  has a front side  44  and an opposite rear side  46 . 
         [0048]    The upper free end of the extendable arm  8  includes an L-shaped upper clip  48  which projects outwardly from the surface of the front side  44  thereof and in the same direction that the lower clips  38  project from the surface of the front side  32  of the support frame  6 . Thus, because the extendable arm  8  is slidable under force within the U-shaped channel  42  of the support frame  6 , the relative distance that the upper clip  48  of the arm  8  is spaced from the lower clips  38  of the support frame  6  is adjustable to accommodate the width or height of most commercially available planar television antennas. Also, the distance the L-shaped upper clip  48  projects from the surface of the front side  44  of the extendable arm  8  is selected, like the lower clips  38 , based on the thicknesses of commercially available planar television antennas so that the upper or opposite edge of the planar television antenna may be received by and rest in the upper clip  48  of the extendable arm  8 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 12  illustrates how the antenna stand  2  of the present invention may support a planar television antenna  10  thereon in an upright position. As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , the lower edge of the planar television antenna  10  is received by and rests on the lower clips  38  formed on the legs  28  of the support frame  6 . Then, the extendable arm  8  is adjusted such that the upper clip  48  thereon securely engages the opposite upper edge of the planar television antenna  10 . Thus, the planar television antenna  10  is held in place between the lower and upper clips  38 ,  48  and supported on the antenna stand  2  in an upright, vertical position. 
         [0050]    The antenna stand  2  of the present invention will support planar antennas  10  that include either a hard case enclosure or a flexible housing in an upright, vertical position and, for flexible antennas, without the antenna bending or bowing, as the vertical legs  28  and horizontal cross member  30  of the support frame  6  and the extendable arm  8  together provide sufficient support over the width or length of the planar antenna  10 . Thus, the antenna stand  2  of the present invention may be placed on furniture or on a window sill, for example, and will hold the planar television antenna  10  in an upright position for best reception of high definition broadcast television signals. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIGS. 13-23  of the drawings, it can be seen that the antenna stand  102  formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention basically includes two main components: a base  104  and a support frame  106  mounted on the base  104 . 
         [0052]    More specifically, the base  104  is a plate-like member which is preferably rectangular in shape with rounded corners to appear almost oval, although the base  104  can take on any shape, including round or oblong, as long as it provides adequate stability to the antenna stand  102  and an antenna  10  mounted thereon. The base  104  has a top side  112  and an opposite bottom side  114 . Preferably, there are two groups  116  of openings formed through the thickness of the base  104 , each group  116  consisting of three spaced apart keyhole-shaped slots  118 , the center slot  118   a  being large than the two outer slots  118   b.  As will be described in greater detail, these three keyhole-shaped slots  118  receive locking pins  120  extending downwardly from the support frame  106  so that the support frame  106  may be mounted on and secured to the base  104 . Each of the keyhole-shaped slots  118  preferably includes an enlarged diameter portion  105  and a reduced diameter portion  103  in communication with the enlarged diameter portion  105  and being relatively smaller than the enlarged portion  105 . Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 14, 18, 21 and 22  of the drawings, each keyhole-shaped slot  118  of each of the groups  116  receives a corresponding locking pin  120  (i.e., a center locking pin  120   a  which is larger than two outer locking pins  120   b  of each of two groups of locking pins  120 ) aligned with it and extending downwardly from the support frame  106 . Each locking pin  120  includes a shank  121  and an enlarged head  123  situated on the distal free end of the pin shank  121 . When mounting the support frame  106  to the base  104 , the enlarged head  123  of the locking pin  120  is pushed into the enlarged diameter portion  105  of a respective keyhole-shaped slot  118 , and the support frame  106  is repositioned or shifted slightly on the base  104  such that the shank  121  of each locking pin  120  is moved into the reduced diameter portion  103  of a respective keyhole-shaped slot  118  on the base so as to hold captive the locking pin  120  within its corresponding slot  118  and to thus secure the support frame  106  of the antenna stand  102  to the base  104 . 
         [0053]    There is also a cable clip  140  mounted on the top side  112  of the base  104 . The cable clip  140  preferably includes two pairs of different sized and spaced apart resilient prongs to hold between each respective pair a coaxial cable of different diameter. 
         [0054]    On the bottom side  114  of the base  104  there are preferably four partition walls  122 ,  124  extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom. Two of the walls  122  are preferably U-shaped and the other two walls  124  are preferably round in shape. The partition walls  122 ,  124  define an interior area  126  for receiving rubber feet (not shown) therewithin, the rubber feet being provided to minimize or prevent the base  104  and antenna stand  102  from slipping on or marring a surface of furniture or a window sill on which the antenna stand  102  is placed. The rubber feet may be secured to the surface of the bottom side  114  of the base  104  by using an adhesive or the like. 
         [0055]    The support frame  106  stands upright on and perpendicular to the base  104 . The support frame  106  is also generally a U-shaped member, with two opposite lateral, vertical legs  128  which are separated from and situated parallel to each other, and a transverse or horizontal cross member  130  joined to the upper sections of the lateral, vertical legs  128 . The support frame  106  includes a front side  132  and an opposite rear side  134 . The support frame  106  is also laterally arcuate in shape, that is, exhibiting a relatively small transverse curvature to appear either convex or concave when viewed from the front thereof. As will be explained in greater detail, the small curvature of the frame  106  of the antenna stand  102  will help hold a planar antenna, especially one which has a flexible housing, in an upright position when the antenna is mounted on the stand  102 . 
         [0056]    Each leg  128  of the support frame  106  includes an enlarged footing  136  formed by flaring outwardly in diverging directions the front and rear sides  132 ,  134  of the legs  128  at the bottom portion thereof The bottom portion of each vertical leg  128  is formed with this enlarged footing  136  to provide a stable platform for resting on the base  104  of the antenna stand  102  and also to provide suitable surface area for forming thereon the three spaced apart locking pins  120 , mentioned previously, on each leg  128 . 
         [0057]    As also described previously, each locking pin  120  includes a shank  121  extending from the bottom portion of the vertical leg  128  and a head portion  123 . The locking pins  120  of each leg  128  are dimensioned and spaced apart from each other such that they are in alignment with and may be received by corresponding keyhole-shaped slots  118  formed in the base  104 . The locking pins  120  of the support frame  106  are inserted into respective keyhole-shaped slots  118  formed in the base  104  through the enlarged diameter portions  105  thereof until the head portions  123  of the locking pins  120  pass below the surface of the bottom side  114  of the base  104 . The legs  128  are then moved horizontally on the base  104  so that the shanks  121  of the locking pins  120  slide into the reduced diameter portions  103  of the keyhole-shaped slots  118 . Accordingly, in this position, the head portions  123  of the locking pins  120 , which have a diameter relatively larger than that of the reduced diameter portions  103  of the slots  118 , are vertically secured below the surface of the bottom side  114  of the base  104  to lock the support frame  106  in place on the base  104  in an upright, vertical position and perpendicular to the plane in which the base  104  resides. 
         [0058]    Each vertical leg  128  of the support frame  106  includes at least one L-shaped clip  138  which projects outwardly from the surface of the front side  132  of the support frame  106  on each leg  128 , although the clips  138  could be formed on the transverse cross member  130  in an alternative embodiment. The distance the L-shaped clips  138  project outwardly from the surface of the front side  132  of the support frame  106  is selected based on the overall thicknesses of commercially available planar television antennas such that an edge of the planar antenna may be received by and rest on the L-shaped clips  138  of the support frame  106 . 
         [0059]    By providing the support frame  106  of the antenna stand  102  with a small transverse curvature, any planar antenna  10  having a flexible housing or covering mounted on the stand will take on the same transverse curvature. In other words, and as illustrated in  FIG. 23  of the drawings, the planar antenna  10  will also bend slightly in a transverse or horizontal direction symmetrically about a vertical axis, and this bend will maintain the antenna  10  in an upright position on the stand  102  without slumping or folding over on itself The planar antenna  10  will remain in this upright position even though it only rests at its lower edge on the clips  138  of the stand  102  and without the need for the antenna stand  102  to support the upper edge of the antenna. 
         [0060]    To utilize the antenna stand  102  formed in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, the lower edge of the planar television antenna  10  is received by and rests on the clips  138  formed on the legs  128  of the support frame  106 . Thus, the planar television antenna  10  is held in place by the clips  138  and supported on the antenna stand  102  in an upright, vertical position. Furthermore, the clips  138  may be resilient and inwardly biased towards the support frame  106 . The resiliency of the clips  138  provides additional support to the antenna  10 . When the antenna stand  102  is used to support a flexible planar antenna  10 , the curvature of the frame  106  shapes the antenna  10  and limits the ability of the antenna to collapse by providing support thereto. 
         [0061]    The antenna stand  102  formed in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention will support planar antennas  10  that include either a hard case enclosure or a flexible housing in an upright, vertical position and, for flexible antennas, without the antenna bending or bowing, as the vertical legs  128  and horizontal cross member  130  of the support frame  106  provide sufficient support over the width or length of the planar antenna  10 . For planar antennas  10  with a non-flexible housing, the clips  138  just need to be made such that they project out from the surface of the front side  132  of the support frame  106  a sufficient distance to compensate for the lateral curvature of the frame  106 . Thus, the antenna stand  102  of the present invention may be placed on furniture or on a window sill, for example, and will hold the planar television antenna  10  in an upright position for best reception of high definition broadcast television signals. 
         [0062]    Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.