Patent Publication Number: US-9905906-B2

Title: Satellite antenna

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 104102802, filed on Jan. 28, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a satellite antenna, and in particular to a satellite antenna can be easily assembled and disassembled. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In the conventional satellite antenna, different members (for example, the connection rod and the receiver) are connected and fixed by bolts and nuts. Additional manual tools are required to fix the bolts and nuts during the assembly process. The assembly process requires time and effort. Additionally, the threads of the bolts are easily damaged, and the assembly process can therefore be interrupted. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a satellite antenna is provided. The satellite antenna includes a first member, a second member and a connecting unit. A first opening is formed on the first member. A second opening is formed on the second member. The connecting unit fixes the first member to the second member. The connecting unit includes a connection post, an abutting element and a rotatable stopper. The connection post includes a first end and a second end. The abutting element pivots on the first end of the connection post. The rotatable stopper pivots on the second end of the connection post, wherein in a fixing state, the connection post passes through the first opening and the second opening, the abutting element pulls the rotatable stopper to tightly abut a first surface of the first member, and the first member is fixed to the second member. 
     In one embodiment, the abutting element pivots between an abutting orientation and a releasing orientation, the abutting element comprises a cam portion and a wrench portion, an extending direction of the cam portion is perpendicular to an extending direction of the wrench portion, and when the wrench portion is pushed to move the abutting element to the abutting orientation, the cam portion abuts a second surface of the first member, and the first surface is opposite the second surface. 
     In one embodiment, the rotatable stopper pivots between a first orientation and a second orientation, and when the rotatable stopper is in the first orientation, the rotatable stopper is adapted to pass through the first opening and the second opening, and when the rotatable stopper is in the second orientation, the rotatable stopper abuts the first surface of the first member. 
     In one embodiment, the first opening and the second opening are circular holes, the rotatable stopper is a longitudinal structure, the second end of the connection post pivots on a center portion of the rotatable stopper, and in an assembled state, the rotatable stopper and the connection post is located on the same straight line, and the rotatable stopper passes through the first opening and the second opening. 
     In one embodiment, in the fixing state, the rotatable stopper and the connection post form a T-shaped structure. 
     In one embodiment, the satellite antenna further comprises a satellite dish and a supporting frame, wherein the first member is a connection rod, the second member is a receiver, the second member is corresponding to the satellite dish, the supporting frame is connected to the satellite dish, and the first member is connected to the supporting frame and the second member. 
     In one embodiment, the rotatable stopper comprises a circular plate and a pivot portion, the pivot portion is disposed on the circular plate, and the second end of the connection post is connected to the pivot portion. 
     In one embodiment, the second opening comprises a slot area and an opening area, the slot area is connected to the opening area, in an assembled state, the circular plate is parallel to the connection post, and the circular plate passes through the slot area. 
     In one embodiment, in the fixing state, the pivot portion is located in the opening area, and the circular plate is perpendicular to the connection post. 
     In one embodiment, the satellite antenna further comprises a receiver and a connection rod, wherein the first member is a satellite dish, the second member is a supporting frame, the receiver is corresponding to the first surface of the first member, the second member is connected to the satellite dish, and the connection rod is connected to the second member and the receiver. 
     In one embodiment, the first opening is formed in a circular recess, and the circular recess is formed on the first surface. 
     In one embodiment, the abutting element pivots between an abutting orientation and a releasing orientation, the abutting element comprises a cam portion and a wrench portion, an extending direction of the cam portion is perpendicular to an extending direction of the wrench portion, and in the fixing state, the abutting element is in the abutting orientation, the cam portion abuts a third surface of the second member, and the first surface is opposite the third surface. 
     Utilizing the embodiments of the invention, the first member and the second member of the satellite antenna can be easily assembled or disassembled without any manual tools. Additionally, the number of bolts of the satellite antenna is decreased, and the problem of bolt thread damage is reduced. 
     A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  shows a satellite antenna of a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the satellite antenna is in a fixing state; 
         FIG. 1B  shows the satellite antenna of the first embodiment of the invention, wherein the satellite antenna is in an assembly state; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a satellite antenna of a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the satellite antenna is in a fixing state; 
         FIG. 2B  shows the satellite antenna of the second embodiment of the invention, wherein the satellite antenna is in an assembly state; 
         FIG. 2C  shows detailed structure of a rotatable stopper of the second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 3A-3D  shows an assembly process of the satellite antenna of the second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a satellite antenna of a first embodiment of the invention, including a connection rod (first member of the first embodiment)  10 , a receiver (second member of the first embodiment)  20  and a connecting unit  100 . First openings  11  are formed on the connection rod  10 . Second openings  21  are formed on the receiver  20 . The connecting unit  100  fixes the connection rod  10  to the receiver  20 . The connecting unit  100  comprises a connection post  110 , an abutting element  120  and a rotatable stopper  130 . The connection post  110  comprises a first end  111  and a second end  112 . The abutting element  120  pivots on the first end  111  of the connection post  110 . The rotatable stopper  130  pivots on the second end  112  of the connection post  110 . In a fixing state ( FIG. 1A ), the connection post  110  passes through the first openings  11  and the second openings  21 . The abutting element  120  pulls the rotatable stopper  130  to tightly abut a first surface  12  of the connection rod  10 , and the connection rod  10  is fixed to the receiver  20 . In the embodiment above, the rotatable stopper  130  is manually rotated by the user to abut the first surface  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the abutting element  120  pivots between an abutting orientation ( FIG. 1A ) and a releasing orientation ( FIG. 1B ), the abutting element  120  comprises a cam portion  121  and a wrench portion  122 . With reference to  FIG. 1B , the extending direction X of the cam portion  121  is perpendicular to the extending direction Y of the wrench portion  122 . With reference to  FIG. 1A , in the fixing state, the abutting element  120  is in the abutting orientation, and the cam portion  121  abuts a second surface  13  of the connection rod  10 . The first surface  12  is opposite the second surface  13 . The cam portion  121  pushes the second surface  12  of the connection rod  10  to reduce a free space on the connection post  110  between the abutting element  120  and the rotatable stopper  130 . The rotatable stopper  130  therefore tightly abuts the first surface  12  of the connection rod  10 . The abutting element  120  pivots on the connection post  110  by bolts or other elements. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the rotatable stopper  130  pivots between a first orientation ( FIG. 1B ) and a second orientation ( FIG. 1A ). When the rotatable stopper  130  is in the first orientation ( FIG. 1B ), the rotatable stopper  130  is adapted to pass through the first openings  11  and the second openings  21 . When the rotatable stopper  130  is in the second orientation ( FIG. 1A ), the rotatable stopper  130  abuts the first surface  12  of the connection rod  10 . In this embodiment, the first openings  11  and the second openings  21  are circular holes and the rotatable stopper  130  is a longitudinal structure. The second end  112  of the connection post  110  pivots on a center portion of the rotatable stopper  130 . In an assembly state ( FIG. 1B ), the rotatable stopper  130  and the connection post  110  are located on the same straight line, and the rotatable stopper  130  passes through the first openings  11  and the second openings  21 . In the fixing state ( FIG. 1A ), the rotatable stopper  130  and the connection post  110  form a T-shaped structure. 
     In the embodiment above, the rotatable stopper  130  can be a stamping part with a U-shaped cross section. The rotatable stopper  130  provides reliable fixing function with decreased dimension. Utilizing the first embodiment of the invention, the first member and the second member of the satellite antenna can be easily assembled or disassembled without any manual tools. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a satellite antenna of a second embodiment of the invention, including a satellite dish (first member of the second embodiment)  30 , a supporting frame (second member of the second embodiment)  40  and the connecting unit  100 ′. A first opening  31  is formed on the satellite dish  30  (with reference to  FIG. 3A ). A second opening  41  is formed on the supporting frame  40 . The connecting unit  100 ′ fixes the satellite dish  30  to the supporting frame  40 . The connecting unit  100 ′ comprises a connection post  110 , an abutting element  120  and a rotatable stopper  130 ′. The connection post  110  comprises a first end  111  and a second end  112 . The abutting element  120  pivots on the first end  111  of the connection post  110 . The rotatable stopper  130 ′ pivots on the second end  112  of the connection post  110 . In a fixing state ( FIG. 2A ), the connection post  110  passes through the first opening  31  and the second opening  41 . The abutting element  120  pulls the rotatable stopper  130 ′ to tightly abut a first surface  32  of the satellite dish  30 . In the fixing state ( FIG. 2A ), the cam portion  121  of the abutting element  120  abuts a third surface  42  of the supporting frame  40 , and the first surface  32  is opposite the third surface  42 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2C , in the second embodiment, the rotatable stopper  130 ′ comprises a circular plate  131  and a pivot portion  132 . The pivot portion  132  is disposed on the circular plate  131 , and the second end  112  of the connection post  110  is connected to the pivot portion  132 . In this embodiment, the second opening  41  comprises a slot area  43  and an opening area  44 , and the slot area  43  is connected to the opening area  44 . In an assembly state ( FIG. 2B ), the circular plate  131  is parallel to the connection post  110 , the circular plate  131  passes through the slot area  43 , and the pivot portion  132  passes through the opening area  44 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2C , in the fixing state, the pivot portion  132  is located in the opening area  44 , and the circular plate  131  is perpendicular to the connection post  110 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3A-3D , in one embodiment, the first opening  31  is formed in a circular recess  33 , and the circular recess  33  is formed on the first surface  32  (in this embodiment, the first surface  32  is the reflective surface of the satellite dish). In the assembly process, the circular plate  131  passes through the first opening  31  ( FIG. 3B ) first. Then, the circular plate  131  is rotated to be perpendicular to the connection post  110  ( FIG. 3C ). Finally, the abutting element  120  is twisted into the fixing state ( FIG. 3D ). In the fixing state, the circular plate  131  is located in the circular recess  33  to cover the first opening  31  to improve the appearance and integrity of the satellite antenna, which maintains the reflective effect of the satellite dish. In one embodiment, the circular plate  131  can sufficiently cover the circular recess  33 . 
     Utilizing the second embodiment of the invention, the first member and the second member of the satellite antenna can be easily assembled or disassembled without any manual tools. Additionally, the appearance of the satellite antenna and the reflective effect of the satellite dish are improved. Utilizing the embodiments of the invention, the number of bolts of the satellite antenna is decreased, and the problem of the bolt thread damage is reduced. 
     Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term). 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.