Patent Publication Number: US-7898496-B2

Title: Antenna mount with alternative uses

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/810,932, filed Jun. 5, 2006, entitled ANTENNA MOUNT naming Eric Olsen and Wiley Darling as the inventors. The contents of the provisional application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of apparatus for mounting an antenna on a surface, in particular for mounting and removing the antenna for transport or relocation, which can advantageously be used in areas of concern involving the use of an antenna in motorized-vehicles or mobile homes or where the antenna is employed in a portable manner. 
     Further, the invention relates to the field for mounting an object on a surface, in particular for temporarily mounting and subsequently removing the object or assembly attached from the surface. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The average size or diameter of satellite antennas or dishes have reduced over the years. Satellite dishes of diameter of only 20 inches or less are now more common. With the reduction in size, the dishes have more prevalent in industries such as the trucking industry or in the recreational vehicle industry. Smaller satellite dishes permit reception of entertainment signals in a more mobile environment. 
     Various methods have been employed in the past, including tripod configurations and fixed configurations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an apparatus for mounting a satellite dish type antenna on a mounting surface capable of holding by use of suction device(s). In combination, a a mounting bracket, a support arm and the suction device(s) form a simple to use, semi-permanent holding apparatus for a satellite dish type antenna, various other types of antennas, a sign, or other devices such as flag poles, small tables or shelves, or the like. 
     An object is achieved in an simple manner by using a modified deformation device comprising suction device(s) or suction cup(s) previously typically used for handling materials, e.g., sheets of glass, and attaching a bracket assembly to the modified deformation device, wherein the bracket assembly is used for attaching an antenna assembly or another device such as a flag pole or sign or small shelf or the like. 
     The suction device(s) used with the preferred embodiment of the invention incorporate a lever in their design which moves a portion of the inner surface of the suction device thereby increasing the suction force adhering the suction device to the surface. 
     The invention is useful for holding and for positioning a variety of light weight articles, including but not limited to various antenna assemblies, a flag pole, a sign, or a small shelf. 
     The invention is useful in that it may be attached and removed from a mounting surface and the entire structure can be easily relocated or stored. Storing is particularly useful in its preferred embodiment wherein a satellite dish style antenna is attached, and the invention is subsequently removed from the mounting surface of motor home or vehicle for relocation of either the motor home or other vehicle or removed from the attached assembly. 
     Those involved in the recreational vehicle (RV) industry and over the road trucking industry are benefited because setup and removal is easily achieved. 
     Those involved in living in a multi-unit building such as an apartment complex or condominium or high rise are benefited because setup is not necessarily permanent and may be done on a vertical surface wherein the suction device(s) or suction cup(s) can be attached. 
     Others may be benefited merely because the invention may be temporarily attached to a mounting surface and subsequently removed from that surface, depending upon the particular device or assembly attached to the invention, for example, a satellite dish type antenna or a flag pole displaying a flag. 
     It is aspect of the invention to provide a releasable mounting apparatus that can be mounted without the use of screws, bolts, or other fasteners which necessitate using holes in the mounting surface. 
     It is another aspect of the invention to provide a releasable satellite dish mounting apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture and be easily fabricated with readily available components. 
     Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a releasable satellite dish mounting apparatus that be installed on the outside of a motor home or recreational vehicle which then can be removed and stored prior to relocation of the motor home or recreational vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention, explained in more detail below, and with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an illustration from a side view of the preferred embodiment according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows, in an illustration and obliquely from the side, a preexisting handle assemble used in moving certain materials such as glass panes, 
         FIG. 3  shows, from the side, a view of a preexisting bracket and arm assembly used in mounting satellite dishes, 
         FIG. 4  shows, from the side, a view of the bracket attached to the handle assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , invention  15  is attached to a mounting surface  110  using suction devices  10  and  20 . Attached to support arm  100  is satellite dish  130  by satellite holding bracket  120 . Satellite holding bracket  120  can be supplied with the particular make or model of satellite dish  130  or typically can be acquired as an off-the-shelf type part. As shown, support arm  100  is angled and tubular in design, however, support arm  100  need only connect or attach satellite holding bracket  120  with mounting bracket  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , Support arm  100  pivots around fastener  90  in such a manner as to permit the end of support arm  100  to rotate in the arc described by slot  60 . Support arm  100  is held in a fixed angular place by fastener  80 , which is further described as a bolt in combination with a nut. 
     Support arm  100  in combination with mounting bracket  50  are well known in the art of satellite dish mounting hardware, and can be purchased as an off-the-shelf item. A typical off the shelf item such as support arm  100  and mounting bracket  50  are made from metal. Other materials such as plastic could be used. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , likewise, Dual Suction cup device  12  is an off-the-shelf item. Dual Suction cup device  12  comprises a handle area  65  which is connected to suction cups  10  and  20  using molded plastic or the like. Suction cups  10  and  20  are made more secure to mounting surface  110  by changing the position of levers  30  and  40 , respectfully, as is well known in the art of suction devices. Dual Suction cup device  12  may be manufactured by GORDON, and is made from plastic(s). As so manufactured, handle area  65  is hollowed out between end points  67  and  68 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , it shows mounting bracket  50  attached to Dual Suction cup device  12  using bolts  51  and  52 , and washers  56 ,  57 ,  58  and  59 . Bolts  51  and  52  are held in place by nuts  54  and  55 , respectfully. In the preferred embodiment, handle plugs (not shown) are inserted into end points  67  and  68  such that bolts  51  and  52  are supported through the entire diameter of handle area  65 . Typically, the handle plugs will made from a round material such as wood dowel, cut to length, painted or sealed, and inserted through end points  67  and  68  to provide for additional strength to handle area  65 . 
     Mounting bracket  50  attaches to handle area  65  using two bolts  51  and  52  through holes implemented in handle area  65  and, if inserted, holes the handle plugs. 
     Now referring back to  FIG. 1 , mounting bracket  50  attached to modified Dual Suction cup device  12 , in combination with support arm  100 , create a simple to use and readily assembled satellite antenna mount system capable of being placed onto and then removed from and replaced onto mounting surface  110 , or another mounting surface. By releasing levers  30  and  40  such that the suction previously created when levers  30  and  40  were positioned for holding, the mounting system can be released and removed from the mounting surface. In so doing, a semi-permanent attachment to mounting surface  110  has been created for holding items such as satellite dish  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , mounting surface  110  can be in the vertical direction. Satellite dish  130  points in an upward direction. However, if mounting surface  110  was in a horizontal direction, then fastener  80  could be loosened and support arm  100  pivoted around fastener  90  in such a way around the arc of slot  60  such that satellite dish  130  now points in an upward direction while being mounted on a mounting surface  110  which is generally in a horizontal position. Mounting surfaces between horizontal and vertical simply require an adjustment of fastener  90  in slot  60 , thereby keeping support arm  100  in a particular plane determined by slot  60  and mounting bracket  50 . Therefore, any sufficiently stable mounting surface  110  capable of holding suction cups  10  and  20  (and the weight associated with the attached device) is likely to be suitable as a mounting area. This allows great flexibility in where the satellite mounting system is deployed, and is not limited to mobile homes or recreational vehicles. By maintaining a fixed vertical of the holding arm from various mounting points, the directional alignment of the antenna, such as for a dish-type antenna, can remain relatively consistent from one installation to the next. 
     In addition, satellite dish  130  and satellite holding bracket  120  can be removed from support arm  100  and stored. Other components could be attached to the satellite mount system, including but not limited to flag pole holding assembly, a small table or shelf, or virtually anything of limited weight that could attach to support arm  100 . As such, this mount system provides multiple uses for semi-permanently attaching any device assemble of suitable weight to a mounting surface. 
     It should be noted that many variations may be provided within the scope of the present invention, and that the preferred embodiment has been disclosed. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and certain details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.