Patent Publication Number: US-10784561-B2

Title: Satellite antenna mounting systems and methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/948,748, filed Apr. 9, 2018, entitled “Satellite Antenna Mounting Systems and Methods,” which application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/611,881, filed Dec. 29, 2017, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference, for all purposes, as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Various systems exist for attaching satellite antennas to mounting structures. Attaching a satellite antenna to a mounting structure is the final step in installing a satellite antenna, but can sometimes be the most troublesome. 
     Because of the bulky shape and weight of a satellite antenna, either multiple persons may be required to complete the installation, or at the very least, a single person may have trouble completing this final step. Furthermore, the installer may also be working at an elevated level above the ground, as is common in satellite antenna installations. Finally, existing systems may require coupling hardware between the satellite antenna and the mounting structure to be installed to complete the installation, prior to the installer removing their support of the weight of the satellite antenna. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide improvements to existing systems, as well as solutions for scenarios left unresolved by existing systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a system for coupling a satellite antenna to a mounting structure is provided. The system may include a mounting structure and a satellite antenna. The mounting structure may include a plurality of tabs extending upward, and located at a first elevation. The mounting structure may also define a first plurality of apertures located at a second elevation, where the first elevation is higher than the second elevation. The satellite antenna may define a second plurality of apertures configured to accept the plurality of tabs. The satellite antenna may be supported by the mounting structure upon the plurality of tabs being accepted by the second plurality of apertures. The satellite antenna may also define a third plurality of apertures which may be aligned with the first plurality of apertures upon the plurality of tabs being accepted by the second plurality of apertures. 
     In another embodiment, a system for coupling a satellite antenna to a mounting structure is provided. The system may include a mounting structure and a satellite antenna. The mounting structure may define a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. The mounting structure may also define a first plurality of notches, where each of the plurality of notches opens upward. The satellite antenna may define a third plurality of apertures and a fourth plurality of apertures. The satellite antenna may also include a plurality of hooked tabs, and the satellite antenna may be supported by the mounting structure upon the plurality of hooked tabs being supported in the plurality of notches. The third plurality of apertures may be aligned with the first plurality of apertures upon the plurality of hooked tabs being supported in the plurality of notches. The fourth plurality of apertures may be aligned with the second plurality of apertures upon the plurality of hooked tabs being supported in the plurality of notches. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention are described in conjunction with the appended figures: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one apparatus embodiment of the invention for coupling a satellite antenna to a mounting structure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the mounting structure from  FIG. 1 , without the satellite antenna; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of another apparatus embodiment of the invention for coupling a satellite antenna to a mounting structure; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus from  FIG. 2 , without the satellite antenna coupled to the mounting structure. 
     
    
    
     In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same numerical reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components and/or features. If only the first numerical reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components and/or features having the same first numerical reference label irrespective of the letter suffix. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     For example, any detail discussed with regard to one embodiment may or may not be present in all contemplated versions of that embodiment. Likewise, any detail discussed with regard to one embodiment may or may not be present in all contemplated versions of other embodiments discussed herein. Finally, the absence of discussion of any detail with regard to any embodiment herein shall be an implicit recognition that such detail may or may not be present in any version of any embodiment discussed herein. 
     Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced with or without these specific details. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a system  100  for coupling a satellite antenna  110  to a mounting structure  120  is provided. Satellite antenna  110  may be a satellite television receiving dish in some embodiments, though in other embodiments, other types of satellite antennas may be utilized. Mounting structure  120  may be the terminating portion of any mounting system which eventually secures to a substantially stationary or otherwise stable object, in order to provide a stable mounting of satellite antenna  110 . 
     Mounting structure  120  may include a plurality of tabs  130  extending upward, and located at a consistent first elevation. Mounting structure may also define a first plurality of apertures  140  located at a consistent second elevation. As shown, the first elevation may be higher than the second elevation. Though two tabs  130  are shown in this embodiment, more may be present in other embodiments. In some embodiments, only one tab  130  may be present. 
     Satellite antenna  110  may define a second plurality of apertures  150  configured to accept the plurality of tabs  130 . Satellite antenna  110  may be supported by mounting structure  120  upon the plurality of tabs  130  being accepted by the second plurality of apertures  150 . Though two apertures  150  are shown in this embodiment, more may be present in other embodiments, and the number of apertures  150  may match the number of tabs  130 . In some embodiments, only one aperture  150  may be present. The outward facing surface of tabs  130  may be substantially flush with reflection surface  180  of satellite antenna  110 . “Substantially flush” shall be interpreted to mean that inconsequential differences in height are present with respect to the ultimate functionality of such surfaces. 
     Satellite antenna  110  may also define a third plurality of apertures  160  which may be aligned with the first plurality of apertures  140  upon the plurality of tabs  130  being accepted by the second plurality of apertures  150 . Though two apertures  160  are shown in this embodiment, more may be present in other embodiments, and the number of apertures  160  may match the number of apertures  140 . In some embodiments only one aperture  160  may be present. 
     A plurality of fasteners  170  (shown here as nuts and bolts) may also be provided. Upon the plurality of tabs  130  being accepted by the second plurality of apertures  150 , the plurality of fasteners  170  may be inserted into the first plurality of apertures  140  and the third plurality of apertures  160 . The end of each of the plurality of fasteners  170  may be substantially flush with reflection surface  180  of satellite antenna  110  when inserted into the first plurality of apertures  140  and the third plurality of apertures  160 . 
     In addition to vertically supporting satellite antenna  110 , tabs  130  may also limit lateral (i.e., left to right) movement of satellite antenna  110  once engaged with apertures  150 . This may be accomplished by making the width of tabs  130  substantially equal to the width of apertures  150 . “Substantially equal” shall be interpreted to mean that routine mechanical clearances are maintained for mating parts. 
     Mounting structure  120  may also include a backing surface  190 . Backing surface  190  may be substantially congruent with the back of the satellite antenna  110 , such that upon the plurality of tabs  130  being accepted by the second plurality of apertures  150 , backing surface  190  is substantially flush with the back of satellite antenna  110 . This may assist in stabilizing satellite antenna  110  against mounting structure  120 . 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , a system  200  for coupling a satellite antenna  210  to a mounting structure  220  is provided. Satellite antenna  210  may be a satellite television receiving dish in some embodiments, though in other embodiments, other types of satellite antennas may be utilized. Mounting structure  220  may be the terminating portion of any mounting system which eventually secures to a substantially stationary or otherwise stable object, in order to provide a stable mounting of satellite antenna  210 . 
     Mounting structure  220  may define a first plurality of apertures  230  and a second plurality of apertures  240 . The mounting structure may also define a first plurality of notches  250 , where each of the plurality of notches  250  opens upward. Though two apertures  230  and two apertures  240  are shown in this embodiment, more may be present in other embodiments. In some embodiments, only one each of aperture  230 ,  240  may be present. 
     Satellite antenna  210  may define a third plurality of apertures  260  and a fourth plurality of apertures  270 . Satellite antenna  210  may also include a plurality of hooked tabs  280 , and satellite antenna  210  may be supported by mounting structure  220  upon the plurality of hooked tabs  280  being supported in the plurality of notches  250 . Though two apertures  260  and two apertures  270  are shown in this embodiment, more may be present in other embodiments. In some embodiments, only one each of aperture  260 ,  270  may be present. The number of apertures  230  and apertures  260  may be the same in most embodiments. The number of apertures  240  and apertures  270  may be the same in most embodiments. 
     Third plurality of apertures  260  may be aligned with the first plurality of apertures  230  upon the plurality of hooked tabs  280  being supported in the plurality of notches  250 . The fourth plurality of apertures  270  may be aligned with the second plurality of apertures  240  upon the plurality of hooked tabs  280  being supported in the plurality of notches  250 . Though two hooked tabs  280  and two notches  250  are shown in this embodiment, more may be present in other embodiments, in some embodiments, only one hooked tab  280  and one notch  250  may be present. The number of hooked tabs  280  and notches  250  may be the same in most embodiments. 
     A plurality of fasteners  290  (shown here as nuts and bolts) may also be provided. Upon the plurality of hooked tabs  280  being supported by the plurality of notches  250 , a first portion of the plurality of fasteners  290  may be inserted into the first plurality of apertures  230  and the third plurality of apertures  260 , and a second portion of the plurality of fasteners  290  may be inserted into the second plurality of apertures  240  and the fourth plurality of apertures  270 . The end of each of the plurality of fasteners  290  may be substantially flush with reflection surface of satellite antenna  210  when inserted into the apertures. 
     In addition to vertically supporting satellite antenna  210 , hooked tabs  280  may also limit lateral (i.e., left to right) movement of satellite antenna  210  once engaged with notches  250 . This may be accomplished by making the width of hooked tabs  280  substantially equal to the width of notches  250 . 
     Mounting structure  220  may also include a backing surface  295 . Backing surface  295  may be substantially congruent with the back of the satellite antenna  210 , such that upon the plurality of hooked tabs  280  being accepted by the plurality of notches  250 , backing surface  295  is substantially flush with the back of satellite antenna  210 . This may assist in stabilizing satellite antenna  210  against mounting structure  220 . 
     Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.