Abstract:
A marine antenna array includes a contoured antenna assembly having a cowling that houses more than one antenna. Where more than one contoured antenna assembly is required to accommodate all antennas needed on a boat, each contoured antenna assembly is identical in appearance.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/320,176, filed May 8, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to antennas and more particularly to marine antennas and mountings for marine antennas. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Boats, and particularly pleasure craft, are frequently fitted with a multitude of antennas for a variety of purposes. For example, a single vessel may have antennas for CB, VHF, UHF, TV, AM/FM, cell phone, Orbcomm™ communications, satellite phone, SSB, GPS, and/or a multiband antenna, all in addition to radar. Each antenna has unique design constraints for optimum performance, but one feature common to all is a requirement to receive or transmit at one or more resonant frequencies. 
   Many marine antennas are mounted to an arch, often called a radar arch or an antenna arch. However, the different designs for the multitude of antennas and different location requirements for optimum performance often leave an antenna arch unsightly with a number of different antennas mounted thereto. 
   There is a need to provide clean lines and appearance for antenna mountings in marine applications. But no common design accommodates the multitude of antennas available today. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   A solution is provided by the present invention of a marine antenna array for mounting to a boat. The marine antenna array comprises at least one contoured antenna assembly having a cowling and a base plate. The cowling houses at least two antennas resonant in different frequencies. Where two or more antenna assemblies are used, each will be identical in appearance to the other. Preferably, the cowling is elongated and has a longitudinal axis at an acute angle relative to the baseplate. Also, a portion of one antenna in each assembly can extend from the cowling. Preferably, at least one antenna is a multi-band antenna. 
   In another aspect of the invention, an improvement is a marine vessel having a mounting platform for antennas. The improvement comprises an array of at least two antenna assemblies, each antenna assembly having a cowling. Each cowling at least partially encloses an antenna. The cowlings and visible portions of the antenna assemblies look identical. A cowling can enclose more than one antenna. Preferably, the mounting platform is an arch and the cowlings are raked relative to the mounting platform. 
   The cowlings can be elongated where each has a longitudinal axis at an acute angle relative to the baseplate. Typically, a portion of each antenna extends from its respective cowling. Also, at least one antenna is preferably a multiband antenna. The result of the invention is an aesthetically pleasing look with clean lines and a minimal number of projections from the arch. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a boat having a marine antenna array according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view, with portions broken away, of a single antenna housing in the array of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an antenna arch having an antenna array according to the invention, with portions broken away. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a boat  10  having an arch  12 . As is conventional in marine architecture, the arch is often multi-functional. For example, it may house lighting, sound components for an audio system, rigging accessories, and provide anchors for cover attachments. With respect to the invention, however, the arch  12  is a mounting platform, having an upper surface  14  on a crosspiece  16  that provides support for an antenna array  18  according to the invention. 
   The antenna array  18  comprises at least one contoured antenna assembly  20 . Where more than one contoured antenna assembly  20  is provided, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , each is identical in appearance and orientation relative to the boat  10 . The contoured antenna assembly  20  will comprise at least one antenna, and preferably more than one antenna. Each of CB, VHF, UHF, TV, AM/FM, cell phone, Orbcomm™ communications, satellite phone, SSB, GPS, and/or a multiband antenna can be configured to fit mostly within the contoured antenna assembly  20 . Depending on the shape and size of the contoured antenna assembly  20 , a radar antenna may also be configured to fit within the contoured antenna assembly. More likely, however, a radar dome  21  having its own configuration and contour will be separate from the contoured antenna assembly  20 . 
   Looking now also at  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the contoured antenna assembly  20  is illustrated. The assembly  20  comprises a cowling  22  attached to a baseplate  24 . Preferably, the cowling is made of a durable polymer and colored to aesthetically match or complement the arch. Within the cowling  22 , a fixture  26  is secured to the baseplate  24 . An antenna connector  28  projects from the fixture  26  through the baseplate  24 . The cowling  22  in this embodiment is shaped to have a rake to it so that it has a longitudinal axis  25  that is not normal to the baseplate  24 . The rake angle is mostly ornamental, offering an appearance of speed. However, it will be apparent that the greater the rake angle, the less the contoured antenna assembly  20  will project above the arch  12  to which is mounted. 
   An antenna  30  is mounted to the fixture  26  and projects through the cowling  22 , generally along the longitudinal axis. The antenna  30  is preferably a multiband antenna, capable of resonating at more than one frequency. For example, the antenna  30  may be capable of receiving signals in the CB, AM/FM, and cell phone frequency ranges, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,352, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Processing circuitry (not shown) may be disposed within the arch or elsewhere to separate the different frequencies. A GPS antenna  32  is mounted to the baseplate  24  and has a connector  34  extending therethrough. The baseplate  24  is secured to the upper surface  14  of the arch  12  in a conventional manner, with the connectors  28 ,  34  connecting to appropriate leads to the processing circuitry for processing signals received by the respective antennas  30 ,  32 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of an antenna array  40  on an antenna arch  42  according to the invention. The antenna array comprises the contoured antenna assembly  20  of  FIG. 2  mounted to the arch  42  as described above. In addition, a second contoured antenna assembly  40  has an exterior configuration similar or identical to the contoured antenna assembly  20 . The second contoured antenna assembly  44  is mounted to the arch  42  spaced from the first contoured antenna assembly  20  and oriented to have the same rake angle as the contoured antenna assembly  20 . The second contoured antenna assembly  44  comprises a cowling  46  and a baseplate  48  to which the cowling  46  is attached. Within the cowling  46 , a fixture  50  is secured to the baseplate  48 . A second multiband antenna  52  extends along a longitudinal axis  54  from the fixture  50 , along with a circuit box  56  for isolating frequencies received by the antenna  52 . Like the antenna assembly  20 , the antenna  52  extends from the cowling  46 , if not by reason of the electrical length of the antenna itself, then by reason of matching the visual appearance of the antenna assembly  20 . In addition a monopole antenna  58  is located within the cowling  46  for receiving a specific frequency. 
   While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.