Patent ID: 8786511

Claim:
A radio antenna comprising; a. an elongated mast, b. at least a first electrically conductive element which is disposed radially to the longitudinal axis of said mast, c. a first mechanical coupling mechanism which enables said first electrically conductive element to be alternately disposed perpendicularly to said mast for transmitting and receiving radio signals, and disposed substantially parallel to said mast to minimize the envelope size of said antenna, d. a second element disposed radially from said longitudinal axis of said mast at a location spaced circumferentially apart from said first element, said second element being diametrically opposed to said first element thus forming with said first element a pair of elements of a first linear electric dipole which are co-planar in a first plane containing the longitudinal axis of said mast, e. a second mechanical coupling mechanism which enables said second electrical element to be alternatively disposed perpendicularly to said mast and disposed substantially parallel to said mast, said first and second mechanical coupling mechanisms each including a releasable fastener mechanism which enables said first and second elements to be attached to said mast in a radially disposed orientation to enable said antenna elements to transmit and receive radio signals and re-attachably removed from said mast to enable said antenna elements to be positioned substantially parallel to said mast, said releasable fastener mechanism including in combination an externally threaded stud protruding from one of said element and said mast, and an internally threaded socket attached to the other of said mast and element, said socket being capable of threadingly receiving said stud.