REINFORCED MOUNT FOR AN ANTENNA ASSEMBLY

• US 20110187624A1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Lettkeman, David M., Schmidt, Jason S., Boize, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,780,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/882
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole

Abstract

An antenna mount including first, second, and third plates is disclosed. A first plate is attached to a second plate to form a plate assembly. When attached, a planar surface of the first plate contacts a surface of the second plate. The second plate may include a stiffening structure. The first plate includes a flange that is oriented parallel to and extending in the same direction as one or more members of the second plate. The flange and the members are positioned to abut opposing surfaces of a mounting base. The third plate includes a planar section and a mounting surface connected to the planar section. The third plate is attached to the plate assembly such that the mounting base is clamped between the third plate and the plate structure. The mounting surface is configured to receive a mounting device of an antenna assembly.

Claims

1. An antenna mount, comprising:

a first plate comprising

a planar surface,

a plurality of openings in the planar surface for receiving a plurality of attachment devices, and

a flange disposed transversely to the planar surface;

a second plate secured to the first plate with the attachment devices to form a plate assembly, the second plate comprising

a surface that is disposed parallel to and in contact with the planar surface of the first plate,

a plurality of elongated openings, disposed longitudinally on the surface, which receive the attachment devices,

a stiffening structure disposed longitudinally on the surface, and

one or more members disposed transversely to the surface at one end of the surface, the one or more members parallel to the flange of the first plate and extending in the same direction as the flange of the first plate, wherein the flange of the first plate and the one or more members of the second plate are configured to abut oppositely facing surfaces of a mounting base;

a third plate comprising

a planar surface with a plurality of openings that receive the attachment devices, and

a mounting surface, the mounting surface including two coplanar portions that are each attached at opposing ends of the planar surface of the third plate, wherein a plane of the two portions of the mounting surface is parallel to and slightly removed from a plane of the planar surface of the third plate, the mounting surface having a plurality of openings that are configured to receive a plurality of connecting devices to secure a mounting device of an antenna assembly to the third plate,

wherein the planar surface of the third plate is positioned to abut a surface of the mounting base that is opposite a surface of the mounting base that is abutted by the plate assembly, and the third plate is affixed to the plate assembly such that the mounting base is clamped between the third plate and the plate assembly.

2. The antenna mount of claim 1, wherein the stiffening structure of the second plate comprises an elongated corrugation that is defined by the surface of the second plate and that is parallel to the elongated openings of the second plate.

3. The antenna mount of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of attachment devices comprises a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts;

the planar section of the first plate defines a plurality of threaded holes;

each of the plurality of bolts extends through one of the elongated openings of the second plate and is threaded into one of the threaded holes of the first plate to secure the first plate to the second plate;

each of the plurality of bolts extends through one of the plurality of openings defined by the planar surface of the third plate; and

each of the plurality of nuts is threaded onto a corresponding one of the bolts to secure the third plate to clamp the mounting base between the third plate and the plate structure.

4. The antenna mount of claim 1, further comprising:

the mounting device for the antenna, wherein the mounting device is rigidly attached to the mounting surface of the third plate with the plurality of connecting devices.

5. The antenna mount of claim 4, wherein:

the mounting device comprises a mast for the antenna; and

the mast comprises a foot attached to the mounting surface of the third plate.

6. The antenna mount of claim 4, wherein

the plurality of connecting devices comprise a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts,

the plurality of openings in the mounting surface of the third plate comprise slots, which are configured such that the mounting device of the antenna may be rotationally skewed to configure an alignment of the antenna prior to the mounting device being securely attached to the third plate, and

the mounting device of the antenna is securely attached to the mounting surface of the third plate with the plurality of bolts and nuts once a desired alignment of the antenna is achieved.

7. An antenna mount, comprising:

a first plate comprising a planar section and a flange connected to the planar section;

a second plate comprising a surface, a first member connected to the surface, and a corrugation disposed in the surface; and

a third plate comprising a planar section and a mounting surface connected to the planar section, wherein the mounting surface is configured to connect to a mounting device of an antenna;

wherein the first plate is configured to be attached to the second plate to form a plate structure such that the planar section of the first plate contacts the surface of the second plate, the flange of the first plate is parallel to the first member of the second plate and extends in the same direction as the first member, and a distance between the flange and the first member is adjustable to allow the flange and the first member to abut opposing surfaces of a mounting base; and

wherein the third plate is configured to be attached to the plate structure to clamp the mounting base therebetween.

8. The antenna mount of claim 7, wherein the first member is disposed on a first edge of the surface of the second plate, the second plate further comprising a second member on the first edge that is coplanar to the first member, spaced at a distance from the first member, and oriented in the same direction as the first member.

9. The antenna mount of claim 7, further comprising:

an attachment device configured to attach the first plate to the second plate to form the plate structure.

10. The antenna mount of claim 7, wherein:

the attachment device is configured to attach the third plate to the plate structure.

11. The antenna mount of claim 9, wherein:

the attachment device comprises a plurality of bolts;

the planar section of the first plate defines a plurality of threaded through holes;

the planar section of the second plate defines a plurality of elongated slots;

each of the plurality of bolts is configured to extend through one of the elongated slots of the second plate and be threaded into one of the threaded through holes of the first plate to secure the first plate to the second plate; and

the elongated slots are configured to allow the distance between the flange of the first plate and the first member of the second plate to be adjusted to abut opposing surfaces of a mounting base before the first plate is secured to the second plate to form the plate structure.

12. The antenna mount of claim 11, wherein:

the attachment device further comprises a plurality of nuts,

the planar section of the third plate defines a plurality of openings,

the plurality of openings being aligned such that corresponding ones of the plurality of bolts pass therethrough; and

each of the plurality of nuts is configured to be threaded onto a corresponding one of the bolts to secure the third plate to the plate structure and clamp the mounting base between the third plate and the plate structure.

13. The antenna mount of claim 7, wherein:

the mounting surface of the third plate comprises first and second extensions coupled to opposing edges of the planar section of the third plate; and

the first and second extensions are coplanar, and are on a plane that is removed from and parallel to a plane of the planar section of the third plate.

14. The antenna mount of claim 13, wherein:

the mounting surface defines a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of connecting devices for connecting the mounting device of the antenna to the mounting surface.

15. The antenna mount of claim 14, wherein:

the connecting devices comprise a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts; and

the openings on the mounting surface of the third plate comprise a plurality of slots, which are configured to allow the mounting device for the antenna to be rotationally skewed in relation to the third plate.

16. The antenna mount of claim 7, wherein:

the mounting base comprises support posts of a railing, wherein the flange of the first plate and the first member of the second plate are configured to abut opposite sides of separate ones of the support posts.

17. A rail mounted antenna system, comprising:

an antenna mount, comprising

a first plate comprising

a planar surface,

a plurality of openings in the planar surface for receiving a plurality of attachment devices, and

a flange disposed transversely to the planar surface;

a second plate secured to the first plate with the attachment devices to form a plate assembly, the second plate comprising

a surface that is disposed parallel to and in contact with the planar surface of the first plate,

a plurality of elongated openings disposed longitudinally on the surface, which receive the attachment devices,

a stiffening structure disposed longitudinally on the surface, and

one or more members disposed transversely to the surface at one end of the surface, the one or more members parallel to the flange of the first plate and extending in the same direction as the flange of the first plate, wherein the flange of the first plate and the one or more members of the second plate are configured to abut oppositely facing surfaces of a mounting base;

a third plate comprising

a first planar surface with a plurality of openings that receive the attachment devices, and

a mounting surface, the mounting surface including two coplanar portions that are each attached at opposing ends of the planar surface, wherein a plane of the two portions of the mounting surface is parallel to and slightly removed from a plane of the planar surface of the third plate, the mounting surface having a plurality of openings that are configured to receive a plurality of connecting devices to secure a mounting device of an antenna assembly to the third plate;

wherein the planar surface of the third plate is positioned to abut a surface of the mounting base opposite a surface of the mounting base that is abutted by the plate assembly, and the third plate is affixed to the plate assembly such that the mounting base is clamped between the third plate and the plate assembly; and

an antenna assembly, comprising

an antenna mast, coupled to the mounting device, which is secured to the mounting surface of the third plate with the plurality of connecting devices; and

a signal receiving device, coupled to the antenna mast, which receives communication signals.

18. The rail mounted antenna system of claim 17, wherein

the stiffening structure of the second plate comprises an elongated corrugation that is defined by the surface of the second plate, and

the plurality of connecting devices to secure the mounting device of the antenna assembly to the third plate comprise a plurality of bolts and a plurality of nuts.

19. The rail mounted antenna system of claim 17, the antenna assembly further comprising:

a reflector attached to the antenna mast;

a feedhorn arm attached to the reflector, wherein the signal receiving device is connected to the feedhorn arm such that the communication signals are reflected by the reflector into the signal receiving device.

20. The rail mounted antenna system of claim 19, wherein the antenna structure is configured to receive satellite communication signals.