Adjustable bracket mount

• US 4,748,451 A
• Filed: 09/30/1985
• Issued: 05/31/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ivan J. Edwards
• Original Assignee: Ivan J. Edwards
• Inventors: Edwards, Ivan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ham, Seung
• Application Number:
  US06/782,024
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 343/840, 343/878, 343/880, 343/882, 343/872, 248/558, 248/535, 248/122, 248/274, 248/282-285, 248/296, 248/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 343/880
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/13 the primary radiating source being a single radiating element, e.g. a dipole, a slot, a waveguide termination H01Q19/15 takes precedence

Abstract

An adjustable bracket mount for mounting certain functional components such as a feed horn and a low noise amplifier feed assembly on a satellite antenna dish at the prime focus or other desired location above the antenna dish, which mount includes a base secured to the dish, a bottom support extending from the base toward the prime focus, a sloped offset bracket having one end provided in adjustable cooperation with the bottom support and the opposite end carrying a top support. The top support extends in parallel relationship to the bottom support and projects above the bottom support and a top bracket is adjustably mounted on the top support and features outwardly-extending arms designed to carry the feed assembly and mount a cover. Two variations of the top bracket are employed and a cone-shaped cover is provided to protect the feed assembly from the elements by mounting on both versions of the top bracket.

Claims

1. In a satellite antenna having an antenna dish and a feed assembly, an adjustable bracket mount for supporting the feed assembly above the antenna dish comprising:

(a) a base for mounting on the antenna dish

(b) a bottom support provided in telescoping cooperation with said base;

(c) an offset bracket having a bottom support collar provided in telescoping cooperation with said bottom support above said base, with the center transverse axis of said bottom support collar oriented in a first plane;

a top support collar spaced from said bottom support collar, with the center transverse axis of said top support collar oriented in a second plane, said second plane being parallel to said first plane; and

a sloping, flat web spanning said bottom support collar and said top support collar;

(d) a top support provided in telescoping cooperation with said top support collar; and

(e) a top bracket having a top bracket collar provided in telescoping cooperation with said top support, said top bracket characterized by a bracket plate carried by said top bracket collar and a pair of inwardly curving bracket fingers projecting from said bracket plate for supporting the feed assembly.

2. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 1 further comprising first engaging means provided in cooperation with said base and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support with respect to said base is selectively prevented;

second engaging means provided in cooperation with said bottom support collar of said offset bracket and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support collar with respect to said bottom support is selectively prevented;

third engaging means provided in cooperation with said top support collar of said offset bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top support with respect to said top support collar is selectively prevented, and fourth engaging means provided in cooperation with said top bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top bracket with respect to said top support is selectively prevented.

3. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 1 wherein said first plane is located above said second plane.

4. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 1 wherein said first plane is located below said second plane.

5. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 1 wherein said first plane is located above said second plane and further comprising first engaging means provided in cooperation with said base and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support with respect to said base is selectively prevented;

second engaging means provided in cooperation with said bottom support collar of said offset bracket and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support collar with respect to said bottom support is selectively prevented;

third engaging means provided in cooperation with said top support collar of said offset bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top support with respect to said top support collar is selectively prevented, and fourth engaging means provided in cooperation with said top bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top bracket with respect to said top support is selectively prevented.

6. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 1 wherein said first plane is located below said second plane and further comprising first engaging means provided in cooperation with said base and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support with respect to said base is selectively prevented;

second engaging means provided in cooperation with said bottom support collar of said offset bracket and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support collar with respect to said bottom support is selectively prevented;

third engaging means provided in cooperation with said top support collar of said offset bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top support with respect to said top support collar is selectively prevented, and fourth engaging means provided in cooperation with said top bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top bracket with respect to said top support is selectively prevented.

7. The adjustable bracket of claim 1 further comprising a cover adapted for mounting on said top bracket for covering the feed assembly when the feed assembly is mounted on said top bracket.

8. The adjustable bracket of claim 7 further comprising a plate flange projecting from said bracket plate for receiving said cover and a flange aperture extending through said plate flange for securing said cover to said top bracket.

9. The adjustable bracket of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) first engaging means provided in cooperation with said base and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support with respect to said base is selectively prevented;

second engaging means provided in cooperation with said bottom support collar of said offset bracket and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support collar with respect to said bottom support is selectively prevented;

third engaging means provided in cooperation with said top support collar of said offset bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top support with respect to said top support collar is selectively prevented, and fourth engaging means provided in cooperation with said top bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top bracket with respect to said top support is prevented;

(b) a cover adapted for mounting on said bracket for covering the feed assembly when the feed assembly is mounted on said top bracket; and

(c) a plate flange projecting from said bracket plate for receiving said cover and a flange aperture extending through said plate flange for securing said cover to said top bracket.

10. The adjustable bracket of claim 9 wherein said first plane is located above said second plane.

11. The adjustable bracket of claim 9 wherein said first plane is located below said second plane.

12. The adjustable bracket of claim 9 wherein said first engaging means, said second engaging means, said third engaging means and said fourth engaging means are allen screws, respectively.

13. The adjustable bracket of claim 9 wherein said bottom support, said bottom support collar, said top support collar, said top support and said top bracket collar are each characterized by a round cross-sectional configuration.

14. The adjustable bracket of claim 9 wherein:

(a) said first engaging means, said second engaging means, said third engaging means and said fourth engaging means are allen screws, respectively; and

(b) said bottom support collar, said top support collar, said top support and said top bracket collar are each characterized by a round cross-sectional configuration.

15. The adjustable bracket of claim 14 wherein said first plane is located above said second plane.

16. The adjustable bracket of claim 14 wherein said first plane is located below said second plane.

17. The adjustable bracket of claim 9 further comprising mount apertures provided in spaced relationship in said bracket plate and said plate fingers for securing the feed assembly to said top bracket.

18. The adjustable bracket of claim 9 wherein;

(a) said first engaging means, said second engaging means, said third engaging means and said fourth engaging means are allen screws, respectively;

(b) said bottom support collar, said top support collar, said top support and said top bracket collar are each characterized by a round cross-sectional configuration; and

further comprising mount apertures provided in said bracket plate and said plate fingers in spaced relationship for securing the feed assembly to said top bracket.

19. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 7 further comprising:

(a) a plate flange projecting from said bracket plate for receiving said cover and a plate flange aperture extending through said plate flange for securing said cover to said top bracket; and

(b) finger extensions projecting in outwardly angular relationship from the extending ends of said plate fingers and finger flanges projecting from said finger extensions in spaced relationship with respect to each other and in spaced, generally parallel relationship with respect to said plate flange, with finger flange apertures extending through said finger flanges for stabilizing said cover.

20. The adjustable bracket of claim 19 further comprising first engaging means provided in cooperation with said base and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support with respect to said base is selectively prevented;

second engaging means provided in cooperation with said bottom support collar of said offset bracket and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support collar with respect to said bottom support is selectively prevented;

third engaging means provided in cooperation with said top support collar of said offset bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top support with respect to said top support collar is selectively prevented, and fourth engaging means provided in cooperation with said top bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top bracket with respect to said top support is selectively prevented.

21. The adjustable bracket of claim 20 wherein:

(a) said first engaging means, said second engaging means, said third engaging means and said fourth engaging means are allen screws, respectively; and

(b) said bottom support, said bottom support collar, said top support collar, said top support and said top bracket collar are each characterized by a round cross-sectional configuration.

22. The adjustable bracket of claim 21 further comprising mount apertures provided in spaced relationship in said bracket plate and said plate fingers for securing the feed assembly to said top bracket.

23. The adjustable bracket of claim 22 wherein said first plane is located above said second plane.

24. The adjustable bracket of claim 22 wherein said first plane is located below said second plane.

25. In a satellite antenna having an antenna dish and a feed assembly, an adjustable bracket mount for supporting the feed assembly above the antenna dish comprising:

(a) a base for mounting on the antenna dish and a base receptacle extending from said base;

(b) a bottom support provided in telescoping cooperation with said base receptacle;

(c) an offset bracket having a bottom support collar provided in telescoping cooperation with said bottom support above said base, with the center transverse axis of said bottom support collar oriented in a first plane;

a top support collar spaced from said bottom support collar, with the center transverse axis of said top support collar oriented in a second plane, said second plane being parallel to said first plane; and

a sloping, flat web spanning said bottom support collar and said top support collar;

(d) a top support provided in telescoping cooperation with said top support collar; and

(e) a top bracket having a top bracket collar provided in telescoping cooperation with said top support, said top bracket characterized by a bracket plate carried by said top bracket collar and a pair of inwardly curving bracket fingers projecting from said bracket plate for supporting the feed assembly and further comprising finger extensions projecting in outwardly angular relationship from the extending ends of said bracket fingers, said finger extensions disposed in spaced relationship with respect to each other; and

(f) a cover adapted for mounting on said bracket plate and said finger extensions for covering the feed assembly when the feed assembly is mounted on the top bracket.

26. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 25 further comprising a plate flange projecting from said bracket plate, with a flange aperture extending through said plate flange and finger flanges projecting from said finger extensions in spaced relationship with respect to each other and in spaced, generally parallel relationship with respect to said plate flange, with finger flange apertures extending through said finger flanges, for stabilizing said cover on said top bracket.

27. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 26 further comprising first engaging means provided in cooperation with said base receptacle and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support with respect to said base is selectively prevented;

second engaging means provided in cooperation with said bottom support collar of said offset bracket and said bottom support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said bottom support collar with respect to said bottom support is selectively prevented;

third engaging means provided in cooperation with said top support collar of said offset bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top support with respect to said top support collar is selectively prevented, and fourth engaging means provided in cooperation with said top bracket and said top support, whereby slidable and rotatable movement of said top bracket with respect to said top support is selectively prevented.

28. The adjustable bracket of claim 27 wherein said first engaging means, said second engaging means, said third engaging means and said fourth engaging means are allen screws, respectively.

29. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 28 wherein said base receptacle, said bottom support, said bottom support collar, said top support collar, said top support and said top bracket collar are each characterized by a round cross-sectional configuration.

30. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 29 further comprising mount apertures provided in spaced relationship in said bracket plate and said plate fingers for securing the feed assembly to said top bracket.

31. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 30 wherein said first plane is located above said second plane.

32. The adjustable bracket mount of claim 30 wherein said first plane is located below said second plane.