Marine antenna array

• US 6,927,743 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R.A. Miller Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R.A. Miller Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Conaway, Richard A., Miller, Paul E., Bogdans, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): A, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US10/605,112
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/713, 343/724, 343/873, 343/874, 343/872, 343/890, 455/703, 455/168.1, 455/347
• US Class Current: 343/872
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1221 onto a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/34 Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes for subaqueous use H01Q1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. A marine antenna array for mounting to a boat, the marine antenna array comprising at least one contoured antenna assembly having a cowling and a base plate, wherein the cowling houses at least two antennas resonant in different frequencies.

2. A marine antenna array according to claim 1 comprising at least two contoured antenna assemblies, each of which is identical in appearance to the other.

3. A marine antenna array according to claim 1 wherein the cowling is elongated and has a longitudinal axis at an acute angle relative to the baseplate.

4. A marine antenna array according to claim 1 wherein a portion of one antenna extends from the cowling.

5. A marine antenna array according to claim 1 wherein at least one antenna is a multiband antenna.

6. In a marine vessel having a mounting platform for antennas, the improvement comprising an array of at least two antenna assemblies, each antenna assembly having a cowling at least partially enclosing an antenna wherein the cowlings and visible portions of the antenna assemblies look identical.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein at least one of the cowlings at least partially encloses more than one antenna.

8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the mounting platform is an arch.

9. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the cowlings are raked relative to the mounting platform.

10. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the cowlings are elongated and each has a longitudinal axis at an acute angle relative to the baseplate.

11. The improvement of claim 6 wherein a portion of each antenna extends from the respective cowling.

12. The improvement of claim 6 wherein at least one antenna is a multiband antenna.