STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING AN OBJECT

• US 20110083399A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Holle, Kevin S., Lettkeman, David
• Application Number:
  US12/578,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20110083399A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/745.21
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/24 Cross arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting an object to pole is presented. The apparatus includes an elongate planar section defining a longitudinal direction. The apparatus further includes two extension sections, wherein each extension section extends from an elongate edge of the planar section in a direction perpendicular to the elongate planar section. Each of the extension sections defines a cutout area centered along a longitudinal edge of the extension section, wherein the cutout area is configured to contact a pole. The planar section also defines a plurality holes to be used for affixing the apparatus to the pole and to attach the object to the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting an object to a pole, comprising:

an elongate planar section defining a longitudinal direction and comprising a first elongate edge and a second elongate edge, wherein the first and second elongate edges are aligned along the longitudinal direction and are opposite one another; and

first and second extension sections aligned along the longitudinal direction, wherein the first extension section extends from the first elongate edge in a direction perpendicular to the elongate planar section, and wherein the second extension section extends from the second elongate edge in the same direction as the first extension section;

wherein the first extension section defines a first cutout area centered along a longitudinal edge of the first extension section opposite the first elongate edge, wherein the second extension section defines a second cutout area centered along a longitudinal edge of the second extension section opposite the second elongate edge, and wherein the first cutout area and the second cutout area are configured to contact the pole; and

wherein the elongate planar section defines a plurality of holes employable to affix the apparatus to the pole and to attach the object to the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first cutout area and the second cutout area is configured to contact a minimum of two points on the pole.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first cutout area and the second cutout area comprises a stepped pattern having multiple discrete depths from the longitudinal edge of the associated extension section toward the associated elongate edge, wherein the depth of the stepped pattern toward ends of the cutout area is less than the depth of the stepped pattern at a center of the cutout area.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the first cutout area and the second cutout area comprises at least three different depths of the stepped pattern.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the stepped pattern of each of the first cutout area and the second cutout area is configured to fit the pole, wherein the pole comprises rectangular tubing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the holes comprises an elongate slot aligned along the longitudinal direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holes are aligned in at least a first row and a second row, wherein the first row and the second row are parallel to each other and extend along the longitudinal direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first row includes more holes than the second row, and wherein the first row is longer than the second row.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the holes of the first row are configured to receive bolts for attaching the apparatus to the pole, and wherein the holes of the second row are configured to attach the object to the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holes are configured to attach a mast footing for a satellite communication antenna.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is fashioned from a single section of sheet metal folded to form the first and second extension sections.

15. The kit of claim 11, further comprising:

a footing configured to be attached to at least one of the holes of each of the plates, and to receive a mast for a satellite communication antenna.

12. A mounting kit for attaching an object to a pole, the kit comprising:

two plates, wherein each of the two plates comprises;

an elongate planar section defining a longitudinal direction and comprising a first elongate edge and a second elongate edge, wherein the first and second elongate edges are aligned along the longitudinal direction and are opposite one another; and

first and second extension sections aligned along the longitudinal direction, wherein the first extension section extends from the first elongate edge in a direction perpendicular to the elongate planar section, and wherein the second extension section extends from the second elongate edge in the same direction as the first extension section;

wherein the first extension section defines a first cutout area centered along a longitudinal edge of the first extension section opposite the first elongate edge, wherein the second extension section defines a second cutout area centered along a longitudinal edge of the second extension section opposite the second elongate edge, and wherein the first cutout area and the second cutout area are configured to contact the pole; and

wherein the elongate planar section defines a plurality of holes employable to affix the plate to the pole and to attach the object to the plate; and

a plurality of attachment mechanisms configured to affix each of the two plates to the pole.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein at least one of the attachment mechanisms comprises:

a length of chain; and

two bolt connectors, wherein each of the bolt connectors is configured to couple the length of chain to one of the holes of one of the plates.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the attachment mechanisms further comprises:

a detachable link configured to couple the length of chain to one of the bolt connectors.

16. A method of mounting an object to a pole, the method comprising:

obtaining two plates, wherein each plate comprises;

an elongate planar section defining a longitudinal direction and comprising a first elongate edge and a second elongate edge, wherein the first and second elongate edges are aligned along the longitudinal direction and are opposite one another; and

first and second extension sections aligned along the longitudinal direction, wherein the first extension section extends from the first elongate edge in a direction perpendicular to the elongate planar section, and wherein the second extension section extends from the second elongate edge in the same direction as the first extension section;

wherein the first extension section defines a first cutout area centered along a longitudinal edge of the first extension section opposite the first elongate edge, wherein the second extension section defines a second cutout area centered along a longitudinal edge of the second extension section opposite the second elongate edge, and wherein the first cutout area and the second cutout area are configured to contact the pole; and

wherein the elongate planar section defines a plurality of holes employable to affix the plate to the pole and to attach the object to the plate;

positioning each of the two plates at desired locations along the pole, wherein the two plates are located on the same side of the pole, wherein the first and second cutout areas of each of the two plates contacts the pole, and wherein the longitudinal directions of the two plates are aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to a length of the pole;

attaching the two plates to the pole using at least two of the holes of each of the two plates; and

attaching the object to the two plates using at least one hole of each of the two plates.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein attaching each of the two plates to the pole comprises, for each of the two plates:

wrapping an elongate medium around a side of the pole opposite the associated plate;

attaching the elongate medium to the at least two of the holes of the associated plate; and

tightening the elongate medium to securely affix the associated plate to the pole.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the elongate medium comprises one of a chain, a steel strap, and a fabric belt.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein positioning each of the two plates comprises:

locating one of the two plates at a first desired location along the pole; and

positioning another of the two plates along the pole relative to the one of the two plates so that the two plates are positioned so that the object is attachable to both of the two plates via the at least one of the holes of each of the two plates.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein attaching the object to each of the two plates comprises:

bolting the object to the two plates via the at least one of the holes in each of the two plates.