CLIP DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ACCESSORY ON AN ANTENNA BOOM

• US 3,778,537 A
• Filed: 01/05/1973
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Miller
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Askin, Laramie E.
• Application Number:
  US05/321,387
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 174/4CC,138R,138G,163R,175 24/73R,73PF,73SA,73AP,81CC,81AT,81G,129D,243G,255R,255C,257R 248/72,73,221,223,224,225,226E,228,229,316D
• US Class Current: 174/138.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1228 on a boom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3444 Circular work engageable

Abstract

A clip device for mounting accessories on antenna booms comprising a frame of plastic material having a first U-shaped clamp portion, the arms and base of which have interior surfaces that generally conform to three sides of a straight boom of square cross-section. The arms have inwardly projecting retainer flanges, respectively, on the distal ends thereof. The flanges have inner surfaces that generally conform to the fourth side of the aforesaid boom. The flanges have outer cam surfaces that are flat and incline downwardly and inwardly toward the base. The facing surfaces of the arms between the ends are slightly curved outwardly, the arms being resilient. The base is provided with a part-cylindrical depression symmetrically disposed between the ends. The inner surfaces of the clamp portion are symmetrical about and generally parallel to an axis through the central portion. A second clamp portion is disposed beneath the base and is secured thereto by a rigid connection, all these parts being integrally formed. The second clamp portion is part tubular in shape and so disposed that the opening thereof extends oppositely to that of the opening in the first clamp portion. The arms of the second clamp portion are also resilient. Adapters are provided for altering the interior shape of the clamp portion, one typical adapter having a part-cylindrical curvature on the inner side thereby to adapt the clip device to be fastened to a cylindrical boom. Another typical adapter is primarily square shaped thereby to adapt the clip device for fastening to a boom of square cross section smaller than that to which the first clamp portion may be directly fastened.

Claims

1. A clip device for mounting accessories on antenna booms comprising a frame having a first U-shaped clamp portion, the arms and base of said clamp portion having interior surfaces that generally conform to three sides of a straight boom of orthogonal cross-section, said arms having inwardly projecting retainer flanges, respectively, said flanges having inner surfaces that generally conform to the fourth side of the aforesaid boom, said flanges having outer cam surfaces that are flat and incline downwardly and inwardly toward said base, the facing surfaces of said arms between the ends thereof being curved outwardly, said arms being resilient, said base having a part-cylindrical depression symmetrically disposed between the ends thereof, the inner surfaces of said clamp portion being symmetrical about and generally parallel to an axis through the central portion thereof, and a second clamp portion disposed beneath said base and secured thereto by a rigid connection, said second clamp portion having two arms that define a general U-shape opening in a direction opposite to that of said first U-shaped clamp portion, the arms of said second clamp portion being resilient.

2. The clip device of claim 1 in which said orthogonal cross-section is substantially square and said axis being centrally disposed in the part-cylindrical depression having a center of curvature on the near side of said axis and in a plane midway between said arms and which includes said axis.

3. The clip device of claim 2 including an insert having a part-cylindrical inner surface of generally the same radius as said depression, said insert having an outer surface that conforms to the shapes of the inner surfaces of said arms and flanges, said outer surface including a flat portion symmetrically opposite said paRt-cylindrical inner surface and two side portions that extend for about one-half the length of the inner surfaces of said first clamp portion arms, the distance between said two side portions being slightly greater than the unsprung distance between the arms of said first clamp portion.

4. The clip device of claim 2 including an insert of generally U-shape with the sides and base being orthogonally related, the outer surfaces of said sides generally conforming to the entire length of the inner surfaces of said arms of said first clamp portion, the inner and outer surfaces of the insert base being substantially flat and parallel, the inner surfaces of said insert sides being curved outwardly between the ends thereof, said inner surfaces of said insert and the base of said first clamp portion defining a square shape, the spacing between the outer surfaces of said sides being slightly greater than the spacing between the arms of said first clamp portion, the last-mentioned arms resiliently embracing said insert with the base of the latter bridging the space between and being engaged by said flanges, said frame and insert being of dielectric plastic material.

5. The clip device of claim 1 in which said rigid connection includes two inwardly downwardly and inwardly inclined integral extensions of said arms, respectively, said second clamp portion being part tubular with the side opposite the opening thereof integrally joining said extensions.