CA2385992A1

CA2385992A1 - Mounting bracket for satellite dish

Info

Publication number: CA2385992A1
Application number: CA 2385992
Authority: CA
Inventors: Douglas John Oke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-13
Filing date: 2002-05-13
Publication date: 2003-11-13

Description

This invention relates to mounting brackets and more particularly to an adjustable mounting bracket for a satellite dish.
A dish which receives a signal from a satellite operates most effectively when there are no obstructions in the space between the dish and the satellite. Trees and ,rooves in the space all detrimentally affect the reception of the signal. Most manufacturers of small satellite dishes recommend that a dish be attached to one of three objects: to a chimney, to the overhang of a roof and to whichever wall of the building is closest to the satellite. In many cases, none of those objects is suitable because of obstructions between the dish and the satellite.
I have invented an adjustable mounting bracket for a satellite dish which is attached to the side wall of a house or other structure. The position of the dish can be adjusted horizontally so that it lies beyond the overhanging portion of the roof of the structure to which the bracket is mounted and accordingly is not obstmcted by the overhanging portion. The dish can be elevated so that it clears a tree adjacent to the dlish or roof top of an adjacent house where the tree or roof are not significantly higher than the bracket. The dish can also be adjusted about a vertical axis so that it can be aimed at a satellite no matter where the satellite is located in relation to the bracket.
If for example, the satellite is in the south-western sky, the bracket allows the dish to be mounted to the north and east walls of a house as well as to the south and west walls.
Briefly, the mounting bracket of my invention comprises: a plate having means for attachment to a vertical surface of a structure; a support having first and second extendable legs and an elbow interconnecting the legs, the first leg extending horizontally outward and the second leg extending vertically upward when the plate is attached to the vertical surface; and means for mounting the satellite dish to an upper end of the second leg;
The mounting bracket of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying photographs and drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a photograph of the components of the bracket after assembly;
Figure 2 is a photograph of the components of the bracket before assembly;
Figure 3 is an elevation of the bracket in conjunction with a side wall and roof of a structure and a satellite dish; and Figure 4 is another elevation of the bracket, side wall, roof and satellite dish.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the photographs and drawings.
With reference to Figure 1, the mounting bracket is made up of a plate 10 and a support, generally 12. The plate has a number of openings for receipt of lag bolts for attaching the plate to the vertical side wall of a house, building or other structure. The support is composed of first and second legs 14, 16 and an elbow 18 which interconnects the two legs. The first leg is connected to the plate and extends outwardly fiom the structure when the plate is connected to the side wall of a structure, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The second leg extends vertically upward from the elbow when the plate is connected to the side wall.

2 With reference to Figure 2, each leg is composed of two pipes. The first leg, for example, is composed of an inner pipe 20 and an outer pipe 22. The outer pipe is attached to plate 10 while the inner pipe is connected to elbow 18. The inner pipe is disposed concentrically within the outer pipe when the mounting bracket is assembled for use. The inner pipe is slidable within the outer pipe so that the effective length of the leg is adjustable.
Both pipes are provided with openings 24, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, for receipt of connectors 26 such as bolts. As is conventional, each bolt passes through an opening in the outer pipe and into an opening in the inner pipe in order to interconnect the two pipes. When interconnected, the bolt prevents the inner pipe from sliding relative to the outer. The bolt accordingly selectively prevents such sliding and ensures that the two pipes are immovable relative to each other.
The second leg is Likewise composed of inner and outer pipes 30, 32. The outer pipe is connected to the elbow while the inner pipe is connected to dish 34 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Openings are formed in the two pipes for receipt of connectors such as bolts so that the effective length of the second leg is adjustable.
With reference to Figure 3, plate 10 is bolted to the side wall 40 of a house beneath an overhanging roof 42. The effective length of the first leg 14 is adjusted so that the elbow extends out further than the eaves trough 44 attached to the fascia of the roof. The second leg 16 extends vertically upward, unimpeded by the roof and terminates at an upper end 46 which is well above the fascia of the roof.
A dish assembly 48 is connected to the upper end of the second leg. The assembly is conventional and is widely available. 'the assembly consists of dish 34, receiver 52 and a mounting 54 having a cylindrical sleeve 56 which receives the upper end of the second leg. As is conventional, the angle of the dish can be adjusted so that it can be aimed at a satellite.
The length of the second leg can be adjusted to clear obstructions such as the branches of tree 60. The co-axial cable which runs, from the dish to a receiver can be accommodated within the pipes which make up the support.
The mounting bracket can be attached to any exterior wall of a structure as long as there is a clear sight from the upper end of the bracket to a satellite in the sky.
In eastern Canada, the satellite from which signals available to the public are broadcast is located in the south-westerly sky. If the mounting bracket illustrated in Figure 3 is located in eastern Canada, it is mounted on a south or west wall of a structure and the dish is aimed toward the satellite. In Figure 4, the bracket is mounted on a north or east wall of a structure and the dish, again, is aimed toward the same satellite. The dish can be rotated 360 degrees about a vertical axis on the second leg and about a horizontal axis on mounting ~4 until the dish is aimed at the satellite.
It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the structure of the mounting bracket of the invention without departing from the scope and purview of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. An adjustable mounting bracket for a satellite dish comprising:
(a) a plate having means for attachment to a vertical surface of a structure;
(b) a support having first and second extendable legs and an elbow interconnecting said legs, said first leg extending horizontally outward and said second leg extending vertically upward when said plate is attached to the vertical surface; and (c) means for mounting the satellite dish to an upper end of said second leg;

2. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said leg includes a pair of pipes and a connector, one said pipe being disposed concentrically within the other and slidable therein, said connector selectively preventing such sliding such that said pipes are immovable relative to each other.