GB2097195A - Improvements relating to methods of fixing radio, TV or communications aerials and devices or other similar structures - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerial mounting is disclosed which is telescopically adjustable in length for engagement between fixed spaced surfaces such as the sides of a door or window. The telescopic mounting has means 05, 10, at each end for engaging such spaced surfaces and an aerial support arm 07 or 12 which can be secured in a selected position along the length of the telescopic mounting and which extends radially of the length thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to methods of fixing radio, TV or communications aerials and devices or other similar structures The Device for which a Patent is sought is described herein and shown on the accompanying drawings ABO1, sheets 1 to 3 which are intended to illustrate the general principle of the device and are not working or production drawings.

The purpose of this device, which may also be referred to as the 'Q'-Mount, is to provide a simple method by which any suitable Radio, Television, Communication, Citizens Band or other type of aerial, including any rotative device needed, may be supported where more conventional types of fixings such as, bolted on brackets or other forms of more permanent anchorages, are impractical or not permissabie. To achieve this, the 'Q'-Mount makes use of any two convenient surfaces that are of sufficient width and spacing and roughly parallel to one another such as, the sides of a Window, Door or other similar opening or Two columns or peers that are part of any structure where the 'aerials' are to be mounted. The 'Q'-Mount once assembled, is adjusted to suit the spacing of the mounting surfaces and held in position between them with the support arm horizontal.While held in this manner, the extending member, which may be a threaded stud, is screwed or adjusted outward against one of the said surfaces. Thus, the 'Q'-Mount is affixed between the said surfaces by wedging action of the extending member trapping it firmly in position. Any suitable aerial, its rotative device, support tube, mast or similar structure can then be attached to the aforesaid support arm using conventional clamps or clips.

The main structure of the 'Q'-Mount is shown on drawing AB01 sheet 1, Fig. 1 and comprises a tubular strut (01) into which is inserted an inner strut (02) along two opposing sided of which a series of suitably pitched holes (09) are drilled through. These holes (09) coincide with a fixing screw or pin (08) passing through both members (01) and (02) locking them together. The Support arm (07) having first being slid over the strut (01) is held in position by the screw (03) along the strut (01) at any suitable position. The orientation of the support arm (07) relative to the whole assembly will be determined by which position, vertical or horizontal, the said assembly is to be mounted. The support arm may also be of the type shown as (12) or have a rectangular profile such as (11) or of any other suitable section.The base or foot end of the main strut (01) has a suitable pad or plate attached to it and incorporating some suitable means of ensuring that it grips the surface on which it may be mounted. This pad or plate may take the form of bracket as at (05), extending out at rightangles from the base of the strut (01) to act as a stabiliser to prevent the whole assembly turning on its axies when fixed in position. The bracket (05) may also incorporate a jacking screw (06) to further increase its gripping ability. Alternativly, the base of the strut (01) may have simple gripping pad as at (04) with a suitable number of protrusions or spikes on its contacting surface, or the base of the said strut may incorporate one or both these embodiments or take any suitable form to achieve the same effect.At the working end of the inner strut (02) there is a suitable extending member (10) such as a stud or screw or an adjustable sliding member that may be clamped to or inside the said strut (02). The extending member (10) can have either a spiked end, a flat gripping pad or any other suitable surface at its end to serve as a pressure point in contact with the mounting face. Once the whole assembly has been adjusted to the nearest overall dimensions corresponding to the spacing of the mounting surfaces, the extending member (10) is adjusted inwards to allow the assembly to just enter the space between the said surfaces.The 'Q'-Mount is then held where it is required and the extending member (10) adjusted outward to contact the nearest of the mounting surfaces and force the base (05) of the main strut (01) into contact with the opposite mounting surface, thus wedging it in position between the two.

The 'Q'-Mount may be constructed from a variety of ferrous or non-ferrous materials possesing suitable mechanical and dimensional properties although, in general, it will be constructed in mild steel of suitable tubular or flat cross-section.

Embodiments.

Sheets 2 and 3 of drawing ABO1 illustrate the various embodiments of the 'Q'-Mount as generally envisaged.

Embodiment A.

Refer to sheet 2 Fig. 2 whereby the Q Mount (01) is affixed to a typical window surrounding structure in a horizontal manner with the support arm extended outward at right angles. A typical aerial (17) is shown supported by and clamped to the arm with conventional clamps (16).

Embodiment B.

Referring to Fig. 3. of sheet 2, this embodiment is similar to A but with the 'Q'-Mount affixed vertically between the upper and lower surfaces. In Fig. 3 the 'Q'-Mount is shown with the base of the main strut uppermost and the extending member in contact with the lower mounting surface so as to keep the support arm nearer the top of the window.

Alternatively, the 'Q'-Mount can be affixed vertically as in Fig. 3 but with the main strut assembly reversed so that the base is on the lower surface.

Embodiment C.

Fig. 4. sheet 2 shows a further embodiment of the 'Q'-Mount whereby two strut assemblies (01) are mounted horizontally between the vertical sides of a typical window, each with its support arm projecting outward at right angles to the strut (01) but in relativ alignment in the vertical axies. A typical stub mast (19) or similar vertical aerial can then be supported by using conventional clamps (16) to attach it to both support arms where a greater degree of rigidity is needed, as in the case of the longer or heavier types of aerials.

Embodiment D.

Fig. 5 of sheet 2 shows a further embodiment of the 'Q'-Mount whereby a single strut assembly is affixed in the vertical position between the upper and lower surrounds of a typical window opening. In this embodiment, the main strut (01) is assembled with two support arms (07) orientated so that they project out at right angles from the strut.

Thus, as in the previous embodiment in Fig.

4, a stub mast (1 9) or straight aerial can be clamped to both the support arms using conventional clamps (16 on Fig. 4.). Alternatively, the 'Q'-Mount strut assembly may be mounted in reversed position to that shown whereby, the base of the strut (01) is in contact with the upper surface.

Embodiment E.

Fig. 6 of sheet 3 shows an embodiment wherein the 'Q'-Mount is used to support a typical rotative device (18) onto which may be fitted a conventional extension tube for the aerial (20) In this case the strut (01) is shown affixed vertically between the upper and lower surfaces with the base of the r tative device (18) attached to the support arm either directly or by a short tubular stub using conventional clamps (16). In this configuration, it may be necessarry to support the extension member from the rotator (18) to counter the effect of wind action on the aerials. This can be done using a conventional type of 'A' bracket (13) attached to which can be a support sleeve or guide (14) through which passes the extension member which is turned by the action of the rotator.The additional bracket (13) can be anchored to any convenient part of the adjacent structure and be relativly in alignment with the axis of the extension member and rotator. Alternatively, the strut (01) can be affixed in a reversed position to that shown.

Embodiment F.

Fig. 7. of sheet 3 shows a further embodiment that is similar to embodiment E except that the rotative device is replaced with a mast or vertical aerial (19) of a fixed nature.

The additional bracket (13) in this case may be be required to give the vertical member (19) extra support via a sleeve or guide (14) as in Fig. 6, or by means of a conventional 'U' bolt clamp (15) as in Fig. 7, the lower end of the vertical member (19) being clamped to the 'Q'-Mount support arm by a conventional clamp (1 6).

Embodiment G.

Wherein one or more 'Q'-Mount units are affixed between suitable surfaces either horizontally or vertically disposed and being wholely or in part similar to one or more of all the previous embodiments specified or combinations thereof.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for mounting an aerial comprising a telescopic tubular member adjustable in length for engagement between fixed spaced surfaces, means for securing the telescopic member to a predetermined length, means on each end of the telescopic member for engaging said surfaces, an aerial support arm extending substantially radially of the direction of length of said telescopic member and means for securing the support arm in a selected position along the length of the telescopic member.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the telescopic member comprises two tubular members slidably engageable with each other, the means for securing the telescopic member to a predetermined length is operable to adjust the length of the telescopic member in steps of a predetermined magnitude and the means on one end of the telscopic member for engaging one of said surfaces is an adjustable element engaged with one of said two tubular members and adjusta ble relative thereto to provide an adjustment in combined length of the telescopic member and said surface engagement means which is less than one of said steps.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 in which said one surface engaging means comprises a threaded member adjustably engageable with said one tubular member.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3 in which the means on the other end of the telescopic member for engaging the other of said surfaces comprises a pad or plate incorporating gripping means operable frictionally to engage said other surface.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3 in which the means on the other end of the telescopic member for engaging the other of said surfaces comprises a plate secured to the other one of the telescopic member and extending away therefrom in a direction normal to the direction of length thereof to provide an increased surface area engageable with said other surface.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 in which a jacking screw is threadedly engaged with said plate at a location spaced from said telescopic member for engagement with said other surface.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6 in which the two tubular members are of rectangular cross-section and the plate is one flange of an angle section member.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the aerial support arm is carried on a bracket member slidable about and along the length of the telescopic member and the support arm securing means is operable to secure the bracket member in the selected position.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including a further aerial support arm extending substantially radially of the direction of length of said telescopic member and means for securing the further support arm on the telescopic member in spaced parallel relationship to the first-mentioned support arm, the axes of the support arms being substantially contained in a common plane containing the medial line of the telescopic member.

10. Apparatus for mounting an aerial constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the figures of the accompanying drawings.