GB2198590A - Aerial support device - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting device, for example, for the mast (29) of a television aerial, comprises a base plate (10) for attachment to a flat surface and having at least one pair of opposed parallel edges for engagement by at least one pair of gripping members (16, 17) which also embrace the mast (29). Clamping means (27) urge the gripping members (16, 17) together to grip both the base plate (10) and the mast (29) whereby the latter is securely fastened relatively to the base plate (10). <IMAGE>

Description

AERIAL SUPPORT DEVICE The present invention relates to a support device for elongate members such as masts for T.V.

aerials and the like, and particularly, though not exclusively to a support device for attaching a T.V aerial mast to a flat surface such as the side of a caravan etc.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting device comprising a base plate adapted to be attached to a flat surface and to provide a pair of spaced parallel edges located in spaced relation to said surface, a pair of gripping members and adjustable clamping means associated with said gripping members to urge the same together, each gripping member being provided at one end with a recess to embrace a corresponding one of said parallel edges and being shaped at the other end to form a gripping jaw for engagement with an element to be mounted, and the clamping means being arranged in use to maintain clamping engagement of said gripping members with said respective edges and a mounted element.

The base plate may be elongated and have portions at each end thereof provided with corresponding pairs of said edges for engagement respectively by each of two pairs of gripping members, so that an elongate element such as an aerial mast can be correspondingly supported at two axially spaced points.

Alternatively two separate base plates each providing a single pair of edges may be mounted on the flat surface in spaced relation.

The base plate may be adapted to be attached to a vertical flat surface by the provision of an adhesive layer on said base plate, or by the provision of screw holes.

The adjustable clamping means also preferably include a resilient member which causes each gripping member of the pair to be urged towards the other when the clamping means is relaxed. Typically, the clamping means comprises a nut and bolt arrangement and the resilient member is a spring located around the bolt between the nut and one of the pair of members, tightening of the nut urging the two members together.

The flat surface to which the mounting device is to be attached may be external to a vehicle such as a caravan, or may be an internal surface if the element to be mounted is an antenna mast arranged to extend through an aperture in the vehicle roof. To allow this the device according to the invention may further include a waterproof bellows adapted to be fitted to the roof of a vehicle to provide a seal around the antenna mast and the roof aperture. The unit is bellows shaped so that it may be fixed to a vehicle roof which is either horizontal or inclined and furthermore the antenna mast may be moved up or down so as to optimise signal level or be pivoted within the unit.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aerial support device according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a sectional end view of the device shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention incorporating a mounting arrangement as shown in Fig. 4, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a bellows unit and seal assembly utilised in the arrangement of Fig. 5, and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the seal assembly of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 - 3 of the accompanying drawings, the device shown therein is particularly intended for use with caravans and comprises a base plate generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in form of an approximately rectangular flat metal plate having an adhesive layer applied to underside thereof (not shown). The end portions of the plate 10 are reduced in width compared with the rest of the plate.

The end portions are formed into flat bottomed, downward opening transverse troughs. The bottoms 12 of the trougrls, lie parallel to, but above the level of the base plate 10, and side walls 13, 14 of the trough are approximately perpendicular to the base 10 and bottom 12 (although this is not essential). The side wall 14 having a free edge extends downward only as far as the level of the base 10.

An adjustable gripping device generally indicated by the reference numeral 15 is associated with each portion 11. The gripping device 15 includes a pa of gripping members 16, 17 each formed as an integral plastics moulding. Both members 16, 17 are identical and so only one (16) will be described. The member comprises a generally rectangular body which is reduced in thickness towards the upper part thereof and the top edge 18 is radiussed. A bore '19 extends horizontally through the body 16 from an outer face 20 to inner face 21. The portion of the bore extending from the outer face 20 is hexagonal in cross section for most of the length thereof.The part of the bore opening onto the inner face 21 is reduced in diameter compared to the hexagonal part and is circular in cross section A flared groove 22 opening onto the inner face 21 is provided below the bore 19 adjacent and parallel to the lower edge 23 of the body. A radiussed groove 24 is provided above the bore 19 and below the radius top edge 18. In the gripping device, the members 16, 17 have their inner faces 21 towards each other. A hexagonal headed bolt 25 extends through the bores 19 and part of the threaded portion thereof projects from the bore in member 17 a compression spring 26 being located around the bolt 25 within the bore in part 17. A wing nut 27 and washer 28 are provided on the exposed portion of the bolt. It would be apprec iated that the bolt is prevented from turning by engagement of the hexagonal head with the hexagonal part of the bore in member 16.

The flared grooves 22 embrace opposing free edges of the bottom portion 12 of the trough, the part of the member below said grooves extending into the trough but not beyond the level of the base plate 10.

The provision of flared grooves allows each member to move in an arc and so the gap between the radiussed grooves is adjustable. This arcuate movement is also ensured by the provision of bolt having a threaded portion of a smaller diameter than the circular portion of the bore 19 such that the bolt is a loose fit.

In use, the nut is loosened and the members are merely urged together by the action of the compression spring, the limit of outward movement being limited to the position of the wing nut. A support mast foi a T.V. aerial, typically comprising a circular section tube 29 is inserted between the gripping members, the radiusing on the top edge of each member allowing easy insertion against the effect of the compression spring. The support mast is gripped in the radius grooves of the members 16, 17 the effect of the compression spring serving to hold the mast temporarily in place. The orientation of the T.V. aerial is then adjusted to the desired direction and when this is achieved, the wing nut is tightened. Initial tightening of the wing nut merely serves to compress the spring further until the washer contacts the outer face of the member 17 when the spring is entirely within the bore. Further tightening of the wing nut causes the two members to be drawn together and the mast to be gripped tightly and prevented from further movement.

The device is typically attached to a vertical panel on a caravan or the like by means of an adhesive layer attached to the back of the plate. The adhesive layer may be provided with a covering strip which is removed before use.

Referring to Fig. 4, in an alternative arrangement according to the invention, the single base plate 10 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 3 is replaced by two separate base plates 30, the construction of the gripping members 16 and 17 otherwise being substantially the same as previously described.

Each base plate 30 has two end portions 31, 32, that are arranged to lie flat against a vertical surface to which they may be attached, for example by means of fastening screws. Between the two portions 31 and 32 a portion of the base plate is displaced out of the plane of the portions 31 and 32, to provide a raised portion the opposite edges of which can be engaged by the recesses 22 of the gripping members in the same way as the portion 12 of the base plate 10. This portion of the base plate is reduced in width in comparison with the portions 31 and 32, so that when the mounting is assembled, the outer faces of the gripping members 15 and 17 lie flush with the outer edges of the portions 31 and 32, as illustrated.

The portions 31 and 32 are of unequal length, as illustrated, and may optionally be mounted on the vertical surface with either of the portions 31 and 32 directed upwards, as convenient.

Referring to Fig. 5 a mounting arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 4 is adapted for internal mounting within a vehicle such as a caravan. The mount- ing arrangement of Fig. 4 is in this case secured to a vertical support surface within the vehicle, and the antenna mast passes through an aperture in the roof of the vehicle (not shown) that is sealed by means of a bellows unit 37. As shown in Fig. 5! the bellows unit comprises upper and lower portions, shown separated for clarity, that engage the upper and lower margins of a roof aperture. The bellows unit 37 is shown in more detail in Fig. 6, wherein the reference numerals 38 and 39 illustrate upper and lower mounting sleeves of generally cylindrical cross section that telescope one within the other in order to engage the roof panel of the vehicle between them.A generally cylindrical rubber bellows is secured around the circumferance of the upper sleeve 38 by means of a clamping ring 41 whereas the upper end of the bellows 40 is clamped around the periphery of a split annular shaft seal housing 42 by means of a further clamping ring 43.

The upper and lower sleeves 38 and 39 are of identical construction, such that the upper end of one ring will telescope within the lower end of another; in such a manner that varying thicknesses of roof panel can be accommodated between respective flanges 38A and 39A of the sleeves. The two sleeves can be secured in register with one another by means of fixing bolts passing through corresponding holes 44 in the respective flanges 38A and 39A, the fastening bolts passing through registering holes, not shown, in the roof panel.

As shown in Fig. 7, the split shaft seal housing 42 comprises two identical halves 42A and 42B each of which comprises a pair of internal peripheral groove 45 for engaging the outer circumferences of a pair of shaft seals 46. The two halves of the shaft seal 42 are retained in engagement with the seals 46 by means of the clamping ring 41, and registering engagement of the two halves of the seal housing is facilitated during the assembly thereof by means of mating project ions 47 and recesses 48.

As a result of the construction illustrated vertical movement of the antenna mast 29 from within the vehicle can be effected by releasing the clamps 17 of the mounting arrangement, vertical sliding movement of the antenna mast relatively to the bellows unit 37 baying permitted by means of the shaft seals 46, and limited angular movement of the antenna mast within the roof aperture being enabled by flexing of the rubber bellows 40. This enables both angular movement of the antenna mast 29 during manipulation thereof, and also location of the roof aperture within a roof panel that is inclined to the horizontal. The angular limit of movement of the antenna mast 29 is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 6, from which it will be seen that there is a relationship between the thickness 49 of a roof panel and the angle of permitted movement of the antenna mast.

Claims (6)

1. A mounting device comprising a base plate adapted to be attached to a flat surface and to provide a pair of spaced parallel edges located in spaced relation to said surface, a pair of gripping members and adjust-able clamping means associated with said gripping member.

to urge the same together, each gripping member being provided at one end with a recess to embrace a corresponding one of said parallel edges and being shaped at the other end to form a gripping jaw for engagement with an element to be mounted, and the clamping means being arranged in use to maintain clamping engagement of said gripping members with said respective edges and a mounted element.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said adjustable clamping means includes a resilient member which causes each gripping member of the pair to be urged towards the other when the clamping means is relaxed.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the clamping means comprises a nut and bolt arrangement and the resilient member is a spring located around the bolt between the nut and one of the pair of members1 tightening of the nut urging the two members together.

4. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 3 including one or more base plates providing two pairs of said spaced parallel edges, two pairs of said gripping members with associated clamping means, a mast arranged to be supported between said pairs of gripping means, and a waterproof flexible bellows arrangement having a sealing portion for engagement with said mast and a mounting portion to be secured around an aperture of a member through which said mast is to pass.

5. A mounting device substantially as descriDec herein with reference to Figs. 1-3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A mounting device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 5-7 of the accompanying drawings.