US1599960A - Portable foldable radioantenna - Google Patents

Description

y G. F. GILCREST PORTABLE FOLDABLE RADIOANTENNA Sept. 14 1926t 1,599,960

Fild April 27, 1925 141g fA/VENTU@ GF GIL @EEST Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. GILCREST, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PORTABLE FOLDABLE RADIOANTENNA.

vAmlieanon mea Aprn 27, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in aerials or antennae for radio receiving sets and resides in the provision of an inexpensive, portable, small and compact form of antenna which may be more easilyand quickly installed and will take considerably less room than the ordinary antenna equipment.

An object of the invention is to provide an antenna of the character described that need not be of any larger construction than the ordinary loop antenna but which will give re salts better than a loop 'antenna and as good if not better than the ordinary 100 foot aerial.

A further object is to provide a made up antenna of `the character described which may be folded into small compass when not in use thereby conveniently carried, packed or stored.

Another object is to provide an antenna which comprises small skeleton frames made up of upright and horizontal lengths of heavy gage copper wire, which frames are mounted on a small standard and are subject to movement from collapsed position lying substantially parallel one upon the other into position of use extending substantially atright angles to one another and vice versa, the said frame intersecting and being electrically connected at points of intersection as well as fastened at such points, to the standard. The angular extension of the frames insures picking up of radio energy effectivelyT regardless of the directional relation of the sending station and the receiving set.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and set forth in the claims hereto app-ended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted Vto without departing from the spirit or sacrilicing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of the aerial of my invention as when it is arranged in position of use.V

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the aerial as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a top plan of the aerial as when in folded or collapsed position.

Serial No. 26,032.

Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the aerial as when in collapsed position.

The aerial or antenna of this invention comprises like rectilinear frames generally designated 1 and 2, Ieach of which comprises upright side pieces 3 and 4L extending be tween and joined to which are a plurality of horizontally spaced pieces 5. Each of these pieces is formed of heavy copper wire in order to have good conducting qualities and the pieces where engaged with one another are soldered or otherwise joined together. rlhe two frames are mounted on an upright standard 6 preferably constructed of wood, but which may be of any other material. Each cross piece is provided with a half circular bend 7 centrally of vits ends, which bend partially encompasses the standard. To hold the frames on the standard so that they may be folded flat, one upon the other, or extended at right angles to one another and electrically joined as well, a plurality of U- shaped metal clamps 8 are arranged to clamp over the bends 7. Bolts 9 are inserted through the standard and clamps and have wing nuts 10 turned on their outer ends so that the nuts will bind against the outer faces of the clamps.` On tightening the nuts the clamps are engaged with the bent portions so as to hold the frames against turning and to establish an electrical connection between the right angularly extending cross pieces of the two frames. To collapse or fold the device, the nuts are loosened and one of the frames is swung so that it lies flat against the other frame7 the two frames being then substanti ally parallel. T he nuts may be tightened to hold the frames in collapsed or folded form.v

On the lowermost cross piece of one of the' frames a suitable clip 11 may be soldered or f' otherwise secured so that a lead line 12 may be attached thereto for the purpose of connecting the antenna with an ordinary radio receiving set, not shown.

Extending downwardly from the lower end of the standard is a short rod 13 upon which a tube 1114 of insulation material is mounted, this being held in place by a supporting member 15 on the lower side of said rod.

To install the aerial, a support 16 is made fastv to some part of the structure on which the aerial is to be mounted and provided with a socket or bore 17 at its upper end.

The rod and bushing are inserted into this bore and the annular shoulder 18 on the upper end of the bushing engages the upper end of the support and spaces the lower end of the standard from the support. A suitable drain opening 19 may be formed in the support to prevent accumulation of water in the socket. It is noted that the socket is made sutliciently deep to space the lower end of the rod from the lower end ci' the socket.

The antenna oit' this invention having the frames capable of extension at right angles to one another, electrically connected, and each :trame composed of a plurality of vertical and horizontally extending copper wires, the horizontal lengths electrically joined to one another, provides ample capacitance to operate a radio set as elliciently as the ordinary type ot antenna now commonly used. The right angular extension oi' the trames provides for an eifective picking up of the radio energy regardless of the direction ot location ot the transmitting station. This is an advantage over the ordinary one way antenna which usually,

' when extended in one direction provides better results than when otherwise extended.

The advantages ot the antenna of my invention are that less space is required to install it, the installation may be eiiiected at a lower cest and much more quickly and the device may be packed er stored in a smaller space, all vas compared to the ordinary antenna equipment.

I claim:

l. An antenna for use in connection with radio receiving sets comprising an upright standard, a plurality of skeleton frames constructed et' metal having goed conducting qualities for electrical energy and which consists of a plurality of upright pieces electrically connected with a plurality oit' horizontally disposed pieces and means for supporting said irames upon said standard providing for movement of the frames from position lying substantially parallel one against the other into position extending substantially at right angles to one another, which means establishes an electrical connection ot the cross pieces of one frame with the cross pieces ot the other trame.

2. An antenna for use in connection with radio receiving sets comprising an upright standard, a plurality of skeleton Jframes constructed 0i metal having goed conducting qualities tor electrical energy and which consists ot a plurality of upright pieces electrically connected with a plurality of horizontally disposed pieces and `means for supporting said frames upon said standard providing for movement of the frames from position lying substantially parallel one against the other into position extending substantially at right angles to one another,

which means establishes an electrical connection ot the cross pieces of one frame with the cross pieces of the other frame, said cross pieces of the frames having half circular bends centrally oi their ends, which bends entend around the standard.

3. An antenna tor use in connection with radio reciving sets comprising an upright standard, a plurality of skeleton :trames constructed of metal having good conducting qualities for electrical energy and which consists of a plurality of upright pieces electrically connected with a plurality of horizontally disposed pieces and means for supporting said frames upon said standard providing tor movement of the trames from position lying substantially at right angles to one another, which means establishes an electrical connection ci the cross pieces oi one trame with the cross pieces of the other trame, said cross pieces ot the trames having halt circular bends centrally of their ends, which bends extend around the standard, said means comprising clamps adapted to engage the bent portions, screw threaded vmen'ibers projecting through the standard and nuts turned on the screw threaded members providing for tightening or loosening the clamps.

.4. An antenna tor use in connection with radio receiving sets comprising an upright standard, a pair of trames each comprising a plurality oiI pieces of wire formed of material having good conducting qualities for electrical energy, which wires extend vertically and horizontally, half circular bends provided intermediate of the ends of the horizontal portions of the frames, which bends are engaged with the standard, screw threaded members carried by the standard, clamps supported on the screw threaded members and adapted to engage the bent portions, nuts turned on the screw threaded members and bearing against the clamps and means provided on one ot the frames tor establishing connection on one end of a lead in wire with said trames.

ti. An antenna for use in connection with radio receiving sets comprising an upright Standard, a plurality of rectilinear frames each comprising a plurality of spaced horizontal bars, a plurality ot upright bars which are joined to the ends ot the horizontal bars, said frames being mounted on the standard substantially at right angles to one another and having` the horizontal bars intersecting one another, and a plurality of elements for fastening said -trames to the standard, which elements engage the intersecting portions ot said frames and establish an electrical connection between said portions of said frames. f

GEORGE F. GILCREST.

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