US2723303A

US2723303A - Standoff spacer and clamp for television antenna lead-in conductors

Info

Publication number: US2723303A
Application number: US108193A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ward Donald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-08-02
Filing date: 1949-08-02
Publication date: 1955-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1972-11-08

Description

Nov. 8, 1955 D. WARD 2,723,303

STANDOFF SPACER AND CLAMP FOR TELEVISION ANTENNA LEAD-IN CONDUCTORS File ug- 2, 19 9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DONALD W R0 ATTOPA/fV STANDOFF SPACER AND CLAMP FOR TELE- VISION ANTENNA LEAD-IN CONDUCTORS This invention relates to auxiliary supports and clamps for mounting television antenna lead-in conductors of the double wire type, in which two wires or sets of strands of wire are embedded in a flexible plastic material, to form a ribbon-like conductor.

This type of conductor, or lead-in wire is used for connecting outdoor television antennas to sets mounted in a building.

As most of the antennas in apartment houses, or other multiple-story buildings are mounted on the roof of the building, with the set located in an apartment, several floors below, it is necessary to support a long lead-in conductor from the aerial to the set.

In order to support the double wire lead-in conductor, a stand-off in the form of a screw having a loop formed at the outer end thereof is attached to the building at spaced intervals, the conductor being supported in a grommet fitted to the loop, with a plug inserted in the opening in the grommet, gripping the conductor.

To avoid interference and inductive disturbances due to contact with the building wall, the stand-olfs must be spaced at such a distance as to avoid whipping of the wire, and possible contact with the building.

This necessitates screwing a standoff into the building Wall, or into a plug inserted in the brick or other material of the Wall, at spaced intervals, or approximately one at each floor.

Inserting the standofis at each floor necessitates reaching through a window of each apartment, above the apartment in which the set is mounted.

It is frequently difiicult, or almost impossible to obtain access to the other apartments, except at special hours, so that several trips are often necessary, in order to install a single antenna. This sharply increases the cost of the installation.

In order to overcome this difiiculty, the conductor may be supported by two standoir's of the conventional type, one of which is located near the roof, and the other, at a point below the window of the apartment, in which the set is to be mounted, with a plurality of spacers attached to the conductor, at spaced intervals between the standoffs.

At the lower end of the conductor, below the window through which the conductor is led into the apartment, a clamp may be attached to the lead-in conductor, with a tension spring attached to the lower end of the clamp to hold the conductor taut at all times.

The object of my invention is to provide auxiliary supports for a television antenna lead-in conductor, which will hold the conductor at a predetermined distance from the wall of a building, and avoid the necessity of attaching standoffs at each floor.

A further object is to provide a clamp for the free end of the lead-in conductor, which will grip the conductor in a position substantially parallel to the building, with means attached to the clamp to maintain the tension in the wire, under all conditions.

Another object is to reduce the time required, "and the cost of installing a television lead-in conductor, "by-elimiite States Patent 2,723,303 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 "ice nating the necessity for inserting screwed standoffs, at each floor.

A primary object is to provide a set of relatively simple standofi spacers, which can be installed without special tools or skills, and can be installed at a point, remote from the point at which they engage the wall of the buildmg.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of several embodiments of my invention, together with the description of their construction and the method of installation thereof, will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of one embodiment of the assembled standoff spacer, mounted on a two-wire conductor.

Fig. 2 is a section through the spacer elements of Fig. 1, taken at 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the side of a building with the lead-in conductor supported by a standofi? near the roof and flexibly attached to the standoff at the bottom by a clamp, with the standofi spacers shown at several intermediate points.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the assembled standoif spacer, similar to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 represents a section through the spacer elements of Fig. 4, taken at 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the hub of the spacer of Fig. 4, with the lead-in conductor in place, taken at 6-6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a full-size front elevation of the standoif spacer of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a clamp assembly, mounted at the bottom of the lead-in conductor of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the clamp assembly of Fig.8, taken at 99, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section, through a modification of the hub of the spacer shown in Figs. 4 and 5, taken at 10--10, Fig. 5.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction and method of installation of the Standofif spacers and clamps for television antenna leadin conductors is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the standoff spacer 10, shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, comprises two substantially semicircular discs 11 and 12, joined at the center, with the two

hub sections

13 and 14, of substantially circular segmental cross-section, formed integral with the discs, at the center of the

junction lines

15 and 16, of the disc sections, aligned at the opposite'faces 17 and 18, of a parallel faced slot 19, formed at the junction line between the two hub sections, the faces of the slot engaging the sides of a ribbon-like television antenna leadin conductor 20, having two parallel braided wires 21 and 21a, irnbedded in a flexible plastic material, as indicated in Fig. l.

The spacer sections may be molded of a plastic material, or other suitable material, which will not interfere with the transmission characteristics of the conductor, or set up inductive disturbances therein.

A projection 22, formed integral with one of the spacer sections, may be located at the outer circumference of the disc sections, beyond the junction edges '15 and 16, between the two disc sections, the projection 22, fitting into a counterbore 23, impressed in a boss with the opposite spacer disc section, the projection being located diametrically opposite, at the outer circumference of the disc sections, and fitting into a counterbore 23a, formed in the boss 24a, located in substantial alignment with the projection, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

An opening 25 may be formed in each of the projections 22, 22a and a similar opening 26, in substantial alignment with it, formed in the bosses 24, 24a, cotter pin 27, or other suitable attaching means, being fitted through the openings to connect the two disc sections, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Reinforcing

ribs

28 and 29 may be formed integral with each disc section, adjoining the junction faces of the disc, one rib 28, extending outward from the hub section toward the outer circumference of the disc, a similar pair of

ribs

29 and 30, being formed at the opposite side of the disc, between the hub section 13 and the boss 24, at the outer circumference, to stifien the disc, where thin tapered discs are used, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The disc sections may be tapered from a thin section, at the outer circumference, to a thicker section at the junction with the hub section, as indicated in Fig. 5, or the sides may be substantially straight and parallel, depending upon the disc thickness, the diameter of the disc, and the material of which the disc sections are made.

Where the disc section thickness is made heavier, the

ribs

28, 29, and 30 may be eliminated entirely.

The outer radius of the disc sections would be made equal to or greater than the distance between the edge of the wall and the center of the loop in the fixed standofi 31, attached to the wall, near the roof of the building, as indicated in Fig. 3, the spacers and 10a holding the lead-in conductor substantially parallel to the forward wall 32, of the building, over the entire intermediate height, between the fixed standoff 31, at the top, and the clamp support standoff 33, located below the window opening, as indicated in Fig. 3. The section 34, of the conductor between the standoff 31, and the upper spacer 10, and the lower section 35, of the conductor, between the lower spacer, and the bottom clamp-support standoff may slope inward toward the wall, to keep the outer edges of the spacer discs in contact with the wall at all times.

Another embodiment of the standoff spacer, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, also comprises two substantially

semicircular discs

36 and 37, with two

hub sections

38 and 39, also of circular segmental cross-section, formed integral with the discs, at the center of the

junction lines

40 and 41, of the disc sections, with the parallel wall faces 17 and 18, of a parallel-faced slot, formed at the junction wall of the hubs, engaging the sides of the lead-in conductor, in a manner substantially as shown in Fig. 1. A pair of projecting

bosses

42 and 43 may be formed at the opposite faces of the hub sections, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, a central web 44, formed integral with the opposite hub section slidably fitting into a slot 45, formed between the projecting bosses 42. and 42a, and 43 and 4311, as indicated in Fig. 5.

An opening 46 may be formed in each of the

bosses

42 and 43, and a similar opening 47, in substantial alignment with it, formed in the web, cotter pins 48, or other suitable attaching means, being inserted through the openings 46 and 47, to connect the two huh sections, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The opening 47, formed in the web section, may be substantially circular, and in alignment with the open ings 46, formed in the bosses, or the central opening, formed in the web, may be ovalled in the form of an elongated slot 50, as indicated in Fig. 10, to facilitate assembly and the insertion of the cotter pins, through the openings.

The junction lines 40 and. 41, of the adjacent disc sections, may be sloped, as indicated in Fig. 4, a triangular gap being formed between the junction lines, the abutting faces of the hub sections, locating the disc sections.

The

walls

17 and 18 of the slot, which engage the faces of the lead-in conductor may be formed in a reverse curve 54, as indicated in section in Fig. 6, in order to securely grip the lead-in conductor, between the two sections of the boss, the upper and lower end 55, of the slot, adjacent the faces of the boss, being substantially perpendicular to the boss faces, in order to guide the projecting ends 56 of the conductor, substantially parallel to the spacer disc axis.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a clamp used to grip the lower end of the lead-in conductor 20, below the window 60, or other form of opening, in the building wall, through which the lead-in conductor is fed for connection to the set, located within an apartment.

The clamp comprises three blocks or sections, a central block 61, and two side blocks 62 and 63. One section of the conductor is clamped between the substantially

parallel faces

64 and 65, of two grooves formed in the adjacent sides of the central block 61, and the side block 63, respectively, as indicated in Fig. 9, a gap being formed be tween the

adjoining faces

66 and 67 of the blocks, to enable the groove faces to grip the conductor.

The lower end of the conductor may be looped upward at 68, the free end of the conductor being clamped between the substantially parallel faces 64:: and 65a, of the grooves formed in the opposite side of the central block 61, and the adjoining face of the side block 62, respectively, as indicated in Fig. 9, in substantially the same manner as the other section of the conductor, above described, a gap being formed between the adjoining faces 66a and 67a, of the blocks.

A plurality of bolts 70, or other suitable attaching means, may be fitted through openings 71, formed in the

blocks

61, 62, and 63, a plurality of nuts 72, threadably fitted on each of the bolts, clamping the side blocks 62 and 63, between the heads of the bolts and the nuts, thus gripping both conductor sections between the central block, and the side blocks simultaneously.

A tension spring-74, or other suitable form of tensioning device, may be inserted between the side block 62, and the clamp support standoff 33, attached to the wall of the building, below the window opening 60, a loop 75, formed at one end of the spring, fitting through an opening 76, formed in the side block 62, the loop 77, formed at the opposite end of the spring, fitting into a loop or hook 78, formed at the end of the standoff, the tension in the spring 74, holding the conductor 20, taut over its entire length, the spring compensating for the differences in rates of expansion and contraction between the building wall and the length of the conductor, due to temperature changes, and climatic variations.

The parallel-faced slots into which the conductor is fitted, shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6, may be formed straight through the hub sections, or in any other suitable form, in place of the reverse curve, shown in Fig. 6.

In place of the cotter pins, shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to connect the two spacer sections, bolts, pins, or any other suitable connecting means may be substituted.

A hinge pin may be substituted at one side, in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in order to hold the two sections together prior to mounting on the conductor, with a cotter pin, or other suitable connecting means inserted at the other side after mounting the spacer sections on the conductor.

The boss sections, shown of substantially circular crosssection, when assembled, in Figs. 1 and 4, may be made of rectangular, oval or other suitable cross-section, depending upon the position of the conductor-receiving slot.

Instead of the circular disc shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the outer circumference may be slotted at various points, to

form a series of engaging surfaces, thus reducing the Weight of the assembled spacer.

The ribs shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to reinforce and stiffen the disc sections, may be eliminated, where the thickness of the disc, or the material of which it is made, does not require reinforcement.

In place of the coiled tension spring, attached to the clamp in Figs. 3 and 8, a flexible element in the form of rubber cord, or other suitable flexible connection, may be substituted.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, and that various further modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An insulating spacer for separating a ribbon-like electrical conductor from a wall, comprising a split disc formed in two abutting sections, said disc being made of an insulating plastic material, a hub section formed integral with each section of said split disc, a groove formed in the mating wall of each of said hub sections, the faces of said grooves in the opposite hub sections being substantially parallel, the faces of said grooves engaging the sides of said conductor, a projection formed integral with each section of said split disc, a boss formed integral with the opposite disc section in substantial alignment with said projection, each of said projections and bosses having an opening formed therethrough, and means fitted through said openings connecting the disc sections, to grip the conductor betweenthe hub sections.

2. An insulating spacer for separating a ribbon-like electrical conductor from a wall, comprising a split disc of substantially circular contour, when assembled, said disc being formed in two abutting sections a hub section formed integral with each section of said split disc, said disc and hub sections being molded of a plastic material, a groove formed in the mating wall of each of said hub sections, the faces of said grooves in the opposite hub sections being substantially parallel, the faces of said grooves engaging the sides of said conductor, a pair of projecformed integral with the opposite split disc section, in substantial alignment with said projections, each of said projections and bosses having an opening formed therethrough, and means fitted through said openings, connecting the split disc sections to retain the conductor between the hub sections.

3. An insulating spacer for spacedly supporting a tapelike electrical conductor relative to a wall, comprising a pair of abutting, substantially semi-circular elements, a section of a split substantially cylindrical hub integral with each of the abutting semi-circular elements, the hub having a parallel-faced groove of arcuate profile formed therein, the opposite faces of said groove being formed on opposite sides of the hub split line, a pair of projections integral with one of the semi-circular elements, adjacent the outer circumference thereof, a pair of bosses integral with the opposite semi-circular element, in substantial alignment with the projections, each of said projections and bosses having an opening therethrough, and a pair of pins fitted through said openings, connecting the abutting semi-circular elements to retain the conductor within the split hub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 346,688 Robinson Aug. 3, 1886 1,675,589 Babineau July 3, 1928 1,819,500 Cooke Aug. 18, 1931 1,854,865 Snyder Apr. 19, 1932 1,884,037 Malone Oct. 25, 1932 1,984,355 Abbott Dec. 18, 1934 2,085,077 Fox et a1. June 29, 1937 2,313,972 Rugg et a1 Mar. 16, 1943 2,398,996 Benander Apr. 23, 1946 2,482,567 Trowbridge Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 48,228 France Aug. 10, 1937 538,119 Great Britain July 22, 1941