US2908470A - Spacer guide for antenna cables - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1959 GARMAN 2,908,470

SPACER GUIDE FOR ANTENNA CABLES- Filed Dec. 12, 1956 INVENTOR.

N I I DONALD F. GARM 6 ma/.21..

ATTORNEY United States Patent SPACER GUIDE FOR ANTENNA CABLES Donald F. Garman, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Prestole Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Michigan Application December 12, 1956, Serial No. 627,791

4 Claims. (Cl. 248231) This invention relates generally to sheet metal fasteners but more particularly to television antenna standoff clips or buckles for antenna cables, such for example as used for attaching the cable in laterally spaced relation to a television antenna mast or other support.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to employ machine screw brackets in connection with standoff clips for the antenna cables when mounted on masts or poles but when attached to the side of a wooden structure, such as a house for example, wood screw standoifs are employed. This requires the workmen and distributors to stock both types, and it is a desideratum to have available a single type of standoff which can be used in either location and thereby obviate the necessity of stocking both forms.

An object is to produce a simple and inexpensive sheet metal standoff clip of the above character which can be applied to masts and which involves a standoff having a tapered threaded shank which can be removed from the clip and applied to wooden structures.

Another object is to produce a device of the above character employing a tapered standoff but which can be attached to a novel clip for securing the device to an antenna mast, thereby enabling the workmen to carry only the tapered standoff and eliminating the necessity of also carrying machine screw standoffs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standoff clip for antenna cables applied to a mast;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mast engaging clip with the flexible metallic band shown in fragment;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mast engaging clip showing the tapered screw standoff in engagement therewith;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternate form of mast engaging clip in which the guide for the standoff is formed by tongues struck from the sides of the clip; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the form of clip shown on Figure 6.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an antenna mast or pole M of the usual type to which is secured a sheet metal clip 11. The clip 11 is formed with a flat end panel 12 which has integral parallel side walls 13 and oppositely extending diagonal legs 14 which as shown in Figure 1 are in generally straddling relation to the mast M. In order to strengthen the structure, the side edges are bent to form reinforcing flanges 15. A flexible metallic band 16 is secured to the outer end portion of one of the legs 14 by a rivet 17, and encircles the mast, the free end portion of the strap or band 16 2,908,470 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 passing through slots 18 in the upper portion of each of the legs. The band is secured in place by means hereinafter described.

Integrally formed in the central portion of the end panel 12 is a nut impression 19 caused by piercing and punching the metal to form a helical edge such as to receive the threads of a standoff 20. The standoff 20 has an elongate tapered shank with wood screw threads at the outerend portion and being pointed as illustrated, the opposite end of the shank being formed into a loop head 21 to receive an externally grooved flexible insulating disc 22 of rubber or similar material. The disc is shaped to fit within the loop head 21 as shown and is formed with a notch or slit 23 through which the ribbon-like antenna cable extends as will be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

The juncture of the side walls 13 and the diagonal legs 14 is constructed as follows. An integral inwardly extending wall 24 is formed on each of the side walls 13 and is disposed generally parallel to the end panel 12. Integral with the inner ends of the walls 24 are relatively short vertical walls 25 which as shown particularly on Figure 3 are spaced from each other and in parallel relationship. Integral with the lower end of each of the vertical walls 25 is an integral outwardly extending wall 26 generally parallel to the walls 24 and integral at its outer end with the respective diagonal leg 14. Formed in each of the vertical walls 25 is a centrally disposed notch or embosture 27, the two notches being opposite from each other and being aligned with the opening in the nut impression 19.

It will be manifest from the above description that the standoff 20 may be screwed into the nut impression 19 and passed through the cooperating notches 27 which serve as a supporting guide for the threaded end portion of the screw. By tightening up on the screw 20 the point thereof may be moved into engagement with the free end portion of the strap 16 to hold it from coming loose and as the screw passes through the notch portion, a binding action is set up between the screw and the notch portions 27 thereby to secure the screw from coming loose. Manifestly if the antenna cable is to be mounted on a wooden structure, the screw bracket 20 may be used alone and screwed into the structure.

In the form shown on Figures 6 and 7, the mast engaging clip is formed similarly with a top panel 28 having a similar nut impression 28a and depending from the top panel are integral downwardly and oppositely inclined legs 29. The side edges are turned to provide reinforcing flanges 29a. Similarly a flexible metal strap 30 is secured to the end portion of one of the legs by a rivet 31. In this instance tongues 32 are struck out from each of the legs 29, the lower end of the tongues being integral with the legs and the upper end portions inclining inwardly toward each other. The free edge of each of the tongues 32 is formed with a notch 33. In this manner the standoff 20 passing through the nut impression 28a will engage the notch portions 33 of the tongues which thus serves not only supportingly to guide the standoff but also to set up a binding action to retain it from coming loose.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and choice of materials may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A clip for mounting a stand-off screw on a mast comprising, a pair of angularly convergent arm members adapted to embrace one side of the mast, a cross member integral with the convergent ends of said arm members and connecting the same to one another, said cross member having a screw threaded aperture therethrough on an axis substantially'bisec ting the angle between said arm members, said arm members each having adjacent-the convergent end thereof an integral tongue projecting inwardly towards the other arm member, the inner ends of said tongues-{terminating adjacent the axis of said screw-threaded aperture and cooperating with one another to engage on opposite sides of a screw engaged through said aperture," means for securing one end of a strap-toene of said arms, and strap 'end receiving slots in said arms between the free ends 'of said arms and said tongues: I Y

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, said tongues each having a notch on the inner-end thereof, said notches "2,908,470 A g A,

, 4 I being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said axis to receive said screw. I

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, said tongues comprising re-entrant bends in said arm portions.

4. The combination claimed in claim 2, said tongues being struck from the arm portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tinnerman Dec. 7, 1943 2,593,130 Flynn Apr. "15,1952 2,682,609 Wampler June 29 1954

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