US3409256A - Antenna roof mount support - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 5, 1968 D. BURNS J 3,409,256

ANTENNA ROOF MOUNT SUPPORT Filed March 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

LOREN D. BURNS ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 D. BURNS 3,409,256

ANTENNA ROOF MOUNT S UPPORT Filed March 7, 1966 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LOREN D. BURNS United States Patent 3,409,256 ANTENNA ROOF MOUNT SUPPORT Loren D. Burns, Douglass, Kans. 67039 Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,320 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a mounting means for an antenna mast support, :and more particularly, to an antenna support attachable to the roof of a house. Still more specrfically, this invention relates to an antenna support mountable on a house roof and laterally supported by cable members whereby no holes need be drilled in the roof for installation :and support. Additionally, this invention relates to an antenna roof mount support combination having a bracket means with downwardly diverging leg means mountable upon the upper surface of a house roof; cable connector means connectable to :an upright antenna mast mounted in the bracket means; cable members having one end connected to the connect-or means and the other end securable by clamp members to the outer periphery of the house roof; and means for securing the bracket means to the mast to present an upright rigid structure connectable to the house roof without the necessity of drilling holes therein.

Conventional antenna support means are normally attached to the uppermost portions of the roof of houses by the use of heavy brackets and clamps secured directly to the roof surface. This results in numerous holes in the roof each subject to possible water leakage with resultant damage to the Walls and ceilings within the house. The prior art antennas are rigidly secured to the supporting structure and therefore cannot be readily moved to another location on the roof for better signal reception or removed for transport and installation on another house. Additionally, removal of the prior art devices leaves a plurality of holes in the roof surface which must be repaired.

In a preferred specific embodiment of the invention, the antenna support assembly includes a basic frame adapted to straddle opposite sides of a V-s'haped house roof. An elongated mast or pole used to support a television or radio antenna and the like is mountable on the basic frame for support in an upright position. The assembled frame, mast, and antenna are secured against lateral upward movement by a plurality of cable assemblies connected between the mast and the outer peripheral edge of the house roof.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic frame consists of a pair of cooperating plate members having upper clamp sections and lower downwardly diverging leg supports adapted to straddle the opposite sides of a V-shaped roof top. The mast is rigidly secured between the clamp sections with the lower end thereof supported on the upper end surface of the leg supports. A plurality of cable assemblies connected to the mast hold the mast and frame assembly against upward and lateral movement. The cable assemblies are secured to the outer peripheral edge of the roof as above-mentioned in the first embodiment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new roof mounting means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new support means for antenna masts mountable on the roofs of houses.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an antenna support means mountable upon the roof of houses without necessitating the drilling of holes and securing to the roof surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide an antenna roof mount support means that can be easily and quickly assembled and readily attached to the uppermost portion of a house roof.

One other object of this invention is to provide an antenna roof mount support means rigidly secured against vertical and horizontal movement.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved antenna roof mounting means having a plurality of flexible leg support members whereby the assembly has a shock absorbing characteristic.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an antenna roof mount support means that is readily assembled, readily removable for transfer, and economical to manufacture.

Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of preferred specific embodiments of the new antenna roof mount support means of this invention in which:

FIG. 1 is .a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of a house embodying a preferred specific embodiment of the antenna roof mount support assembly of this invention attached to the house roof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a mast and an antenna roof mount support of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the supporting frame of the antenna roof mount support of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2 illustrating a connector means of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of a cable .assembly of this invention secured to the outer periphery of the house roof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a mast connector plate of this invention mounted on a mast and connected to cable assemblies;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of this invention similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a. mast and a connector plate assembly of the second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view taken along line 99 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 illustrated as mounted on the uppermost portion of a house roof.

In the following is set forth a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new antenna roof mount support of my invention, made with reference to the drawings whereon the same numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the drawings, discussion and description of this disclosure are not to limit the scope of my invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the antenna roof mount assembly of this invention, indicated generally at 15, is mounted on a roof 16 of a house 18, and includes a basic support frame assembly 20 secured to the lower end of a mast 22 to form a mast and frame assembly 23. A connector plate 25 secured to an upper portion of the mast 22 and a plurality of cable assemblies 26 extended between the connector plate 25 and the outer peripheral edge of the roof 16 provides for vertical and lateral stability of the mast and frame assembly 23. A multi-direc- 3. tional antenna 24 is secured to the upper end of the mast 22.

The basic support frame assembly 20 as shown in FIG. 2, includes a pair of leg members 27 and 28 interconnected at the uppermost ends by a clamp or bracket assembly 30 and the mid portions of the leg members 27 and 28 are interconnected by a brace assembly 32. As the leg members 27 and 28 are identical, only leg member 27 need be described in detail. The leg member 27 is pref erably constructed of a tubular aluminum material having opposite end sections 34 bent laterally from a base section 36 towards each other so as to be of substantially isosceles triangular shape. The terminal ends of the leg member 27 are flattened, formed with holes, and angularly displaced from the end sections 34 for reasons to become obvious.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket assembly 30 comprises a pair of plates 38 having right angular shaped center portions 39 integral at opposite ends with connector portions 41. The plates 38 are assembled in a face to face relationship having the terminal ends of the leg members 27 and 28 against the outer surfaces of the connector portions 41. Bolt members 43 are extended through aligned holes in the terminal ends and the connector portions 41 whereby the mast 22 is mountable between the center portions 39 in a clamped relationship.

The brace assembly 32 includes a pair of arm members 44 of irregular shape each having end sections 46 secured as by bolts 47 to respective ones of the end sections 34 of the leg members 27 and 28. The arm members 44 have mid sections 49 of V-shape in substantial vertical alignment with respective ones of the plates 38 of the bracket assembly 30 whereby the lower end portion of the mast 22 is mountable between the mid sections 49 and held in a clamped rigid position by bolt members 51.

It is seen, therefore, that the basic frame assembly 20 is usable to support the mast 22 in a vertical position having the lower end section thereof rigidly clamped by the brace assembly 32 and the bracket assembly 30. The parallel base portions 36 of the leg members 27 and 28 are substantially spaced to add lateral stability to the mast and frame assembly 23.

In the use and operation of the invention, the mast and frame assembly 23 is mounted or straddled on the upper edge of the house roof 16 with the leg members 27 and 28 on opposite sides thereof. In the mounted position, the mast extends vertically of the upper ridges of the house roof 16 and substantially perpendicular thereto. In order to secure the mast and frame assembly 23 against the roof 16, the connector plate 25 is secured to an upper portion of the mast 22 and a plurality of cable assemblies 26 are secured to the plate 25. As shown in FIG. 6, the connector plate 25 has a cylindrical body 53 mounted about the mast 22 having a laterally extended flange 55 with four spaced holes 57 therein. Each cable assembly 26 includes a cable 59 having one end mounted with one of the holes 57 and the opposite end secured to a U- shaped roof clamp 61. (FIGS. 1 and The roof clamps 61 are mounted about a portion of the peripheral edge of the roof 16 whereby the four cable assemblies 26 cooperate to anchor the mast and frame assembly 23. Intermediate opposite ends of the cable 59 are mounted conventional turn buckles 63 so that the position and tension of the cable 59 is readily adjustable on rotation of the turn buckles 63.

It is obvious that the cables 69 can be of any suitable material such as rope, steel cable, wire, etc. However, the use of glass rope has proven to be most satisfactory. Preferably, the leg members 27 and 28 are of a resilient nature thereby providing a shock absorbing characteristic to the support frame assembly 20 which effectively resists damage from tornadoes, high winds, etc. Additionally, it is obvious to one skilled in the art that numerous types of: roof clamps and anchors can be used to secure the lower ends of the cables 59 depending on the type of roof edge, etc.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7-10, a basic frame assembly 65 includes a pair of identical plate members 67 having leg sections 69 integral with upper clamp sections 71 angularly disposed therefrom. The leg sections 69 are of a rectangular shape having lower curved support portions 73 adapted for contact with the surface of the roof 16. The clamp sections 71 are provided with laterally bent mid sections 75 of V-shape adapted to contact and clamp the mast 22 therebetween. The plate members 67 can readily be produced by a stamping process with ridges 77 and projections 78 formed to add sufficient strength thereto. A plurality of spaced holes in the clamp section 71 are adapted to receive bolts 79. Additionally, a plurality of spaced punched holes 81 in the support portion 73 having downwardly projected edges provide a rough non-skid contacting surface.

In the use and operation of the second embodiment, namely the frame assembly 65, the mast 22 is placed between the plate member 67 with the lower portion of the mast supported on the upper surfaces of the leg sections 69. The bolts 79 are actuated to rigidly clamp the mast 22 between the mid sections 75. As shown in FIG. 10, this mast and frame assembly, indicated generally at 83, is mounted on the roof 16 so as to straddle the opposite sides thereof. The connector plate 25 and the cable assemblies 26 are thereupon connected to the mast 22 and the periphery of the roof 16, respectively, as previously described in the first embodiment assembly. The contacting rough surfaces of the leg sections 69 hinders lateral sliding movement of the mast and frame assembly 83 on the roof surface. The cable assemblies 26 maintain downward and lateral force on the mast and frame assembly 83 to rigidly support the same on the house roof 16. The angular relationship of the clamp sections 71 and the leg sections 69 results in a flexible structure having shock absorbing characteristics thereby preventing damage by wind storms and the like.

The preferred embodiments of my invention presents new and novel antenna roof mount assemblies that can be easily and readily installed without the necessity of drilling holes in the supporting surface. These structures can be readily removed for installation in other locations by the typical home owner, and presents a neat appearing antenna package having new and novel shock absorbing characteristics.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, various constructions and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mounting means for use in supporting a vertically extended mast on the upper portion of a house roof, comprising:

(a) cable connector means for rigid connection to a mast;

(b) a plurality of anchoring members each having a hook-like portion securable to the outer periphery of a house roof in anchoring relationship thereto;

(c) a plurality of cable members each having one end portion secured to said connector means and the opposite end portion secured to one of said anchoring members;

(d) support frame means mountable on the house roof and having means to receive and hold the lower end portion of the mast, said frame means comprising a a pair of leg members, each having opposite end sections bent laterally from a base section toward each other so as to form a substantially isosceles triangle, the terminal ends of each of said leg members being flattened and having an angularly displaced aperture therein;

(e) bracket means secured to the terminal ends of said (b) a laterally extended connector portion secured to said tubular body member, said connector portion having a plurality of spaced holes adjacent the outer edge thereof whereby the upper ends of said cable members are mounted through said holes and secured to said connector portion; and

bers of said support frame means; and

(f) brace means intermediate the leg members of said support frame means for supporting the lower end portion of the mast when mounted and for securing 10 the mast to said leg members of said support frame means and providing lateral stability to the mast, said brace means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed arm members having their end sections secured to (c) a bolt member extended transversely of said tubular body and the mast to rigidly secure said tubular body and thus said connector portion in a selected vertical position to the mast.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS said leg members of said support frame means, said 15 arm members having angular mid sections to receive 2717751 9/1955 Kus.v therebetween said mast and which are in substan- 2733031 1/1956 M l 5 tial vertical alignment with the angularly shaped 2774809 12/1956 B i i center portions of said plate members of said bracket ur at means. 20 FOREIGN PATENTS 2. The mounting means according to claim 1 wherein 249,149 2/1961 Australia said cable connector means comprises:

(a) a tubular body mountable about the mast for axial JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner. ad ustable movement relative thereto;

Images