Adjustable antenna mount with rotatable antenna brackets for PCS and other antennas

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to antenna mounts including more particularly to adjustable antenna mounts having azimuth adjustable antenna brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication systems most often employ the use of “cell” technology, where a base station or other transceiver is dedicated to a specific geographic area. After accessing a base station, wireless customers are then connected to a communications network, such as a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) or a data network such as a corporate LAN.

To provide complete coverage over an entire metropolitan area or geographic region, base stations must be installed at frequent and regular intervals. The need for such a regular array of base stations often necessitates that they be placed in conspicuous locations.

Since communication base stations require an antenna system to transmit and receive information to and from a wireless customer, the antenna often needs to be placed where there are no obstructions that will interfere with its operation. Optimizing the antenna performance often requires placing the antenna on the side of a building or on top of a tall pole or mast. Particularly in urban settings, crowded geographic regions, and residential areas, the need to install a large number of base stations and their associated antennas is typically at odds with the desire of a municipality to reduce the clutter and obtrusiveness of industrial installations and unsightly electrical and communications equipment. Local municipalities may have strict zoning regulations which can interfere with or even prohibit a communications company from installing wireless equipment in a location that interferes with the aesthetic characteristics of the city or town. To operate at optimum effectiveness, a direct line of site between the antenna and the communications device is preferred. This usually requires a conspicuous installation.

Antennas associated with communications systems may sometimes require field adjustments so that the directivity of the antenna can be modified to optimize its performance. New structures, additional base stations, or changing electromagnetic interference can alter the performance of an antenna system, requiring the orientation of an antenna to be changed from time to time. Consequently, it is beneficial to install an antenna so that the orientation of the antenna can be altered quickly and with minimum effort.

Known pole antenna mounts do not address the need to adjustably mount multiple antennas in an unobtrusive and inconspicuous manner. Known antenna mounts are fixed and are only suitable for a limited number of antennas. Since they are fixed, they fail to provide the necessary adjustability required by the changing environment and demands under which they must operate. Thus, it would be desirable to have an antenna mount suitable for the unobtrusive installation of multiple antennas. It would also be desirable for the antennas to be adjustably mounted, particularly so that the azimuth angle of the antenna may be easily and expeditiously adjusted to a wide variety of angles. Finally, it would be desirable to have a universal antenna mount which can be mounted on variously sized and/or configured mounting structures, including poles, towers, and beams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing an antenna mount that unobtrusively mounts one or more antennas to a variety of variously sized and configured mounting structures while allowing azimuth adjustment of the antennas.

One embodiment of the present invention is an antenna mount comprising an anchoring portion and an antenna bracket. The antenna bracket is adjustably engaged to the anchoring portion to allow azimuth adjustment of the antenna bracket relative to the anchoring portion. The antenna mount may include a locking device which enables the antenna mount to be releasably mounted about a mounting structure disposed within an open region provided within the anchoring portion of the antenna mount. Preferably, the antenna mount of the present invention is configured to be suitable for installation on mounting structures having a variety of cross-sectional configurations.

The antenna mount may also include a number of additional antenna brackets suited for mounting a plurality of antennas. In this manner, the antenna mount can be used to provide antenna coverage in multiple directions relative to the antenna mount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1

is a plan view of an antenna mount of the present invention installed about a mounting structure.

FIG. 2

is an elevational view of an antenna mount of the present invention installed about a mounting structure.

FIG. 3

is an elevational view showing an alternate embodiment of an antenna mount of the present invention installed about a mounting structure.

FIG. 4

is a plan view showing a second alternate embodiment of an antenna mount of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B

are plan views of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6

is a further alternative embodiment of an antenna bracket of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A-7C

show alternative embodiments of the antenna mount of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1

shows an antenna mount

35

of the present invention comprising an anchoring portion

30

to which is rotatably secured one or more antenna brackets

10

suitable for mounting a panel-type antenna

20

. The anchoring portion

30

of

FIG. 1

includes an open region

27

which can accommodate variously sized and configured mounting structures such as a mounting structure

25

. In this instance, the open region

27

of the anchoring portion

30

is slightly larger than the mounting structure

25

which results in a slight relief

27

a

between a perimeter of the open region

27

and an outer circumference of the mounting structure

25

.

To install an antenna mount

35

on differently sized and configured mounting structures such as the mounting structure

25

, the antenna mount of

FIG. 1

preferably includes first and second locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

which cooperate to releasably secure the mounting structure

25

disposed within the open region

27

. In this embodiment, the locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

are interconnected with threaded bolts

11

which are tightened to move the locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

radially inward relative to the centerline of the open region and loosened to move the locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

radially outward to a peripheral position adjacent the periphery of the anchoring portion. The locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

are slidably coupled to the anchoring portion

30

and include a slot

37

which accommodates a bolt

19

. When tightened, bolt

19

prevents the locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

from moving relative to the anchoring portion

30

. When loosened, bolt

19

allows the locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

to slide radially to accommodate differently sized and configured mounting structures

25

disposed within the open region

27

.

The antenna mount

35

of

FIG. 1

includes one or more antenna brackets

10

which are each configured to mount an antenna. As an example,

FIG. 1

shows a panel antenna

20

. As shown in

FIG. 1

, antenna brackets

10

are mounted to the anchoring portion

30

through holes

17

formed around the periphery of the anchoring portion

30

. Although only two antenna brackets

10

are shown mounted to the anchoring portion

30

in

FIG. 1

, in a preferred embodiment, multiple antenna brackets are utilized to increase the antenna coverage possible from a single antenna station. For example, the antenna mount

35

of

FIG. 1

can easily accommodate six antennas

20

.

The antenna brackets

10

illustrated in

FIG. 1

are mounted and configured to allow azimuth adjustment of the antenna

20

relative to the anchoring portion

30

. Preferably, a hinge-bolt

13

, or other fastening device, rotatably secures the antenna bracket

10

to the anchoring portion

30

. Hinge-bolt

13

is tightened to secure the antenna bracket

10

in a particular angular orientation. The hinge-bolt

13

is loosened as desired to allow reorientation of the antenna bracket

10

. With the antenna bracket configuration shown in

FIG. 1

, the angle of azimuth, designated β°, may be varied from 0° to 90° or from 0° to −90° for at least 180° of total azimuth angle adjustment. Depending on the degree of adjustability desired, the antenna brackets

10

may be configured to allow a lesser degree of adjustment with a corresponding decrease in the profile of the antenna bracket

10

relative to the anchoring portion

30

.

FIG. 2

is an elevational view of an antenna mount

35

of the present invention installed about a mounting structure

25

. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the antenna mount

35

may include a second anchoring portion

30

b

to increase the structural integrity of the antenna mount

35

. The second anchoring portion

30

b

is maintained in a spaced facing relationship relative to the first anchoring portion

30

. The distance between the first and second anchoring portions

30

and

30

b

is largely dictated by the size of the antenna

20

that is desired to be mounted.

FIG. 2

shows alternative configurations for mounting the antenna to the first and second anchoring portions

30

,

30

b.

For example, the rightmost antenna bracket arrangement for mounting an antenna

20

comprises first and second antenna brackets

12

a

and

12

b

which are preferably configured in an “L”-shape. Antenna bracket

12

a

includes a first wall corresponding to the base of the “L” wherein the first wall includes an antenna engaging face which is configured to secure an antenna such as a panel antenna

20

. Antenna bracket

12

a

includes a second wall corresponding to the leg of an “L” wherein the second wall includes an anchoring face that engages with the first anchoring portion

30

. The antenna bracket

12

a

is preferably rotatably engaged to the first anchoring portion

30

with a hinge-bolt

13

as previously described so that the first face rotatably engages the first anchoring portion

30

. Similarly, antenna bracket

12

b

includes third and fourth walls, the third wall having a second face that engages with the second anchoring portion

30

b

described above.

Alternatively, the left most antenna bracket arrangement of

FIG. 2

preferably comprises a single “U”-shaped antenna bracket which has first and second walls corresponding to the legs of the “U” and a third wall corresponding to the base of the “U.” The first wall includes a first face that engages with the first anchoring portion

30

and which is rotatably engaged to the first anchoring portion

30

with a hinge-bolt

13

. Similarly, the second wall includes a second face which is rotatably engaged to the second anchoring portion

30

b

with a hinge-bolt

13

. Finally, the third wall includes an antenna engaging face adapted to secure an antenna

20

using fasteners

16

or other known fasteners.

One advantage of the “L”-shaped antenna brackets

12

a

and

12

b

shown in

FIG. 2

is that they are readily adaptable to a variety of antenna sizes and configurations. For example, merely widening the distance between the first and second anchoring portions,

30

and

30

b,

allows the antenna brackets to be used on much larger antennas

20

than are shown in FIG.

2

. However, the “U”-shaped antenna bracket

10

shown in

FIG. 2

offers advantages over the “L”-shaped antenna bracket because it is considerably easier to manufacture and install and provides greater structural integrity. But the “U”-shaped antenna bracket may not be suitable for use with much larger or much smaller antennas because its length cannot be varied. Regardless, the preference of the designer will control the type and configuration of antenna bracket most suitable for fixing the antenna to the antenna mount.

As shown in

FIG. 2

, the antenna mount

35

preferably includes a second pair of locking structures

15

c

and

15

d

which are slidably coupled to the second anchoring portion

30

b

as described above in regards to locking structures

15

a

,

15

b

. Locking structures

15

c

and

15

d

may also be coupled to the opposite face of the second anchoring portion

30

b

or they may be omitted entirely depending on whether there is a need for additional locking force for securing the antenna mount

35

to the mounting, structure

25

.

Although

FIG. 2

only illustrates a single antenna

20

mounted to the antenna mount

35

, preferably the antenna mount

35

is configured to have a plurality of antenna brackets installed about the periphery of the first and second anchoring portions

30

and

30

b

in order to secure multiple antennas.

FIG. 3

shows another alternative embodiment of the antenna mount in accordance with the present invention installed about a mounting structure

25

. The antenna mount

35

comprises a first anchoring portion

30

and brackets

12

a

and

12

b

secured to the first anchoring portion. The mounting structure

25

is disposed within an open region (not visible) provided within the first anchoring portion

30

and is then locked in place with locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

as previously described. Additionally, a second set of locking structures

15

c

and

15

d

may be slidably coupled to an opposite face of the first anchoring portion

30

to further secure the first anchoring portion

30

to the mounting structure

25

.

The antenna mount

35

of

FIG. 3

includes a pair of “L”-shaped antenna brackets

12

a

and

12

b,

previously described, which have been reversed from the orientation shown in

FIG. 2

for use with a single anchoring portion

30

. A hinge-bolt

13

or other similar hinge-fastener is used to rotatably secure the antenna brackets

12

a

and

12

b

to the anchoring portion

30

.

A particular advantage of the present invention is the adaptability of an antenna mount for use with a variety of mounting structures having various sizes and configurations. For example,

FIG. 4

illustrates an alternative configuration of the open region

27

which allows for the antenna mount

35

to be installed on a mounting structure without the need to insert a free end of the mounting structure through the open region.

The configuration shown in

FIG. 4

is particularly useful if the antenna mount

35

is to be installed on an existing structure. For example, an antenna mount may need to be installed on a preinstalled pole, such as a telephone pole, that is extremely tall, rendering it difficult to place the antenna mount over the free end of the pole. Also, the pole may have existing installations at its free end which may render it difficult or impossible to pass the free end through the open region

27

during installation. Likewise, installation on the leg of a tower, tree limb, or other similar structure may be impossible with an open region such as shown in FIG.

1

.

The open region

28

of

FIG. 4

comprises a slot from the periphery of the anchoring portion

30

to the center of the anchoring portion. During installation, with the locking structure

15

removed, a mounting structure

25

is passed through the slot

28

until the mounting structure

30

seats securely within the closed end of the slot

28

. A locking structure

15

is then installed using threaded bolts

11

which are threaded through the locking structure

15

and into threaded female fasteners

33

fixed to the first anchoring portion

30

. These bolts

11

are securely tightened, locking the pole between the closed end of the slot

28

and the locking structure

15

. A pair of mounting bolts

19

may also be installed in slots

37

provided within the locking structure in order to secure the locking structure

30

to the anchoring portion

15

. Alternatively, a cooperating tongue-and-groove or dovetail antenna mount (not shown) may be used to slidably couple the locking structure

15

with the anchoring portion

30

.

The threaded female fasteners

33

of

FIG. 4

may also be replaced with a second locking structure to create a locking assembly similar to that shown and described in FIG.

1

. In this manner, additional locking force is created by the use of two locking structures cooperating together.

FIG. 5

a

illustrates an alternative configuration of an antenna mount

35

of the present invention having an open region

27

which is shaped to cooperate with a single locking structure

15

to lock the antenna mount

35

about a mounting structure

25

. As shown in

FIG. 5

, the open region has a semi-circular portion

36

and a stepped portion

34

, wherein the stepped portion

34

has a number of right angle corners.

FIG. 5

b

shows a locking structure

15

which is configured having a number of right angle corners created by cut-out portions

41

,

43

, and

45

.

FIG. 5

b

graphically illustrates how the locking structure

15

engages various sized poles or mounting structures

25

. As the locking structure

15

is tightened using bolts

11

, the mounting structure

25

butts up against the corners created by cut-out portions

41

,

43

,

45

and is locked down against these corners. Similarly, as the locking structure

15

of

FIG. 5

a

is tightened, the mounting structure

25

butts up against the right-angle corners of the stepped portion

34

of the open region

27

. The mounting structure

25

is thus locked against both the corners of the locking structure

15

and the corners of the stepped portion

34

of the open region

27

. As shown in

FIG. 5

b,

the corners against which the mounting structure

25

butts against depends on the size of the mounting structure

25

. The larger the mounting structure

25

, the wider the set of corners against which the structure

25

will butt.

Once the bolts

11

have been sufficiently tightened to securely lock the antenna mount

35

about the mounting structure

25

, bolt

19

may be tightened to secure the locking structure

15

relative to the first anchoring portion.

It can be seen that the open region

27

of

FIG. 5

a

may also be configured having a slot as described above in regards to

FIG. 4

which allows the antenna mount

35

to be installed on a mounting structure

25

without the need to pass the antenna mount

35

over a free end of the mounting structure

25

.

FIG. 6

shows an alternative configuration of an antenna bracket

55

of the present invention, which is more fully described and disclosed in application Ser. No. 09/438,215, filed Jan. 14, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The antenna bracket

55

of

FIG. 6

includes a mounting plate

52

which is configured to be secured to an antenna

20

such as shown in FIG.

6

. Further, the antenna bracket

55

has a slide wall

51

including a lengthwise channel therethrough which slidably and rotatably engages the first anchoring portion

30

. A clampable pivoting, slide mechanism rotatably and slidably couples the antenna bracket

55

to the first anchoring portion

30

.

A particular advantage of the antenna bracket configuration shown in

FIG. 6

is that it allows rotatable coupling of an antenna to the anchoring portion

30

in a very low-profile design while permitting approximately 180° of full rotation of the antenna bracket relative to the anchoring portion

30

. Multiple antennas may also be mounted at various locations around the periphery of the antenna mount

35

without interfering with the adjustability of an adjacent antenna.

It should be understood that the antenna mount of the present invention is easily configurable to be suitable for installation on mounting structures having a variety of cross-sectional configurations: round, square, “I”-shaped, etc. For example, the locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

shown in

FIG. 1

are particularly suitable for mounting structures having a circular cross-sectional configuration. However, the “sawtooth” configuration of the locking structures

15

a

and

15

b

may be varied to allow the installation of the antenna mount

35

about alternatively configured mounting structures.

FIGS.

7

(A-C) show alternative configurations for the locking device of the present invention. For example,

FIG. 7A

shows a “V”-shaped locking structure

15

a

which is used to lock the antenna mount

35

about an “I”-beam mounting structure

25

. Alternatively,

FIG. 7B

shows a similar “V”-shaped locking structure

15

a

which is used to lock the antenna mount

35

about a square cross-section mounting structure

25

. Further, an alternatively configured locking structure

15

a

is shown in

FIG. 7C

which is used to lock the antenna mount

35

about a wood beam mounting structure

25

.

An adjustable antenna mount suitable for use with a variety of mounting structures has been herein shown and described. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that although embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit of the invention. It can also be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that specific details of any embodiment herein described can be interchanged with or applied to the teachings of any other embodiment. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but rather is defined by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. An antenna mount comprising:a first anchoring portion having an open region formed therethrough, the open region sized to accommodate a mounting structure; an antenna bracket comprising a first wall having an antenna engaging face and a second wall having an anchoring face rotatably engaged to the first anchoring portion; and a locking device configured to releasably secure the antenna mount about the mounting structure disposed within the open region of the first anchoring portion.
2. The antenna mount of claim 1 wherein the locking device is configured to adjust the open region from a first size to at least a second size.
3. The antenna mount of claim 2 wherein the locking device comprises a first locking structure adjustably coupled to the anchoring portion, the first locking structure adjustable from a first position peripherally located with respect to a centerline of the open region to a second position located adjacent the periphery of the open region, the first locking structure configured to releasably engage a mounting structure accommodated within the open region when the first locking structure is at the second position.
4. The antenna mount of claim 3 wherein the locking device includes a second locking structure adjustably coupled to the anchoring portion, the second locking structure adjustable from a third position peripherally located with respect to a centerline of the open region to a fourth position located adjacent the periphery of the open region, the second locking structure opposite the first locking structure relative to the open region, the second locking structure configured to releasably engage a mounting structure accommodated within the open region when the second locking structure is at the fourth position.
5. The antenna mount of claim 2 wherein the locking device is configured to adjust the open region from a first size to at least a second size.
6. The antenna mount of claim 1 wherein the antenna bracket is rotatable at least 180°.
7. The antenna mount of claim 1 further comprising:a second anchoring portion maintained in a spaced facing relationship relative to the first anchoring portion; the second anchoring portion having an open region sized to accommodate a mounting structure forward therethrough; and a second antenna bracket comprising a first wall having an antenna engaging face and a second wall having a second face rotatably engaged to the second anchoring portion.
8. The antenna mount of claim 7 further comprising an antenna mounted to the antenna engaging face of the first antenna bracket and the antenna engaging face of the second antenna bracket.
9. The antenna mount of claim 1 further comprising a panel mounted to the antenna engaging face of the antenna bracket.
10. The antenna mount of claim 1 further including at least one additional antenna bracket, the at least one additional antenna bracket comprising a first wall having an antenna engaging face and a second wall having a first face rotatably engaged to the first anchoring portion.
11. The antenna mount of claim 1 wherein the second wall of the antenna bracket includes a channel formed therethrough, the channel formed substantially parallel to the first wall, wherein a pin is engaged within the elongate slot and fixed to the first anchoring portion so that the first face is rotatably and slidably secured to the first anchoring portion.
12. An antenna mount comprising:a first anchoring portion having an open region formed therethrough, the open region sized to accommodate a mounting structure; a second anchoring portion having an open region formed therethrough, the open region sized to accommodate a mounting structure, the second anchoring portion maintained in a spaced facing relationship relative to the first anchoring portion; an antenna bracket comprising a first wall having an antenna engaging face, a second wall having a first face rotatably engaged to the first anchoring portion, and a third wall having a second face rotatably engaged to the second anchoring portion; and a locking device configured to releasably secure the antenna mount about the mounting structure disposed within the open region of the first anchoring portion.
13. The antenna mount of claim 12 wherein the antenna bracket is rotatable at least 180°.
14. The antenna mount of claim 12 further including at least one additional antenna bracket, the at least one additional antenna bracket comprising a first wall having an antenna engaging face, a second wall having a first face rotatably engaged to the first anchoring portion, and a third wall having a second face rotatably engaged to the second anchoring portion.
15. The antenna mount of claim 12 wherein the locking device comprises a first locking structure adjustably coupled to the anchoring portion, the first locking structure adjustable from a first position peripherally with respect to a centerline of the open region to a second position more proximate with respect to a centerline of the open region, the first locking structure configured to releasably engage a mounting structure accommodated within the open region when the first locking structure is at the second position.

US Referenced Citations (6)

Number	Name	Date
3318561	Finke et al.	May 1967
4468671	Ellingson et al.	Aug 1984
4654612	Smith	Mar 1987
4755830	Plunk	Jul 1988
5291121	Tropper	Mar 1994
5971345	Khalaf	Oct 1999

Adjustable antenna mount with rotatable antenna brackets for PCS and other antennas

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

US Referenced Citations (6)