BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is an assembly view of a structure of flexible antenna in accordance with a preferred example of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an assembled flexible antenna in accordance with the preferred example of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled flexible antenna of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates the flexible antenna of the present invention using on a wireless video device positioned on a rotating unit;
FIG. 5 shows the flexible antenna utilized on the signal connecting end (antenna) of the common radio 5;
FIG. 6 illustrates the flexible antenna utilized on the signal output of the wireless microphone.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly view of a structure of flexible antenna in accordance with a preferred example of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an assembled flexible antenna in accordance with the preferred example of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled flexible antenna of FIG. 2. The present invention provides a flexible antenna comprising a metal tube 1, an insulating tube 2 and a signal connector 3, wherein a spring steel with high density spirals is utilized to confine the metal tube 1 to a hollow tube. However, the metal tube 1 of the present invention is not limited to the use of spring steels, other flexible units, such as a metal coil-shaped pipe or other similar objects can also be utilized to confine or roll up to form the shape of the metal tube 1. In other words, the material used must be springy, durable and can be subjected to an external force without alter its confined shape.
The insulating tube 2 is a heat shrinkable insulating tube, and its hollow centre can be used to slip onto the metal tube 1, and an insulating end cap 21 is covered one end of metal tube 1 in such that an insulating layer is formed on the external surface of the metal tube 1 in order to prevent any electrical connection between the metal tube 1 from the external conductors. The signal connector 3 is located at another end of the metal tube 1 that is opposite to the end covered with the insulating end cap 21. In other words, the insulating end cap 21 is provided on one end of the flexible metal tube, which is opposite to the end of the flexible metal tube with the signal connector. Although the preferred example of the present invention discloses the utilization of the insulating end cap 21, such as the signal connector for coaxial cable, however, the present invention is not limited to the usage of the signal connector of coaxial cable, other signal transmitting connectors can be utilized. The signal connector 3 comprises a metal end cap 31, a signal connecting device 32, an insulating base 33 and a ground end cap 34 assembled together, wherein a connecting head 321 and a signal pin 322 are provided respectively both ends of the signal connecting device 32. The connecting head 321 can be slipped onto an exposed portion of the insulating tube 2 which covers one end of the metal tube 1, and the metal end cap 31 can be slide over the signal connecting device 32 to cover a certain part of insulating tube 2 and the metal tube 1 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Screw-line patterns 311 are formed circumstantially and internally at one end of the metal end cap 31. A central hole 331 is provided at a center part of the insulating base 33 in order for the signal pin 322 of the signal connecting device 32 to pass through, and a locating space 341 is also provided at one end of the ground end cap 24 to position the insulating base 33. Screw-line patterns 342 are formed circumstantially on an external portion of the ground end cap 34. The patterns 342 of the ground end cap 34 are corresponding and match to the screw-line patterns provided on the metal end cap 31, such that the metal end cap 31, the signal connecting device 32, the insulating base 33 and the ground end cap 24 can be integrated together to form one unit.
FIGS. 4-6 show how the flexible antenna of the present invention is utilized in various devices in accordance with preferred examples. The design of the present invention allows the metal tube 1 of the flexible antenna to be connected to an electronic device through the signal connector 3. FIG. 4 illustrates the flexible antenna of the present invention using on a wireless video device 4 positioned on a rotating unit 41. The image signals can be produced via the wireless video device 4. FIG. 5 shows the flexible antenna utilized on the signal connecting end (antenna) of the common radio 5. FIG. 6 illustrates the flexible antenna utilized on the signal output of the wireless microphone 6. The metal tube 1 of the flexible antenna comprises conductive property that can be used as a media for electronic wave transmission (receive or transfer). The property of the flexible antenna can sustain to pressure or force and be bent into a desired shape. The present invention provides a flexible antenna that can be confined into various designed shapes in accordance with different environmental conditions in order to fit the various space restrictions Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Patent Application
20080012786
