The present invention relates the field of enclosures for antennas. More specifically, the present invention is a stackable antenna enclosure that protects the antenna mounted on the interior top surface of the enclosure during shipping.
A wide variety of domes and other enclosures have been used in the past to house and protect antennas. For example, domes are often used to house movable satellite dish antennas, but enclosures are also used to protect fixed antennas. The elements of the antenna can be secured to the interior of the enclosure for structural support as well as protection from the surrounding environment. Since the enclosure is typically made of a dielectric material, such plastic or a composite, it can provide a stand-off distance between the antenna and a metal tower or vehicle carrying the enclosure, to thereby enhance the performance of the antenna.
The antenna elements can be a thin metallic film or layer of various shapes that are bonded directly to the interior surface at the top of the enclosure. A pre-amplifier and associated electrical connectors can also be placed inside the top of the enclosure. But, this configuration raises a number of concerns. Packaging and shipping each unit separately is not particularly economical due to the assembly's dimensions and relatively light weight. Stacking a plurality of units together reduces packaging and shipping costs, but creates a risk of damage to the antenna and associated electronic components if they contact the top of the adjacent enclosure when stacked. In addition, when domed or hemispherical parts are stacked and then shipped, vibration experienced during shipment can cause these parts to settle together and ‘lock’, making separation of adjacent parts difficult.
The present invention addresses these concerns by providing a stackable enclosure with stops on the side wall of the enclosure that limit the degree to which adjacent enclosures can be nested together. These stops protect the antenna and associated electronic components from contacting the top of the adjacent enclosure. This also helps to protect the visible surfaces of the enclosure from physical damage and ensures no friction lock occurs between adjacent parts.
This invention provides a stackable antenna enclosure generally having a dome shape with a top and a side wall tapering inward from its base. An antenna and associated electronic components are mounted on the interior top surface of the enclosure. A series of enclosures can be stacked together for storage or shipment, but the side wall of the enclosure includes a number of stops that limit how far the enclosure can be inserted into the interior cavity of an adjacent enclosure. This protects the antenna and related electronic components from coming into contact with the top of the adjacent enclosure and helps to prevent damage. For example, the stops can be a series of vertical ribs extending radially outward from the side wall of the enclosure. The upper ends of these ribs will abut the base of an adjacent enclosure when stacked and prevent contact against the antenna and related electronic components.
These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description and the drawings.
The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
An antenna 20 and its associated electronic components 22 (e.g., a pre-amplifier, electrical connectors and wiring) are mounted to the interior surface of the top 12 of the enclosure 10, as shown in the bottom view provided in
The enclosure 10 is equipped with a number of stops 18 that extend from side wall 14 as illustrated in
In the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, the stops 18 are a set of at least three vertical ribs or protrusions on the outside of the sidewall 14 of the enclosure 10 adjacent to its base 16. Preferably, each stop 18 has a substantially horizontal upper edge. When two enclosures 10a and 10b are stacked, the base 16 of the upper enclosure 10a rests against the tops or upper edges of the ribs 18 of the lower enclosure 10b as shown in
Other possible embodiments of the stops 18 include a series of ribs or protrusions on the inside of sidewall 14 to contact the top or upper sidewall of an adjacent enclosure. Alternatively, a circumferential lip could extend outward or inward from the sidewall 14 of the enclosure 10. If the lip extends outward, this lip would contact the base of an adjacent enclosure above. If the lip extends inward, the lip would contact the top or upper sidewall of the adjacent enclosure below. A circumferential lip could also extend inward from the base 16 of the enclosure 10 to contact the sidewall of an adjacent enclosure.
The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.
The present application is based on and claims priority to the Applicant's U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/637,086, entitled “Stackable Antenna Enclosure,” filed on Mar. 1, 2018.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62637086 | Mar 2018 | US |