Patent Application
20140266969
The present invention relates generally to inflatable antennas, more particularly, to a support apparatus for inflatable antennas.
The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
The various embodiments and their advantages are best understood by referring to
The drawings represent and illustrate examples of the various embodiments of the apparatus, and not a limitation thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as described herein. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be included in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Moreover, variations in selection of materials and/or characteristics may be practiced to satisfy particular desired user criteria.
Furthermore, reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “various embodiments,” or any variant thereof means that a particular feature or aspect described in conjunction with the particular embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” or variations thereof in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to its respective embodiment.
The support apparatus described herein is generally contemplated for use with an inflatable, portable antenna apparatus. For an example of such inflatable antenna apparatuses, please see U.S. Pat. No. 6,963,315, to Gierow, et al, which is incorporated herein by reference. An inflatable antenna apparatus as contemplated herein is essentially a two-chamber, gas-filled sphere where a partition between the two chambers is maintained the shape of a parabolic dish, or lenticular dish. The partition reflects energy to or from a feed horn assembly mounted in the surface of the sphere. The parabolic shape of the reflector may be maintained by having higher air pressure in the chamber on the reflecting side of the partition, than in the chamber on the opposing side.
The antenna 1 rests upon, and is secured to, a case 7 comprising a box 6 and a lid 8 hingedly attached thereto and latchable when closed in the style of a suitcase or briefcase. The case 7 is dimensioned to be to define a space no greater than that defined by airline carry-on luggage. For example, case preferably defines a space less than about 24″×16″×10″, and more preferably less than about 22″×14″×9″. As shown in
The apparatus 100 is configured with a plurality of legs 18a-c, extending outward from the case, and each comprising an elongated member with a foot 19 attached near the outer end of the elongated member to the underside thereof. The case 7 is adapted to include a plurality of hollow tubes 20a-c that open to respective apertures 26a-c defined in the walls of the case 7, and in which the legs 18a-c may be stowed and from which the legs 18a-c extend when the antenna 1 is deployed. In the illustrated embodiment, three legs 18a-c are depicted with two 18a, b, angled with respect to the long axis of the case (ref. line A) and one longitudinal leg 18c. However, it will be appreciated that other numbers of legs, and other orientations, may be used.
The antenna 1 is secured to the case with lines 21a, b extending along either hemisphere of the antenna 1, with first ends that a secured to an attachment point 22b located on the longitudinal leg 18c, and second ends secured to an attachment point 22a located on surface of the antenna 1, and with intermediate portions threaded through pulleys 24a, b located on the angled legs 18a, b, and/or through a hook or eye 25 attached to either lateral side of the antenna 1.
The stowed condition of the antenna is illustrated in
As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the present invention comprises a support apparatus for an inflatable antenna. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, however, that any invention is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate such features or those improvements that incorporate the novel principles embodied by the apparatus.
