Clip Device For Mounting Accessory On An Antenna Boom

Abstract

A clip device for mounting accessories on antenna booms comprising a frame of plastic material having a first U-shaped clamp portion, the arms and base of which have interior surfaces that generally conform to three sides of a straight boom of square cross-section. The arms have inwardly projecting retainer flanges, respectively, on the distal ends thereof. The flanges have inner surfaces that generally conform to the fourth side of the aforesaid boom. The flanges have outer cam surfaces that are flat and incline downwardly and inwardly toward the base. The facing surfaces of the arms between the ends are slightly curved outwardly, the arms being resilient. The base is provided with a part-cylindrical depression symmetrically disposed between the ends. The inner surfaces of the clamp portion are symmetrical about and generally parallel to an axis through the central portion. A second clamp portion is disposed beneath the base and is secured thereto by a rigid connection, all these parts being integrally formed. The second clamp portion is part tubular in shape and so disposed that the opening thereof extends oppositely to that of the opening in the first clamp portion. The arms of the second clamp portion are also resilient. Adapters are provided for altering the interior shape of the clamp portion, one typical adapter having a part-cylindrical curvature on the inner side thereby to adapt the clip device to be fastened to a cylindrical boom. Another typical adapter is primarily square shaped thereby to adapt the clip device for fastening to a boom of square cross section smaller than that to which the first clamp portion may be directly fastened.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to devices for television and FM antennas and more particularly to clip devices for fastening accessories, such as matching transformers, to the booms or some similar structural member of such antennas.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Antenna booms conventionally are made of aluminum tubing, such tubing being of either square or round cross section. The tubing conventionally is also of different standard cross sectional sizes. Accessory devices such as matching transformers are often fastened to antenna structures, different mounting devices being used for this purpose.

In the prior art, devices are so constructed to be fastened to elongated members of either round or square cross section, such devices conventionally being adapted to fit directly onto the member of square cross section but requiring an insert for mounting it on a member which is of cylindrical shape. White U.S. Pat. No. 2,544,817 discloses a typical mounting device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the broader aspects of this invention there is provided a plastic clip device for mounting accessories on antenna booms comprising a frame having a first U-shaped clamp portion, the arms and base thereof having interior surfaces that generally conform to three sides of a boom of square cross section. The arms are provided with inwardly projecting retainer flanges, respectively, on the distal ends thereof, these flanges having inner surfaces that generally conform to the fourth side of the aforesaid boom. The flanges have outer cam surfaces that are flat and incline downwardly and inwardly toward said base. The facing surfaces of the arms between the ends thereof are curved outwardly. The arms are resilient and the base has a part-cylindrical depression in the central portion between the ends thereof. The inner surfaces of the clamp portion are symmetrical about and generally prallel to an axis through the central portion thereof. A second clamp portion is disposed beneath the base and is integrally secured thereto by means of a rigid connection. The second clamp portion is part-tubular in shape, the open side thereof being disposed oppositely from the open side of the first clamp portion. The arms of the second clamp portion are also resilient.

This clip device just described is adapted to be clamped onto a boom of square cross section conforming to the size and shape of the inner surfaces of the first clamp portion. In order to adapt the same clip device to be mounted on a boom of circular cross section, an insert is used which has a part-cylindrical surface that may be disposed symmetrically opposite the part-cylindrical depression in the aforesaid base. This insert is provided with sides that substantially conform to and are embraced by portions of the inner surfaces of the two arms, and a flat surface that is engaged by the inner surfaces of the two flanges and bridges the space therebetween.

The clip device may also be adapted to be clamped onto a boom of square cross-section smaller than that first mentioned by providing a second insert generally of U-shaped cross section but defining a square shape interiorly. The outer surfaces of this insert are shaped to conform substantially to the inner surfaces of the two arms and the flanges with the base of the insert bridging the space between the two flanges. The space inside the insert bridged by the base of the first clamp portion defines a square of smaller cross-section than the square of the clip device itself.

It is an object of this invention to provide a clip device for mounting an accessory on an antenna structure, and more particularly the boom thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a resilient plastic clip device for mounting an accessory on the boom of an antenna whether the boom be round or square or of different cross sectional size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an adapter to be used in conjunction with the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of another adapter for use with the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 mounted on the boom of an antenna;

FIG. 5 is a similar view utilizing the adapter of FIG. 2 for mounting the device on a boom of circular cross section; and

FIG. 6 is another perspective view using the clip of FIG. 1 with the adapter of FIG. 2 whereby the clip device may be mounted on a boom of cross section smaller than that of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the structures of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are perferably made of plastic having suitable dielectric characteristics for use on conventional television and FM antennas. In the embodiment illustrated, the clip is shown as being designed for mounting a matching transformer onto an antenna boom, the matching transformer being primarily of cylindrical shape.

Referring to FIG. 1, the clip device resembles an open frame having a clamp portion generally indicated by the numeral 10 of generally U-shaped configuration, the two arms 12 being joined to a base 14. On the upper ends of the two arms 12 are two inwardly extending flanges 16 shaped as shown. It may be stated at this point that the drawings are substantially to scale.

The inner surfaces of the arms 12, the base 14 and the flanges 16 define generally a square shape conforming substantially to the shape of a conventional square boom 18 of FIG. 4. The inner surfaces 20 of the two arms 12 are slightly curved outwardly as shown between the ends thereof while the inner surfaces of the flanges 16 are substantially flat. The inner surface of the base 14 is provided with a part-cylindrical depression 22 between the ends thereof having a center of curvature at 24 which is below the frame axis 26 which is generally midway between and parallel to the inner surfaces of the arms 12, the base 14 and the flanges 16.

The inner surfaces 28 of the flanges 16 are substantially flat and are inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the base 14 as shown, defining planes substantially parallel to axis 26.

Extending beneath and integrally connected to the base 14 is a second clamp portion generally indicated by the numeral 30 which, in this illustrated embodiment, is part tubular in shape with the open side 32 thereof facing oppositely from the open side of the clamp portion 10. Two rigid extensions 34 of the two arms 12 angle symmetrically inwardly for connection to the tubular clamp portion 30, a central web 36 connecting the central portion of the base 14 to the central portion of the tubular clamp 30.

The arms 12 as well as the corresponding parts of the tubular clamp 30 are resilient and are preformed to be slightly smaller than the parts they are to embrace. As regards the clamp portion 10, the arms 12, as shown more clearly in FIG. 4, are preformed inwardly such that inner surfaces of the arms 12, the base 14 and the flanges 16 will frictionally embrace the boom 18. The slight curvature 20 of the inner sides of the two arms 12 permits some outward deflection of the upper ends of the arms such that the latter will firmly, resiliently embrace the boom 18 with the inner surfaces tending to lie flat against the boom sides.

A conventional, cylindrically shaped matching transformer 38 having a connecting lead 40 is inserted in the clamp 30, the latter being made slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the transformer 38 such that once inserted, the transformer will be frictionally embraced and held in position by the clamp portion 30.

In some instances, it may not be possible to telescope the clamp portion 10 onto the boom 18. Instead, the cam surfaces 28 on the flanges 16 may be engaged with the sides of the boom 18 and merely forced over the boom unitl it snaps into embracing relationship as shown. The flanges 16 are made short enough such that the arms 12 will not be bent outwardly so far as to break or produce a permanent set. By reason of the resiliency of the arms 12, it is possible to mount to clip devices in this manner.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the clip device of FIG. 1 may be mounted securely on a circular boom 42 as shown. In this instance, a boom 42 of the same curvature as the part-cylindrical depression 22 (FIG. 1) is positioned on the latter and an insert 44 (FIG. 2) is inserted between the boom 42 and the inner surfaces of the flanges 16 and the arms 12. The insert 44 is somewhat crescent shaped, being provided with a part cylindrical inner surface 46 which conforms to the outer surface of the boom 42 and two side surfaces 48 which conform to the shape of the upper halves of the inner surfaces of the two arms 12. The remaining surface 50 is flat and conforms to the shape of the inner surfaces of the flanges 16 and serves to bridge the distance between the two flanges. The spacing between the two sides 48 is made slightly larger than the distance between the inner surfaces of the two arms 12 so that the latter will be distended slightly thereby providing for a resilient clamping force whereby the assembly frictionally embraces the boom 42. The thickness of the insert 44 is made such that engagement of the flat surface 50 with the under sides of the flanges 16 will resiliently force the insert 44 against the boom 42 thereby insuring a frictional clamping force.

The clip device in FIG. 1 may also be used on a boom 52 of square cross section (FIG. 6) which is smaller than the boom 18. In this instance, an insert like that shown in FIG. 3 is used, this insert, indicated by the numeral 54, being adapted to be fitted snugly and resiliently inside the clamp portion 10 and in turn over the boom 52. The insert 54 is generally U-shaped with the sides 56 being curved slightly to conform to the inner surfaces, respectively, of the arms 12. The sides 56 are also made to a length as will extend from the inner surfaces of the flanges 16 to the base 14. The remaining side 58 is substantially flat thereby to engage intimately one side of the boom 52 and the undersides of the flanges 16.

The insert 54 is so sized that it will have a sliding fit with the interior of the clamp portion 10. The inner surfaces defined by the insert 54 in combination with the base 14 is made to a size just slightly smaller than that of the boom 52 such that insertion of the latter into the insert 54 results in slight resilient distension of all the parts thereby providing the necessary reslient clamping force for securing the clip device on the boom 52. The booms 18, 42 and 52 of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, respectively, are conventional in the television antenna industry and furthermore are of standard size, the boom 18 being one inch square measured on the outside, the boom 42 one inch outer diamter, and the boom 52 13/16 inch square outside dimension. The same plastic clip of FIG. 1 is used to mount the matching transformer 38 on all three booms, the inserts 44 and 54 being used to adapt the clip to the round and square shapes, respectively.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A clip device for mounting accessories on antenna booms comprising a frame having a first U-shaped clamp portion, the arms and base of said clamp portion having interior surfaces that generally conform to three sides of a straight boom of orthogonal cross-section, said arms having inwardly projecting retainer flanges, respectively, said flanges having inner surfaces that generally conform to the fourth side of the aforesaid boom, said flanges having outer cam surfaces that are flat and incline downwardly and inwardly toward said base, the facing surfaces of said arms between the ends thereof being curved outwardly, said arms being resilient, said base having a part-cylindrical depression symmetrically disposed between the ends thereof, the inner surfaces of said clamp portion being symmetrical about and generally parallel to an axis through the central portion thereof, and a second clamp portion disposed beneath said base and secured thereto by a rigid connection, said second clamp portion having two arms that define a general U-shape opening in a direction opposite to that of said first U-shaped clamp portion, the arms of said second clamp portion being resilient.

2. The clip device of claim 1 in which said orthogonal cross-section is substantially square and said axis being centrally disposed in the part-cylindrical depression having a center of curvature on the near side of said axis and in a plane midway between said arms and which includes said axis.

3. The clip device of claim 2 including an insert having a part-cylindrical inner surface of generally the same radius as said depression, said insert having an outer surface that conforms to the shapes of the inner surfaces of said arms and flanges, said outer surface including a flat portion symmetrically opposite said part-cylindrical inner surface and two side portions that extend for about one-half the length of the inner surfaces of said first clamp portion arms, the distance between said two side portions being slightly greater than the unsprung distance between the arms of said first clamp portion.

4. The clip device of claim 2 including an insert of generally U-shape with the sides and base being orthogonally related, the outer surfaces of said sides generally conforming to the entire length of the inner surfaces of said arms of said first clamp portion, the inner and outer surfaces of the insert base being substantially flat and parallel, the inner surfaces of said insert sides being curved outwardly between the ends thereof, said inner surfaces of said insert and the base of said first clamp portion defining a square shape, the spacing between the outer surfaces of said sides being slightly greater than the spacing between the arms of said first clamp portion, the last-mentioned arms resiliently embracing said insert with the base of the latter bridging the space between and being engaged by said flanges, said frame and insert being of dielectric plastic material.

5. The clip device of claim 1 in which said rigid connection includes two inwardly downwardly and inwardly inclined integral extensions of said arms, respectively, said second clamp portion being part tubular with the side opposite the opening thereof integrally joining said extensions.