U.S. patent number 3,778,537 [Application Number 05/321,387] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-11 for clip device for mounting accessory on an antenna boom.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Antennacraft Company. Invention is credited to Richard A. Miller.
United States Patent |
3,778,537 |
Miller |
December 11, 1973 |
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.
Inventors: |
Miller; Richard A. (Burlington,
IA) |
Assignee: |
Antennacraft Company
(Burlington, IA)
|
Family
ID: |
23250405 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/321,387 |
Filed: |
January 5, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/138R; 248/72;
248/229.26; 174/163R; 248/74.2; 24/339 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q
1/1228 (20130101); Y10T 24/3444 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
H01Q
1/12 (20060101); F16b 002/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;174/4CC,138R,138G,163R,175
;24/73R,73PF,73SA,73AP,81CC,81AT,81G,129D,243G,255R,255C,257R
;248/72,73,221,223,224,225,226E,228,229,316D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Askin; Laramie E.
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.
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.
* * * * *