Satellite antenna mounting systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10648614-B2
Application number	US-201715858610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2017
Priority date	Dec 29, 2017
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

Systems for coupling a satellite antenna to a structure is provided. The system may include a first element, a second element, a third element, and a tightening mechanism. The first element may include at least one protrusion. The second element may also include at least one protrusion. The third element may be rotatably coupled with the first element. The third element may also be rotatably coupled with the second element. The third element may further be configured to couple with the satellite antenna. The tightening mechanism may be operable to rotate at least one of the first element or the second element with respect to the third element such that at least one protrusion of the first element and at least one protrusion of the second element engage with the structure located between the first element and the second element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for coupling a satellite antenna to a structure, wherein the system comprises:
a first element that includes a first plurality of protrusions located on a first planar surface of the first element, wherein the first element that includes the first plurality of protrusions is made from a first single piece of material;
a second element that includes a second plurality of protrusions located on a second planar surface of the second element, wherein the second element that includes the second plurality of protrusions is made from a second single piece of material;
a third element, wherein:
the third element is rotatably coupled with the first element;
the third element is rotatably coupled with the second element; and
the third element is configured to couple with the satellite antenna; and

a tightening mechanism comprising:
a first bolt coupled with the first element and the second element; and
a first nut operably coupled with the first bolt, wherein tightening the first nut rotates at least one of the first element or the second element towards the third element, wherein the tightening mechanism is operable to rotate at least one of the first element or the second element with respect to the third element such that the first plurality of protrusions of the first element and the second plurality of protrusions of the second element engage with the structure which is located between the first element and the second element.

2. The system for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:
a first hinge; and
a second hinge, wherein:
the third element being rotatably coupled with the first element comprises:
the third element being coupled with the first hinge; and
the first element being coupled with the first hinge; and

the third element being rotatably coupled with the second element comprises:
the third element being coupled with the second hinge; and
the second element being coupled with the second hinge.

3. The system for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the third element being rotatably coupled with the first element comprises the third element being rotatably coupled with the first element about a first axis; and
the third element being rotatably coupled with the second element comprises the third element being rotatably coupled with the second element about a second axis, wherein the second axis is different than the first axis, and wherein the second axis is parallel with the first axis.

4. The system for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 1 , wherein the tightening mechanism further comprises:
a second bolt coupled with the first element and the second element; and
a second nut operably coupled with the second bolt, wherein tightening the second nut rotates at least one of the first element or the second element towards the third element.

5. The system for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 4 , wherein:
a longitudinal axis of the first bolt is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first element with respect to the third element; and
a longitudinal axis of the second bolt is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second element with respect to the third element.

6. The system for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions of the first element and the second plurality of protrusions of the second element engaging with the structure located between the first element and the second element comprises:
the first plurality of protrusions of the first element engaging with a first face of the structure; and
the second plurality of protrusions of the second element engaging with a second face of the structure, wherein the first face of the structure meets the second face of the structure at a corner of structure.

7. The system for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of protrusions of the first element and the second plurality of protrusions of the second element engaging with the structure comprises:
the first plurality of protrusions of the first element penetrating an outer surface of a first face of the structure; and
the second plurality of protrusions of the second element penetrating an outer surface of a second face of the structure.

8. A system for coupling an antenna to a structure, wherein the system comprises:
a first element that includes at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one protrusion of the first element comprises a pointed tooth which is generally pointed towards a second element and a third element;
the second element that includes at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one protrusion of the second element comprises a pointed tooth which is generally pointed towards the first element and the third element;
the third element, wherein:
the third element is rotatably coupled with the first element;
the third element is rotatably coupled with the second element; and
the third element is configured to couple with the antenna; and

a tightening mechanism operable to rotate at least one of the first element or the second element with respect to the third element such that the at least one protrusion of the first element and the at least one protrusion of the second element engage with the structure which is located between the first element and the second element.

9. A method for coupling a satellite antenna to a structure, wherein the method comprises:
disposing an apparatus on a corner of the structure, wherein the apparatus comprises:
a first element that includes at least one protrusion, wherein the first element that includes the at least one protrusion is made from a first single piece of material;
a second element that includes at least one protrusion, wherein the second element that includes the at least one protrusion is made from a second single piece of material;
a third element, wherein:
the third element is rotatably coupled with the first element;
the third element is rotatably coupled with the second element; and
the third element is configured to couple with the satellite antenna; and

a tightening mechanism comprising:
a first bolt coupled with the first element and the second element; and
a first nut operably coupled with the first bolt, wherein tightening the first nut rotates at least one of the first element or the second element towards the third element, wherein the tightening mechanism is operable to rotate at least one of the first element or the second element with respect to the third element;

tightening the first nut to rotate at least one of the first element or the second element towards the third element; and
operating the tightening mechanism such that the at least one protrusion of the first element and the at least one protrusion of the second element engage with the structure which is located between the first element and the second element.

10. The method for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
prior to operating the tightening mechanism, applying a first force to the first element to begin engagement of the at least one protrusion of the first element with the structure.

11. The method for coupling the satellite antenna to the structure of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
prior to operating the tightening mechanism, applying a second force to the second element to begin engagement of the at least one protrusion of the second element with the structure.

12. The method for coup

Assignees

• Dish Network Llc

Inventors

• Bailey Matthew

Classifications

• F16M13/025 Primary

  Corner supports · CPC title

• H01Q1/125

  Means for positioning · CPC title

• F16B2/18

  using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles {(for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1418, F16B7/1427, F16B7/1454)} · CPC title

• F16B2/005

  Means to increase the friction-coefficient · CPC title

• F16B15/0046

  from the body of the plate · CPC title