Clamp device for mounting antenna to rail

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9343799-B2
Application number	US-201313968427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2013
Priority date	Aug 16, 2012
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A device for mounting an antenna to a rail is provided. The device includes a first clamp member and a second clamp member. The first clamp member includes a planar base plate having a first surface and a second surface. The planar base plate has at least two slots spaced apart on a longitudinal axis. At least two extension sections extend from the first surface of the planar base plate and being spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and closer to a center than the at least two slots. Each extension section includes a patterned cutout area configured to receive the rail. A plurality of threaded fasteners extend from the first surface of the planar base plate and being positioned outside the patterned cutout area along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second clamp member has a plurality of through-holes configured to receive the plurality of threaded fasteners and a planar surface facing toward the first surface of the first clamp member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for mounting an antenna to a rail, comprising:
a first clamp component having a first sidewall and a second sidewall coupled by a first middle portion, the first and second sidewalls extending from two opposing ends of the first middle portion such that the first sidewall is opposed to the second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls comprising a first cutout area having a stepped pattern and a second cutout area having a stepped pattern and configured to fit to a first portion of the rail; and
a second clamp component having a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall coupled by a second middle portion, the third and fourth sidewalls extending from two opposing ends of the second middle portion such that the third sidewall is opposed to the fourth sidewall, the third and fourth sidewalls comprising a third cutout area having a stepped pattern and a fourth cutout area having a stepped pattern and being configured to fit to a second portion of the rail, the first clamp component and the second clamp component being arranged to be opposite to each other such that the rail is held in the cutout areas of the first and second components, wherein the first middle portion and the second middle portion each have a first through-hole in a center, a second through-hole and a third through-hole on each side of the first through-hole, the through-holes spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of each of the first middle portion and the second middle portion, the second and third through holes are elongated along a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis;
a second fastener and a third fastener arranged to attach the first clamp component to the second clamp component when the rail is situated between the first and second clamp components;
wherein the second and third through holes are configured to accept the second third fasteners; and
in a first configuration a portion of the first sidewall overlaps with a portion of the third sidewall such that the first sidewall is against the third sidewall when the rail is held between the first and second clamp components; and
in a second configuration the first sidewall and the third sidewall do not overlap and the first sidewall and the third sidewall are aligned in an orientation substantially parallel to the sidewalls and in the same plane when the rail is held between the first and second clamp components.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first through-hole is configured to attach the first clamp component to a foot section for mounting the antenna through a first fastener.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first clamp component and second clamp component comprises a metal.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first clamp component and second clamp component comprises nickel-plated steel.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second and third through-holes are configured to attach the first clamp component to the second clamp component.

Assignees

• Dish Network Llc

Inventors

• Lettkeman David Michael

Classifications

• H01Q1/12 Primary

  Supports; Mounting means · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title

• H01Q1/22

  by structural association with other equipment or articles · CPC title

• H01Q1/24

  with receiving set · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title