Winegard Company

Timothy John Conrad

Gail Edwin McCollum

Joshua Richard Gallerick

A portable antenna system has a dish antenna mounted to an antenna support platform and enclosed within a radome. The elevation and azimuth of the antenna can be adjustably directed over a range of angles with respect to the antenna support platform by a controller with electric motors. The antenna support platform is hinged at its periphery to a base. The hinge allows the antenna support platform and antenna to pivot upward with respect to the base between a stowed state in which the antenna support platform rests against the base, and a desired angle of elevation in a raised state. A prop extending between the base and antenna support platform holds the antenna support platform at the design elevation angle in the raised state. Optionally, this prop can allow an adjustable elevation angle.

Portable antenna system with manual elevation adjustment

An antenna mount for adjusting the azimuth, elevation, and/or skew alignments of an antenna. The mount has a basic gearbox drive including a worm gear and worm wheel with interchangeable arcuate members that can be inserted in the basic drive design to customize it for azimuth, elevation, and/or skew adjustments. The arcuate member for azimuth adjustments permits the gearbox drive to rotate the attached antenna more than 360 degrees and provides two hard stop positions about 400 degrees from each other for reference points for the search routine and to prevent undue twisting of any attached, exterior wiring. Replacing the azimuth arcuate member with a modified or second arcuate member reduces the rotational movement (e.g., to 20 degrees) making the gearbox drive more suitable for elevation adjustments. Similarly, a third gearbox drive can be provided with a third arcuate member with more of a middle range of movement (e.g., 90-180 degrees) suitable for skew adjustments of the antenna.

Antenna mount for selectively adjusting the azimuth, elevation, and skew alignments of an antenna

A mount for mobile electronic devices such as a satellite dish antenna system. The mount includes a tripod and an elongated post member supported on it by a universal joint or pivot mechanism. The post member extends along a longitudinal axis and the pivot mechanism allows the post member to be moved about two, substantially perpendicular pivotal axes relative to the tripod to align the longitudinal axis of the post member with the vertical. Once the axis of the post member is aligned vertically, the alignment system of the attachable satellite dish will then have a proper reference from which to aim or direct the dish (e.g., azimuth and elevation) for best reception and transmission. The mount includes an arrangement of cables extending between the tripod legs and adjustable straps extending between each tripod leg and the post member to provide a very strong and stable support for the satellite dish antenna system that is attachable to the upper end of the vertically aligned post member. The tripod is designed to be foldable into a compact configuration for easy transport and storage with each tripod leg folded onto itself and positioned under a central member of the tripod. The folding and unfolding of the tripod and the alignment of the post member to the vertical on it can all be done by one person without the need for any tools.

Portable, lightweight mount for a satellite antenna system

A lightweight, portable satellite dish antenna system having base and lid portions which can be configured relative to each other in carrying and deployed positions. The base and lid portions are substantially the same size and shape and have respective interior and exterior sides with the satellite dish antenna of the system pivotally mounted to the interior side of the lid portion. In the carrying position, the satellite dish antenna is retracted to align with the interior side of the lid portion and the lid and base portions are secured together with the interior sides thereof facing and abutting each other. In the deployed or operating position, the lid portion is inverted and placed atop the base portion with the exterior side of the lid portion and the interior side of the base portion facing and abutting one another on mating bearing surfaces extending about a central, vertical axis.

Portable satellite dish antenna system

A semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system having a portable mount for deploying a portable satellite antenna. The portable satellite antenna assembles for deployment using releasable connectors. The portable mount can be mounted to a post, a tripod, or a non-penetrating mount. The non-penetrating mount uses a pivoting pair of support wings that pivots upwardly for transportation and downwardly when deployed on a surface. When deployed, ballast is placed on the support wings to stabilize the semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system.

Semi-permanent portable satellite antenna system

Digital television antenna

A mobile television antenna having an antenna element outwardly extending from opposing ends of a housing. An UHF digital booster extends perpendicularly from one side of the housing between the opposing ends carrying the antenna element. At least one UHF parasitic antenna element is connected on a boom which is integrally connected to the mobile television antenna housing. The ultra high frequency parasitic antenna element is held in a plane near the plane in which the antenna element is held by the housing.

Mobile television antenna with integrated UHF digital booster

A stabilizing mechanism and method for a reflector antenna, in a mobile satellite system on a transport, such as a vehicle, for substantially minimizing damage to the reflector antenna when stowed. The stabilizing mechanism uses a stabilizing surface and a pair of stabilizing devices connected on opposite sides of the reflector antenna to provide a pre-load separation distance between a stabilizing surface and the reflector antenna when the reflector antenna is stowed. The pre-loaded separation minimizes any movement of the reflector antenna towards the stabilizing surface during movement of the transport or in adverse environmental conditions.

Stabilizing mechanism and method for a stowed mobile satellite reflector antenna

An aftermarket UHF parasitic antenna kit and method for a mobile television antenna includes: a base having an engagement surface and an extending boom; rivet holes in the engagement surface that correspond in size and location to a corresponding number of holes in the bottom of the mobile television antenna; push rivets that engage the rivet and bottom holes to hold the base to the bottom of the mobile television antenna; base foot holes in the engagement surface and boom; resilient base feet that engage the base foot holes; and at least one parasitic antenna element connected to the boom.

UHF digital booster kit for a television antenna and method

An elevation mechanism for a satellite antenna system. The elevation mechanism includes tilt links or arms, lift links, and a linear actuator with an adjustable length leg arrangement. Each tilt arm is pivotally mounted at its inner and outer end portions to the base or azimuth plate of the system and to the back of the dish of the system. Similarly, each lift link is pivotally mounted at its inner and outer end portions to the base and to the back of the dish. The linear actuator in turn is pivotally mounted at its inner end portion to the base and at its outer end portion to the lift links. In operation, the linear actuator can be moved between extended and retracted positions to cause the dish to move between its stowed position facing downwardly and a deployed position facing upwardly of the horizon at a targeted satellite.

High wind elevation mechanism for a satellite antenna system

Television antenna

A folding feed for a mobile satellite system having a reflector antenna, a feed, and a feed arm. The feed arm carries the feed at its distal end. A pivot is provided between the distal end and the feed. A feed stop block, connected at the distal end, has first and second surfaces. When the mobile satellite system stows the antenna, the feed pivots to abut the first surface against the feed to hold the feed at a first set angle. When said mobile satellite system deploys the antenna, the feed pivots to abut the second surface against the feed to hold the feed at the second set angle. A spring connected between the feed arm and feed holds the second surface against the feed. The first angle is greater than the second angle to provide a low profile to the stowed antenna.

Folding feed mechanism and method for a mobile satellite system

A stabilizing mechanism and method for a deployed reflector antenna in a mobile satellite system. The stabilizing mechanism has a pair of stabilizing devices with a first end of each stabilizing device connected on a rear support of the reflector antenna. The first ends are positioned on opposite sides of the rear support. A second end of each stabilizing device is connected to a tilt mechanism in the mobile satellite system. The pair of stabilizing devices forms a support angle about the centerline of the reflector antenna and with the tilt mechanism. The pair of stabilizer devices pushes against the opposite sides with a pre-load force when the reflector antenna is deployed to minimize deflection of the reflector antenna due to environmental forces.

Growing community of inventors

Mt. Pleasant, IA, United States of America

Timothy John Conrad