The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 1996
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1995
William J Sherwood, West Burlington, IA (US);
David W Wagner, Burlington, IA (US);
Winegard Company, Burlington, IA (US);
Abstract
A deployable satellite antenna system is intended primarily to be mounted to the roof of a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle. The elevational position of the reflector is controlled by a reflector support having a lower portion pivotably attached to a base mounted to the vehicle. The elevational position of the reflector can be adjusted between a stowed position in which the reflector is stored face-up adjacent to the vehicle and a deployed position. The feed horn is supported at the distal end of a feed arm having a first segment attached to the reflector support extending outward between the base and reflector, and a second segment pivotably connected to the distal end of the first segment. The feed horn segments move between an extended position in which the feed horn is positioned to receive signals reflected from the reflector, and a folded position in which the feed horn is positioned adjacent to the reflector. A linkage extends between the base and the second segment of the feed arm causing the second segment of the feed arm to automatically pivot to its folded position when the reflector is moved to its stowed position. The linkage also allows a spring to pivot the second segment to its extended position when the reflector is moved to its deployed position. The azimuth of the antenna can be controlled by rotating the base relative to the roof of the vehicle.