US 4,047,182 AGranted

Dampening guard for TV antennas

OwnerJack Fareninventor

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Abstract

This invention pertains to a new and inexpensive apparatus for inhibiting vibrations of existing or to be installed antennas such as are provided for use with VHF, UHF, FM and the like. These antennas include a longitudinal metal rail or spine from which transverse tubular elements extend. Usually these elements are pivotally held on one end of this spine. In and with a snapping action these elements are swung into extending position and are secured in detents formed in the spine. When in the desired transverse orientation the tubular elements are secured on this spine member. High winds as they pass by or buffet the mounted antenna tend to vibrate these elements. When the duration of vibration is prolonged one or more of the elements often break off. The loss of one or more elements affects the efficiency and effectiveness of this antenna. Replacement of these missing or broken elements is often difficult and expensive. The present invention provides an inexpensive device to inhibit such vibrations and includes a tubular plastic member which is secured to like oppositely disposed elements by plastic hook-like members. This plastic beam at its midlength has a threaded aperture formed to receive and retain a plastic screw which is turned to bring the extending or inner end of the screw into engagement with the longitudinal spine of the antenna. As this screw is turned, it brings the secured metal tubular elements into a tensioned condition. The element guard extends between midlength of the metal tubular elements as the screw engages the longitudinal spine of the antenna.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An element guard dampening apparatus for attachment to the extending metal transverse signal collecting elements of the antenna such as is used for TV and FM and collecting such signals as VHF, UHF and FM, said dampener engaging and reducing to an extent the destructive effect caused by vibrations of the metal elements carried by a spine, said vibrations developing as the result of high winds, said element guard apparatus including:

(a) a transverse member which is adapted to be placed adjacent oppositely disposed metal signal collecting elements of an antenna and to extend at least to the midlength of each element;
(b) a pair of hanger element retainers, each retainer having one end secured to the transverse member and an opposite hook-like end sized and adapted to slide on and retain the extending metal collecting elements of the antenna, said hangers secured to the transverse member so as to permit the transverse member to extend from said one collecting element to the oppositely disposed collecting element mounted to the spine portion of the antenna, and (c) a screw mounted and turnable in a threaded aperture of the transverse member, the element guard in a mounted condition having an end of the screw in engagement with the spine of the antenna and when the screw is turned inwardly the transverse member and the attached hanger retainers are moved vertically to bring the metal tubular signal collecting elements into a tensioned condition whereby wind induced vibrations are inhibited, and the components forming the element guard are sufficiently non-conductive so that the received electrical signals of and by the said elements are unaffected by the presence of the mounted element guard.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.