Portable collapsing antenna

Abstract

A one-piece, collapsible, readily-portable and rapidly-erectable antenna includes a substantially-planar and electrically-conductive ground plane consisting essentially of a central base element and a plurality of electrically conductive assemblies uniformly spaced about and mounted on the base element, the assemblies being guided on telescoping support rods for movement between expanded and collapsed positions relative to the base assembly. An at-least-three-sided elongated frame structure has a first end mounted on the base element; the other end is movable toward and away from the base element between collapsed and expanded frame structure positions, to collapsibly support a conductive radiator portion, comprising a metal helix. The helix is extended when the frame structure is expanded and is retracted when the frame structure is collapsed. A plurality of elongated rods are mounted on the frame structure for generally radial slidable movement of at least one end portion of each rod toward and away from the frame structure as the frame structure moves between expanded and collapsed positions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.