US 5,364,049 A · Vehicular mounting system for directional antennas

Abstract

A system is provided for mounting directional antennas on vehicles. The mounting system employs a conventional roof rack as a support base for the antenna mount. In one embodiment, a straight tubular frame member is attachable to the roof rack. An upwardly-extending rotatable shaft extends from adjacent one end of the frame, for supporting the antenna mast, and a downwardly-extending rotatable shaft, supporting a control handle, extends from adjacent the other end of the frame. The rotational movements of the shafts are tied together by a toothed belt which engages sprockets coupled to the shafts. In its preferred form, the control handle includes tactile positioning indicators on its surface which allow the user to sense the direction of the antenna without having to view it. A second embodiment is disclosed which uses a portion of a tubular horizontal bar on a conventional roof rack as part of the support frame of the device. The antenna mounting system allows an operator to fully control the rotation of the antenna through 360-degrees without the need to drill a hole through the roof of the vehicle.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An antenna mounting system for supporting a rotatable antenna on a vehicle and for permitting selective rotation of the antenna about a generally vertical axis by an occupant of the vehicle, the mounting system comprising:

a support frame for mounting above the roof of a vehicle,
a rotatable mast holder supported on the frame for holding a mast of an antenna, the mast holder being rotatable about a generally vertical first axis to turn the antenna about the first axis,
a direction controller including a longitudinal handle rotatably supported on the frame for axial rotation about a generally vertical second axis which extends lengthwise through the handle, said second axis being stationary relative to the support frame, the handle being positionable adjacent a window of the vehicle wherein an occupant of the vehicle axially rotates the handle by reaching through the window, and
an endless transmission which extends between the mast holder and the handle and transmits endless rotary motion from the handle to the mast holder, wherein changes in the rotational orientation of the handle produces a responsive rotation of the mast holder.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicular mounting system for directional antennas

Life of this patent

Vehicular mounting system for directional antennas

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13