Satellite dish for trucks
OwnerRobert Kleinschmidtinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A satellite dish assembly is mounted on the exterior of a vehicle. The dish assembly is in its traveling position while the vehicle is traveling from one place to another. The satellite dish is below the uppermost portion of the vehicle while in the assembly's traveling position. The satellite dish assembly raises and the aims the dish towards a transmitting satellite after the vehicle reaches its destination. One motor raises the satellite dish with a telescoping mast. Two other motors adjust the direction the dish is facing by rotating and tilting the dish on top of the mast. The satellite dish receives the signals from the transmitting satellite and communicates the signals into the vehicle. The motors are used to reposition the satellite dish in its traveling position before the vehicle starts for its next destination.
Claims20
An assembly for mounting to a vehicle to receive satellite transmissions, comprising:
- a telescoping mast;
- an elevation motor that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle and engages the mast for extending and retracting the mast;
- a receiver of satellite transmissions mounted on the upper portion of the telescoping mast;
- an azimuth motor below the receiver that rotates the receiver along the horizon for aligning the receiver in a desired direction;
- and
- an angular motor below the receiver that tilts the receiver to a desired angle wherein the receiver is pointed at a transmitting satellite.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a tractor of a tractor trailer rig, having a cab with a rearward wall;
- a telescoping mast mounted vertically on the rearward wall of the tractor;
- a satellite dish mounted to the mast;
- a elevation motor located on the lower portion of the mast for raising the mast to position the satellite dish above an uppermost surface of the tractor, and for lowering the mast to position the satellite dish below the uppermost surface of the tractor.
A method for receiving a satellite transmission in a tractor-trailer assembly, comprising:
- (a) providing a satellite dish assembly having a satellite dish and an extensible mast, and mounting the dish assembly to a vertical rear wall of a tractor;
- (b) while not in use, retracting the mast so that the satellite dish is at a lower elevation than an uppermost part of the tractor;
- and
- (c) while the tractor is not moving, extending the mast so that the satellite dish is at a higher elevation than the uppermost part of the tractor and orienting the satellite dish to receive a satellite transmission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.