Antenna fixing system

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to the field of antenna fixing systems, and more particularly to antenna fixing systems having a bracket attached to a fixture device for fixing a fixing equipment of the antenna.

BACKGROUND Conventionally, antennas are fixed to a fixture device, e.g. a pole, such that a bracket consisting of several members is pre-assembled and connected to the antenna. Subsequently, the antenna with the bracket is lifted into a mounting position at an appropriate height of the fixture device where it has to be retained. Finally, the antenna is attached and fixed to the fixture device by means of the bracket. However, meanwhile, the antenna became more and more heavy. Therefore, the efficiency for fixing the antenna is lowered since at least an extra person is necessary for retaining the antenna when the bracket attached to the antenna is to be fixed to the fixture device. This enlarges costs for installation of the antenna. Moreover, due to the increased weight of the antenna higher forces have to be applied to maintain the antenna which also increases the risk of accidents.

SUM MARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved antenna fixing system. The object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the figures. According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an antenna fixing system for fixing an antenna provided with a fixing equipment to a fixture device, the system including a bracket to be fixed to the fixture device. The bracket comprises a fixing device for fixing the fixing equipment of the antenna to the bracket, wherein the fixing device comprises a guiding section and a receiving section, the guiding section being configured to guide the fixing equipment into the receiving section and the receiving section being configured to receive the fixing equipment in a resting position. In particular, the resting position is a position of the fixing equipment where the fixing equipment rests i.e. doesn't fall out again due to gravitational force.

The resting position is a position of the fixing equipment attached to the antenna where the fixing equipment is held by the fixing device of the bracket without any manual intervention. Based on this position, the fixing equipment can be tightly fixed to the bracket, without the need for holding the antenna during this fixing step. Hence, it is enabled that an antenna can be tightly fixed to an antenna pole or similar by only one person. In other words, the proposed antenna fixing system is able to (preliminary) retain the antenna at a fixing position without a necessity of an extra worker.

Thereby, in the condition that the bracket is fixed to the fixture device, without manual targeting into a fixing position where the antenna is fixed to the bracket, the fixing equipment attached to the antenna can be easily guided by the guiding section into the receiving section where it is received in the resting position. According to a first implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the first aspect, the receiving section is hook-shaped forming a recess being configured to accommodate the fixing equipment in the resting position and the guiding section is located below and adjacent to the receiving section. The guiding section includes a slanted guiding face having an angle with respect to the horizontal, wherein the guiding section is configured to transition into the receiving section.

By the arrangement of the guiding section, having a slanted guiding face, below and adjacent to the receiving section and by the transition from the guiding section to the receiving section, the fixing equipment attached to the antenna can be smoothly guided into the resting position where the fixing equipment can safely be retained by the recess of the hook shaped receiving section when lifting the antenna from the ground into an installation position. According to a second implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the first implementation, the receiving section and the guiding section are attached to the bracket in a pivotable manner around a horizontal pivot axis and they are connected with each other such that they are pivotable together, wherein in a resting orientation of the receiving section, the hook-shape has a lateral mouth portion being open in an obliquely upward direction and comprising the recess at a lower end and located below the pivot axis and, starting from the receiving section, a course of the (slanted) guiding face is continuously downwardly extending so that, when the fixing equipment of the antenna is moved from below along the guiding face by a vertical force, the guiding section and the receiving section are pivoted by a pivoting force such that the fixing equipment can enter the mouth. The receiving section and/or the guiding section comprises an urging device that urges the receiving section and the guiding section against the pivoting force into the resting orientation so that the fixing equipment of the antenna comes to a rest in the recess (in the resting position).

Due to the pivotable attachment of the receiving section and the guiding section, the sections can be pivoted and can get out of the way of the upwardly moving antenna when passing the guiding section so that the antenna is not forced to have a lateral component in its motion. Therefore, in particular in the case of heavy antennas, less force is required for bringing the fixing equipment into the resting position.

When passing into the receiving section, the fixing equipment can enter into the mouth and, due to the urging device, the receiving section can return into the resting orientation where the recess is at the lower end of the mouth and located below the pivot axis so that the fixing device is safely retained in the recess in the resting position.

According to a third implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the second implementation, the urging device comprises a portion of the receiving section which is located horizontally opposite to the mouth with respect to the pivot axis and which has a centre of gravity and a weight force such that a resulting momentum for urging the receiving section against the pivoting force is generated.

Due to this configuration of the receiving section, the arrangement of the centre of gravity with respect to the pivot axis in association with the weight force generates a momentum act- ing against the pivoting force generated by the vertically moving fixing device along the slanted guiding face. Therefore, the receiving section can be configured to generate the momentum against the pivoting force without the need of a further urging component.

According to a fourth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the second or third implementation, the urging device comprises a spring configured to act against the piv- oting force.

When the urging device comprises the spring, the urging device need small installation space and a force of the spring acting against the pivoting force can be easily set.

According to a fifth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the third implementation, the receiving section provided with the recess on a top side and the guiding sec- tion are fixedly connected to the bracket, so that, when the fixing equipment is moved from below along the guiding face by a vertical force, the fixing equipment is deflected and after passing the guiding section and when the vertical force is removed, the fixing equipment can enter the recess in the resting position.

Due to the fixed connection of the guiding section and the receiving section, the bracket can be configured in an easy manner, wherein guiding the fixing equipment into the receiving section and receiving the fixing equipment in the receiving section can be performed without moving components and the fixing equipment of the antenna can safely rest in the recess on the top side.

According to a sixth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the first imple- mentation, the bracket comprises a further guiding section configured to guide the fixing equipment in a vertical direction and a stopper face configured to limit a vertical motion of the fixing equipment at the upper end of the guiding section.

The further guiding section ensures that the fixing equipment does not depart from the guiding section and from the receiving section due to e.g. swinging when lifting or due to wind. According to a seventh implementation of the antenna fixing system according to any of the second to fifth implementation, the guiding section and the receiving section are integrally formed.

By integrally forming the guiding section and the receiving section, the overall design of the fixing device can be simplified. According to an eighth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the first aspect, the guiding section and the receiving section are integrally formed and comprise a preferably vertical guiding slot for the fixing equipment and a locking member, the locking member being attached to the bracket in a reciprocal manner between a locking position in which the locking member at least partially protrudes into the guiding slot and blocks the guiding slot and a clearing position in which the locking member clears the guiding slot to enable passing of the fixing equipment, wherein, for providing the resting position of the fixing equipment, the bracket is provided with a support for preventing unblocking of the guiding slot by a downward motion of the locking member for avoiding a downward escape of the fix- ing equipment out of the guiding section. The bracket is provided with an urging device for urging the locking member into the locking position, so that, when the fixing equipment moves from below along the guiding slot by a vertical force, the locking member is pushed (away) into the clearing position for clearing the guiding slot and when the locking member is passed, the locking member returns into the locking position by an urging force of the urging device and, when the vertical force is removed, the fixing equipment abuts the locking member for being received in the resting position and for avoiding the escape of the fixing equipment out of the guiding slot.

Having such a configuration, the fixing device can be configured in a compact manner, whereby it is not possible that a portion of the fixing equipment accommodated in the guid- ing slot and locked by the locking member unintentionally escapes out of the resting position and, therefore, out of the guiding slot.

According to a ninth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the eighth implementation, the (vertical) guiding slot is closed at an upper end.

Due to the closed upper end, the fixing equipment cannot escape upward out of the guiding slot in case that the lifting motion of the antenna is unintentionally not stopped.

According to a tenth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the eighth or ninth implementation, the locking member is attached to the bracket in a pivotable manner around a horizontal pivot axis. The locking member has a cantilever at least partially protruding into the guiding slot. The support is formed as a stopper and the urging device is config- ured to urge the locking member against the stopper so that, when the fixing equipment moves from below along the guiding slot by a vertical force, the locking member is upwardly pivoted and when the locking member is passed, the locking member pivots downwardly abutting the stopper by the urging force of the urging device.

When forming the locking member such that it has a cantilever protruding in the guiding slot and being downwardly pivotable against the stopper, the system is self-locking since a weight force of the antenna additionally urges the locking member against the stopper.

According to a eleventh implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the tenth implementation, the locking member is at least partially located within the guiding section and the stopper is formed by a side face of the vertical guiding slot where an end of the canti- lever abuts.

By this configuration, an additional stopper is not required since the side face of the vertical guiding slot acts as the stopper which simplifies the construction.

According to a twelfth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the eighth or ninth implementation, the locking member is attached to the bracket in a reciprocating manner along a linear axis, and the support is formed as a guiding device so that, when the fixing equipment moves from below along the guiding slot by a vertical force, the locking member is laterally pushed away and, when the locking member is passed, the locking member reciprocates into the locking position.

By the motion in a linear direction, the number of components is reduced so that the con- struction is simplified.

According to thirteenth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to anyone of the eighth to twelfth implementation, a further locking member is provided. The further locking member is attached to the bracket in a reciprocal manner and is at least partially protruding into the guiding slot. Using a further locking member enables a reduction in size of the locking members and increases safety in case of blocking of one of the locking members due to the redundant configuration. Alternatively, also several further locking members are possible. According to a fourteenth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to anyone of the preceding implementations or to the first aspect, the antenna fixing system is provided with a fastening equipment for tightly fixing the fixing equipment to the bracket.

When tightly fixing the fixing equipment attached to the antenna by a fastening equipment to the bracket, a permanent rigid connection is established so that the antenna is immovably fixed to the fixture device and a reliable operation is enabled.

According to a fifteenth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to any of the preceding implementations or to the first aspect, the antenna system comprises a pulley for guiding a rope for exerting a force in a vertical direction to the fixing equipment. By using the antenna fixing system including a pulley, the lifting of the antenna towards the bracket is facilitated.

According to a sixteenth implementation of the antenna fixing system according to the fifteenth implementation, the pulley is attached to the bracket.

By attaching the pulley to the bracket, the pulley and the bracket can be mounted simultane- ously without any additional mounting step at the mounting height so that mounting is facilitated.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for fixing an antenna to a fixture device by means of an antenna fixing system. The method comprises applying an upwardly directed vertical force to a fixing equipment attached to the antenna, thereby moving the fixing equipment towards and along a guiding section and into a receiving section and removing the vertical force and thereby automatically receiving the fixing equipment into a resting position.

By the steps of the method, the antenna can be retained by the bracket pre-mounted to the fixture device by automatically receiving and the fixing equipment of the antenna in the rest- ing position so that no extra person for mounting the bracket and for receiving the antenna at the bracket is necessary.

According to a second implementation of the method according to the second aspect, the fixing equipment attached to the antenna is tightly fixed to the bracket. By tightly fixing the antenna resting in the resting position, an exact positioning and permanent fixing of the antenna is possible without the need of an extra person.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: Fig. la shows a perspective view of a first embod iment of an antenna fixing system;

Fig. lb shows a side view of the first embodiment of the antenna fixing system;

Fig. lc shows a side view of the first em bodiment of the antenna fixing system and a path of a fixing equipment;

Fig. 2a shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the antenna fixing sys- tern;

Figs. 2b to 2e show principle illustrations of various conditions of the second embodiment of the antenna fixing system;

Fig. 3a shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the antenna fixing system; Figs. 3b to 3e show principle illustrations of various conditions of the third embodiment of the antenna fixing system;

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the third embodiment of the antenna fixing system;

Fig. 5a shows a perspective view of a further modification of the third em bodiment of the antenna fixing system; Figs. 5b to 5e show principle illustrations of various conditions of the further modification of the third embodiment of the antenna fixing system; and Fig. 6 shows the antenna fixing system including a pulley.

Identical reference signs are used for identical or at least functionally equivalent features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Fig. la shows a perspective view and Fig. lb shows a side view of a first embodiment of an antenna fixing system 1. The antenna fixing system 1 comprises a bracket 2. The bracket 2 is fixed to a fixture device 3 by a mounting device 4. The bracket 2 further comprises a fixing device 5 for fixing a fixing equipment 6 of an antenna (not shown) to the bracket 2.

The fixing device 5 comprises a guiding section 7 and a receiving section 8. The guiding section 7 is configured to guide the fixing equipment 6 into the receiving section 8. The receiving section 8 is configured to receive the fixing equipment 6 into a resting position.

For all embodiment, the resting position is a position of the fixing equipment 6 where the fixing equipment 6 rests. In other words when the fixing equipment 6 is in the resting position, the fixing equipment 6 can't fall out of the fixing device 5 anymore due to gravitational force. The fixing equipment 6 would only leave the resting position when a force for overcoming the weight force of the antenna and the fixing equipment 6 is applied and/or when a locking device is released.

In this embodiment in Figs, la to lc, the receiving section 8 is hook-shaped and forms a recess 9. The recess 9 is configured to accommodate the fixing equipment 6 in the resting position. The guiding section 7 is located below and adjacent to the receiving section 8. The guiding section 7 includes a slanted guiding face 10 having an angle a with respect to the horizontal. The angle a preferably is in a range from 40 to 80 degrees, and even more preferably larger than or equal to 45 degrees. Furthermore, the guiding section 7 transitions into the receiving section 8. In this embodiment, the receiving section 8 comprises the recess 9 on a top side. The receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 a re fixedly connected to the bracket 2.

In use, as shown in Fig. lc when the fixing equipment 6 is moved from below along the guiding face 10 by a vertical force, the fixing equipment 6 is deflected. This means that it moves along the guiding face 10 and the motion has, besides a vertical component, also a horizontal component. After passing the guiding section 7 and when the vertical force is removed, the fixing equipment 6 can enter the recess 9. This means that, during the deflection, a defined horizontal position of the fixing equipment 6 before the lifting of the fixing equipment 6 and, therefore, of the anten na, is changed by the horizontal component. After passing the gu iding section 7 in the vertical direction, the fixing equipment 6 returns to the original horizontal position which has been aligned with the horizontal position of the recess 9 so that, when removing the vertical force, the fixing equipment descends and enters into the recess 9 into the resting position as shown in Fig. la and lb. Fig. 2a shows a perspective view and Fig. 2b to 2e are principle illustrations of various conditions of a second embodiment of the antenna fixing system l.Also in this em bodiment, the antenna fixing system 1 comprises the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7. In this embodiment, the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 are attached to the bracket 2 in a pivotable manner around a horizontal pivot axis A. The receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 are connected with each other such that they are pivotable together.

The receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 are here integrally formed in one component. However, in an alternative embodiment, the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 are not compulsively integrated but they can be formed by different components, e.g. being horizontally displaced with respect to one another as long as the guiding section 7 is located below and adjacent to the receiving section 8 and the fixing equipment 6 is guided from the guiding section 7 to the receiving section 8.

In a resting orientation of the receiving section 8 as shown in Figs. 2b and 2e, the hook-shape has a lateral mouth 12 being open in an obliquely upward direction. The hook-shape further comprises the recess 9 at a lower end and located below the pivot axis A. Starting from the receiving section 8, a course of the guiding face 10 is continuously downwardly extending.

In use, when the fixing equipment 6 of the antenna is moved from below along the guiding face 10 by the vertical force, the guiding section 7 and the receiving section 8 are pivoted by a pivoting force as shown in Fig. 2c such that the fixing equipment 6 can enter the mouth 12 as shown in Fig. 2d. The receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 comprise a later described urging device that urges the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 into the resting orientation so that the fixing equipment 6 rests in the recess 9 in a resting position as shown in Fig. 2e.

The urging device comprises a portion 13 of the receiving section 8 which is located horizon- tally opposite to the mouth 12 with respect to the pivot axis A. The portion 13 has a center of gravity and a weight force such that a resulting momentum is generated. This resulting momentum urges against the pivoting force so that the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 are urged into the resting orientation.

As shown in Fig. 2a, a spring 14 is provided. The spring 14 also generates an urging force for urging the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 into the resting orientation. In alternative embodiments, the spring 14 can be provided alternatively to the portion 13 for generating a momentum against the pivoting force or it can be omitted. Alternatively, only one of the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 is provided with the urging device.

The receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 are provided with a handle 17 as shown in Fig. 2a. By means of the handle 17, the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 can manually be pivoted out of the resting orientation against the urging force for releasing the fixing equipment 6. The handle 17 acts in cooperation with a portion of the bracket 2 as a stopper for limiting the pivoting of the receiving section 8 and the guiding section 7 beyond the resting orientation. Furthermore, referring to Fig. 2a, a further guiding section 15 of the bracket 2 is shown. The further guiding section 15 is configured to guide the fixing equipment 6 in a vertical direction so that the fixing equipment cannot depart from the guiding section 7 and from the receiving section 8. The bracket 2 is also provided with a stopper face 16 as shown in Fig. 2a. The stopper face 16 is configured to limit a vertical motion of the fixing equipment 6 at the upper end of the guiding section 7.

The antenna fixing system 1 is further provided with a fastening equipment 25 which is configured to tightly fix the fixing equipment 6 to the bracket 2 (cf. Fig. 2a).

Figs. 3a and 5a respectively show a perspective view and Fig. 3b to 3e and 5b to 5e are principle illustrations of various conditions of a third embodiment of the antenna fixing system 1, which will be described in the following. The bracket 2 comprises the guiding section 7 and the receiving section 8 which are integrally formed. The guiding section 7 comprises a guiding slot 20 for the fixing equipment 6. In the embodiment shown, the guiding slot 20 is a vertical guiding slot 20, but may also be slightly tilted from the vertical orientation. The vertical guiding slot 20 is closed at an upper end, so as to avoid the fixing equipment 6 to leave the guiding slot 20 at the upper end if the vertical movement is (accidentally) not stopped.

The receiving section 8 comprises a locking member 21. The locking member 21 is attached to the bracket 2 in reciprocal manner between a locking position in which the locking member 21 at least partially protrudes into the guiding slot 20 and blocks the gu iding slot 20 as shown e.g. in Figs. 3b and 5b and a clearing position in which the locking member 21 clears the guiding slot 20 to enable passing of the fixing equipment 6 as shown in Figs. 3d and 5d.

As to be seen in Figs. 3b and 5b, the bracket 2 is provided with a support 22 configured to avoid an unblocking of the guiding slot 20 by a downward motion of the locking member 21. By preventing the unblocking of the guiding slot 20, a downward escape of the fixing equip- ment out of the guiding section 7 can be prevented.

The bracket 2 is further provided with an urging device configured to urge the locking member 21 into the locking position.

In use, when the fixing equipment 6 moves from below along the guiding slot 20 by the vertical force, the locking member 21 is pushed away into the clearing position for clearing the guiding slot 20 and when the locking member 21 is passed, the locking member 21 returns into the locking position by an urging force of the urging device and, when the vertical force is removed, the fixing equipment 6 abuts the locking member 21 for being received in the resting position and for avoiding the escape of the fixing equipment 6 out of the guiding slot 20. Hence, in the resting position of the fixing equipment 6, the fixing equipment 6 is lying on the locking member 21.

As to be seen in Figs. 3a to 3e as a third embodiment, the locking member 21 is attached to the bracket 2 in a pivotable manner around a horizontal pivot axis B. Furthermore, the locking member 21 has a cantilever at least partially protruding into the guiding slot 20. In these illustrations, two opposing locking members 21 are provided. The support 22 is formed as a stopper configured to prevent a downward pivoting of the pivotable locking member 21. The urging device is formed as a portion 23 of the locking member 21 which generates a downwardly directed momentum due to a lever of the center of gravity and its weight force. Therefore, the urging device is configured to urge the pivotable locking member 21 against the stopper 22.

As to be seen in Fig. 3b, the locking member 21 is provided with the handle 17 for pivoting the locking member 21 in order to clear the guiding slot 20 for releasing the fixing equipment 6.

In use, when the fixing equipment 6 moves from below along the guiding slot 20 by the vertical force (Figs. 3b and 3c), the locking member 21 is upwardly pivoted to clear the guiding slot 20 (Fig. 3d) and when the locking member 21 is passed, the locking member 21 pivots downwardly abutting the stopper by the urging force of the urging device (Fig. 3e). Then the vertical force can be removed and the fixing equipment 6 comes to a rest on the locking member 21.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the third embodiment as being an alternative to the stopper 22 of Figs. 3a to 3e. The stopper is formed by a side face of the vertical guiding slot 20 where the cantilever of the locking member 21 abuts.

Fig. 5a shows a perspective view and Figs. 5b to 5e are principle illustrations of various conditions of a further modification of the third embodiment of the antenna fixing system.

In the modified third embodiment, the locking member 21 is attached to the bracket 2 in a re- ciprocating manner along a linear axis. The support 22 is formed as a linear guide device for the locking member 21 as principally shown in Fig. 5b. The urging device is formed by a respective preloaded spring 24 of the locking member 21 and generates a preload force urging the locking member 21 into the guiding slot 20 for blocking the guiding slot 20. The locking member 21 is provided with a chamfer 26 at a lower leading edge. This enables pushing away the locking member 21 into the clearing position shown in Fig. 5d by the upwardly moving fixing equipment 6.

In use, when the fixing equipment 6 moves from below along the vertical guiding slot 20 by a vertical force (Figs. 5b and 5c), the locking member 21 is pushed away into the clearing position (Fig. 5d) for clearing the guiding slot 20 and when the locking member 21 is passed, the locking member 21 returns into the locking position (Fig. 5e) by an urging force of the preload spring 24 and, when the vertical force is removed, the fixing equipment 6 abuts the locking member 21 for being received in the resting position and for avoiding the escape of the fixing equipment 6 out of the guiding slot 20. Also here, when the vertical force is removed, the fixing equipment 6 comes to a rest on the locking member 21. Fig. 6 shows the antenna fixing system 1 including a pulley 30 as an addition to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. The pulley 30 is provided for guiding a rope 31 for exerting a force to the fixing equipment 6 in a vertical direction.

The pulley 30 is attached to the bracket 2, however, alternatively, the pulley 30 can be attached to another suitable place, e.g. being attached to the fixture device 3. In use of the antenna fixing system 1, an upwardly directed vertical force is applied to the fixing equipment 6 attached to the antenna. Thereby, the fixing equipment 6 is lifted and moves towards and along a guiding section 7 and into the receiving section 8. Subsequently, the vertical force is removed and, thereby, the fixing equipment 6 is automatically received into a resting position. Of course, also all the other embodiments described herein can be provided with such pulley to enable an easier installation of the antenna.

For all embodiments, if a rigid connection between the bracket 2 and the antenna is requested, the fixing equ ipment 6 attached to the antenna is tightly fixed to the bracket 2.

In the description and the claims, the antenna fixing device 1 is described as being in an instal- lation position. The definitions of the directions vertical, horizontal, above, below relate to the antenna fixing device in the installation position.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded simply as an illustration of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations combinations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention.