FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a grid-type antenna of the kind that may be used for receiving satellite television transmissions and more specifically to such an antenna which receives ultra-high frequency (UHF) transmission signals.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

These antennae are provided with a reflector of grid construction and additional components that are mounted to and/or supported from the reflector to make up an assembled product. The assembly includes an arrangement of dipoles supported in spaced apart relationship to the grid of the reflector. These grid-type antennae or aerials commonly use either two or four dipole arrangements positioned in front of the reflector. The dipoles are used to receive the UHF signals.

Insulated supports are required to avoid electrical contact between the dipoles or with any of the metal antenna components or supporting structure. The dipoles are connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) that will include a balun. An F connector provides the interface between the PCB and a coax cable. The balun is a device that serves to match the balanced (i.e. symmetrical) dipole to the unbalanced (i.e. asymmetric, signal and earth) coax cable.

The operation of and variations to such an antenna will be understood by a person skilled in the art.

These antennae need to be packaged for supply to consumers or end users. The components of the antennae may be supplied in a part-assembled condition to allow for a more compact form of packaging. The packaged product will usually be shipped or transported as container loads. Thereafter, further distribution may take place as truck/trailer loads. Improvements to these grid antennae are disclosed in international application numbers PCT/IB2020/054700 and PCT/IB2022/054825.

A smaller packaging configuration for shipping and transport accompanied by ease of assembly present a significant advantage.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a grid antenna with components that have a more compact packing configuration and/or are convenient to assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided an antenna having a grid-type reflector and including:

- an array of dipole elements mounted onto two spaced apart, insulated supports that extend to a front side of the reflector;

- the supports each having a foot to engage the reflector, a connector onto which is mounted two pairs of dipole elements, and a leg that extends from the foot to the connector [providing a spacer between the reflector and the dipole elements]; and

- a pair of dipole connecting rods extending between the two connectors; characterized in that:

- each support has a first and second hinge joint respectively provided adjacent either end of the leg, through which the leg is movably connected to the foot and the connector;

- the first and second hinge joints of the two supports are arranged for the two legs to be movable:

(a) into an extended working condition [on assembly of the antenna]; (b) from a compact packing condition, wherein the connectors are located closer to the reflector; and

- the supports each include: at least one fastening mechanism with a catch that automatically engages over a corresponding engaging formation when the legs are moved into the extended condition; and a stop formation that prevents movement of the legs past the extended condition.

The fastening mechanisms are thus automatically engaged when the legs are moved into the extended condition and remain disengaged/inoperable until the legs are in the extended condition.

The invention still further provides for the fastening mechanism to include a resiliently deformable latch that supports the catch.

The hinge joints allow the connectors (which are secured together by the dipole connecting rods) to occupy the compact, first condition that is closer to a plane occupied by the feet fastened to the reflector and to be moved from the first condition to the extended, second condition for operation of the antenna.

The components of the supports are (apart from the hinge pins and screws) moulded from suitable plastics material.

The invention still further provides for the engaging formations to be provided on the legs of the supports; and for the deformable latches to be mounted in fixed relationship relative and adjacent to the foot and/or the connector.

Further features of the invention provide for each engaging formation to include a step and for the latch to locate into an opening provided on the leg, with the catch including a shoulder to engage over and against the step inside the opening; and for the latch to include an inclined leading surface that causes the latch to deflect when moving over a portion of the engaging formation that is adjacent the step.

Further features of the invention provide for the stop formation to be a second shoulder provided on the latch; and for the stop formation to be located inside a transverse groove on the latch that receives a corresponding ridge on the leg, with the groove providing the shoulder of the fastening mechanism on a side opposite to the second shoulder of the stop formation and the ridge providing the engaging formation.

Alternatively, the deformable latch is provided on the leg and the engaging formation and/or the stop formation are provided on the foot and/or on the connector.

A further feature of the invention provides for the first and second hinge joints to include a socket structure with a pair of opposite flanges, a backing plate to one side between the flanges onto which the deformable latch is mounted, and a hinge pin that extends between the flanges to hingeably support an end of the leg.

Further features of the invention provide for the socket structure to have a first flange including a base [connected to the foot or the connector] and a second flange including the backing plate, with the second flange securable relative to the first flange to provide the socket structure.

A further feature of the invention provides for the reflector to include (at least) two separate grid components that are movably securable in relation to each other:

(i) for release and positioning of the two grid components in an overlapping, packing arrangement relative to each other; and

(ii) to rigidly secure the two grid components in an extended condition relative to each other and to the foot of each support, providing a working grid assembly of the reflector. The first and second hinge joints of the two supports are arranged for hinging of the two legs in the same direction. The hinge joints allow each leg to hinge in substantially the same plane [one behind the other] and substantially along a centre line of the antenna where the feet engage the reflector. Alternatively, a first and second hinge joint will be arranged for each leg to hinge in a substantially parallel plane to the other, for the two legs with supports and connecting rods to be moved sideways from the centre line of the antenna.

The fastening mechanisms and stop formations serve to rigidly secure the legs between the feet and the connectors (and immobilize the first and second hinge joints).

The antenna includes a housing for a printed circuit board secured between the dipole connecting rods with an output connection.

In an alternative embodiment, each fastening mechanism is provided by a male formation with a deformable head; the deformable head engages with an interference fit onto or into the engaging formation; the engaging formation is a female formation; the male formation is secured relative to the foot or connector and the female formation provided on the leg; alternatively, the male formation is secured relative to the leg and the female formation provided on the foot or connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, made by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of an antenna with supports folded into a compact condition and one grid component of a reflector folded across into an overlapping position with the other grid component; Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of the antenna with supports (top and bottom) in an extended condition and grid components also in an extended condition;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the top support in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the top support in Figure 2 (viewed from left to right).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A grid antenna (1 ) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the drawings. The antenna is shown in a first compact packing condition in Figure 1 and in a second extended working condition in Figure 2.

The antenna (1 ) is of the ultra-high frequency (UHF) signal receiving type that is used for satellite television and has a grid-type reflector (2) and an array of dipole elements (3). The dipole elements are mounted onto two spaced apart, insulated supports (4) that extend to a front side of the reflector.

A pair of parallel dipole connecting rods (5) extend between the supports (4) with an insulated housing (6) for a printed circuit board (PCB) secured between the rods. An output connection (not shown) for a coax cable protrudes from a rear side of the housing. Screws are used to clamp the dipole connecting rods to the three plastic components and also to establish a connection to the PCB.

Each support (4) includes a foot or base (7) to engage the reflector (2) at one (rear) end and a connector (8) for engagement with two pairs of removably securable dipole elements (3) at the other (front) end. A leg or spacer (9) extends between the foot and the connector.

In accordance with the invention, each support (4) has a pair of hinge joints (10; 11 ) that provide hingeable connections at either end of the leg (9). The legs are thus movably connected to the feet (7) and the connectors (8). The hingeable connections of the two supports are arranged for hinging of the two legs in the same direction relative to the two feet from the first compact condition, wherein the connectors are located closer to the grid-type reflector (2), into the second, extended condition.

In the preferred embodiment of the drawings, each support (4) has a first (10) and second (11 ) hinge joint that allow each leg (9) to hinge in substantially the same plane, one behind the other. The plane of hinging is along a centre line of the antenna (1 ) where the feet (7) engage the reflector (2).

The hingeable connections (10; 11 ) thus provide a parallelogram-type linkage or mechanism, with the reflector (2), legs (9) and dipole connecting rods (5) forming the four sides. The arrangement of co-acting hinges (10; 11 ) enables each of the connectors (8), which are secured together by the dipole connecting rods, to occupy the first condition that is closer to a plane occupied by the feet (7) fastened to the reflector and to be moved from the first condition to the second, extended condition for operation of the grid antenna (1 ).

In an alternative embodiment, a first and second hinge joint will be arranged for each leg to hinge in a substantially parallel plane to the other. The hingeable connections will provide for the two legs with supports and connecting rods to be moved sideways from the centre line of the antenna (1 ). The supports and connecting rods thus fold onto one side of the reflector to occupy the first compact condition. This arrangement can be achieved by rotating the four hinges through 90 degrees.

In further accordance with the invention, the supports (4) each include at least one fastening or locking mechanism (12) and stop formation (13). The fastening mechanisms and stop formations serve to rigidly secure the legs (9) relative to the feet (7) and/or connectors (8) and immobilize the hingeable connections in the second, extended condition. The fastening mechanism (12) is provided by a male formation comprising a resiliently deformable latch (14) with a suitably configured catch (15) that engages onto a corresponding engaging formation (16). In this embodiment, the deformable latches are mounted in fixed relationship relative to both the foot (7) and the connector (8). The engaging formations are provided on the legs (9) of the supports (4). (Alternatively, the latch may be provided on the leg and the engaging formation provided on the foot and/or the connector.)

Each engaging formation (16) includes a step (17) provided inside an opening (18) on the leg (9). The latch (14) locates into the opening and the catch (15) includes a shoulder (19) to engage over and against the step. The latch (14) also includes an inclined leading surface (20) that causes the latch (14) to deflect when moving over a portion of the engaging formation that is adjacent the step.

The fastening mechanisms (12) will preferably engage automatically when the legs (9) are moved into the extended condition and remain disengaged/inoperable until the legs are in the extended condition. The stop formations (13) prevent movement of the legs past the second, extended condition. This automatic operation avoids the use of tools on assembly of the antenna (1 ) and facilitates ease of assembly for installation.

Each stop formation (13) is provided as a second shoulder (21 ). The legs (9) locate against or are halted by the second shoulders (21 ). The stop formation in this embodiment is provided adjacent to and spaced apart from the catch (15). More specifically, the stop formation is located inside a transverse groove (22) that receives a corresponding ridge (23) on the leg providing the engaging formation (16). The groove provides the shoulder (19) of the fastening mechanism (12) on a side opposite to the second shoulder (21 ) of the stop formation.

The first (10) and second (11 ) hinge joints include a socket structure (24) with a pair of opposite side flanges (25; 26). A backing plate (27) is provided to one side between the flanges. The deformable latch (14) is mounted on the backing plate. The side of the socket (24) opposite to the backing plate is open to accommodate hinging of the leg (9).

More specifically, the socket structure (24) has a first flange (25) including a base (28) [connected to the foot (7) or the connector (8)] and a second flange (26) including the backing plate (27). The second flange (26) is provided with a base cover (29) which is securable to the base for assembly of the socket structure. In this embodiment, slide formation (30) with a dove-tail cross-section is provided on the bottom of the cover (29) and a corresponding dove-tail slot (31 ) is provided across the base and open to a side opposite the first flange (25). The two dove-tail formations (30; 31 ) are slidably engaged. A hinge pin (32) extends between the flanges (25; 26) to hingeably support the two knuckle ends of the leg (9). The second flange (26) is thus securable relative to the first flange (25) to provide the socket structure.

The base (28) of each socket structure (24) has an outer mounting spigot (33). The mounting spigot fits into a seat formation (34), which is provided on the foot (7) and on the connector (8). A fastening screw (35) is used to secure mounting spigot into the seat formation. The first hinge joint (10) is thus connected to the foot (7) and the second hinge joint (11 ) to the connector (8).

The components of the supports (4) are (apart from the hinge pins and screws) moulded from suitable plastics material. The hingeable connections may be of any type or configuration, including ball-joints, for example.

The reflector (2) will preferably include at least two separate grid components (36; 37) that are movably securable in relation to each other:

(i) for release and positioning of the two grid components in an overlapping, packing arrangement relative to each other; and

(ii) to rigidly secure the two grid components in an extended condition relative to each other and to the foot (7) of each support (4), providing a working grid assembly of the reflector. In this preferred embodiment, only two separate grid components (36; 37) are used and both are mounted to be movably securable relative to the foot (7) of each support (4). It will be appreciated that one of the two grid components may be fixed to the foot of each support with the other being movably securable to achieve the packing arrangement.

The folding of the supports (4) about the hinges (10; 11 ) and the releasable engagement of the two grid components (36; 37) serves to provide for a compact packing arrangement of the antenna (1 ) prior to assembly. On assembly, the two grid components are rigidly secured in an extended condition relative to each other and to the foot (7) of each support, providing a working grid assembly of the reflector (2).

The eight dipole elements (3) are provided by four dipole assemblies (38), which are shown in Figure 3. Each dipole assembly (38) comprises a V-shaped rod providing two dipole elements. The dipole assemblies are removably securable to the two spaced apart supports (4). Each dipole assembly includes a mounting plate with a tightening screw located therethrough.

The configuration and arrangement of the feet for engaging grid components and the dipole assemblies may be as shown and described in international patent applications PCT/IB2020/054700 or PCT/IB2022/054825.

The antenna (1 ) of the current embodiment provides a suitable degree of rigidity and structural integrity, particularly along a central region of the reflector (2). The parallel dipole connecting rods (5) provide a box-structure in this central region and brace the supports (4) for added rigidity.

In the current example, the antenna (1 ) is packed in the first, compact condition with the grid components (36; 37) folded together. Three steps are required for assembly after unboxing the antenna: (i) The two grid components can be moved into an extended condition and rigidly secured to the foot (7) of each support (4);

(ii) The connectors (8) are moved from the first, compact condition into the second, extended condition, where the fastening mechanism (12) secures the components in a working position; and

(iii) The four dipole assemblies are fastened to the connectors and clamped against dipole connecting rods (5) using the thumb-screws of each assembly.

The product construction and proposed packaging arrangement simply requires fitment of the dipole elements into the dipole connector assemblies and fixing of the two grid components in the outward, extended condition.

The invention disclosed serves to provide added convenience in the assembly of the antenna for installation. The grid reflector of the invention can be assembled from its packaged configuration in a relatively easy, convenient and effective manner.

The space saving benefits of smaller boxes into which the antenna is packaged represents a significant reduction in transport costs which accompanies the easy assembly features and no requirement for tools.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that variations can be made to the features of the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention.

In an alternative embodiment, each fastening mechanism may be provided by a male formation with a deformable head (instead of the latch). The deformable head will engage with an interference fit into a female engaging formation.

As stated above, each support has a pair of hingeable connections to either side of the leg, which means it includes at least two such connections. In a variation of the invention, a third hingeable connection could be provided in the middle of each leg. The middle hinge could work outwardly or inwardly to bring the connectors closer to the feet in a first, compact condition.

In an alternative version, that is not illustrated, the hinge construction will be provided through moulding of suitable cooperating hinge formations at ends of legs and on the feet and connectors. The components will be pressed into engagement to construct the working hinges. This can be achieved with opposite pintles at the ends of the legs that locate into aligned openings.