FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a support for a dipole connector which is used on a grid-type antenna.

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.

An improvement to these grid antennae is disclosed in international application number PCT/IB2020/054700. The reflector is made up of two grids that are secured together on assembly, after the product has been un-packaged. The main advantage is that two grid components enable a smaller packaging configuration for shipping.

The antenna disclosed includes two supports that are required to engage the two grid components. Each support has a dipole connector mounted thereto.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support for a dipole connector of a grid antenna which provides a convenient and cost-effective mechanism for engagement to a reflector grid component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a support for a dipole connector of a grid antenna, the support including: a base having at least one grid engaging formation for engagement with a grid component, the at least one grid engaging formation comprising:

- a recess that extends under a retaining lip to pivotably receive and retain a first bar on the grid component, and

- a catch for a second bar spaced apart from and opposite to the recess, the catch having a head with a guiding surface that o directs the second bar of the grid component over the head o to deform the catch for location of the second bar past the head and behind a retaining shoulder of the catch.

The invention further provides for the support to be moulded from plastics material with the lip and the catch formed integrally with the base.

The invention still further provides for the recess to be provided on an inner side of the catch, to receive the first bar which is provided along an inner edge of a grid component; and for the head of the catch to be located on a substantially rigid flange that is sufficiently resiliently deformable to allow passage of the second bar past the head.

Further features of the invention provide for a stop to be located opposite to the retaining shoulder and adjacent to the flange and for the flange to extend beyond the stop; for the retaining shoulder to be configured to resist withdrawal of the second bar; and for a lateral groove to extend through the lip to accommodate a cross-bar on the grid component.

A further feature of the invention provides for the base to include a pair of outwardly disposed recesses each with a corresponding catch adjacent an outer edge of the base for engagement with two grid components. Further features of the invention provide for the base to include a first retaining step is located across an opening of the recess; and/or a second retaining step spaced apart from the catch.

The invention further provides for the base to include a pair of adjacent grid engaging formations for engagement with two grid components.

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 first perspective view of a support having a base for engagement with two grid components in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a second perspective view of the support in Figure 1 from an opposite side of the base that has been fixed to a grid component and wherein the grid component on the right is about to be engaged by the catch; and

Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a support (1) for a dipole connector (not shown) of a grid antenna includes a base (3) for engagement with a first grid component (5) and a second grid component (7). The support (1) and base (3) are moulded from a suitable plastics material.

The base (3) is provided with a pair of adjacent grid engaging formations (9). Each grid engaging formation (9) includes an outwardly disposed recess (11) that extends under a retaining lip (13) with a corresponding catch (19) adjacent an outer edge of the base (3). A first bar (15) along an inner edge of the grid component (5) or (7) is pivotably received in the recess (11). The first bar (15) is also retained in the recess (11) by pressing a second, adjacent bar (17) of the grid component (5) or (7) into engagement with the catch (19). The grid engaging formations (9) are provided to either side of a centre line of the base (3). The recesses (11) are provided to the inside of the catches (19).

The catch (19) is suitably spaced apart from and opposite to an inner end (21) of the recess (11), which may be rounded for a close fit to the first bar (15) and to facilitate pivoting of the grid component (5) or (7) as the second bar (17) is moved into engagement with the catch (19).

The catch (19) has a head (23) with an inclined guiding surface (25) that directs the second bar (17) of the grid component over or across the head (23) and serves to deform the catch (19) displacing or deflecting the head (23) by way of a cam action. The catch (19) includes a substantially rigid flange (27) that carries the head (23). The flange (27), despite being substantially rigid, is sufficiently resiliently deformable to allow passage of the second bar (17) past the head (23). The qualities are achieved through the characteristic of the plastic material from which the base is moulded and the configuration of the flange. The second bar (17) locates behind a retaining shoulder (28) in an undercut of the catch (19) against the flange (27). The retaining shoulder (28) is preferably be configured to resist withdrawal of the second bar (17).

(While the catch is preferably designed to lock the second bar in place, it can also be made to releasably engage over the second bar. This can be achieved by, amongst others, having a suitably inclined surface in the undercut, which may provide for a releasing cam action.)

A lateral groove (29) extends through the lip to accommodate a cross-bar (31) on each of the grid components (5) and (7). A stop (33) is provided adjacent the flange (27) and spaced apart from the retaining shoulder (28). The stop (33) and shoulder (28) are in line with the recess (11 ). The arrangement serves to support the two grid components (5) and (7) in the required co-planar orientation. The location of the stop (33) between the shoulder (28) and location where the flange (27) is connected to the base (3) enables the use of a flange (27) that extends across the height of the base (3) to afford the resilient deformation required for operation of the catch (19).

In this embodiment, the first grid component (5) will be secured to the base (3) through engagement with the catch (19) before the product is packaged. The first bar (15) of the second grid component (7) is secured into the recess (11 ) and the second grid component (7) moved towards and adjacent to the first grid component (5) into a folded condition to provide a compact packaging configuration of the parts. The second grid component (7) will be folded out and into engagement with the catch (19) in an extended condition as required on assembly of the grid antenna prior to installation. In Figure 3, the components are the same as those described above but the base (3) is provided with a pair of retaining steps (35) and (37). A first retaining step (35) is located across an opening of the recess (11 ). A second retaining step (37) is spaced apart from the catch (19). The steps (35) and (37) are in this embodiment provided on ridge formations (39) that protrude from the base (3).

The retaining steps (35) and (37) are respectively sized and positioned to provide an interference fit:

(a) for the first grid bar (15) past the lip (13); and

(b) for the second grid bar (17) past the head (23) of the catch (19).

The retaining steps (35) and (37) serve to prevent removal of the grid components (5) and (7) from engagement with the base (3). This includes unintentional removal of the first bar (15) past the first retaining step (35) before the second bar (17) is engaged with the catch (19). And once the antenna is assembled, the second retaining step (37) serves to prevent even intentional removal of the second grid bar (17) from its engagement with the catch (19).

The second retaining step may alternatively be provided by a smaller ridge inside the recess (11 ). The ridge can be located on the inside of the lip (13) or on the base (3). Also, the space between the ridge formations (39) described above may be filled with plastic in an alternative mould.

The invention provides a practical and convenient mechanism for engagement of a grid component. The engaging formations are moulded integrally with the base of the support. The grid components are fitted without the requirement of any additional parts such as clamping plates and screws. This saves in manufacturing cost and makes for easy assembly. 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.