Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02486568 2007-10-16
SATELLITE MAST INCLUDING LEVEL AND METHOD OF INSTALLING A
SATELLITE DISH
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to satellite dishes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When installing a small satellite dish (e.g., Ku band) of the type
used by DirecTVTM , DishNetworkTM, SkyT"', Bell ExpressVuTM, StarchoiceT"', or
other satellite programming provider, the most difficult part of the
installation is
getting a lock on the satellite. Such dishes are manufactured, for example, by
ChannelMasterTM of Smithfield, North Carolina. One of the items important for
success, in addition to the need for a clear line of sight, is the need to
make
sure that the mast is level. If the mast is not level, a seemingly small error
is
magnified when rotating the dish to try to find a satellite that is miles away
in
the sky.
While a level can be used, and moved to various positions around
the top of the mast, the masts are often not completely cylindrical so it can
be
hard to line up a level around the mast. Additionally, the mast may be
installed
relatively high up on a house, making manipulation and viewing of a level
difficult. Still further, it may be difficult to adjust a satellite dish and
hold a level
at the same time. Holding and adjusting a dish does not leave any hands free.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a satellite mast including a level.
In some aspects of the invention, a mast includes first and
second levels supported by a mast member, viewable from an open end of
the mast. The levels are stacked one on top of the other, with the first level
oriented generally normal to the second level, generally defining a plus sign
when viewed from the open end, so that the open end of the mast can be
made level both from left to right, and from front to back by looking into the
open end of the mast.
In some aspects of the invention, a mast assembly is provided
including a mast member and a level mounted interior of the mast member
but visible from the side of the mast member through an aperture in the mast.
This allows the dish mount to slide on to the mast without encountering
resistance from the level. Additionally, the level can be viewed without
having
to access and look into the top of the mast.
In some aspects of the invention, a mast assembly is provided
including a mast member and a level supported by the mast member, the
level including at least one surface generally flush with the exterior of the
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mast member, wherein the level does not impede sliding movement of a dish
mount onto or off of the mast.
In some aspects of the invention, a mast assembly is provided
including a mast member and at least two levels supported by the mast
member, one arranged in a first plane, and arranged to be viewed at a front of
the mast and viewable from the front of the mast, and another, arranged
generally normal to the first level, arranged in the first plane, and viewable
from
the side of the mast. The first level can be viewed from the front of the mast
and the second level can be viewed at the side of the mast.
In some aspects of the invention, the level includes fluid that will
not freeze or boil at temperatures the dish may encounter. Different
specification levels/dishes may be used in different areas. For example, one
could use fluid that will not freeze at above -50 degrees nor boil below +50
degrees Celsius for in extreme climate areas; or, for example, fluid will not
freeze at above -40 degrees nor boil below +40 degrees in other areas.
In some aspects of the invention, a satellite dish assembly is
provided including a mast assembly having a mast member and a level
supported by the mast member, viewable from outside the mast member, a dish
mount slidably receivable on the mast member, a satellite dish, including a
concave signal focusing surface, supported by the dish mount,
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and an LNBF supported by at least one of the dish mount and the dish
arranged relative to the dish to collect the focused signal.
In some aspects of the invention, the mast member has apertures
therethrough and the level is supported by the mast members using the
apertures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with
reference to the following accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a satellite dish assembly
embodying various aspects of the invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cut-away, perspective view of an area 2
indicated in Fig. 1 of a mast member of the satellite dish assembly. Fig. 3
is a top view of the mast member.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the mast member.
Fig. 5 is a front view of the mast member.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the area 2 of Fig. 1 in an
alternative embodiment in which a level is supported in apertures through the
mast member.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the area 2 of Fig. 1 in an
alternative embodiment in which a level has an exterior surface flush with the
exterior surface of the mast member.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 shows a satellite dish assembly 10 embodying various
aspects of the invention. The satellite dish assembly 10 includes a dish
member 12 which may be circular or elliptical, for example, when viewed from
its front, or any other shape conductive to satellite signal reception.
The dish assembly further includes a dish mount or support
assembly 14. The support assembly 14 includes a dish bracket 16 having a
plurality of apertures 18 aligned with apertures 20 through the dish member 12
for fastening of the dish member 12 to the support assembly with fasteners 22,
23. The dish bracket 16 may have, for example, a shape complementary to the
shape of the back of the dish member 12 for supporting the dish member 12.
The support assembly 14 further includes a support arm 24 for
supporting one or more LNBFs 26 in signal collecting relation relative to the
front of the dish member 12. The LNBF 26 and support arm 24 respectively
have aligned apertures 28 and 30 using which the LNBF is secured to the
support arm 24 in a proper position using a fastener 32, 33 such as a nut and
bolt, screw or screws, or other fastener. The LNBF(s) 26 may have a multi-
switch built in to allow switching between multiple satellites in the dish
member
12 is of the type that can collect signals from two adjacent satellites or a
multi-
switch may be provided in a coax line downstream of the LNBF.
CA 02486568 2007-10-16
The support assembly 14 further includes a mast clamp 34
including a clamp member 36, typically having an inner cylindrical surface,
which receives an upper portion or mast member 40 of mast 42 up to pivot bolt
44. The mast clamp 34 also includes spaced apart pivot arms 45 on either side
of the clamp member 36. The dish bracket 16 is pivotable relative to the clamp
area 36 about pivot bolt 44 to set dish elevation angle. The mast clamp 34 is
pivotable about the top end 40 of the mast 42.
The components of Fig. 1 discussed so far are generally
conventional in nature, and any alternative satellite dish assembly design
could
be employed, except that, in some embodiments, one or both of the pivot arms
45 includes an expanded or additional aperture 36 through which a level 48 or
50, which will be described below, can be viewed. Additionally, or
alternatively,
clamp member 36 includes one or more apertures 46 through which the level
48 or 50 can be used.
As shown in Figs. 2-5, mast 42 is provided including a mast
member or upper portion 40 having an open end 52, and one or more levels
48, 50 are mounted interior of the mast member 40 and visible through the
open end 52 of the mast member 40. The mast 42 may also include a pivotable
mounting foot 43. The level or levels 48, 50 are supported in the mast 42 by
any appropriate means, such as glue, recesses, apertures through the mast
42, or supports such as those used to hold up hanger rods in closets glued or
welded to the inside of the
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mast 42. The level or levels 48, 50 each include clear glass or plastic
housing
54 containing liquid 55 and having therein a bubble 56 which, when the upper
portion 40 of the mast is level, will be located between markings 58 and 60 on
the housing 54 which are visible from outside the housing 54. More
particularly,
in the illustrated embodiment, the level 48 is mounted in the mast member 40
generally normal to the cylinder axis of the mast member 40.
In some aspects of the invention, as shown in Fig. 3, mast 42
includes first and second levels 48, 50 supported by the mast member 40,
viewable from the open end 52 of the mast 42. The levels 48 and 50 are
stacked one on top of the other, with the first level 48 oriented generally
normal
to the second level 50, generally defining a plus sign when viewed from the
open end 52, so that the open end 52 of the mast can be made level both from
left to right and from front to back by looking into the open end 52 of the
mast
42.
In some aspects of the invention, as shown in Fig. 2, the level or
levels 48, 50 are mounted interior of the mast member 40 but are visible from
the side 62 or 66 of the mast member through an aperture 64 or 68 in the mast
member 40. This allows the dish mount 14 to slide on to the mast member 40
without encountering resistance from the level or levels. Additionally, the
level
or levels can be viewed without having to access and look into the top of the
mast.
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In some aspects of the invention, shown in Fig. 7 a level or levels
70, 72 include at least one surface 74, 76 generally flush with the exterior
of
the mast member, wherein the level does not impede sliding movement of a
dish mount onto or off of the mast. The level can have the shape of a portion
of
a toroid, or have a surface flush with the exterior cylindrical surface of the
mast
member 40. Alternatively, the one or two levels can be of a conventional
tubular shape, and be mounted interior of the mast member though not
necessarily in the general shape of a plus sign when viewed from the open end
(e.g., proximate the cylinder wall of the mast). The level may include a
peripheral arcuate surface, flush with the exterior cylindrical surface of the
mast
member 40, which lies in a circle having a center along the cylinder axis of
the
mast member 40.
In some aspects of the invention, one or both levels include fluid
that will not freeze or boil at temperatures the dish may encounter. Different
specification levels/dishes may be used in different areas. For example, one
could use fluid that will not freeze at above -50 degrees nor boil below +50
degrees Celsius for in extreme climate areas; or, for example, fluid will not
freeze at above -40 degrees nor boil below +40 degrees in other areas.
In some aspects of the invention, shown in Fig. 6, the mast
member 40 has apertures 68 therethrough and the level is supported in the
mast member 40 by the apertures 68.
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It will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be
made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
claims.
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