One piece mast power antenna having electrical contact with sliding and docking contact portions
US5995066A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q1/103
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An antenna apparatus includes electrical contacts which each have a sliding mast contact portion and a docking contact portion. The apparatus includes a linearly extendable and retractable one-piece mast antenna. The sliding mast contact portions of the electrical connectors make contact with an outer surface of the mast antenna along the full length of the antenna as it is extended and retracted. The docking contact portions of each electrical connector make electrical contact only with a lower end portion of the antenna which has a larger diameter than the remainder of the antenna. The docking contact portions of each electrical connector only make electrical contact with the lower end portion when the antenna is substantially completely extended. In this manner the docking contact portions experience only a small degree of the wear experienced by the sliding mast contact portions, which make contact with the outer surface of the antenna along almost its entire length. The docking contact portions of each electrical contact used in the apparatus help ensure that good electrical contact is made with the antenna when the antenna is fully extended.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.