AU726997B3 - An improved roof mounted antenna mast mount - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: HILLS INDUSTRIES LIMITED (ACN 007 573 417) Actual Inventor: Robert John Richards Address for Service: MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: "AN IMPROVED ROOF MOUNTED ANTENNA MAST

MOUNT"

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

PatAU131 This invention relates to an improved mounting means for mounting antennas, such as a television antenna or a satellite dish, to a roof of a building. The invention has particular but not exclusive application to attaching a television antenna to a tiled roof which includes a plurality of rows of overlapping tiles.

It is of course well-known to install a television antenna on a tiled roof by means of screws which pass through apertures drilled in the tiles and which threadably engage timber or metal frame members, eg battens or rafters, which support the roof. This type of installation has a number of drawbacks. Firstly the drilling of holes through the tiles may cause the tile to crack or even break. Secondly, if the holes are not properly sealed, the tiles may leak water during rainy periods.

Thirdly the installer is required to climb onto the roof in order to carry out the installation procedure and hence there is a potential safety hazard for the installer.

Finally, in many instances the drilled hole is not properly aligned with an underlying roof frame member and as a result a further hole must be drilled and the misaligned hole properly sealed.

The applicant is also aware of an antenna mounting arrangement described and illustrated in Australian patent specification 660768 (Levielle) and which employs an attachment member positioned between two overlying roof tiles and is adapted so that its inner end hookingly engages the inner upper edge of the lower roof tile, while its other end locates beyond the lower leading edge of the upper roof tile and terminates in an upstanding portion which is attached directly to the lower end of the antenna mast. Such an arrangement has a number of drawbacks in that the attachment point for the mounting member relies solely on a flange on the inner end of the member abutting against an end face of the roof tile, and any loading forces, eg due to the weight of the antenna or satellite dish, are transferred directly onto the tiles. Where wind loading forces are involved, the forces which are borne by the roof tiles can be quite significant.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improved means and method for securing a mast assembly to a roof, which enables the assembly to be quickly and easily installed without the installer having to climb onto the roof and which avoids the need for any of the roof tiles to be penetrated by a fastener.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved means and method for attaching a mast assembly to a roof of a building which is far more aesthetically appealing than known prior art arrangements.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved roof mount for an antenna mast which is designed so that any loading forces imparted to the mount are transferred to the structural frame members of the roof without any load being borne by the roof tiles.

Broadly according to this invention therefore, a mast assembly for mounting an antenna to a roof, especially a tiled roof, of a building, wherein the roof has structural frame members which include a plurality of downwardly outwardly extending rafters which terminate at their outer edges in a fascia, includes a rigid length adjustable support or prop comprising a pair of telescopically engaging members, each of which is provided at its outer end with an attachment plate for securement to a respective said rafter adjacent or near to its outer end, an outwardly extending rigid bracket arm secured to one of said telescopically engaging members of the support or prop and arranged so that, when the support or prop is thus secured, the bracket arm projects over and outwardly beyond the upper edge of the fascia with its outer free end spaced a short distance therefrom, and an upstanding antenna support mast or post affixed to said bracket arm at or adjacent its said outer free end.

By having the attachment for the mast secured to structural frame members of the roof, the loading forces borne by the pole or post are transferred to these members.

Preferably the bracket arm is secured by welding, to the outer telescopic member adjacent its said outer end.

Preferably the telescopic support and the bracket arm attached thereto are positioned so that the upper face of the telescopic support is approximately flush with the upper edge of the fascia; and the underside of the bracket arm rests on top of the fascia upper edge and projects into the channel of a gutter attached to the fascia.

Desirably the bracket arm terminates approximately midway across the gutter channel, whereby the mast assembly, apart from the upstanding pole or mast, is essentially obscured from view from below.

Desirably, the telescopic engaging members of the rigid support, when in their assembled positions, are locked against relative movement by means of a locking screw which projects through mating walls thereof.

In order to install the mounting assembly of this invention, an installer does not need to climb onto the roof of the building and simply stands on a ladder positioned at the appropriate site alongside the roof edge where the antenna is to be mounted and creates an access opening in the roof by sliding two or more lowermost tiles upwardly away from the fascia so as to expose the upper edge of the fascia and two adjacent rafters. The pole attachment means is then positioned in the overhang roof space in proximity to the inner side of the fascia and secured to the rafters, with the bracket arm resting on top of the fascia and the pole extending vertically above the gutter channel. The roof tiles are re-positioned to close off the access opening and conceal the mounting assembly apart from the exposed projecting end of the bracket arm and the upright mast or pole to which the antenna is subsequently attached.

In the embodiment of the invention where a telescopic prop is used, the assembly procedure involves adjusting the length of the prop until its opposite ends are flush against facing sides of adjacent rafters. The ends of the prop are then attached to the rafters by suitable fasteners, eg wood screws.

In some instances, it may be necessary to notch or recess the upper edge of the fascia for location of the bracket arm so that it is flush with the fascia upper edge, and thereby ensure that the roof tile when replaced, sits correctly.

In order to more fully explain the present invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is described hereunder in some further detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig I is a perspective view showing the antenna mast assembly used for mounting an antenna to a roof (part only of which is shown) of a building; and Fig 2 is a perspective view of the mast assembly by itself; while Fig 3 is a partly sectioned side view of the assembly shown in Fig 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a mast assembly 10 for mounting an antenna, e.g. a satellite dish, to a roof, in this embodiment a tiled roof, which includes rafters 11 and a fascia 12 secured to the outer ends of the rafters 11. In Fig 1, a pair of adjacent rafters 11 only is shown. The roof also comprises a plurality of overlapping roof tiles (shown in phantom) arranged in transverse rows, with the lower end of each upper tile overlapping the upper end of a respective lower tile. The lowermost tiles project beyond the plane of the fascia 12. This is of course in accord with wellknown art. As shown in Fig 3, the outer ends of the rafters 11 and the fascia 12 are spaced outwardly of the outer wall 13 of the building, this spacing being known as the overhang. Eave 14 extends between the inner side of the fascia 12 and the wall 13 and conceals the roof framework which forms the roof overhang.

The mast assembly 10, in this embodiment, comprises a length adjustable rigid prop 15 which itself includes a pair of telescopically engaging members 15', 15" each formed of metal tube, attachment plates 16, 17 fastened to the outer ends of the telescopic members 15', 15" respectively, and an outwardly projecting rigid bracket arm 18 which is secured, eg by welding, to the member 15" near its outer end, with the free outer end of the bracket arm 18 having welded to its upper side the base end of an upright antenna mast or pole 19.

The attachment plates 16, 17 are secured to the facing surfaces of rafters 11 by means of self-drilling wood screws 20 (or other suitable fasteners).

With the telescopic prop 15 secured in position, one or more self-drilling screws 21 are driven through aligned holes in the overlapping walls of the tubes to thereby lock the tubes against any relative lengthwise sliding movement.

As shown in Fig 1, the bracket arm 18 has a first horizontal planar portion 22 which is welded to the upper surface of prop tube 15" and rests on the top edge of the fascia 12, a downwardly inclined portion 23 and a horizontal planar outer end portion 24 which is vertically offset with respect to portion 22. The bottom end of the mast 19 is welded to the upper side of portion 24. As shown in Fig 1, the portions 23, 24 of the bracket arm 18 locate within the channel of the gutter 25 and are therefore normally concealed from view from ground level. When the roof tiles are repositioned, it will be appreciated that the mast assembly will be essentially concealed from view with only part of the pole or mast 19 being visible from below.

If necessary, the upper edge of the fascia 12 can be notched or recessed to a thickness matching the plate thickness of the bracket arm 18 so that its upper surface is flush with the upper edge surface of the fascia 12. In this way the lowermost roof tiles will sit flat when re-laid over the top edge of the fascia 12.

By having the prop 15 adjustable in length, any variation which might occur in the spacing between adjacent rafters 11 can be accommodated by simply adjusting the effective length of the prop to ensure that its end attachment plates 16, 17 can locate flat against the sides of the rafters 11. However, it should be appreciated that a non-adjustable mount could be used and packers or infill elements used to accommodate variations in rafter spacings, or even a simple attachment plate attached to only one of the rafters and/or the inside of the fascia 12.

In order to install the assembly 10, an installer, while standing on a ladder, slides a few of the roof tiles in the lowermost row of tiles upwardly away from the fascia 12 so as to create a suitable access opening in the roof. The prop assembly 15 is then positioned behind the fascia 13, adjusted in length until its attachment end plates 16, 17 abut against the sides of the rafters 12, and the fastening screws 20 are then screwed into the rafters through the holes provided in the plates 16, 17.

Prior to the screws 20 being inserted, a check should be made to ensure that the mast 19 is vertical or nearly so. After the locking grub screw 21 has been inserted, the installer re-positions the displaced roof tiles so as to close off the access opening and in turn conceal the prop assembly. The actual antenna or satellite dish can then be fitted to the mast or pole 19.

In lieu of welding the bracket arm 18 to the prop 15, fastening bolts can be used, in which case, the arm 18 can be selectively positioned along the prop 15 so that, when secured in position, it aligns with a ridge in the tile, and therefore avoids the need to notch or groove the upper edge of the fascia 12.

In another variation of the above embodiment, the rigid prop 15 can be provided with a pair of outwardly projecting spaced apart bracket arms 18, one of which has affixed thereto the pole or mast 19, the other of which can be used as an attachment point for an adjustable stay or brace which is also attached at its upper end to the pole or mast, intermediate its ends. The use of a stay may be necessary in some situations.

In yet another variation to the abovedescribed embodiment, the bracket arm 18 may locate through openings formed in the fascia and the back wall of the gutter with its inner end being secured to the prop 15 rather than the bracket arm 18 locating over the top edge of the fascia 13. However, the latter procedure is generally preferred over the former in that it does not involve the installer having to create a hole or opening in the gutter which would then have to be subsequently sealed.

In yet another variation, the prop 15 may be secured, e.g. by clamping bolts, to the inner side of the fascia 12 itself when the fascia is a solid timber beam), and thereby avoid the need fora mount which is adjustable in length. In this instance, the mount could be a rigid bracket plate with the arm or tongue 18 being welded to its upper edge.

In yet another variation, the bracket arm or tongue 18 has an outer end portion which extends horizontally and then vertically upwards, out of the gutter channel with the bottom end of the pole 19 being welded to the vertical free end portion along the mouth of the gutter. This minimises the likelihood of a blockage in the gutter channel being caused by a build up of debris against the bracket arm.

A brief consideration of the abovedescribed embodiment will indicate that the invention provides for a very simple means for attaching an antenna mast to a tiled roof which overcomes the need to drill apertures in the roof tiles, is designed to avoid loading forces being transferred to the roof tiles, avoids the need for the installer to climb onto the roof during the installation procedure and one which is largely concealed from view (where eaving exists).

It should be realised that the abovedescribed embodiment is given by way of example only, and that any other modification and variation of the invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention.

Claims (3)

1. A mast assembly for mounting an antenna to a roof, especially a tiled roof, of a building, wherein the roof has structural frame members which include a plurality of downwardly outwardly extending rafters which terminate at their outer edges in a fascia, said mast assembly including; a rigid length adjustable support or prop comprising a pair of telescopically engaging members, each of which is provided at its outer end with an attachment plate for securement to a respective said rafter adjacent or near to its outer end, an outwardly extending rigid bracket arm secured to one of said telescopically engaging members of the support or prop and arranged so that, when the support or prop is thus secured, the bracket arm projects over and outwardly beyond the upper edge of the fascia with its outer free end spaced a short distance therefrom, and an upstanding antenna support mast or post affixed to said bracket arm at or adjacent its said outer free end.

2. A mast assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bracket arm has a length such that, in use, its outer free end terminates approximately midway across the channel of a gutter attached to the fascia.

3. A mast assembly according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said bracket arm has an inner horizontally extending planar portion which bears against the upper edge of the fascia, and an outer free end portion which is vertically offset with respect to said inner portion, and a downwardly inclined intermediate portion interconnecting said inner and outer portions. Dated this 24th day of August 2000 HILLS INDUSTRIES LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys MADDERNS R S CATT