WO1998016967A1

WO1998016967A1 - Satellite dish cover

Info

Publication number: WO1998016967A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/015337
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Z. Kelly; Michael G. Ryan
Original assignee: W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Priority date: 1996-09-13
Filing date: 1997-09-02
Publication date: 1998-04-23
Also published as: JP2000500953A; AU4173297A

Abstract

A satellite dish cover of the present invention is especially suited for protecting a satellite dish assembly of the type including a support, a dish mounted on the support, and a feeder horn mounted on the support in a position where the feeder horn extends generally in front of the dish. The cover includes a sheet of material constructed and arranged for disposition over the dish and feeder horn of the satellite dish assembly. The sheet has a reduced neck portion which slips over the support when attaching the cover to the satellite dish assembly. The cover further includes a strap, attached to the sheet, for securing the reduced neck portion of the sheet over the support.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

SATELLITE DISH COVER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to satellite dish covers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a satellite dish cover which protects the satellite dish from environmental contamination, and which is electromagnetically transparent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the art of digital satellite dishes, a commonly constructed dish includes a support, a dish mounted on the support, and a feeder horn mounted on the support in a position where the feeder horn extends generally in front of and perpendicular with respect to the dish. Figure 1 illustrates a satellite dish constructed in the above-described manner. Digital signals are received by the dish from satellites, it being understood that given the digital nature of the signal, if signals are received below a certain threshold, no television reception occurs. Accordingly, a satellite dish produces static-free reception due to the digital nature of the digital signal; there is either reception when little or no interference is present, or no reception when sufficient interference is present.

The feeder horn of the satellite dish is particularly attractive to birds landing thereon. This results in the bird or its excrement interfering with the digital signal reception, thereby preventing the user of the satellite dish from receiving the digital signal, i.e., the user does not receive the signal. Other environmental elements, such as ice and snow, when deposited on the feeder horn, or on the dish itself, can interfere with the digital signal reception as well.

Reference can be made to U.S. Patent Nos. 5,451 ,972 to Franklin, 4,946,736 to Sassa, Des. 304,454 to Serres, 4,293,862 to Beavers, 3,388,401 to Weir as representative prior art in this field. Generally, many of these patents, while adapted to conform to the general shape of the satellite dish, do not form-fit thereto for providing a neat, attractive appearance.

The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present satellite dish covers. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide a means for overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention advances the art of satellite dish covers known to date. In one aspect of the present invention, the satellite dish cover is especially suited for protecting a satellite dish assembly of the type comprising a support, a dish mounted on the support, and a feeder horn mounted on the support in a position where the feeder horn extends generally in front of the dish. The cover comprises a sheet of material constructed and arranged for being disposed over the dish and feeder horn of the satellite dish assembly. The sheet has a reduced neck portion which surrounds the support when attaching the cover to the satellite dish assembly. The cover further includes means for releasably securing the reduced neck portion of the sheet over the support.

More specifically, the sheet further comprises first and second symmetrical flaps, each having ends terminating to the reduced neck portion. Each flap has means in the form of a zipper for releasably attaching adjacent opposite sides of the flap to the other flap. The securing means of the reduced neck portion comprises a strap which wraps around the reduced neck portion of the sheet. The strap is secured to the outer surface of one of the first and second flaps, and has a patch of hook and loop fastener material provided thereon which mates with a patch of hook and loop fastener material secured to the reduced neck portion adjacent the strap for securing the strap about the reduced neck portion of the sheet.

The sheet preferably has a first layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ("ePTFE"), and a second layer of ePTFE which is adhered to one another by a thermoplastic polymer. The thermoplastic polymer is selected from perfluoroalkoxy tetrafluoroethylene, ethylene- tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer, and polypropylene. Finally, the sheet can further include a backing fabric consisting essentially of woven fibers of ePTFE. Accordingly, a purpose of the present invention is that of a satellite dish cover which is formfitting with a satellite dish of the type having a dish, a feeder horn, and a support.

Another purpose of the present invention is that of a satellite dish cover which is electromagnetically transparent so that digital signals can be received by the satellite dish even when the cover is disposed over the dish.

A further purpose of the present invention is that of a satellite dish cover which enhances the appearance of the satellite dish.

Yet another purpose of the present invention is that of a satellite dish cover which is fabricated from rugged, durable material that is lightweight and resistant to sunlight, ozone, temperature extremes, wind, rain, and snow.

Yet a further object of the present invention is that of a satellite dish cover which is easy to dispose over the satellite dish.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentality shown. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a satellite dish and a satellite dish cover of the present invention spaced therefrom;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the satellite dish cover disposed over the satellite dish, the dish being illustrated in broken lines;

Figure 2A is an enlarged perspective view of a reduced neck portion and strap of the satellite dish cover, the view being a mirror image of the view illustrated in Fig. 2;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the satellite dish cover; Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a satellite dish cover of the present invention is generally illustrated at 10 in Figure 1. As shown, the satellite dish cover 10 is constructed for being disposed over and covering a digital satellite dish, generally indicated at 12. The satellite dish 12 includes a parabolic dish 14 of well-known construction, the dish 14 being mounted on and supported by an elongate, cylindrical support 16. Mounting the satellite dish 12 on the support 16 is a support member 18, which, in addition to supporting the dish, also supports a feeder horn 20. The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 is well-known in the art of digital satellite systems. As mentioned above, environmental debris, and other unwanted matter, can interfere with the digital signal being received by the satellite dish 12. Given the digital nature of the satellite system, it is particularly desirable to eliminate any risk of debris which may interfere with the signal being received by the dish 12. For example, birds resting on the feeder horn 20 can interrupt and interfere with the digital signal received by the parabolic dish 14. Thus, the cover 10 of the present invention is constructed so that the satellite dish 12 is well-protected, but also electromagnetically transparent.

Still referring to Fig. 1 , and also to Figs. 2-4, the cover 10 comprises a flexible sheet of material constructed and arranged for being disposed over the parabolic dish 14 and feeder horn 20 of the satellite dish 12. The sheet includes a main body 22, a first flap 24 extending from the main body 22, and a second, opposite flap 26, also extending from the main body 22. The first and second flaps 24, 26 are symmetrically-shaped with respect to one another wherein the free ends of the first and second flaps combine to define a reduced neck portion 28 of the sheet that surrounds the support 16 when disposing the cover 10 over the support 16.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cover 10 is formfitting over the satellite dish 12 so that any unwanted elements cannot enter into the interior space defined by the cover 10 and interfere with the operation of the dish 12. More specifically, the main body 22 of the cover 10 surrounds the dish 14 and feeder horn 20 when attaching the cover 10 to the satellite dish 12. The first and second flaps 24, 26 extend away from the main body 22, and are tapered at their outer ends so as to achieve the reduced neck portion 28.

Referring to Fig. 3-5, the first and second flaps 24, 26, and part of the main body 22 (see Fig. 5), are separated from one another along adjacent opposite sides so that the flaps can spread outwardly for accommodating the parabolic dish 12 therein when securing the cover 10 to the dish 12. This feature enables the cover 10 to form fit over the satellite dish 12 without having to employ stretchable material which oftentimes is less durable and rugged than non-stretchable material.

It should be understood that the main body 22 and first and second flaps 24, 26 can be shaped so as to accommodate satellite dishes having various shapes and sizes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is contemplated that the principles of the present invention can be applied to a cover cable of protecting any type of commercially available digital satellite dish.

The first and second flaps 24, 26 are releasably attached to one another by a pair of zippers, each indicated at 30, which are sewn to the flaps 24, 26 along their adjacent sides. Preferably, the zippers 30 are heavy duty in construction, and capable of withstanding outdoor use. After disposing the main body 22 and first and second flaps 24, 26 over the feeder horn 20 and dish 14, the pair of zippers 30 are closed so as to completely encapsulate the feeder horn 20 and dish 14. It should be noted that other releasable fastening systems, such as snap-acting fasteners, buttons, hook and loop fastener material, and the like, could be utilized in the same manner as the zippers 30.

Turning now to Figs. 2 and 2A, the reduced neck portion 28 has means of the present invention for releasably securing the reduced neck portion 28 of the flaps 24, 26 over the cylindrical support 16. More specifically, a strap 32 is attached to the first flap 24 in a position and orientation in which the strap 32 wraps around the reduced neck portion 28 of the first and second flaps 24, 26 for ensuring that the reduced neck portion 28 is tightly secured to the support 16. This arrangement prevents any unwanted elements from penetrating or entering into the interior of the cover through an opening 34 defined by the reduced neck portion 28 (see Fig. 3). The strap 32 is preferably stitched to the outer surface of the first flap 24, and has provided on its inner surface a patch 36 of hook fastener material (see Fig. 2A). A corresponding patch 38 of loop fastener material is further sewn to the outer surface of the first flap 24 in a position generally adjacent the strap 32 so that when wrapping the strap 32 about the reduced neck portion 28, the strap 32 overlies the ends of the zippers 30 and the patch 36 of the strap 32 mates with the patch 38 provided next to the strap 32. The patch 36 of the strap 32 interengages with the patch 38 of the flap 24 for releasably securing the strap 32 about the reduced neck portion 28. By merely peeling the strap 32 away from the patch 38 of loop fastener material, the strap 32 disengages the patch 38 for allowing the zippers 30 of the cover 10 to be exposed.

Preferably, the sheet of the cover 10 is fabricated from a laminate, such as the laminate disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,946,736, which is incorporated herein by reference. The laminate includes an outer layer formed of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ("ePTFE"). As described in the 736, ePTFE has superior dielectric constant and loss tangent characteristics thus aiding electromagnetic transmission. The outer layer is bonded by means of a thermoplastic polymer to a second layer of ePTFE. The thermoplastic polymer is selected from perfluoroalkoxy tetrafluoroethylene, ethylene- tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer, and polypropylene. The sheet further comprises a backing fabric consisting essentially of woven fibers ePTFE which is attached to the second layer. This backing layer provides strength properties to the laminate, and additional layers of this material may be added where in increase in laminate strength is desired.

It should be observed that as the term is used herein, porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) shall mean a membrane which may be prepared by any number of known processes, for example, by stretching or drawing processes, by papermaking processes, by processes in which filler materials are incorporated with the PTFE resin and which are subsequently removed to leave a porous structure, or by powder sintering processes. Preferably, the PTFE membrane is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a microstructure of interconnected nodes and fibrils, as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,953,566; 4,187,390; and 4,110,392, which are incorporated herein by reference, and which fully describe the preferred material and processes for making them. The PTFE membrane may have a thickness in a range from about 3 to 1 ,000 micrometers, preferably in a range of from about 5 to about 100 micrometers, and a pore volume in a range from about 20 to about 98 percent.

The sheet of laminate material constituting cover 10 is particularly desirable since the laminate is inert to and unaffected by the elements, including sunlight, ozone, temperature extremes, wind, rain, and snow, and are inert, hydrophobic and gas-resistant. The laminate is very thin and strong, has excellent color reflectance and electromagnetic transmission, low dielectric constant, and low loss tangent. The laminate when used as a cover 10 of the present invention reduce maintenance costs, provide lower cost in manufacture, and have low adhesion and excellent release for snow and ice which might form on the surface of the cover 10.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages which are described herein. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A satellite dish cover for a satellite dish assembly of the type comprising a support, a dish mounted on the support, and a feeder horn mounted on the support in a position where the feeder horn extends generally in front of the dish, said cover comprising: a sheet of material constructed and arranged for being disposed over the dish and feeder horn of the satellite dish assembly, said sheet having a reduced neck portion which surrounds the support when attaching the cover to the satellite dish assembly; and means for releasably securing the reduced neck portion of the sheet over the support.

2. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 1 , said sheet further comprising first and second symmetrical flaps each having ends terminating to said reduced neck portion, said flaps having means for releasably attaching adjacent opposite sides of the flaps to one another.

3. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 2, said sheet further comprising a main body contoured for receiving the dish and feeder horn therein, said flaps extending from the main body to the reduced neck portion.

4. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 2, said attaching means of the first and second flaps comprising a pair of oppositely positioned zippers.

5. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 2, said securing means of the reduced neck portion comprising a strap which wraps around the reduced neck portion of the sheet.

6. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 5, said strap being secured to the outer surface of one of said first and second flaps.

7. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 6, said strap having a patch of hook and loop fastener material provided thereon which mates with a patch of hook and loop fastener material secured to the reduced neck portion adjacent the strap for securing the strap about said reduced neck portion of the sheet.

8. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 1 , said securing means of the reduced neck portion comprising a strap which wraps around the reduced neck portion of the sheet.

9. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 8, said strap being secured to the outer surface of the reduced neck portion.

10. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 9, said strap having a patch of hook and loop fastener material provided thereon which mates with a patch of hook and loop fastener material secured to the reduced neck portion adjacent the strap for securing the strap about said reduced neck portion of the sheet.

11. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 1 , said sheet having a first layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ("ePTFE").

12. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 11 , said sheet further comprising a second layer of ePTFE.

13. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 12, said first and second layers being adhered to one another by a thermoplastic polymer.

14. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 13, said thermoplastic polymer being selected from perfluoroalkoxy tetrafluoroethylene, ethylene- tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, copolymer of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer, and polypropylene.

15. A satellite dish cover as set forth in claim 12, said sheet further comprising a backing fabric consisting essentially of woven fibers ePTFE.