US2222527A - Radio antenna - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 19, 1940.

W. H. BOUGHTER RADIO yANTENNA Filed' Feb. 5, 1938 hij i Patented Nov. 19, 1940 l UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE v RADIO ANTENNA William H. Boughter, Norristown, Pa., assigner to Superior Tube Company, Norristown, Pa.,v a corporation of Pennsylv ,'Appueeuen Februery 5, 193s, serial Ne. 188,968

.1 Claim. (ci. asi-s) tively snug about the smaller diameter section 2 This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in radio antennae, and more particularly to a novel telescopically adjustable radio antenna 'for use on automobiles and other ve- 5 hicles in conjunction with radio receiving sets.

Radio antennae of the type described are curprovide a telescopically adjustable radio antenna.

of the character set forth`having novel means for frictionally holding the several telescoping sections thereof in firm relation to each other in all positions to which adjusted, thus-eliminating rattles therein and insuring said sections remaining in the position to which adjusted.

These and other objects of the invention, as.

well as the features and details of construction thereof, are'hereinafte'r fully set forth and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a telescopical- 1y adjustable radio antenna embodying the pres-- ent invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in section vertically through an upper part of said antenna.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view partially in section vertically through the other or lower portion '35 of the antenna. Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section taken` on line 6 4-, Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is au4 enlarged fragmentary viewv in perspectiveshowing certain features and details 40 of the construction and arrangement of theuppermost and intermediate telescoping sections of the antenna. vw Referring now4 particularly to the drawing, a .radio antenna made according' to the present invention comprises a main or lower section' I with which is telescopically associated one yor more sections, two such telescopically adjustable sections 2 and 3 respectively being illustrated in the present instance. ,The sections Iv and 2 are, of course, hollow to provide the telescopic. structure and, as shown section 2 telescopes within the mainrsection I, while section 3 telescopes within said section 2.

. The section I is provided with a reduced neck Portion 4 at its upper end 'arranged to fit relawhich is in turn provided with a reduced neck portion 5 at lits upper end arranged to nt relativelysnug about the smallerdiameter section 3 which is preferably of solid construction to ren- 5 der it ,substantially rigid.l These reduced neck. portions and tend to prevent rain water and other matter from passing downwardly between the several sections, and in addition function,;as

hereinafter set forth, to prevent saidse'ctions 1d fromy being pulled entirely apart.

For the purpose of providing a rm friction.l support for and between sections I and 2 of the. antenna, regardless of their telescopic relation, a relatively resilient tubular u nmg s is met within 1s said sectionA I, and as shown in the drawing, this lining t extends substantially throughout the length of the section and comprises a portion 1 of such external diameter as will frictionally env gage the inner surface-,of section I and a portion 20 'B of such internal diameter as will frictionally embrace the external surface of the adjacent section 2 which telescopes therein. These portions l and 8 of different diameters extend throughout the length of the tubular lining 6 and exert a'. 25 moderate friction grip upon both section I andl section 2, thus eliminating play therebetween and preventing rattling thereof while insuring said sections remaining in the relative position to which they may be telescopically adjusted.

In like manner and for the'same purposes, a

similar tubular lining 9 is tted within section 2 of the antenna, and, as in the case of the lining S, lining il includes a portion Il of such external diameter as will frictionally grip or em-l 85,

brace the external surface of the upper section 3 which telescopes therein.. To simplify the manufacture by elimination of close tolerances, the

. inner diameter of l each outer section, such as .i

and 2, is made somewhat larger than is needed@ to accommodate the outer diameter of each inner section such as 2 and 3, From the foregoing, it will be observed that the several sections of a Y telescopically adjustable radio antenna made in accordance with the foregoing ldescription will be 45 rmly supported relative to each other at all times and will not' rattle, the several sections also being afforded suilicient support to insure their remaining ,in thepositions to which `they may from time to time be adjusted. 50

It is absolutely essential that a good electrical Y.

connection for radio frequency currents obtains at all times and for this reason several contactsV between the several sections of the antenna, are employed. One electrical connection between 55 the upper section 3 is provided by an' arcuately is extremely unlikely'that several suchfcontacts,

resilient spring I2 which is connected to a lug I3 provided at the lower end of 'said section 3,

y and this spring I2 normally resides within the tubular lining 9 of section 2. The normal radius curvature of the axis of the spring I2. is relatively small and when it is positioned within the tubular lining 9, it tends' to ex or straighten out, with -theresult that a portion of said spring I2 is at. all'tim'es pressed rmly against the inner surface of said lining 9.

A connection 4between section 2 and section vI of the antenna is provided by means of an inverted U-shaped strip I8 of resilient metal which, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, has its central portion I4 extending through slots I5 formectin said s and 2 to prevent, the several sections from being l pulled entirely apart. Furthermore the liners 6 and 9 provide direct contact between their respective sections along the overlapping portionsthereofs and thus assist in providing electrical connections between the several sections. This is' particularly advantageousA in view of the useof such antennae on automobiles and the like where it has been found that a. single contact between the sections sometimesfwill open intermittently and by providing several connections between 'the sections asin the v case,v it

vma'ining in the position I I il! `l any of which is suilicient, vwill open at the same time, thus insuring electrical connection between the several'sections at `all times.

The particular construction, form or shape of the tubular linings 6 and 9 is not confined to the particular construction or cross section shape herein illustrated and described and said linings may be of any desired or suitable form so long as they frictionally engage and support adjacent telescoping sections at one or more points along the length thereof, and in this and other respects, it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular construction and arrangement disclosed, but that changes and modiilcations may be embodied and incorporated therein within the scope of the annexed claim.

I claim:

A radio antenna of the character described comprising a plurality of sections telescopically adjustable one within another and being spaced from each other along a portion of their length,` and a tubular lining -frictionally secured within one section into which an adjacent section telescopesfand arranged to slidably receive the latter, said lining being substantially as long as the spaced and overlapping portions of said sections when in closed position and having diametrically opposed axially extending portions oi predetermined diameter arranged to frictionally engage the section inwhich disposed and diametrically opposed axially extending other portions of less diameter arranged to frictionally engage the adjacent inwardly telescoping section for the purpose of eliminating play between adjacent sectionsV and insuring said sections re to which adjusted.`

i l H. BOUGHT

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