GB2246242A

GB2246242A - Satellite dish cover

Info

Publication number: GB2246242A
Application number: GB9012346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Brassington; Philip Thomas Hatton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-02
Filing date: 1990-06-02
Publication date: 1992-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-02
Also published as: GB2246242B; GB9012346D0

Abstract

A flexible material cover 10 for a satellite dish has a circular front 13 and an annular rear 15, the latter having an elasticated rim 12 at the inn or peripheral edge to hold the cover on the dish. A front face 16 of the side 13 has been screen printed with a brick pattern to correspond to a building upon which the satellite dish is mounted thereby camouflaging the dish. The cover may alternatively be sheet material or transfers which can be adhered to the surface of the dish and can be used for decorative, camouflage or advertising purposes. <IMAGE>

Description

Cover This invention relates to covers and particularly but not exclusively to covers for satellite dishes.

The term 'satellite dish' is to be hereinafter understood as referring to a receiving dish of the type used to receive satellite signals, generally of television transmissions, and which is usually mounted on the exterior of a domestic property. Such a dish generally comprises a concave member with a front receiving surface facing towards receiving apparatus mounted on a boom extending away from the dish. The boom may be mounted beneath the concave member or may extend therethrough and examples of both these types of satellite dishes are shown respectively in Figs. 1 and 2.

Satellite dishes are rapidly increasing in popularity and are commonly to be seen on the front of houses. These dishes are generally finished in white or another light colour and when fixed to the wall of a house or other support contrast profoundly with the surroundings, thus becoming an eyesore to the community.

Many councils are considering introducing, or have introduced, the need for planning permission for such dishes to be erected.

According to the present invention there is provided a cover mountable on a satellite dish to provide a decorative covering on a front surface of the dish.

The decorative covering preferably substantially corresponds, in use, to the appearance of the area surrounding the dish, thereby camouflaging the dish.

The cover is desirably detachably mountable on the dish, and may comprise a sheet of material which is flexible and may also be elastic. The cover may have an elasticated part engageable around the rim of the dish, and the decorative covering is preferably screen printed onto the cover.

An opening may be provided in the cover to accept a boom of receiving apparatus of the satellite dish. The area of the cover between the opening and the adjacent edge may be releasably openable to permit fitting of the cover over the boom.

Alternatively the cover may comprise a sheet of material which can be adhered to the front surface of the dish. The cover can preferably be releasably adhered to the dish.

The cover may comprise a sheet of material decorated on one side to provide the decorative covering, and provided on the other side with a layer of adhesive and a removable backing paper. The decorated side may be so decorated as to give the appearance to the dish of a planar rather than concave object.

Cutting guide lines may be provided on the backing sheet to enable the material to be cut into portions to fully adhere onto the concave surface of the dish and also preferably to be cut to the required size and shape for different sizes of dishes.

The sheet of material may be a self adhesive PVC.

Alternatively the sheet of material may be in the form of a transfer.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively perspective views of first and second types of satellite dishes; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective rear view of a first cover according to the invention being fitted on the first type of satellite dish; Fig. 4 is a perspective front view of a satellite dish fitted with the cover of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic front view of part of a second cover according to the invention being fitted to a satellite dish of the second type; and Fg. 6 is a perspective front view of a satellite dish fitted with the cover of Fig. 5.

A first satellite dish 1, as shown in Fig. 1, has an unobstructed circular dish member 2, a boom 3 and a receiving apparatus 4.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a first type of cover 10 which comprises a piece of a flexible material, for example (g,4) lycral,folded back upon itself to provide a circular front side 13 and an annular rear side 15 the latter having an elasticated rim 12 at the inner peripheral edge. The rim 12 comprises a loop of elastic 14 sewn to the cover adjacent to the inner peripheral edge of the material. A front face 16 of the side 13 has been screen printed with a brick pattern to correspond to a building upon which a satellite dish to be fitted with the cover 10 is mounted.

The cover 10 is adapted to be stretched over the satellite dish 1.

If the cover 10 is used with a second type of satellite dish 5 (as shown in Fig. 2) an opening may be provided in the cover to accept a boom 18 which mounts receiving apparatus 20 on its free end. If required, a slit may be provided in the cover is extending from the opening to the nearest part of the rim 12 and means provided for releasably closing the slit after the boom 12 has been passed therethrough into the opening. One or more strips of a fleece and hook fastener may be provided for closing the slit.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a second type of cover 20 which comprises a sheet of self adhesive PVC printed on the front side with a brick pattern similar to that on the cover 10 with adhesive on the rear side. Cutting guide lines (not shown) are provided on the backing sheet of the PVC to enable the sheet to be cut into four portions as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The cutting into portions permits the planar sheet to be applied to the concave surface of the dish. Fig. 5 shows the portions of the sheet adhered onto the dish 5, and in practice the lower two portions should be applied first to prevent seepage of rainwater therebehind. If required the pattern on the cover 20 may be such as to compensate for the concavity of the dish to give the dish a planar appearance by e.g.

providing the correct curvature on courses of brickwork.

If required, cutting guide lines can also be provided on the backing sheet to permit the cover to be cut to the required size and shape for particular types of dishes.

There is thus described a cover which can be used to camouflage satellite dishes. The cover can be easily mounted on a dish although it is advised that the cover is fitted if possible before mounting the dish on a building.

The covers are of relatively simple design and can thus be inexpensively manufactured. Obviously a number of different designs may be provided on the covers to correspond with different brickwork or other materials of which a building is made and upon which a satellite dish is fitted. Covers according to the invention have been found to not interfere in any way with reception of satellite broadcasts.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the cover may be in the form of a transfer which can be applied to the front surface of the dish. The covers may be made from materials other than those stated above. If required the covers could be provided with a decorative appearance such as smiling faces or cartoon characters etc. In this instance the covers act as a decoration rather than a camouflage. If required the covers could be used for advertising, perhaps of a temporary nature, and may be used, for example, in political campaigns. Where the cover is in the form of a plastic sheet or a transfer a plurality of covers may be provided on a roll with a perforated line between each cover to permit separation from the roll. Such an arrangement permits the covers to be attractively displayed for sales purposes.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:

1. A cover mountable on a satellite dish to provide a decorative covering on a front surface of the dish.

2. A cover according to Claim 1, in which the decorative covering substantially corresponds, in use, to the appearance of the area surrounding the dish, thereby camouflaging the dish.

3. A cover according to Claims 1 or 2, in which the cover is detachably mountable on the dish.

4. A cover according to Claim 3, in which the cover comprises a sheet of flexible material.

5. A cover according to Claim 4, in which the material is elastic.

6. A cover according to any of Claims 3 to 5, in which the cover has an elasticated part engageable around the rim of the dish.

7. A cover according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the decorative covering is screen printed onto the cover.

8. A cover according to any of the preceding Claims, in which an opening is provided in the cover to accept a boom of receiving apparatus of the satellite dish.

9. A cover according to Claim 8, in which the area of the cover between the opening and the adjacent edge is releasably openable to permit fitting of the cover over the boom.

10. A cover according to Claims 1 or 2, in which the cover comprises a sheet of material which can be adhered to the front surface of the dish.

11. A cover according to Claim 10, in which the cover can be releasably adhered to the dish.

12. A cover according to Claims 10 or 11, in which the cover comprises a sheet of material decorated on one side to provide the decorative covering, and provided on the other side with a layer of adhesive and removable backing paper.

13. A cover according to Claim 12, in which the decorated side is so decorated as to give the appearance to the dish of a planar rather than concave object.

14. A cover according to Claims 12 or 13, in which cutting guide lines are provided on the backing sheet to enable the material to be cut into portions to fully adhere onto the concave surface of the dish.

15. A cover according to Claim 14, in which the guide lines enable the material to be cut to the required size and shape for different sizes of dishes.

16. A cover according to any of Claims 10 to 15, in which the sheet of material is self adhesive PVC.

17. A cover according to any of Claims 10 to 15, in which the sheet of material is in the form of a transfer.

18. A cover for a satellite dish substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A cover for a satellite dish substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.