Abstract: A communications antenna is disclosed having improved mechanical strength, gain and reduced lateral dimensions. The antenna includes a three quarter wave length vertically disposed elongated radiating element and a plurality of one-quarter wave length diverging elements connected at their bottom end to the bottom of the vertical radiator. The diverging elements flare upwardly and outwardly from the radiator at an acute angle, typically between about five degrees and about thirty degrees. The band width of the antenna may be broadened by interconnecting the free ends of the diverging elements such as by a conductive hoop.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a mobile transmitting and receiving antenna to an automobile windshield or rear window is disclosed. The antenna is screwed into a socket of an antenna mount and is secured with a finger tightened lock nut. Confronting friction surfaces of the lock nut and socket are of a frusto-conical configuration. The lock nut generates a compression friction fit with the socket and resists vibration forces from vehicle movement, thereby preventing the antenna from disengaging from the socket. The antenna may be easily removed when desired by finger loosening the lock nut. The socket is attached to the base of the mount by two opposing screws. Each screw is oriented whereby when a flex force due to wind or otherwise is exerted on the antenna and a subsequent torque is transmitted to the base of the mount one of these screws will always resist a torque about an axis defined by these screws. The antenna is thereby maintained in a desired orientation by the arrangement of these opposing screws.

Abstract: A half-wave length communications antenna assembly especially adapted to be mounted on non-conductive surfaces, such as on a window of a vehicle. The antenna assembly desirably includes an electrically shortened half-wave inductively loaded radiating whip loaded at its base end by a loading capacitor plate to be fixed to a non-conductive surface. The whip is coupled through the non-conductive surface to a transmission line internally of the vehicle by a coupling capacitor plate which, with the loading capacitor plate, forms a coupling capacitor. A tuned circuit which is tuned to the nominal resonant frequency of the whip is connected to the coupling capacitor plate and serves as an impedance matching circuit between the half-wave whip and the transmission line. The tuned circuit also affects the radiation pattern of the whip to produce a pattern more typical of a five-eighths wave length antenna to provide somewhat greater gain.

Abstract: An omnidirectional communications antenna for transmitting and receiving horizontally polarized waves and adaptable for transmitting and receiving vertically polarized waves. The antenna is adapted to be supported on a single mast. It may be dimensioned especially for use in the citizens band. The antenna utilizes a plurality of, and preferably three, elongated half wave length radiating elements supported on a mast in a horizontal coplanar array. A cam acting locking mechanism for easily and firmly securing an antenna to a mast, or the like, is also disclosed.