Flexible helical spring antenna

Claim 2

A flexible helical spring antenna comprising a conductive helical spring member; a plurality of insulating spacers disposed centrally of the conductive helical spring member and forming a central core longer than the normal unstretched length of the conductive helical spring member; one end of the conductive helical spring member being fixed to the first of the plurality of insulating spacers and the other end of the conductive helical spring member being fixed to the last of the plurality of insulating spacers to stretch the conductive helical spring member and place it under tension; the conductive helical spring member stretched on said central core providing a radiating antenna element; and the plurality of insulating spacers of the central core permitting the assembly to be flexed from its naturally assumed configuration and the force of the conductive helical spring member under tension acting to restore the assembly to its naturally assumed configuration after being fixed.

Claim 3

A flexible helical spring antenna in accordance with claim 1 wherein the insulating spacers positioned intermediate the first and last of the plurality of spacers are of cylindrical shape, are arranged coaxial with the central axis of the conductive helical spring member, and are of size to be confined within the stretched conductive helical spring member.

Claim 4

A flexible helical spring antenna in accordance with calim 2 wherein adjacent insulating spacers of said plurality are in contact at their peripheral edges with the surfaces in contact between each two adjacent spacers lying in a plane generally normal to the central axis of the conductive helical spring member.

Claim 5

A flexible helical spring antenna in accordance with calim 2 wherein adjacent insulating spacers of said plurality are in contact at their peripheral edges with the surfaces in contact between each two adjacent spacers lying in a plane generally normal to the central axis of the conductive helical spring member.

Claim 6

A flexible helical spring antenna in accordance with claim 3 including a rigid section fixed with respect to the first of the plurality of insulating spacers and extending beyond the conductive helical spring member along the direction of the central axis of the conductive helical spring member; said rigid section having a mounting portion at the end thereof adapted for engagement with a mating receptacle in radio communication equipment.

Claim 7

A flexible helical spring antenna in accordance with claim 4 wherein said mounting portion includes a conductive outer section and a central electrical contact at the end of the mounting portion, the central electrical contact being insulated from the conductive outer section; said conductive outer section and said central electrical contact being adapted to make electrical connection with electrical contacts in a mating receptacle; and including a recess in said rigid section intermediate tHe mounting portion and the conductive helical spring member; electrical elements mounted on said rigid section and in said recess; openings in said rigid section intermediate the mounting portion and the conductive helical spring member; electrical connections passing through said openings and connecting the electrical elements to the conductive outer section and to the central electrical contact of said mounting portion; and electrical connections connecting the electrical elements to the conductive helical spring member.

Claim 8

A flexible helical spring antenna in accordance with claim 5 wherein the conductive helical spring member is formed of copper-plated spring steel wire; and the insulating spacers are of glass filled epoxy.