Christopher B Cochran

US Patent:

6357127, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Dec 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/222796

Inventors:

Christopher B. Cochran - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Bell Atlantic Mobile, Inc. - Bedminster NJ

International Classification:

G01C 1500

US Classification:

33286, 343894

Abstract:

An alignment tool and method of making and using an alignment tool including a transparent substrate having indicium thereon to aid in aligning the antenna with an azimuth. The tool includes a transparent substrate, a series of indicia, and a receiving portion adapted to receive a mounting structure of the antenna. The tool preferably includes a bearing indicium used during the making of the tool that represents an azimuth along which the antenna is to be aligned, a reference indicium used during the alignment of the antenna to align the tool with the antenna, and a landmark indicium used during the alignment of the antenna to align the tool with a distant landmark. The alignment tool is constructed using a topographical map that includes geographic markings for the antenna, the azimuth corresponding to the transmission direction of the antenna, and a distant landmark. The tool is used by positioning the receiving portion over the mounting structure of the antenna, aligning the reference indicium with the antenna, and aligning the landmark indicium with the distant landmark. The landmark indicium is oriented on the transparent substrate such that when the landmark indicium is aligned along a radial extending from the axis of the tool to the landmark, the bearing indicium is aligned with the azimuth.