Vehicle-mount antenna assemblies having snap-on outer cosmetic covers with compliant latching mechanisms for achieving zero-gap
First Claim
1. An antenna assembly for installation to a vehicle body wall, the antenna assembly comprising:
- an antenna base module mountable to the vehicle body wall, the antenna base module including a base, a protective cover coupled to the base, at least one antenna element disposed within an interior enclosure collectively defined by the protective cover and the base, and one or more latching members;
an outer cosmetic cover having one or more snap clip members engageable with the one or more latching members when the outer cosmetic cover is positioned generally over the protective cover;
the snap clip members and latching members being resiliently flexible and configured for forming a resiliently compliant connection therebetween such that the snap clip members and latching members, when engaged, are movable in response to the abutment of and pressure applied by the lower edge of the outer cosmetic cover against the vehicle body wall; and
whereby, in the final installed position of the antenna assembly to the vehicle body wall, the lower edge of the outer cosmetic cover conforms against the vehicle body wall substantially without any gap therebetween.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna assembly generally includes an antenna module mountable to a vehicle body wall. The antenna base module includes a base, a protective cover coupled to the base, at least one antenna element disposed within an interior enclosure collectively defined by the protective cover and the base, and one or more latching members. An outer cosmetic cover has one or more snap clip members engageable with the one or more latching members when the outer cosmetic cover is positioned generally over the protective cover. The snap clip members and latching members are resiliently flexible and configured for forming a resiliently compliant connection therebetween. In a final installed position of the antenna assembly to the vehicle body wall, the lower edge of the outer cosmetic cover conforms against the vehicle body wall substantially without any gap therebetween.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An antenna assembly for installation to a vehicle body wall, the antenna assembly comprising:
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an antenna base module mountable to the vehicle body wall, the antenna base module including a base, a protective cover coupled to the base, at least one antenna element disposed within an interior enclosure collectively defined by the protective cover and the base, and one or more latching members; an outer cosmetic cover having one or more snap clip members engageable with the one or more latching members when the outer cosmetic cover is positioned generally over the protective cover; the snap clip members and latching members being resiliently flexible and configured for forming a resiliently compliant connection therebetween such that the snap clip members and latching members, when engaged, are movable in response to the abutment of and pressure applied by the lower edge of the outer cosmetic cover against the vehicle body wall; and whereby, in the final installed position of the antenna assembly to the vehicle body wall, the lower edge of the outer cosmetic cover conforms against the vehicle body wall substantially without any gap therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An antenna assembly for installation to a vehicle body wall, the antenna assembly comprising:
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an antenna base module mountable to the vehicle body wall, the antenna base module including at least one latching member; an antenna cover having a lower edge and at least one snap clip member engageable with the latching member when the cover is positioned generally over the antenna base module to connect the antenna cover to the antenna base module; the snap clip member and latching member being resiliently flexible and configured for forming a resiliently compliant connection therebetween such that the snap clip member and latching member, when engaged, are movable in response to the abutment of and pressure applied by the lower edge of the outer cosmetic cover against the vehicle body wall when the antenna assembly is being secured to the vehicle body wall; whereby, in a final installed position of the antenna assembly to the vehicle body wall, the lower edge of the outer cosmetic cover conforms against the vehicle body wall with substantially zero-gap therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method relating to installation of antenna assemblies to vehicle body walls, the method comprising:
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connecting a first antenna cover to a first antenna base module by moving at least one snap clip member of the first antenna cover into connection with at least one latching member of the first antenna base module so that the at least one snap clip member moves past the at least one latching member; conjointly moving the at least one snap clip member and the at least one latching member such that, in a final installed position, a lower edge of the first antenna cover conforms against the first vehicle body wall substantially without any gap therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification