STAR-HANDLE SYSTEM FOR LOCKING ANTENNA TO A VEHICLE ROOF

• US 20140043193A1
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Gerneth, Christian, Silva, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,608,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1214 through a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk

Abstract

The invention relates to a roof antenna (1) for mounting on a roof (2) of a vehicle, said roof antenna (1) having a base plate (7) and an antenna cover (3) that can be connected to the base plate (7). A printed circuit board (4) with antenna elements and at least one plug connection (5) is arranged under the antenna cover (3). The base plate (7) has detent hooks (11) for pre-attaching on the roof (2) and fixing means for a final assembly, said fixing means being designed as a central dome (6) with a screw thread and a star handle (12) that interacts with the dome (6).

Claims

1. A roof antenna for installation on a roof of a vehicle, the roof antenna comprising:

a base plate;

an antenna cover;

that can be attached to the base plate

a circuit board including antenna elements and at least one plug connector under the antenna cover;

detent tabs on the base plate for preattachment to the roof, and

final-installation attachments in the form of a central threaded pivot pin and a star handle that interacts with the pivot pin.

2. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein the star handle is designed such that it can be passed vertically with its arm ends in a preinstallation position through a roof opening of the roof, and grips behind the lower face of the roof by its arm ends in a final installation position.

3. The roof antenna according to claim 2, wherein at least one stop is on the base plate to limit an angle of rotational travel of the star handle between the reinstallation and final installation positions.

4. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein at least one guide rib is on the base plate.

5. The roof antenna according to claim 2, wherein the star handle covers the at least one plug connector in its preinstallation position, and exposes it in its final installation position.

6. The roof antenna according to claim 2, wherein an angle of rotational travel of the star handle between the preinstallation position and the final installation position is a maximum of 45°

.

7. The roof antenna according to claim 6, wherein the angle of rotational travel of the star handle is limited by at least one counter-support that can be contacted with the surface of the roof and is on the base plate when the star handle moves from the preinstallation position to the final installation position

8. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein the star handle includes means to allow the star handle to be manipulated by a tool.

9. The roof antenna according to claim 2, wherein the star handle includes means to releasably retain it in the preinstallation position.

10. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein the star handle includes exactly four arms arranged at right angles relative to each other.

11. In combination with a motor-vehicle roof having an inner roof face and an outer roof face and a throughgoing hole of a predetermined stellate shape, an antenna comprising:

a base plate adapted to rest on the outer roof face;

a circuit board and antennat element on the base plate;

a cover secured to the base plate and containing the board and antenna element with the base plate;

a pivot pin projecting from the base plate and extending, when the base plate is resting on the outer roof face, downward through the hole;

a star handle of a shape generally complementary to that of the hole and capable of passing through the hole in a preinstallation position of the star handle, the handle being pivotal when the base plate is resting on the upper roof face and the handle arms are below the lower roof face between the preinstallation positin and a final installation position angularly offset therefrom with the arms bearing upward on the lower roof face.