ANTENNA MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE WITH A SLOPED BODY PANEL

• US 20140231612A1
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: O'Neal, Kenneth Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,312,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/539
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3258 using the gutter of the vehicle; Means for clamping a whip aerial on the edge of a part of the vehicle

Abstract

Embodiments are provided of antenna mounting assemblies and vehicles that include such assemblies. In one aspect, an antenna mounting base for supporting a vehicle antenna with respect to a vehicle body panel that defines a panel aperture comprises: an antenna mounting portion; a flange extending from a surface of the antenna mounting base; and at least one tab defining a recess with the flange, the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture.

Claims

1. An antenna mounting base for supporting a vehicle antenna with respect to a vehicle body panel that defines a panel aperture, comprising:

an antenna mounting portion;

a flange extending from a surface of the antenna mounting base; and

at least one tab defining a recess with the flange, the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture.

2. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein the tab is comprised of a first wall extending from the flange adjacent the antenna mounting base and a second wall extending from a distal portion of the first wall substantially parallel to the flange, the recess defined between the flange and the first and second walls and configured to open toward a perimeter edge of the panel aperture.

3. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein the tab is comprised of a wall extending from the antenna mounting base substantially parallel to the flange, the recess defined between the flange, the antenna mounting base and the wall and configured to open toward a perimeter edge of the panel aperture.

4. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein the flange extends at an angle from the antenna mounting base.

5. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein:

the antenna mounting base is shaped as a longitudinally extending shaft; and

the flange extends from a partial circumferential portion of a surface of the antenna mounting base and includes opposing first and second distal ends.

6. The antenna mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein the flange is U-shaped and extends approximately 180 degrees around the antenna mounting base.

7. The antenna mounting base of claim 5, wherein the at least one tab comprises multiple tabs, each tab defining with the flange respective recesses configured to receive different portions of the body panel bordering the panel aperture in mateable engagement.

8. The antenna mounting base of claim 7, wherein the at least one tab comprises a first tab extending from the surface of the antenna mounting base between the first and second distal ends of the flange, a second tab supported by the flange proximate to the first distal end and a third tab supported by the flange proximate to the second distal end.

9. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle body structure mounting portion opposite the antenna mounting portion; and

an intermediate portion extending between the antenna mounting portion and the vehicle body structure mounting portion, with the flange extending from the intermediate portion.

10. A vehicle having a vehicle antenna, comprising:

a vehicle body structure supporting a body panel defining a panel aperture; and

an antenna mounting base at least partially extending through the panel aperture and comprising;

a vehicle body structure connecting portion connected to the vehicle body structure,

an antenna mounting portion positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the body panel, and

an intermediate portion having a flange extending therefrom, the intermediate portion supporting at least one tab to define a recess with the flange, the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture to couple the antenna mounting base to the body panel.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the flange extends from the antenna mounting base to abut an underside of the body panel.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the tab is comprised of a first wall extending from the flange adjacent the antenna mounting base through the panel aperture and a second wall extending from a distal portion of the first wall substantially parallel to the flange, in abutment with the exterior surface of the panel.

13. The antenna mounting assembly of claim 11, wherein the tab is comprised of a wall extending from the intermediate portion substantially parallel to the flange and in abutment with the exterior surface of the panel.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein:

the panel aperture is defined by a perimeter edge of the body panel, wherein the perimeter edge includes a first portion defining a small area portion of the panel aperture and a second portion defining a large area portion of the panel aperture; and

the recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering the first portion of the perimeter edge.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the flange extends from a partial circumferential portion of a surface of the antenna mounting base adjacent the first portion of the perimeter edge and includes first and second distal ends.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:

the intermediate portion supports a first tab between the first and second distal ends of the flange;

the flange supports a second tab proximate to the first distal end of the flange and a third tab proximate to the second distal end of the flange; and

each tab defines with the flange respective first, second and third recesses configured to receive different portions of the body panel bordering the first portion of the perimeter edge.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein:

a profile of the panel aperture at the perimeter edge is defined by two opposing concentric half circular segments having different diameters and interconnected by a pair of opposed radial segments; and

the first portion of the perimeter edge includes a first of the half circular segments and the pair of opposed radial segments, and the second portion of the perimeter edge includes a second of the half circular segments having a relatively larger diameter than the first half circular segment.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering an apex of the first of the half circular segments, the second recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering a first of the radial segments, and the third recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering a second of the radial segments.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the large area portion is larger than a width of the antenna mounting portion and the at least one tab.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising:

a finisher having a base positionable about the panel aperture on the exterior surface of the body panel, the finisher having a projection configured to extend beyond the base through the panel aperture between the second portion of the perimeter edge and the antenna mounting base and contacting at least one of the antenna mounting base and the flange.

21. A vehicle having a vehicle antenna, comprising:

a vehicle body structure supporting a body panel defining a panel aperture, the panel aperture defined by a perimeter edge of the body panel, wherein the perimeter edge includes a first portion defining a small area portion of the panel aperture and a second portion defining a large area portion of the panel aperture;

a longitudinal shaft at least partially extending through the panel aperture and comprising;

a vehicle body structure connecting portion connected to the vehicle body structure,

an antenna mounting portion positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the body panel,

a flange extending from a partial circumferential portion of the shaft adjacent the first portion of the perimeter edge, and

at least one tab to define a recess with the flange sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture; and

a finisher having a base positionable about the panel aperture on the exterior surface of the body panel, the finisher having a projection configured to extend beyond the base through the panel aperture between the second portion of the perimeter edge and the shaft and contacting at least one of the shaft and the flange.