Trunk lid antenna mount

• US 4,084,163 A
• Filed: 01/12/1977
• Issued: 04/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L. C. Maynard
• Original Assignee: L. C. Maynard
• Inventors: Maynard, L. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Eli
• Application Number:
  US05/758,563
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/712, 343/713, 343/892, 343/715
• US Class Current: 343/715
• 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

An antenna mount for attaching a whip-type antenna to a peripheral edge of a vehicular trunk lid. The mount comprises an insulative housing having top and side walls defining a cavity, the side wall having a peripheral edge adapted to engage the lid adjacent the edge to close a part of the cavity, a portion of the side wall edge being adapted to extend outwardly beyond the lid edge to define therewith an opening communicating with the cavity. A metallic mounting bracket member is provided having a portion in the cavity engaging the inner surface of the top wall, the bracket member having a clamp portion adapted to embrace the edge of the lid. The clamp portion has an elongated slot formed therein having an end spaced from the distal end of the bracket member to define an end section thereof, the end section having an indentation formed therein aligned with the slot and communicating therewith. Threaded fasteners are provided for securing the clamp portion of the bracket member to the lid adjacent the edge, and a stud extends through aligned openings in the top wall of the housing and the bracket member. A nut on the stud engages the outer surface of the top wall thereby securing the bracket member to the housing, the nut being adapted to have the antenna threadedly attached thereto. An antenna lead has an end in the housing cavity connected to the stud, the lead being disposed in the slot in the clamp portion of the bracket member and in the indentation thereby protecting the lead when the lid is closed.

Claims

1. An antenna mount for attaching a whip-type antenna to a peripheral edge of an extended area sheet comprising:

(a) a housing having top and side walls mutually defining a cavity,

said top wall having an outer surface and an inner surface facing said cavity,

said side wall having a peripheral edge with a first portion thereof being adapted to engage one surface of said sheet adjacent said edge thereof thereby closing a portion of said cavity and with a second portion adapted to extend outwardly beyond said sheet edge thereby defining therewith an opening communicating with said cavity;

(b) a mounting bracket member having a first portion in said cavity and engaging said inner surface of said top wall,

said top wall and said first portion having aligned openings formed therethrough, and a clamp portion adapted to embrace said sheet edge, and having a distal end,

said clamp portion having an elongated slot formed therein having an end spaced from said distal end to define an end section thereof,

said end section having an indentation formed therein aligned with said slot and communicating therewith and with said distal end;

(c) first means for securing said clamp portion to said sheet adjacent said edge;

(d) second means extending through said housing top wall and first bracket member portion openings for securing said bracket member to said housing,

said second securing means including a first portion in engagement with said outer surface of said top wall and adapted to have said antenna attached thereto, and a second portion in said cavity engaging said first bracket member portion; and

(e) an antenna lead having an end in said cavity connected to said securing means,

said lead having a portion disposed in said bracket member clamp portion slot and indentation and adapted to extend outwardly between said indentation and said sheet.

2. The mount of claim 1 wherein said sheet, bracket member and second securing means are formed of metal, said housing being formed of insulative material, and further comprising:

(f) means for insulating said second securing means from said bracket member.

3. The mount of claim 2 wherein said lead includes first and second conductors, said first conductor being connected to said bracket member portion and said second conductor being connected to said second securing means.

4. The mount of claim 3 wherein said second securing means comprises a threaded stud with said first portion thereof being a nut threaded thereon and said second portion being the head thereof, said nut being adapted to have said antenna threadedly attached thereto;

said insulating means comprising an insulative washer having a portion extending into said first bracket member opening and insulating said stud therefrom;

said first conductor having a first lug on its end surrounding said washer portion and thereby being insulated from said stud, said first lug being forced into conductive engagement with said first bracket member portion by said washer;

said second conductor having a second lug on its end surrounding said stud and conductively engaging said head thereof.

5. The mount of claim 4 wherein said bracket member clamp portion comprises:

a second portion in said cavity joined to said first portion and adapted to engage said one surface of said sheet,

a third portion joined to said second portion and adapted to extend outwardly through said cavity opening,

and a fourth portion joined to said third portion extending generally parallel with said third portion and having said distal end.

6. The mount of claim 5 wherein said first bracket member portion and said second portion lie in spaced generally parallel planes,

said first portion being joined to said second portion by an inclined portion extending between said planes.

7. The mount of claim 6 wherein said sheet is a trunk lid hinged adjacent said edge thereof to another metal sheet forming a part of a vehicle body,

said other sheet having a shoulder joined to a flange portion which terminates in another edge,

said lid when closed being generally coplanar with said other sheet with said lid edge closely spaced from said shoulder and said flange spaced from and generally parallel with said lid;

said clamp portion being generally U-shaped;

said first securing means being fasteners threaded in openings in said fourth bracket member portion on opposite sides of said indentation and engaging the other surface of said lid adjacent said edge thereof thereby forcing said second portion into engagement with said one surface thereof;

said third bracket member portion being adapted to extend through the space between said lid edge and said shoulder when said lid is closed;

said fourth bracket member portion being adapted to be disposed in the space between said lid and said flange when said lid is closed.