Telescoping antenna mast connector

• US 4,198,638 A
• Filed: 09/01/1978
• Issued: 04/15/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Carolus, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Eli
• Application Number:
  US05/938,990
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 343/715, 343/901, 343/903, 174/153 A
• US Class Current: 343/715
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/10 Telescopic elements

Abstract

A telescoping vehicle radio antenna connector to permit the removal of the upper telescoping sections from the lower stationary section. A bearing member and stop ring are removably connected, by a retainer, to the stationary section at the upper end thereof to limit the upward movement of the lowermost telescoping section relative to the stationary section. The retainer has a resilient collar and depending arms having tabs formed thereon which tabs engage slots in the stationary section to maintain the telescoping and stationary sections of the antenna as a unit. The retainer can be rotated in one direction so that the tabs will be cammed out of the slots to permit removal of the telescoping section from the stationary section.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle wherein an antenna is extensible and retractable through an opening in a vehicle body member, a telescoping radio antenna and connector assembly, comprising;

a stationary tubular member having retainer aperture means adjacent one end thereof and being secured to the vehicle body member below the opening therein;

a movable tubular member telescopically disposed in said stationary tubular member; and

connector means for limiting the linear movement of said movable tubular member in one direction, for guiding said movable tubular member and for permitting removal of said movable tubular member from said stationary tubular member comprising, an annular collar surrounding one end of said stationary tubular member, a stop ring means disposed in said annular collar for engaging a portion of said movable tubular member after a predetermined amount of linear movement thereof, a bearing surface formed on the inner surface of said annular collar contacting and guiding said movable tubular member during linear movement thereof, and a retainer having a spring collar engaging a portion of said annular collar and retainer tabs depending from said spring collar and engaging said retainer aperture means to secure said annular collar to said stationary tubular member, said spring collar and said retainer tabs preventing rotation of said spring collar in one direction and permitting rotation of the spring collar in the other direction whereby the spring collar can be selectively rotated to permit disengagement of said retainer tabs and disassembly of said movable tubular member from said stationary tubular member.

2. In a motor vehicle wherein an antenna is extensible and retractable through an opening in a vehicle body member, a telescoping radio antenna and connector assembly, comprising;

a stationary tubular member having a pair of diametrically opposed retainer apertures adjacent one end thereof and being secured to the vehicle body member below the opening therein;

a movable tubular member telescopically disposed in said stationary tubular member and having a stop surface adjacent one end thereof; and

connector means for limiting the linear movement of said movable tubular member in one direction, for guiding said movable tubular member and for permitting removal of said movable tubular member from said stationary tubular member comprising, an annular collar surrounding one end of said stationary tubular member, a stop ring means disposed in said annular collar for engaging a portion of said movable tubular member after a predetermined amount of linear movement thereof, a semitoroidal bearing surface formed on the inner surface of said annular collar contacting and guiding said movable tubular member during linear movement thereof, retainer means having a split spring collar encircling a portion of said annular collar and a pair of diametrically opposed retainer tabs depending from said split spring collar substantially parallel with the outer surface of said stationary tubular member with each retainer tab engaging respectively said retainer apertures to secure said annular collar to said stationary tubular member, said spring collar and said retainer tabs preventing rotation of said split spring collar in one direction, and cam means on each of said retainer tabs for withdrawing said retainer tabs from said retainer apertures upon rotation of the split spring collar in the other direction whereby the spring collar can be selectively rotated to permit disengagement of said retainer tabs and disassembly of said movable tubular member from said stationary tubular member.