Retractable antenna device having a rodlike antenna and a helix antenna which is electrically isolated from the rodlike antenna in the retracted condition of the antenna device

• US 5,426,440 A
• Filed: 10/29/1993
• Issued: 06/20/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimada, Makoto, Satoh, Kazunori, Nanmoku, Teruo, Otsuki, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US08/143,047
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 343/749, 343/729, 343/725, 343/901, 343/702, 343/826, 343/827, 343/880, 343/895, 343/868, 343/750, 343/723, 343/903, 343/823, 343/724, 343/714
• US Class Current: 343/729
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/088 Quick-releasable antenna elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path

Abstract

An antenna device is withdrawable from and receivable in a body of a portable radio device. A rodlike antenna is covered with a rodlike antenna cover, and a helix antenna to which an initial elastic strain is imparted is covered with a cap. A control portion of an electrically-conductive member is movably received in a groove formed in a portion of connection between the rodlike antenna cover and the cap. The rodlike antenna cover is supported on the body of the radio device. In an extended condition of the rodlike antenna, a connection portion of the electrically-conductive member is urged against the rodlike antenna by a restoring load of the helix antenna to electrically connect the spiral antenna to the rodlike antenna. In a retracted condition of the rodlike antenna, the electrically-conductive member is caused to abut against an antenna holder to be spaced apart from the rodlike antenna, thereby interrupting an electrical connection between the helix antenna and the rodlike antenna. In the retracted position of the rodlike antenna, an engagement projection of the cap is releasably engaged with a retaining pawl on the body to hold the rodlike antenna in its retracted position. With this arrangement, antenna characteristics are restrained from being degraded in the retracted condition of the rodlike antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna device comprising:

a rodlike antenna;

an antenna cover covering said rodlike antenna, an elastically deformable helix antenna disposed near a distal end of said rodlike antenna;

a cap covering said helix antenna and connected With said antenna cover;

electrical conduction control means for electrically connecting said helix antenna to said rodlike antenna in an extended position of said rodlike antenna relative to a body by means of a restoring resilient force of said helix antenna and for imparting an elastic strain to said helix antenna in a retracted position of said rodlike antenna relative to the body to interrupt an electrical connection between said helix antenna and said rodlike antenna, said electrical conduction control means comprising an electrically-conductive member supported for movement along the axes of said cap and said rodlike antenna cover, and in said extended position of said rodlike antenna relative to said body, said electrically-conductive member being adapted to be urged toward said rodlike-antenna by the restoring resilient force of said helix antenna to be held in contact with said helix antenna and said rodlike antenna, and in said retracted position of said rodlike antenna relative to said body, said electrically-conductive member being adapted to be engaged with said body to impart an elastic strain to said helix antenna and also to be spaced apart from said rodlike antenna; and

an engagement portion for releasably retaining said cap relative to said body to keep said electrically-conductive member spaced apart from said rodlike antenna in said retracted position of said rodlike antenna.

2. An antenna device as in claim 1, wherein said cap and said antenna cover are formed integrally together.