Automobile antenna mounting arrangement
First Claim
1. An antenna structure for mounting on a vehicle body including a rod-like antenna mast and a mounting assembly for supporting the mast at an aperture in a body panel, the mounting assembly providing a mounting section extending vertically through the panel aperture with its upper end having means for fixedly securing a lower extremity of the mast above the aperture, and an arrangement for anchoring the mounting section to a vehicle body frame, the arrangement comprising:
- said section having a surrounding stop flange portion intermediate its upper and lower ends, said stop flange portion defining an upper seating surface juxtaposed an opposed interior surface portion of said panel bordering said aperture, said section stop flange portion terminating in a downwardly extending concentric neck, said neck and said stop flange portion, defining an undercut radial shoulder;
a downwardly extending elongated cylindrical support tube, coupling means for fixedly securing an upper portion of said support tube to said neck;
a circular opening formed through an underlying vehicle body frame member concentrically receiving a lower end portion of said support tube therethrough;
a one-piece cylindrical rubber grommet slidably surrounding said support tube adjacent a lower end thereof, said grommet formed with a continuous annular groove for snap-fitting engagement in the frame member circular opening; and
whereby said grommet allowing free vertical reciprocal travel of said support tube and mounting section relative to said frame member thereby compensating for build tolerances between the panel and the frame member, said arrangement operative for stabilizing said mounting section against fore, aft and lateral movement in the panel aperture.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved panel mounting assembly for a vehicle antenna mast wherein the assembly is provided with an anchoring arrangement which eliminates the need for stamping a raised stiffening dimple in the panel design surface contour. A mounting assembly mast tubular holding section, which extends vertically through a panel aperture, is provided with a downwardly extending support tube uniquely coupled to and forming a part of the section lower end. The support tube is held in a subjacent body frame member opening by a snap-fitted rubber grommet permitting limited reciprocal travel of the support tube. The arrangement accommodates vehicle build tolerances between the panel and frame during assembly, while stabilizing the antenna structure against fore, aft and lateral movement relative to the panel.
32 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An antenna structure for mounting on a vehicle body including a rod-like antenna mast and a mounting assembly for supporting the mast at an aperture in a body panel, the mounting assembly providing a mounting section extending vertically through the panel aperture with its upper end having means for fixedly securing a lower extremity of the mast above the aperture, and an arrangement for anchoring the mounting section to a vehicle body frame, the arrangement comprising:
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said section having a surrounding stop flange portion intermediate its upper and lower ends, said stop flange portion defining an upper seating surface juxtaposed an opposed interior surface portion of said panel bordering said aperture, said section stop flange portion terminating in a downwardly extending concentric neck, said neck and said stop flange portion, defining an undercut radial shoulder; a downwardly extending elongated cylindrical support tube, coupling means for fixedly securing an upper portion of said support tube to said neck; a circular opening formed through an underlying vehicle body frame member concentrically receiving a lower end portion of said support tube therethrough; a one-piece cylindrical rubber grommet slidably surrounding said support tube adjacent a lower end thereof, said grommet formed with a continuous annular groove for snap-fitting engagement in the frame member circular opening; and whereby said grommet allowing free vertical reciprocal travel of said support tube and mounting section relative to said frame member thereby compensating for build tolerances between the panel and the frame member, said arrangement operative for stabilizing said mounting section against fore, aft and lateral movement in the panel aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification