Antenna mounting apparatuses and methods

• US 6,714,171 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Centurion Wireless Technologies Inc (Laird Limited)
• Inventors: Haussler, Bradley S., Cumro, Gary A., Bateman, Blaine R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/394,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.112, H01/Q.132, 343/888, 343/711, 343/713, 343/715, 343/906, 343/878
• US Class Current: 343/888
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 13/066 fastened by extracting a separate expander-part, actuated by the screw, nail or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 13/0858 with an expansible sleeve or dowel body driven against a tapered or spherical expander plug F16B13/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1214 through a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk

Abstract

The present invention provides an antenna mounting device comprising mounting unit to supply compressive force between an antenna and a panel. The mounting unit includes a forcing cone and anchor and a member designed to supply compressive force such that the anchor and forcing cone are compressed into each other.

Claims

1. A mount, comprising:

a housing;

the housing adapted to reside on a panel;

the housing comprising at least one housing opening capable of being substantially aligned with at least one panel opening when residing on the panel; and

at least one mounting unit extending from the housing through the at least one housing opening such that the mounting unit is adapted to supply compressive force on the housing when tightened on the panel;

each of the at least one mounting unit comprising;

at least one threaded section;

at least one threaded nut adapted to be coupled to the at least one threaded section;

at least one forcing cone coupled to at least one of the at least one threaded section and the at least one threaded nut, and

an anchor coupled to at least one of the at least one threaded section and the at least one the threaded nut;

wherein

threading the at least one threaded section on the at least one threaded nut causes relative movement of the at least one forcing cone and the at least one anchor to supply compressive force.

2. The mount according to claim 1, further comprising a base, the base comprises at least one of a gasket, an o-ring, molded plastic, and metal.

3. The mount according to claim 1, wherein the base has at least one base opening and the housing has at least one housing opening substantially aligned with the at least one base opening, such that the at least one mounting unit extends from the at least one housing opening through the at least one base opening.

4. The mount according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one threaded section has at least a first lip; and

the at least one housing opening has at least a first shoulder, wherein

at least the first lip rests on at least the first shoulder.

5. The mount according to claim 1, wherein the at least one threaded section and the at least one forcing cone are integrated into a single molded part.

6. The mount according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one threaded section is fixedly coupled to the housing;

the at least one forcing cone has an annular void capable of receiving the at least one threaded section; and

the at least one threaded section has a flange, wherein

the at least one threaded section extends from the housing through the annular void to be threaded onto the at least one threaded nut such that tightening the at least one threaded nut causes the flange to move and contact the at least one forcing cone.

7. The mount according to claim 3, further comprising:

a panel;

the panel comprising at least one panel opening and at least one panel seating surface;

the base resides on the panel such that the at least one panel opening is substantially aligned with the at least one base opening;

each anchor comprising a first surface residing above the base, a second surface having at least one lip residing below the panel and at least one extension extending through the base opening and the panel opening to connect the first surface to the second surface;

the forcing cone comprising a forcing cone bottom, at least one forcing cone sidewall, and a forcing cone top, the forcing cone bottom being wider than the forcing cone top such that the at least one forcing cone sidewall tapers inward;

wherein,

tightening the threaded section on the threaded nut causes the forcing cone top to move towards the first surface such that the at least one forcing cone sidewalls push against the second surface causing the second surface to move radially outward unit the at least one lip on the second surface seats on the panel seating surface.

8. The mount according to claim 7, wherein the anchor has at least one first shoulder connecting the first surface to the at least one extension.

9. The mount according to claim 7, wherein the anchor comprises spring steel.

10. The mount according to claim 7, wherein at least the at least one first shoulder comprises spring steel.

11. The mount according to claim 1, further comprising:

a latch adapted to removably attach the antenna mount to the panel.

12. The mount according to claim 1, further comprising:

a keying element to inhibit rotation of the mounting unit when tightening the mounting unit.

13. The mount according to claim 12, wherein the keying element comprises a rib attached to the forcing cone and a groove in the antenna mount.

14. The mount according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor comprises at least one channel through which cables can be routed.

15. The mount according to claim 1, wherein the at least one forcing cone moves when the at least one mounting unit is tightened and the anchor remains relatively stationary.

16. The mount according to claim 1, wherein the forcing cone is coupled to the housing such that the forcing cone remains relatively stationary during tightening of the at least one mounting unit.

17. An mount, comprising:

a housing;

the housing comprising at least one housing opening;

the at least one housing opening comprising at least one housing shoulder;

at least one mounting cavity residing internal to a chamber formed by the housing, each mounting cavity comprising a mounting cavity first side and a mounting cavity second side, such that the mounting cavity second side resides above and substantially adjacent to one of at least one panel openings, the mounting cavity first side residing above the mounting cavity second side, the mounting cavity first side comprises at least one mounting cavity shoulder;

at least one mounting unit, comprising;

at least one threaded section, each of the at least one threaded section comprising a housing end and a panel end, the threaded section having a screw lip located proximate the housing end, the housing end being accessible through at least one housing opening such that the mounting unit can be tightened;

at least one threaded nut, each of the at least one threaded nut being threaded on the threaded section between the housing end and the panel end;

at least one anchor coupled to at least one of the at least one threaded nut and at least one threaded section, each of the at least one anchor comprising a first anchor surface, at least a first anchor shoulder, at least one extension, at least a second anchor shoulder, and at least one anchor lip, the first anchor surface connected to the at least one extension by the first anchor shoulder, the at least one extension connected to the at least one anchor lip by the second anchor shoulder, the first anchor surface resides substantially in the at least one mounting cavity such that the at least one extension extends from the at least one mounting cavity through the at least one housing opening whereby the anchor lip resides outside the chamber;

at least one forcing cone coupled to at least one of the at least one threaded nut, the at least one threaded section, and the at least one anchor, each of the at least one forcing cone comprising a first forcing cone side, a second forcing cone side, and at least one forcing cone sidewall connecting the first forcing cone side to the second forcing cone side, the first forcing cone side resides proximate the first anchor surface in the mounting chamber, the second forcing cone side has a width greater than the first forcing cone side and resides proximate the anchor lip outside the chamber,

such that tightening the at least one threaded section causes the screw lip to seat on the at least one housing shoulder and the at least one forcing cone to move into the at least one mounting cavity causing the first anchor surface to seat against the at least one mounting cavity shoulder and the forcing cone sidewalls to contact the second anchor shoulder and push the second anchor shoulder radially outwards.

18. The mount according to claim 17, further comprising a base, the base comprising a compressible material.

19. The mount according to claim 17, wherein the anchor further comprises at least one channel to provide at least one path to route at least one cable.

20. The mount according to claim 17, wherein the at least one anchor is made out of a conducting material.

21. The mount according to claim 17, wherein each first anchor shoulder is made out of an elastic material.

22. The mount according to claim 17, wherein the first anchor surface has a cutout capable of surrounding the threaded nut.

23. The mount according to claim 17, wherein the at least one threaded nut and the at least one forcing cone are integrated into a single part.

24. The mount according to claim 17, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one forcing cone ridge proximate the first forcing cone side such that the at least one forcing cone and the at least second anchor shoulders form a snap lock to couple the at least one forcing cone to the at least one anchor.

25. The mount according to claim 17, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one forcing cone seat proximate the second forcing cone side such that the at least one anchor lip, the at least one anchor second shoulder, and the at least one extension reside in the at least one forcing cone seat when the at least one mounting unit is tightened.

26. The mount according to claim 17, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one of a triangle shape, a cone shape, a trapezoid shape, an spherical shape, and an elliptical shape.

27. The mount according to claim 17, further comprising:

a panel; and

the panel comprising at least one panel opening substantially aligned with the at least one housing opening, the at least one panel opening comprising at least one panel seating surface,

such that the at least one anchor lip seats on the at least one panel seating surface when the at least one mounting unit is tightened.

28. The mount according to claim 27, wherein the at least one panel opening is sufficiently wide to allow removal of the antenna mounting device when the at least one mounting unit is loosened and sufficiently narrow to allow seating of the at least one anchor lip when the mounting unit is tightened.

29. An mount, comprising:

a housing;

a base;

the housing residing on the base;

the housing comprising at least one receptacle;

the base comprising at least one base opening;

the at least one receptacle aligned substantially above the at least one base opening;

at least one mounting cavity residing internal to a chamber formed by housing residing on the base, each mounting cavity comprising a mounting cavity first side and a mounting cavity second side, such that the mounting cavity second side resides above and substantially adjacent to one of the at least one panel openings, the mounting cavity first side residing opposite the mounting cavity second side, the mounting cavity first side comprises at least one mounting cavity shoulder;

at least one mounting unit, comprising;

at least one threaded screw, each of the at least one threaded screw comprising a housing end and a panel end, the threaded screw being contained in the at least one receptacle at the housing end such that the at least one threaded screw is relatively stationary;

at least one anchor, each anchor comprising a first anchor surface such that the first anchor surface has a through hole through which the threaded screw may pass, at least a first anchor shoulder, at least one extension, at least a second anchor shoulder, and at least one anchor lip, the first anchor surface connected to the at least one extension by the first anchor shoulder, the at least one extension connected to the at least one anchor lip by the second anchor should, the first anchor surface resides substantially in the at least one mounting cavity such that the at least one extension extends from the at least one mounting cavity through the at least one base opening whereby the anchor lip resides outside the chamber;

at least one forcing cone comprising through which the threaded screw may pass, each of the at least one forcing cone comprising a first forcing cone side, a second forcing cone side, and at least one forcing cone sidewall connecting the first forcing cone side to the second forcing cone side, the first forcing cone side resides proximate the first anchor surface in the mounting chamber, the second forcing cone side has a width greater than the first forcing cone side and resides proximate the anchor lip outside the chamber;

at least one threaded nut, each of the at least one threaded nut being threaded on the threaded screw proximate the panel end such that the at least one anchor and the at least one forcing cone reside on the threaded screw between the at least one threaded nut and the housing end,

such that screwing the at least one threaded nut on the at least one threaded screw moves the forcing cone into the at least one mounting cavity causing the first anchor surface to seat against the at least one mounting cavity shoulder and the forcing cone sidewalls to contact the second anchor shoulder and push the second anchor shoulder radially outwards.

30. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the base comprises a compressible material.

31. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the anchor further comprises at least one channel to provide at least one path to route at least one cable.

32. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the at least one anchor is made out of a conducting material.

33. The mount according to claim 29, wherein each first anchor shoulder is made out of an elastic material.

34. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the first anchor surface has a cutout capable of surrounding the threaded nut.

35. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the at least one threaded nut and the at least one forcing cone are integrated into a single part.

36. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one forcing cone ridge proximate the first forcing cone side such that the at least one forcing cone and the at least second anchor shoulders form a snap lock to couple the at least one forcing cone to the at least one anchor.

37. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one forcing cone seat proximate the second forcing cone side such that the at least one anchor lip, the at least one anchor second shoulder, and the at least one extension reside in the at least one forcing cone seat when the at least one mounting unit is tightened.

38. The mount according to claim 29, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one of a triangle shape, a cone shape, a trapezoid shape, an spherical shape, and an elliptical shape.

39. The mount according to claim 29, further comprising:

a panel; and

the panel comprising at least one panel opening substantially aligned with the at least one base opening and the at least one housing opening, the at least one panel opening comprising at least one panel seating surface,

such that the at least one anchor lip seats on the at least one panel seating surface when the at least one mounting unit is tightened.

40. The mount according to claim 39, wherein the at least one panel opening is sufficiently wide to allow removal of the antenna mounting device when the at least one mounting unit is loosened and sufficiently narrow to allow seating of the at least one anchor lip when the mounting unit is tightened.

41. A mount, comprising:

a housing;

a base;

the housing residing on the base;

the housing comprising at least one receptacle;

the base comprising at least one base opening;

the at least one receptacle aligned substantially above the at least one base opening;

at least one mounting unit, comprising;

at least one threaded screw, each of the at least one threaded screw comprising a housing end and a panel end, the threaded screw being contained in the at least one receptacle at the housing end such that the at least one threaded screw is relatively stationary;

at least one forcing cone, each forcing cone having a through hole through which the at least one threaded screw can pass comprises a first forcing cone side and a second forcing cone side connected by at least one forcing cone sidewall, the first forcing cone side having a first width resides in the proximity of the at least one base opening, the at least one forcing cone sidewalls extend away from the base, to the second forcing cone side, the second forcing cone second side having a second width less than the first width,

at least one anchor, each anchor comprising a first anchor surface such that the first anchor surface has a through hole through which the threaded screw may pass, at least a first anchor shoulder, at least one extension, at least a second anchor shoulder, and at least one anchor lip, the first anchor surface connected to the at least one extension by the first anchor shoulder, the at least one extension connected to the at least one anchor lip by the second anchor should, the first anchor surface proximate the panel end and the anchor lips reside substantially along the at least one forcing cone sidewall;

at least one threaded nut, each of the at least one threaded nut being threaded on the threaded screw proximate the panel end such that the at least one anchor and the at least one forcing cone reside on the threaded screw between the at least one threaded nut and the housing end,

such that screwing the at least one threaded nut on the at least one threaded screw moves the at least one anchor over the at least one forcing cone until the anchor lips contact a seating surface.

42. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the base comprises a compressible material.

43. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the anchor further comprises at least one channel to provide at least one path to route at least one cable.

44. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the at least one anchor is made out of a conducting material.

45. The mount according to claim 41, wherein each first anchor shoulder is made out of an elastic material.

46. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the at least one forcing cone comprises a key mechanism to inhibit rotation of the at least one forcing cone.

47. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one forcing cone ridge proximate the second forcing cone side such that the at least one forcing cone and the at least second anchor shoulders form a snap lock to couple the at least one forcing cone to the at least one anchor.

48. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one forcing cone seat proximate the first forcing cone side such that the at least one anchor lip, the at least one anchor second shoulder, and the at least one extension reside in the at least one forcing cone seat when the at least one mounting unit is tightened.

49. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one of a triangle shape, a cone shape, a trapezoid shape, an spherical shape, and an elliptical shape.

50. The mount according to claim 41, further comprising:

a panel; and

the panel comprising at least one panel opening substantially aligned with the at least one base opening and the at least one housing opening, the at least one panel opening comprising at least one panel seating surface,

such that the at least one anchor lip seats on the at least one panel seating surface when the at least one mounting unit is tightened.

51. The mount according to claim 50, wherein the at least one panel opening is sufficiently wide to allow removal of the antenna mounting device when the at least one mounting unit is loosened and sufficiently narrow to allow seating of the at least one anchor lip when the mounting unit is tightened.

52. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the at least one forcing cone has at least one latch to hold the at least one forcing cone to the base.

53. The mount according to claim 41, wherein the at least one forcing cone and the base are integrated into a single part.