Quick-attach, single-sided automotive antenna attachment assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An attachment assembly for attaching an object to a panel of a vehicle, the panel having a determined thickness, comprising:
- a base assembly fixable to a lower surface of the object to extend from the lower surface, comprising a base plate sized to fit within an opening in the panel and a shaft member depending from the base plate;
an expandable member disposed on the shaft member, the expandable member comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed to abut against an interior surface of the panel, the resilient members compressible to pass through the opening in the panel during an installation procedure;
a retaining member disposed on the shaft member and retaining the expandable member on the shaft member for abutment of the resilient members with the interior surface of the panel after the installation procedure; and
a spacer member disposed on the shaft member and biasing the expandable member against the retaining member with a gap between the expandable member and the lower surface of the object sized to receive the panel of the vehicle after the installation procedure.
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Abstract
An attachment assembly provides quick attachment of an automotive antenna unit or other object to the exterior of a vehicle. A single worker is able to install the antenna unit or other object with one downward push from the exterior without the need for tools. The attachment assembly also includes an anti-rotation feature to prevent rotation. The attachment assembly can only be removed from the interior, rendering the attachment assembly tamper resistant from the exterior. The attachment assembly can also be mounted on vehicles with various panel thicknesses.
131 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An attachment assembly for attaching an object to a panel of a vehicle, the panel having a determined thickness, comprising:
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a base assembly fixable to a lower surface of the object to extend from the lower surface, comprising a base plate sized to fit within an opening in the panel and a shaft member depending from the base plate;
an expandable member disposed on the shaft member, the expandable member comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed to abut against an interior surface of the panel, the resilient members compressible to pass through the opening in the panel during an installation procedure;
a retaining member disposed on the shaft member and retaining the expandable member on the shaft member for abutment of the resilient members with the interior surface of the panel after the installation procedure; and
a spacer member disposed on the shaft member and biasing the expandable member against the retaining member with a gap between the expandable member and the lower surface of the object sized to receive the panel of the vehicle after the installation procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A quick-attaching object for attachment to an automobile through an opening in an exterior panel of the automobile, comprising:
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an object to be attached to the exterior panel of the automobile, the object comprising a lower surface disposed to be supported on the exterior surface of the exterior panel;
a base assembly fixed to and extending from the lower surface of the object, comprising a base plate sized to fit within the opening in the exterior panel and a shaft member depending from the base plate;
an expandable member disposed on the shaft member, the expandable member comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed to abut against an interior surface of the exterior panel, the resilient members compressible to pass through the opening in the exterior panel during an installation procedure; and
a retaining member disposed on the shaft member and retaining the expandable member on the shaft member for abutment with the interior surface of the exterior panel after the installation procedure;
wherein the shaft member comprises a keying feature and the expandable member comprises a corresponding keying feature disposed to cooperatively engage with the keying feature of the shaft member to prevent rotation of the expandable member relative to the object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
providing the quick-attaching object;
providing an opening in the exterior of the vehicle; and
inserting the attachment assembly of the quick-attaching object into the opening from the exterior.
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24. A quick-attaching object for attachment to an automobile through an opening in an exterior panel of the automobile, comprising:
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an object to be attached to the exterior panel of the automobile, the object comprising a lower surface disposed to be supported on the exterior surface of the exterior panel;
a base assembly fixed to and extending from the lower surface of the object, comprising a base plate sized to fit within the opening in the exterior panel and a shaft member depending from the base plate;
an expandable member disposed on the shaft member, the expandable member comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed to abut against an interior surface of the exterior panel, the resilient members compressible to pass through the opening in the exterior panel during an installation procedure;
a retaining member disposed on the shaft member and retaining the expandable member on the shaft member for abutment with the interior surface of the exterior panel after the installation procedure; and
a spacer member disposed on the shaft member and biasing the expandable member against the retaining member with a gap between the expandable member and the lower surface of the object sized to receive the exterior panel after the installation procedure. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification