Antenna device

• US 7,002,523 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Noro, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Binh Van
• Application Number:
  US10/785,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/715, 343/702, 343/757, 343/833, 343/711
• US Class Current: 343/713
• 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

To enable an antenna device to be easily mounted to a roof or the like, and to realize a highly reliable state or the antenna device after mounted. The invention relates to an antenna device comprising an antenna element, and a bottom cover and a top cover which cover the antenna element. The bottom cover includes a base projection to be inserted into an opening formed in a mounting part, a washer having an elastic force being fitted over this base projection, and the washer comes into contact with an inner face of the mounting part thereby enabling the antenna device to be mounted and fixed. The washer is inserted into the opening in the mounting part in a state fitted over the base projection, and recovered to its original shape by the elastic force after the insertion, thereby to be brought into contact with the inner face of the mounting part.

Claims

1. An antenna device attached on an outer face of a plate member having a through hole connecting the outer face and an inner face of the plate member, the electric device comprising:

an antenna element;

a cover, defining a space for covering the antenna element;

a tubular projection, extended from the cover member so as to communicate with the space, the projection inserted into the through hole from the outside to the inside of the plate member in a first direction; and

a washer, comprising;

a semiannular body, elastically fitted on an outer periphery of the projection; and

an elastic piece, elastically deformable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction to allow the washer to pass through the through hole from the outside to the inside of the plate member together with projection, the elastic piece being brought into contact with the inner face when the washer is placed at the inside of the plate member.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the washer is made of a metal.

3. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein:

the projection comprises an annular lib extending in the second directions; and

the washer is held between the inner face of the plate member and the lib.

4. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein:

the elastic piece comprises a first part extended from the body while being spreading outwardly in a third direction which is opposite to the first direction.

5. The antenna device according to claim 4, wherein:

the elastic piece comprises a second part continued from the first part and extending inwardly; and

the projection is formed with a first groove to allow the second part to move in the second direction.

6. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein:

the washer comprises a pin;

the projection comprises a second groove coupled with the pin so as to restraint a circumferential displacement between the washer and the projection.

7. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the washer has an angular cylindrical shape.

8. A method of attaching an antenna device on an outer face of a plate member having a trough hole connecting the outer face and an inner face of the plate member, the method comprising steps of:

providing an electric device comprising;

an antenna device;

a cover, defining a space for covering the antenna element, and

a tubular projection, extended from the cover member so as to communicate with the space;

providing a washer comprising a semiannular body and an elastic piece;

fitting elastically the semiannular body onto an outer periphery of the projection at the outside of the plate member;

inserting the projection, together with the washer, into the through hole from the outside to the inside of the plate member in a first direction, while deforming the elastic piece in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

placing the washer at the inside of the plate member while being the elastic piece onto contact with the inner face of the plate member.