Conductive bracket mount for mirror and antenna assemblies

• US 7,002,524 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Branham, Michael Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shih-Chao
• Application Number:
  US10/952,129
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/713, 343/715, 343/829
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0605 specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1221 onto a wall

Abstract

A mounting assembly for mounting a mirror assembly and an antenna assembly with a vehicle cab including a radio which includes grounding the antenna assembly with the vehicle cab. The mounting assembly includes a conductive metal support rod connected with a mounting bracket formed of molded polymeric resin including a conductive filler. The antenna assembly includes an antenna mounted to a support which is secured with the support rod. Also, an antenna cable extends from the antenna through the mounting rod and the cab assembly in usual manner. The arrangement provides a conductive path to the vehicle cab and radio.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for mounting a mirror assembly and an antenna assembly with a vehicle cab assembly grounded with a radio comprising:

upper and lower mounting brackets secured with said cab and supporting ends of a conductive mounting rod, at least one of said mounting brackets being formed of a molded compound of polymeric resin and an electrically conductive filler;

said mirror assembly being connected with and carried by said mounting rod;

said antenna assembly being connected with and carried by said mounting rod grounding said antenna assembly with said mounting rod;

whereby

said mounting rod, and said at least one mounting bracket provide a conductive path between said antenna assembly and said cab assembly, grounding said antenna assembly.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper mounting bracket is formed of said compound.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting rod comprises a unitary c-shaped metal member.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper bracket includes a mounting rod connector for connecting with an end of said mounting rod, a stabilizer rod connector for connecting with a stabilizing rod, and mounting receptacles for receiving screws securing said mounting bracket with said cab.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 4 wherein said stabilizer rod connects pivotally at a first end with said stabilizer rod connector and at an opposite end thereof with said mounting rod.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 1 including a mounting rod attachment members connected with said ends of said mounting rod, said mounting rod attachment members engaging with said mounting brackets securing said mounting rod with said mounting brackets, at least one of said mounting rod attachment members being molded of said compound.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said polymeric resin comprises nylon and said filler comprises carbon.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said filler comprises carbon which constitutes between 25% and 35% of said compound.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 1 including a pair of said mounting assemblies on opposed sides of said vehicle cab, each said mounting assembly including said mounting brackets.

10. A mounting assembly for mounting a mirror mounting assembly and an antenna mounting assembly with a vehicle cab assembly carrying a radio, said mounting assembly comprising:

a conductive mounting rod supporting said mirror mounting assembly and said antenna mounting assembly;

a conductive mounting bracket molded of a compound including a polymeric resin and a conductive filler, said mounting bracket securing said mounting rod with said vehicle cab;

said antenna mounting assembly including a support platform and a ground secured with said mounting rod;

whereby

said antenna mounting assembly is grounded with said cab assembly through said mounting rod and said mounting bracket.

11. The mounting assembly of claim 10 wherein said mirror mounting assembly includes a housing carried by said mounting rod, said housing having an enclosed interior area, said antenna mounting assembly being located within said interior area.

12. The mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein said housing includes an aperture on its upper end, an antenna carried by said antenna mounting assembly passing through said aperture.