Quick-attach automotive antenna mounting assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An attachment assembly for attaching an object to a panel of a vehicle comprising:
- a base assembly fixable to the object, the base assembly including a shaft member extending therefrom; and
a retaining mechanism insertable through an aperture in the panel, the retaining mechanism comprising;
an expandable member comprising a plurality of resilient, outwardly expandable fingers adapted to pass through the aperture in the panel and adapted to engage an inner surface of the panel,a retaining member disposed on the shaft member to bias the expandable member toward the panel, anda spacer member disposed on the shaft member to space the expandable member a selected distance from the object, wherein the shaft member extends through an opening in the panel and comprises a stud having a tapered body section with at least one boss outwardly extending from the tapered body section and positioned between any two adjacent fingers of the expandable member, and wherein the fingers are in contact with the tapered body section.
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Abstract
An attachment assembly, useful in quickly attaching an object to a panel, is provided with a base assembly having a shaft member extending therefrom and an expandable member having a plurality of fingers disposed on one side of the panel such that, during installation, the fingers radially outwardly expand to clamp the object to the panel. A process of mounting an object to a panel is also provided. The object is attached to the base of the attachment assembly and the shaft member is positioned in an aperture in a panel. The panel is clamped between the fingers and the base upon installation of the attachment assembly.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An attachment assembly for attaching an object to a panel of a vehicle comprising:
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a base assembly fixable to the object, the base assembly including a shaft member extending therefrom; and a retaining mechanism insertable through an aperture in the panel, the retaining mechanism comprising; an expandable member comprising a plurality of resilient, outwardly expandable fingers adapted to pass through the aperture in the panel and adapted to engage an inner surface of the panel, a retaining member disposed on the shaft member to bias the expandable member toward the panel, and a spacer member disposed on the shaft member to space the expandable member a selected distance from the object, wherein the shaft member extends through an opening in the panel and comprises a stud having a tapered body section with at least one boss outwardly extending from the tapered body section and positioned between any two adjacent fingers of the expandable member, and wherein the fingers are in contact with the tapered body section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process of mounting an antenna unit to a panel, the process comprising:
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attaching the antenna unit to a quick-attachment mounting mechanism, said quick attachment mounting mechanism comprising; a base having a stud extending therefrom, said stud having a tapered body section; and a retaining cap disposed on said stud for axial movement relative thereto, said retaining cap comprising a plurality of retaining fingers in contact with the tapered body section of said stud, wherein upon axial movement of said retaining cap toward said base, the retaining fingers radially outwardly expand; inserting the stud through an aperture in a panel and positioning the base against an exterior surface of the panel; and effecting axial movement of said retaining cap to clamp the panel between said plurality of retaining fingers and said base. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification