Antenna mounting structure

• US 7,046,207 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Inventors: Takahashi, Motonao
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US10/902,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/713
• US Class Current: 343/711
• 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

A structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body is disclosed. A first fixation member includes a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end. A protrusion is protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member. A second fixation member is fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner. The first width is smaller than a third width of an aperture formed in the panel body when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, so that the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member are allowed to pass through the aperture from the first side to a second side. The slit is expanded such that the first end of the first fixation member is made to have a fourth width which is greater than the third width when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a second screwing position where the protrusion and the second fixation member are closed to each other than the first screwing position.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body, the structure comprising:

a first fixation member, comprising;

a tubular body, including a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end; and

a plurality of elastic claw members, including a pair of claw members extended from the first end of the tubular body such that an interval between distal ends thereof is a second width which is larger than a third width of an aperture formed in the panel body;

a protrusion, protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member;

a second fixation member, fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner, wherein;

the first width is smaller than the third width when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, so that the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member are allowed to pass through the aperture from the first side to a second side while flexing the pair of claw members inward;

the pair of claw members restore so as to prevent the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member from passing through the aperture from the second side to the first side; and

the slit is expanded such that the first end of the first fixation member is made to have a fourth width which is greater than the third width when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a second screwing position where the protrusion and the second fixation member are closer to each other than the first screwing position.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a wedge member, formed on at least one of the protrusion and the second fixation member, the wedge member fitted into the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the first screwing position,

wherein the wedge member is configured so as to expand the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the second screwing position.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first end of the second fixation member has a first diameter and the second end of the second fixation member has a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the aperture and the protrusion are rectangularly shaped.