Connector for joining cable conductors with an antenna

• US 7,338,316 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Blickle, Günther
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US11/262,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20060094294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 439/353, 439/354, 439/357, 439/537, 439/544, 439/546, 439/916
• US Class Current: 439/546
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/916 Antenna

Abstract

A device for mounting an antenna on a vehicle body and for coupling cables through a hole in the body with the roof antenna the device has a base plate outside the body connected with the roof antenna at the hole in the vehicle body and a connector mount. Body plugs and/or sockets are mounted or formed on the connector mount and provided on ends of the cables. Complementary antenna sockets and/or plugs for the connector mount are provided on the base plate. The antenna sockets and/or plugs are connected with electrical or electronic components of the roof antenna so that the connector mount is connectable before, during, or after mounting of the antenna with the complementary antenna plugs and/or sockets.

Claims

1. A device for mounting a roof antenna on a vehicle body and for coupling cables through a hole in the body with the roof antenna, the device comprising:

a base plate outside the body connected with the roof antenna at the hole in the vehicle body;

a connector mount inside the vehicle body at the hole of the vehicle body and formed with a hole;

a screw connection and a spring extending from the base plate through the hole in the vehicle body and the hole in the connector and securing the base plate to the connector mount;

body plugs and/or sockets mounted or formed on the connector mount and provided on ends of the cables; and

complementary antenna sockets and/or plugs for the connector mount and provided on the base plate, the antenna sockets and/or plugs being connected with electrical or electronic components of the roof antenna so that the connector mount is connectable before, during, or after mounting of the antenna with the complementary antenna plugs and/or sockets.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the connector mount is fixable in or on the vehicle body.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the connector mount has on a side turned away from the cables mounting elements that serve for mounting the connector mount in the hole.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the mounting elements fit with bayonet notches and/or tabs in the hole of the vehicle body.

5. The device according to claim 3 wherein the mounting elements are oriented opposite to a rotation direction for tightening the base plate and/or the bayonet plate of the roof antenna.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the hole is generally circular and connector mount has at least one centering element that fits with the generally circular hole.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the sockets and plugs are so angularly positioned on the connector mount and on the base plate or bayonet plate that after the sockets and plugs are fitted together the bayonet lugs of the bayonet plate are positioned adjacent the mounting elements.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the connector mount is constructed as a mount for securing the roof antenna on the vehicle body.

9. In combination with a motor-vehicle body formed with a hole, a device for mounting a roof antenna comprising:

a bayonet plate arranged inside the motor-vehicle body at the hole;

a base plate of the antenna outside the motor-vehicle body at the hole;

a screw connection and a spring extending through the hole between the base plate and the bayonet plate, the hole in the vehicle body being generally circular and having bayonet notches and tabs complementary to bayonet lugs of the bayonet plate;

guide elements between the base plate and the bayonet plate that permit limited relative rotation of the base plate and the bayonet plate, such that relative rotation of the base plate and the bayonet plate secures the roof antenna on the vehicle body;

a connector mount having plugs or sockets; and

connector cables connected with the plugs or sockets on the connector mount, the base plate and/or the bayonet plate having turned toward the connector mount complementary antenna sockets or plugs that are connected with electrical or electronic components of the roof antenna, the connector mount being mountable at least during connection of the plugs with the sockets on or in the hole in the vehicle body.