Vehicle roof antenna with a mounting part for an antenna rod with simultaneous securing of a cover hood

• US 7,358,910 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• 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): Ho; Tan
• Application Number:
  US11/509,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/713, 343/715
• 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

An antenna for mounting on a vehicle roof has a base plate adapted to sit on the roof and a threaded fastener separate from the base plate, extending through the base plate and anchored underneath the base plate in the roof. A cover fitted over the base plate is formed with a throughgoing passage generally aligned with the fastener. The fastener is operable by a tool extending through the passage. An antenna rod screwable into the passage is fixed thereby to the cover. The cover can comprise an inner cover fitted over the base plate and formed with an outwardly open threaded socket and a decorative outer cover fitted over the inner cover around the socket. In this case the antenna rod has an end screwable into the socket and bearing downward on the outer cover to secure the outer cover on the inner cover and base plate.

Claims

1. An antenna adapted to be mounted on a vehicle roof, the antenna comprising:

a base plate adapted to sit on the roof;

a threaded fastener separate from the base plate, extending through the base plate and anchored underneath the base plate in the roof;

a cover fitted over the base plate and formed with a throughgoing passage generally aligned with the fastener, the fastener being operable by a tool extending through the passage; and

an antenna rod screwable into the passage and fixable thereby to the cover.

2. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein the antenna rod has a threaded lower end and the passage is provided with a screwthread with which the lower end is engaged.

3. The vehicle defined in claim 2, further comprising

a cup-shaped internally and externally threaded socket threaded into and closing the passage and internally receiving the lower end of the rod.

4. The vehicle defined in claim 3 wherein the cover is made of plastic and the socket of metal.

5. The vehicle defined in claim 2 wherein the passage is centered on an axis and the fastener extends along and is rotatable about the axis.

6. The vehicle antenna defined in claim 1 wherein the fastener has a head bearing on the base plate and pressing same against the roof.

7. An antenna adapted to be mounted on a vehicle roof, the antenna comprising:

a base plate adapted to sit on the roof;

an inner cover fitted over the base plate and formed with an outwardly open threaded socket;

a decorative outer cover fitted over the inner cover around the socket, the socket being exposed through the outer cover; and

an antenna rod having an end screwable into the socket and bearing downward on the outer cover to secure the outer cover on the inner cover and base plate.

8. The vehicle antenna defined in claim 7 wherein the inner cover is thick-walled and structural, and the outer cover is thin-walled.

9. The vehicle antenna defined in claim 7 wherein the outer cover has catch formations operatively engageable with the base plate.

10. The vehicle antenna defined in claim 9 wherein the base plate is formed with upstanding lugs having sets in which the catch formations are engageable.