Bayonet-mount motor-vehicle antenna

• US 7,436,367 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• 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, Gunther
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; HoangAnh T
• Application Number:
  US11/236,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/712, 343/713, 343/906
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/10 by means of bayonet connections F16B5/0092 takes precedence; fastening devices locking by rotation F16B21/02
• 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 motor-vehicle part formed with a throughgoing hole of nonround shape has a base plate engageable with the part over the hole and carrying antenna components and a stem projecting through the hole. A bayonet plate has an outer edge of nonround shape capable of passing axially through the hole of the part and not able to pass through the hole of the part in another angularly offset position. This bayonet plate can move angularly on the base plate between an install position and a holding position and is urged by a spring toward the base plate and against the part. Spacers engageable in the install position hold the bayonet plate at a predetermined large axial spacing from the base plate and disengage from each other in the holding position to allow the bayonet plate to be pressed by the spring against the motor-vehicle part.

Claims

1. An antenna for mounting on a motor-vehicle part formed with a throughgoing hole of nonround shape, the antenna comprising:

a base plate engageable with the part over the hole;

antenna components mounted on the base plate;

a stem fixed in the base plate and projecting along an axis through the hole and having an outer end;

a bayonet plate having an outer edge of nonround shape capable of passing axially through the hole of the part in an aligned position and not able to pass through the hole of the part in another angularly offset nonaligned position;

support means supporting the bayonet plate on the base plate for angular movement of the bayonet plate relative to the base plate about the axis between an install position and a holding position;

a spring braced between the stem outer end and the bayonet plate and urging the bayonet plate axially toward the base plate and against the part; and

spacer formations on the bayonet plate and base plate engageable with each other in the install position of the base plate and bayonet plate to hold the bayonet plate in an outer position at a predetermined large axial spacing from the base plate and disengaging from each other in the angularly offset holding position to allow the bayonet plate to be pressed by the spring into an inner position very closely juxtaposed with the base plate and tightly gripping the motor-vehicle part between the bayonet plate and the base plate.

2. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 1, further comprising:

interengageable stop formations on the part and on the bayonet plate that engage axially together in the nonaligned position of the bayonet plate and inhibit rotation of the bayonet plate about the axis in the hole.

3. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 2, wherein the support means includes guides engaged between the bayonet plate and the base plate allowing the bayonet plate to move angularly limitedly about the axis relative to the base plate, whereby, after insertion of the bayonet plate through the hole in the aligned position and rotation of the bayonet plate and base plate to the nonaligned position with the stop formations engaged, further rotation of the base plate relative to the bayonet plate disengages the spacer formations from each other.

4. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 3 wherein the bayonet plate is formed with radially outwardly projecting teeth and the hole is formed with radially inwardly open generally complementary notches, the stop formations being a bump projecting axially from at least one of the teeth toward the base plate at an edge thereof.

5. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 3 wherein the guides are axially extending bolts projecting from the base plate and respective arcuate angularly extending slots in the bayonet plate through which the bolts extend.

6. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 1 wherein the stem is formed by a bolt projecting from the base plate and a nut on an outer end of the bolt, the spring surrounding the bolt and being braces against the nut.

7. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 6 wherein the stem further has a sleeve surrounding the bolt and surrounded by the spring.

8. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 6 wherein the stem further has a washer fitted between the nut and an outer end of the spring.

9. The motor-vehicle antenna defined in claim 1, further comprising a tool for installing the antenna, the tool having:

a bight part; and

a pair of generally parallel arms spaced apart by a distance smaller than a diameter of the bayonet plate and of a thickness equal generally to an axial height of the spacer.

10. An antenna for mounting on a motor-vehicle part formed with a throughgoing hole of nonround shape, the antenna comprising:

a base plate engageable with the part over the hole;

antenna components mounted on the base plate;

a stem fixed in the base plate and projecting along an axis through the hole and having an outer end;

a bayonet plate having an outer edge of nonround shape capable of passing axially through the hole of the part in an aligned position and not able to pass through the hole of the part an another angularly offset nonaligned position;

support means supporting the bayonet plate on the base plate for angular movement of the bayonet plate relative to the base plate about the axis between an install position and a holding position;

a spring braced between the stem outer end and the bayonet plate and urging the bayonet plate axially toward the base plate and against the part;

spacer formations on the bayonet plate and base plate engageable with each other in the install position of the base plate and bayonet plate to hold the bayonet plate in an outer position at a predetermined large axial spacing from the base plate and disengaging from each other in the angularly offset holding position to allow the bayonet plate to be pressed by the spring into an inner position very closely juxtaposed with the base plate and tightly gripping the motor-vehicle part between the bayonet plate and the base plate; and

interengageable stop formations on the part and on the bayonet plate that engage axially together in the nonaligned position of the bayonet plate and inhibit rotation of the bayonet plate about the axis in the hole.