Vehicle antenna assembly

• US 8,102,322 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Khreizat, Salman, Matthews, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, AMAL A
• Application Number:
  US12/394,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 343/888, 343/892, 343711-717
• US Class Current: 343/715
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1214 through a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle antenna assembly is provided with an antenna and a mounting bracket. The antenna includes an elongated mast section and a base section. The mounting bracket includes a first end with an antenna attachment section fixed to the base section of the antenna, a middle section extending downwardly from the antenna attachment section, and a second end with a vehicle attachment section extending from the middle section in a radial direction with respect to a center longitudinal axis of the elongated mast section as viewed along the center longitudinal axis of the elongated mast section. The middle section includes a fulcrum point arranged to engage a portion of the vehicle for pivoting the mounting bracket about the fulcrum point to move the vehicle facing support surface towards the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle antenna assembly comprising:

an antenna including an elongated mast section and a base section; and

a mounting bracket including a first end with an antenna attachment section fixed to the base section of the antenna, a middle section extending from the antenna attachment section, and a second end with a vehicle attachment section extending non-moveably from the middle section, the mounting bracket defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface extending from the first end to the second end, the first surface having a first portion defined on the antenna attachment section, a second portion defined on the middle section and a third portion defined on the vehicle attachment section,

the second surface also extending from the first end to the second end on an opposite side of the mounting bracket from the first surface, a portion of the second surface defining a vehicle facing support surface extending along the vehicle attachment section which defines a vehicle attachment plane with the vehicle facing support surface having a fastening part configured and arranged to be fastened to a vehicle such that the base section of the antenna is supported by the antenna attachment section above the vehicle attachment plane,

at least one of the middle section and the vehicle attachment section including a fulcrum point defined on the second surface arranged to engage a portion of the vehicle for pivoting the mounting bracket about the fulcrum point to move the vehicle facing support surface towards the vehicle, the middle section extending upwardly at a first obtuse angle from the vehicle attachment section, the first obtuse angle being measured between the third portion of the first surface and the second portion of the first surface, the antenna attachment section extending upwardly at a second obtuse angle from the middle section such that the base section of the antenna extends vertically, the second obtuse angle being measured between the second portion of the first surface and the first portion of the first surface.

2. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the fulcrum point is formed at an intersection between the middle section and the vehicle attachment section.

3. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna attachment section, the middle section and the vehicle attachment section are integrally formed as a one-piece, unitary member from a metallic sheet material.

4. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle attachment section includes a locating tab extending downwardly from the vehicle facing support surface of the vehicle attachment section.

5. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna attachment section is non-planar and wraps partially around the base section of the antenna such that the second surface contacts the base section of the antenna.

6. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the middle section is non-planar and the second portion of the first surface is defined proximate a central region thereof.

7. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle facing support surface of the vehicle attachment section is planar.

8. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the base section includes a removable grommet disposed about an upper end of the base section.

9. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the elongated mast section is removably attached to the base section.

10. The vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 9, wherein

the outer molded part of the base section extends into at least one hole defined by the antenna attachment section.

11. A method of installing an antenna onto a vehicle comprising:

attaching a first end of a mounting bracket to a base section of the antenna, the mounting bracket having an antenna attachment section, a middle section and a vehicle attachment section, the base section of the antenna attaching to the antenna attachment section, the mounting bracket defining a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the mounting bracket from the first surface, the first surface extending along each of the antenna attachment section, the middle section and the vehicle attachment section, the first surface having a first portion defined on the antenna attachment section, a second portion defined on the middle section and a third portion defined on the vehicle attachment section, the middle section extending upwardly at a first obtuse angle from the vehicle attachment section, the first obtuse angle being measured between the third portion of the first surface and the second portion of the first surface, the antenna attachment section extending upwardly at a second obtuse angle from the middle section such that the base section of the antenna extends vertically, the second obtuse angle being measured between the second portion of the first surface and the first portion of the first surface;

positioning the base section to align with an opening defined by a vehicle exterior body panel;

engaging a fulcrum point of the mounting bracket against a portion of the vehicle such that a second end of the mounting bracket defined at a distal end of the vehicle attachment section, is spaced from the vehicle and the fulcrum point is located on the second surface of the mounting bracket;

moving the second end of the mounting bracket towards the vehicle to pivot the mounting bracket about the fulcrum point of the mounting bracket such that the first end of the mounting bracket forces the base section of the antenna further into the opening in the vehicle exterior body panel.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

holding a grommet in the opening in the vehicle exterior body panel prior to the base section of the antenna being forced into the opening in the vehicle exterior body panel.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

installing a grommet onto the base section of the antenna prior to the base section of the antenna being forced into the opening in the vehicle exterior body panel.

14. A vehicle and vehicle antenna assembly comprising:

a vehicle structure that includes a vehicle exterior body panel defining an antenna opening and a ledge extending under and spaced apart from the vehicle exterior body panel;

an antenna including an elongated mast section and a base section;

a mounting bracket including a first end with an antenna attachment section fixed to the base section of the antenna, a middle section extending downwardly from the antenna attachment section, and a second end with a vehicle attachment section extending non-moveably from the middle section in a radial direction with respect to a center longitudinal axis of the elongated mast section as viewed along the center longitudinal axis of the elongated mast section,

the vehicle attachment section having a vehicle facing support surface defining a vehicle attachment plane with the vehicle facing support surface having a fastening part fastened to the ledge such that the base section of the antenna is supported by the antenna attachment section above the vehicle attachment plane with the elongated mast section extending through the antenna opening and above the vehicle exterior body panel,

at least one of the middle section and the vehicle attachment section including a fulcrum point facing the ledge arranged to engage the ledge for pivoting the mounting bracket about the fulcrum point to move the vehicle facing support surface towards the vehicle and the elongated mast section upward through the antenna opening during installation.

15. A vehicle and vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the mounting bracket defines a first surface and a second surface, the first surface extending continuously from a first end to a second end of the mounting bracket, the first surface having a first portion defined on the antenna attachment section, a second portion defined on the middle section and a third portion defined on the vehicle attachment section,

the second surface also extending from the first end to the second end on an opposite side of the mounting bracket from the first surface, a portion of the second surface defining the fulcrum point, and

the middle section extending upwardly at a first obtuse angle from the vehicle attachment section, the first obtuse angle being measured between the third portion of the first surface and the second portion of the first surface, the antenna attachment section extending upwardly at a second obtuse angle from the middle section such that the base section of the antenna extends vertically, the second obtuse angle being measured between the second portion of the first surface and the first portion of the first surface.

16. A vehicle and vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the fulcrum point is formed at an intersection between the middle section and the vehicle attachment section.

17. A vehicle and vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the antenna attachment section, the middle section and the vehicle attachment section are integrally formed as a one-piece, unitary member from a metallic sheet material.

18. A vehicle and vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the vehicle exterior body panel extends over at least a portion of the fulcrum point with the fastening part of the vehicle attachment section fastened to the ledge and the antenna extending through the antenna opening.

19. A vehicle and vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the vehicle exterior body panel extends over the majority of the middle portion with the fastening part of the vehicle attachment section fastened to the ledge and the antenna extending through the antenna opening.

20. A vehicle and vehicle antenna assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the vehicle structure further comprises a hood hinge supported to the ledge, the hood hinge being positioned on a first lateral side of the mounting bracket, with the vehicle exterior body panel extending above the mounting bracket and along a second lateral side of the mounting bracket that is opposite the first side with the fastening part of the vehicle attachment section fastened to the ledge and the antenna extending through the antenna opening.