Top mount mast antenna reinforcement

• US 8,203,496 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Nathan, Kubacki, Brian, Courtright, Mark, Williams, Nikia M, Scollard, Rob J Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US12/952,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/713, 343/715, 343/878, 403/197, 403/252, 403/259
• US Class Current: 343/715
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/20 Connections with hook-like parts gripping behind a blind side of an element to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/503 the flange being separate from the elements to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/052 the intermediate member having a radial flange secured to the flat surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/056 the intermediate member extending through the flat surface; the rod or tubular part extending through the flat surface
• 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 mounting apparatus for a top mount mast antenna includes a secondary mounting bracket positioned below the fender panel to stabilize the antenna attachment screws extending through the antenna base into the fender panel of the automotive vehicle on which the antenna is mounted. The secondary mounting bracket is formed with a generally circular reinforcement collar that projects upwardly through the opening in the fender panel. The reinforcement collar has opposing retention tabs that pass through recesses formed in the opening. A rotation of the secondary mounting bracket within the opening rotates the retention tabs to a position overlying the fender panel, and moves deformable bosses into alignment with the screw holes in the fender panel. The rotation of the secondary mounting bracket is halted by the engagement of a closed side of the bosses with a flange of material created by the piercing of the screw holes.

Claims

1. In an automotive vehicle having a structural surface for the mounting of an antenna to extend upwardly from the structural surface, the structural surface having an opening formed therein for the passage of the antenna, the antenna being associated with a primary mounting collar for the mounting of the antenna to the structural surface, said primary mounting collar being detachably connected to the structural surface by fasteners, the improvement comprising:

a secondary mounting bracket constructed of a deformable material and including a plurality of bosses positioned below the structural surface for engagement with the fasteners by threading directly into said bosses to secure the fasteners from loosening without requiring a predetermined torque to be applied to the fasteners.

2. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein said secondary mounting bracket is constructed of nylon.

3. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 wherein said secondary mounting bracket further includes at least a pair of opposing retention tabs projecting outwardly from a reinforcement collar passing through said opening in said structural surface to pass through recesses formed in said opening to support said secondary mounting bracket on said structural surface with said bosses being located below said structural surface.

4. The automotive vehicle of claim 3 wherein each said retention tab overlies the structural surface adjacent the recesses to support said secondary mounting bracket on said structural surface after said secondary mounting bracket has been twisted within said opening in said structural surface.

5. The automotive vehicle of claim 4 wherein said structural surface is also formed with pierced fastener holes created with a downwardly depending flange of material, each said boss having an open side to allow passage of said flange of material upon rotation of said secondary mounting bracket until said flange of material engages an opposing closed side of said boss.

6. The automotive vehicle of claim 5 wherein said secondary mounting bracket also includes a depression alignable with a detent formed at said opening in said structural surface to receive a projection on said antenna to prevent rotation of said antenna relative to said structural surface once said secondary mounting bracket has been twisted into a desired orientation on said structural surface.

7. The automotive vehicle of claim 6 wherein said depression located below said structural surface and in alignment with said detent when said secondary mounting bracket has been twisted into said desired orientation.

8. A secondary support bracket cooperable with a primary mounting member for mounting an antenna on a structural surface of an automotive vehicle having an opening formed therein for the passage of the antenna, said primary mounting member including fasteners extending through holes in said structural surface from said primary mounting member, comprising:

a reinforcement collar defining a central passageway for the passage of said antenna therethrough, said reinforcement collar extending through said opening from below the structural surface;

a plurality of retention tabs projecting outwardly from said reinforcement collar to pass through said opening in the structural surface to support said primary mounting member on said structural surface, and

a plurality of bosses integrally formed with said reinforcement collar and being positioned below said structural surface for engagement with the fasteners to secure the fasteners from loosening without requiring a predetermined torque to be applied to the fasteners.

9. The secondary support bracket of claim 8 wherein said opening is formed with a plurality of recesses to receive said retention tabs, said retention tabs and said recesses being spaced circumferentially around said passageway.

10. The secondary support bracket of claim 9 wherein the rotation of said reinforcement collar within said opening moves said retention tabs to a position overlying said structural surface to retain said secondary support bracket on said structural surface.

11. The secondary support bracket of claim 10 wherein said secondary support bracket is constructed of a polymer.

12. The secondary support bracket of claim 11 wherein said reinforcement collar also includes a depression between two of said retention tabs and being alignable with a detent formed at said opening in said structural surface to receive a projection on said antenna to prevent rotation of said antenna relative to said structural surface once said antenna is installed.

13. The secondary support bracket of claim 12 wherein said bosses are formed with an open side and an opposing closed side, said holes being formed by piercing to create a flange of material projecting below said structural surface, the engagement of said closed side of said bosses with said flange of material stopping the rotation of said secondary support bracket at a desired orientation.

14. The secondary support bracket of claim 13 wherein the rotation of said secondary support bracket orients said bosses in alignment with said holes and orients said depression into alignment with said detent.

15. An apparatus for mounting a top mast antenna on a structural surface of an automotive vehicle having an opening formed therein for the passage of the antenna through the structural surface, comprising:

a primary mounting member positionable on said structural surface and having mounting screws passing through said primary mounting member and through pierced holes formed in said structural surface and having a flange extending below said structural surface; and

a secondary mounting bracket formed of deformable material and supported from said structural surface for engagement by said mounting screws, said secondary mounting bracket including a plurality of bosses positioned below said structural surface to receive said mounting screws by threading said mounting screws directly into said bosses, said secondary mounting bracket being positionable into a final desired position by rotating said secondary mounting bracket within said opening, at least one of said bosses having an open side to allow the passage of the corresponding said flange and a closed side to engage said flange to stop the rotation of said secondary mounting bracket when said final desired position is reached.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said secondary mounting bracket comprises:

a reinforcement collar projecting upwardly through said opening and being integrally formed with said bosses, said reinforcement collar having a passageway formed therein to permit passage of the antenna; and

support structure integrally formed with said reinforcement collar to project outwardly therefrom on opposing sides of said passageway to pass through said opening and engage said structural surface to retain said secondary mounting bracket on said structural surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said support structure includes a pair of retention tabs positioned on opposing sides of said passageway and projecting outwardly from said reinforcement collar to pass through said opening in the structural surface and support said secondary mounting bracket on said structural surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said opening is formed with recesses corresponding to said retention tabs, each said retention tab passing through a corresponding said recess as said reinforcement collar is extended through said opening, said retention tabs overlying the structural surface adjacent the opening when said secondary mounting bracket is rotated within said opening.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said retention tabs are engaged with said structural surface circumferentially adjacent the corresponding said recessed when said secondary mounting bracket is located in said final desired position, said mounting screws causing deformation of said bosses to prevent said mounting screws from loosening unless a predetermined torque is applied to turn said mounting screws.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said reinforcement collar also includes a depression between said retention tabs and being alignable with a detent formed at said opening in said structural surface to receive a projection on said antenna that prevents rotation of said antenna relative to said structural surface once said antenna is installed into said secondary mounting bracket.