Antenna mounting assembly for a vehicle with a sloped body panel

• US 9,312,595 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: O'Neal, Kenneth Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Application Number:
  US13/772,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20140231612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3258 using the gutter of the vehicle; Means for clamping a whip aerial on the edge of a part of the vehicle

Abstract

Embodiments are provided of antenna mounting assemblies and vehicles that include such assemblies. In one aspect, an antenna mounting base for supporting a vehicle antenna with respect to a vehicle body panel that defines a panel aperture comprises: an antenna mounting portion; a flange extending from a surface of the antenna mounting base; and at least one tab defining a recess with the flange, the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a vehicle antenna, comprising:

a vehicle body structure supporting a body panel defining a panel aperture, the panel aperture defined by a perimeter edge of the body panel, wherein the perimeter edge includes a first portion defining a small area portion of the panel aperture and a second portion defining a large area portion of the panel aperture the aperture extending at an oblique angle to an axis of the vehicle antenna; and

an antenna mounting base at least partially extending through the panel aperture and comprising;

a vehicle body structure connecting portion connected to the vehicle body structure,

an antenna mounting portion positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the body panel, and

an intermediate portion having a flange extending therefrom, the intermediate portion supporting at least one tab to define a recess with the flange,

the at least one tab extending downward at the oblique angle to the axis of the vehicle antenna,

the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture to couple the antenna mounting base to the body panel, and the recess being further configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering the small area portion of the panel aperture.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the flange extends from the antenna mounting base to abut an underside of the body panel.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the tab is comprised of a first wall extending from the flange adjacent the antenna mounting base through the panel aperture and a second wall extending from a distal portion of the first wall substantially parallel to the flange, in abutment with the exterior surface of the panel.

4. The antenna mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the tab is comprised of a wall extending from the intermediate portion substantially parallel to the flange and in abutment with the exterior surface of the panel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the flange extends from a partial circumferential portion of a surface of the antenna mounting base adjacent the first portion of the perimeter edge and includes first and second distal ends.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein:

the intermediate portion supports a first tab between the first and second distal ends of the flange;

the flange supports a second tab proximate to the first distal end of the flange and a third tab proximate to the second distal end of the flange; and

each tab defines with the flange respective first, second and third recesses configured to receive different portions of the body panel bordering the first portion of the perimeter edge.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

a profile of the panel aperture at the perimeter edge is defined by two opposing concentric half circular segments having different diameters and interconnected by a pair of opposed radial segments; and

the first portion of the perimeter edge includes a first of the half circular segments and the pair of opposed radial segments, and the second portion of the perimeter edge includes a second of the half circular segments having a relatively larger diameter than the first half circular segment.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering an apex of the first of the half circular segments, the second recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering a first of the radial segments, and the third recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering a second of the radial segments.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the large area portion is larger than a width of the antenna mounting portion and the at least one tab.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising:

a finisher having a base positionable about the panel aperture on the exterior surface of the body panel, the finisher having a projection configured to extend beyond the base through the panel aperture between the second portion of the perimeter edge and the antenna mounting base and contacting at least one of the antenna mounting base and the flange.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the small area portion is lower than and outboard of the large area portion.

11. A vehicle having a vehicle antenna, comprising:

a vehicle body structure supporting a body panel defining a panel aperture, the panel aperture defined by a perimeter edge of the body panel, wherein the perimeter edge includes a first portion defining a small area portion of the panel aperture and a second portion defining a large area portion of the panel aperture;

a longitudinal shaft at least partially extending through the panel aperture and comprising;

a vehicle body structure connecting portion connected to the vehicle body structure,

an antenna mounting portion positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the body panel,

a flange extending from only a partial circumferential portion of the shaft adjacent the first portion of the perimeter edge, and

at least one tab to define a recess with the flange sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture; and

a finisher having a base with a circumference positionable to surround the panel aperture on the exterior surface of the body panel, the finisher having a projection configured to extend beyond the base through the panel aperture between the second portion of the perimeter edge and the shaft and contacting at least one of the shaft and the flange.

16. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the projection contacts the perimeter edge and the at least one tab to maintain engagement of the at least one tab to the portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one tab comprising;

a first tab at a first distal end of the flange, and

a second tab at a second distal end of the flange; and

the projection contacts the first tab and the second tab.

12. A vehicle having a vehicle antenna, comprising:

a vehicle body structure supporting a body panel defining a panel aperture; and

an antenna mounting base at least partially extending through the panel aperture and comprising;

a vehicle body structure connecting portion connected to the vehicle body structure;

an antenna mounting portion positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the body panel; and

an intermediate portion having a flange extending therefrom, the intermediate portion supporting at least one tab to define a recess with the flange, the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture to couple the antenna mounting base to the body panel;

wherein, the panel aperture is defined by a perimeter edge of the body panel, wherein the perimeter edge includes a first portion defining a small area portion of the panel aperture and a second portion defining a large area portion of the panel aperture;

the recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering the first portion of the perimeter edge;

the flange extends from a partial circumferential portion of a surface of the antenna mounting base adjacent the first portion of the perimeter edge and includes first and second distal ends;

the intermediate portion supports a first tab between the first and second distal ends of the flange;

the flange supports a second tab proximate to the first distal end of the flange and a third tab proximate to the second distal end of the flange; and

each tab defines with the flange respective first, second and third recesses configured to receive different portions of the body panel bordering the first portion of the perimeter edge.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

a profile of the panel aperture at the perimeter edge is defined by two opposing concentric half circular segments having different diameters and interconnected by a pair of opposed radial segments; and

the first portion of the perimeter edge includes a first of the half circular segments and the pair of opposed radial segments, and the second portion of the perimeter edge includes a second of the half circular segments having a relatively larger diameter than the first half circular segment.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering an apex of the first of the half circular segments, the second recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering a first of the radial segments, and the third recess is configured for receiving a portion of the body panel bordering a second of the radial segments.