Antenna mounting assembly for a vehicle with a sloped body panel

• US 9,515,371 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• 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:
  US14/840,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20150372375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 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. An antenna mounting base for supporting a vehicle antenna with respect to a vehicle body panel that defines a panel aperture, comprising:

an antenna mounting portion;

a flange extending from a surface of the antenna mounting base; and

at least one tab comprising a wall extending from a surface of the antenna mounting base, the at least one tab defining a recess between the wall and the flange that opens in a downward-angled direction with respect to north, the recess being sized and configured to mateably engage at least a portion of the body panel that borders the panel aperture.

2. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein the at least one tab is two tabs and the wall is a second wall, the at least one tab further comprising a first wall extending from the flange adjacent the antenna mounting base and the second wall of each tab extending from a distal portion of the first wall substantially parallel to the flange, the recess of each tab opening in the downward-angled direction along one plane and toward a perimeter edge of the panel aperture.

3. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein the wall extends from the surface of the antenna mounting base substantially parallel to the flange, the recess defined between the flange, the antenna mounting base and the wall and configured to open toward a perimeter edge of the panel aperture.

4. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein the flange extends at an angle from the antenna mounting base.

5. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein:

the antenna mounting base is shaped as a longitudinally extending shaft; and

the flange extends only from a partial circumferential portion of the surface of the antenna mounting base and includes opposing first and second distal ends.

6. The antenna mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange is U-shaped and extends only approximately 180 degrees around the antenna mounting base.

7. The antenna mounting base of claim 5, wherein the at least one tab comprises multiple tabs, each tab defining with the flange respective recesses opening in the downward-angled direction in the one plane and configured to receive different portions of the body panel bordering the panel aperture in mateable engagement.

8. The antenna mounting base of claim 7, wherein the at least one tab comprises a first tab extending from the surface of the antenna mounting base between the first and second distal ends of the flange, a second tab extending adjacent to the surface of the antenna mounting base and supported by the flange proximate to the first distal end and a third tab extending adjacent to the surface of the antenna mounting base and supported by the flange proximate to the second distal end.

9. The antenna mounting base of claim 5, further comprising:

a vehicle body structure mounting portion opposite the antenna mounting portion; and

an intermediate portion extending between the antenna mounting portion and the vehicle body structure mounting portion, with the flange extending from the intermediate portion.

10. The antenna mounting base of claim 9, wherein the at least one tab extends from the intermediate portion between the first and second distal ends of the flange.

11. The antenna mounting base of claim 1, wherein the at least one tab comprises two distal tabs on radially opposing sides of the antenna mounting base each with a respective recess opening to the downward-angled direction.

12. The antenna mounting base of claim 11, wherein the at least one tab further comprises a third tab extending from the antenna mounting base, the third tab having a recess opening to the downward-angled direction in the one plane as the recess of each of the two distal tabs.

13. The antenna mounting base of claim 12, wherein the third tab is located between the two distal tabs circumferentially with respect to the antenna mounting base.

14. An antenna mounting base for supporting a vehicle antenna with respect to a vehicle body panel that defines a panel aperture, comprising:

an antenna mounting portion;

a vehicle body structure mounting portion opposite the antenna mounting portion;

an intermediate portion extending between the antenna mounting portion and the vehicle body structure mounting portion, the intermediate portion having a first circumferential surface and a second circumferential surface forming an entire circumference;

a flange extending from only the first circumferential all surface of the intermediate portion;

at least one tab directly adjacent to the intermediate portion and 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; and

a finisher configured to attach to the antenna mounting portion on an exterior side of the vehicle body panel, the finisher having a projection configured to extend through the panel aperture adjacent the second circumferential surface of the intermediate portion.

15. The antenna mounting base of claim 14, wherein:

the antenna mounting base is shaped as a longitudinally extending shaft; and

the flange includes opposing first and second distal ends.

16. The antenna mounting base of claim 14, wherein the at least one tab comprises two distal tabs on radially opposing sides of the intermediate section each with a respective recess opening to a same direction.

17. The antenna mounting base of claim 16, wherein the at least one tab further comprises a third tab directly adjacent the intermediate section, the third tab having a recess opening to the same direction as the recess of each of the two distal tabs.

18. The antenna mounting base of claim 17, wherein the third tab is located between the two distal tabs circumferentially with respect to the intermediate section.

19. The antenna mounting base of claim 14, wherein the at least one tab comprises a first wall extending directly adjacent the intermediate portion and parallel to the flange.

20. The antenna mounting base of claim 14, wherein the at least one tab further comprises a second wall extending between the flange and the first wall to further define the recess.