Star-handle system for locking antenna to a vehicle roof

• US 9,608,315 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Hirschmann Car Communication GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Gerneth, Christian, Silva, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Islam, Hasan
• Application Number:
  US14/003,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20140043193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/713, 343/712
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

The invention relates to a roof antenna (1) for mounting on a roof (2) of a vehicle, said roof antenna (1) having a base plate (7) and an antenna cover (3) that can be connected to the base plate (7). A printed circuit board (4) with antenna elements and at least one plug connection (5) is arranged under the antenna cover (3). The base plate (7) has detent hooks (11) for pre-attaching on the roof (2) and fixing means for a final assembly, said fixing means being designed as a central dome (6) with a screw thread and a star handle (12) that interacts with the dome (6).

Claims

1. In combination with a motor-vehicle roof having a lower roof face and an outer upper roof face and a throughgoing hole of a predetermined shape, an antenna comprising:

a base plate adapted to rest on the upper roof face;

a circuit board and antenna element on the base plate;

a cover secured to the base plate and containing the board and antenna element with the base plate;

a pivot pin projecting from the base plate and extending, when the base plate is resting on the upper roof face, downward through the hole; and

a star handle having arms and of a shape capable of passing through is the hole only in a preinstallation position of the star handle relative to the hole, the star handle being pivotal, when the base plate is resting on the upper roof face and the arms are below the lower roof face, between the preinstallation position and a final installation position angularly offset therefrom with ends of the arms movable upward into engagement with the lower roof face around the hole.

2. The roof antenna according to claim 1, further comprising:

an element threaded into the base plate, bearing upward on the star handle, and rotatable for pressing the ends of the star handle against the lower roof face in the installation position of the star handle.

3. The roof antenna according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one stop on the base plate limiting an angle of rotational travel of the star handle to movement between the reinstallation and final installation positions.

4. The roof antenna according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one guide rib on the base plate and generally complementary to the roof hole so as to fit therethrough.

5. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein the star handle covers at least one plug connector in its preinstallation position, and exposes the plug connection in it'"'"'s the final installation position.

6. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein the star handle includes means for manipulation of the star handle by a tool.

7. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein the star handle includes means for releasably retaining it in the preinstallation position.

8. The roof antenna according to claim 1, wherein the star handle has exactly four arms extending at right angles to each other.

9. The roof antenna according to claim 8, wherein an angle of rotational travel of the star handle between the preinstallation position and the final installation position is at most 45°

.

10. The roof antenna according to claim 9, wherein the angle of rotational travel of the star handle is limited by at least one counter-support that can be contacted with the surface of the roof and is on the base plate when the star handle moves from the preinstallation position to the final installation position.

11. The roof antenna according to claim 8, wherein the roof hole is of generally square shape and in the preinstallation position the arms of the star handle extend angularly toward corners of the roof hole.