EP1650827A2

EP1650827A2 - Antenna mounting structure

Info

Publication number: EP1650827A2
Application number: EP05022890A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sadao Ohno; Kazuki Katono; Keisuke Yamaya
Original assignee: Yokowo Co Ltd; Yokowo Mfg Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yokowo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-10-22
Filing date: 2005-10-20
Publication date: 2006-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-20
Also published as: EP1650827A3; KR101151946B1; DE602005015528D1; EP1650827B1; KR20060049141A

Abstract

A structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body is disclosed. A first fixation member includes a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end. A protrusion is protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member. A second fixation member is fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner. A wedge member is provided on the protrusion and formed with a cutout portion. The wedge member is configured to be fitted into the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, and configured to expand the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a second screwing position where the protrusion and the second fixation member are closed to each other than the first screwing position. A cable is extending from the antenna device and led to a second side of the panel body while passing through the cutout portion of the wedge member and an aperture formed in the panel body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an antenna mounting structure in which an antenna base of a vehicle antenna is mounted on and fixed to a roof or the like of a vehicle body.
In a basic structure of mounting and fixing a vehicle antenna to a roof or the like of a vehicle body, a bolt provided in such a manner as to project downwards from an antenna base of a vehicle antenna is passed through a hole opened in the roof or the like of the vehicle body from thereabove, a claw washer is fitted on the bolt which projects into an inside of the vehicle body from the inside of the vehicle, and furthermore, a nut is screwed on the bolt so as to fix the antenna base to the roof or the like of the vehicle body.
In an alternative basic structure, an internal thread is engraved on an antenna base, and a bolt on which a claw washer is passed is passed through a hole opened in the vehicle body from the inside of the vehicle so as to be screwed into the internal thread on the antenna base, whereby the antenna base is fixed to the roof or the like of the vehicle body.
In either of the basic structures, claws of the claw washer bite into an inner face of the vehicle body, so that the antenna base is fixedly mounted on the vehicle body in an electrically conductive manner.
Figs. 25A to 27B show one example of such a mounting structure. Specifically, a bolt 150a is provided on an antenna base 150 in such a manner as to project downwards therefrom. A claw washer 120 is fitted on the bolt 150a which is formed substantially into a C-shape which is partially opened as viewed from a top thereof and which has provided thereon in such a manner as to project upwards from an upper edge portion thereof claws 120b and two or more provisional fixation claws 120a which expand wider upwards so that a distance between distal ends thereof becomes larger than the upper edge portion. A nut 152 is screwed on a lower end portion of the bolt 150a. Furthermore, a wedge-shaped member 110 is provided on the antenna base in such a manner as to face a slit formed in the substantially C-shaped claw washer 120. In addition, a truncated-conical portion is provided on the nut 152 which is made to become wider at a lower end in such a manner that an upper outer diameter becomes smaller while a lower outer diameter becomes larger than a lower inner diameter of the claw washer 120. A cable hole through which a cable 122 is to be passed is opened in the antenna base 150 at a position which is an opposite side of the bolt 150a with respect to a position where the wedge-shaped member 110 is provided. A notch is provided in the claw washer 120 in such a manner as to face the cable hole so as to allow the escape of the cable 122 when the cable 122 is pulled into the inside of the vehicle body from the antenna base through a hole 124.
Then, the bolt 150a is inserted into the hole 124 in the vehicle body from above in such a state that the claw washer 120 is fitted on the bolt 150a on the antenna base 150 with the nut 152 fittingly screwed on the bolt 150a to a slight extent so that the bolt 150a, the claw washer 120 and the nut 152 are integrated with each other. Then, the provisional fixation claws 120a of the claw washer 120 elastically deform inwards and is then allowed to pass through the hole 124, and after having passed therethrough, the provisional fixation claws 120a elastically restore to thereby expand wider than the hole 124 and restricts the upward dislodgement of the antenna base 150. Thus, the antenna base 150 can be provisionally fixed to the vehicle body only by the simple work of passing the bolt 150a through the hole 124 from thereabove.
When the nut 152 is tightened in such a provisional fixation state, the slit in the claw washer 120 is expanded by the action of the wedge-shaped member 110 of the antenna base 150 and the truncated-conical portion of the nut 152, and this deforms largely the substantially C-shape of the claw washer 120 in diameter, so that the claws 120b are brought into abutment with the inner face of the vehicle body at circumferential edge portions of the hole 124. Furthermore, the claws 120b bite into the inner face of the vehicle body when the nut 152 is tightened strongly, whereby the antenna base 150 is fixed to the vehicle body and an electric conduction is secured.
In the above configuration, there is caused a force on the claw washer 120 that acts to rotate the claw washer 120 together with the nut 152 in conjunction with the tightening of the nut 152, since one end of the slit in the claw washer 120 is in abutment with the wedge-shaped member 110 of the antenna base 150, whereby the slit is expanded only at the other end in the direction in which the claw washer 120 is attempted to be rotated together with the nut 152 and this deforms the substantially C-shaped claw washer 120 in such a manner as to increase the diameter thereof. Incidentally, the position of the notch, which is provided in the claw washer 120 to allow the escape of the cable 122, is caused to deviate in a direction in which the acting force attempts to rotate the claw washer 120 together with the nut 152. Thus, there is a possibility that the cable 122 is damaged by the deviation of the position of the notch in the claw washer 120.
In addition, a central position between the claws 120b situated at both the end portions of the slit expanded by the claw washer 120 is deviated in the direction in which the claw washer 120 is attempted to be rotated together with the nut 152 relative to the hole 124 and hence is not always made to face the circumferential edge portion of the hole 124 but is made to face the hole 124. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the antenna base 150 is fixed to the vehicle body in an inclined manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an antenna mounting structure in which an antenna base can be provisionally fixed to a hole formed in a vehicle body in a simple manner and prevent a damage that would be made to a cable when a nut is tightened to fix the antenna base to the vehicle body.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an antenna mounting structure which can ensure that the antenna base is fixed to the vehicle body in a proper posture.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to the invention, there is provided a structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body, comprising:

a first fixation member, having a tubular body including a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end;
a protrusion, protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member;
a second fixation member, fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner;
a wedge member, provided on the protrusion and formed with a cutout portion, the wedge member being configured to be fitted into the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, and configured to expand the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a second screwing position where the protrusion and the second fixation member are closed to each other than the first screwing position; and
a cable, extending from the antenna device and led to a second side of the panel body while passing through the cutout portion of the wedge member and an aperture formed in the panel body, wherein:
- the first width is smaller than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the first screwing position, so that the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member are allowed to pass through the aperture from the first side to the second side; and
- the slit is expanded such that the first end of the first fixation member is made to have a second width which is greater than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the second position.

With this configuration, the first fixation member is rotated in accompany with the screwing action of the second fixation member. Incidentally, one end portion of the slit is restricted in position by the wedge member and hence, the slit is expanded only at the other end portion thereof. Accordingly, the cable passed through the cutout portion of the wedge member is prevented from being damaged by the screwing action.
The second fixation member may be a bolt member adapted to be screwed into a hole formed in the protrusion, and the bolt may have a head portion adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member to assist the wedge member to expand the slit.
The second fixation member may be a nut member adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member and screwed on a bolt formed on the protrusion to assist the wedge member to expand the slit of the first fixation member.
According to the invention, there is also provided a structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body, comprising:

a first fixation member, having a tubular body including a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end;
a plurality of claws, provided on the first end of the first fixation member at positions that are both sides of the slit, the claws being adapted to be bite into a second side of the panel body;
a protrusion, protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member;
a second fixation member, fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner;
a wedge member, provided on the protrusion, the wedge member being configured to be fitted into the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, and configured to expand the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a second screwing position where the protrusion and the second fixation member are closed to each other than the first screwing position, wherein:
- the first width is smaller than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the first screwing position, so that the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member are allowed to pass through the aperture from the first side to the second side;
- the slit is expanded such that the first end of the first fixation member is made to have a second width which is greater than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the second position;
- the second fixation member is rotated in a first direction to be placed in the second screwing position; and
- the wedge member has a slope face configured such that one of the claws, which is moved in the first direction in accompany with the rotation of the second fixation member, is abutted against the slope face and guided in a second direction opposite to the first direction while the second fixation member is moved to the second screwing member.

With this configuration, the slope face of the wedge member not only restricts the movement of the position of the claw situated at the one end portion of the slit in the first direction but also allows the position of the claw so situated to move in the second direction. Consequently, by setting the slope face appropriately, the position of the claw situated at the one end portion of the slit can be surely made to face the circumferential edge portion of the aperture.
The wedge member may be arranged at a position that is deviated from a center line of the aperture in the second direction.
In this case, the claws which are situated at both the end portions of the slit can be made to face the circumferential edge portion of the aperture and to place the substantially symmetrical positions relative to the aperture.
The second fixation member may be a bolt member adapted to be screwed into a hole formed in the protrusion, and the bolt may have a head portion adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member to assist the wedge member to expand the slit.
The second fixation member may be a nut member adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member and screwed on a bolt formed on the protrusion to assist the wedge member to expand the slit of the first fixation member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an antenna according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2A is a top view of an antenna base in the antenna of Fig. 1;
Fig. 2B is a side view of the antenna base of Fig. 2A;
Fig. 2C is a bottom view of the antenna base of Fig. 2A;
Fig. 2D is a section view taken along a line IID-IID in Fig. 2B;
Fig. 3A is a top view of a claw washer in the antenna of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3B is a front view of the claw washer of Fig. 3A;
Fig. 3C is a side view of the claw washer of Fig. 3A;
Fig. 3D is a rear view of the claw washer of Fig. 3A;
Fig. 3E is a bottom view of the claw washer of Fig. 3A;
Fig. 4A is a top view of a provisional holder in the antenna of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4B is a side view of the provisional holder of Fig. 4A;
Fig. 5 is a side view showing members constituting a mounting structure for the antenna of Fig. 1;
Fig. 6A is a partially sectional side view showing a state that the antenna of Fig. 1 is provisionally fixed on a vehicle body;
Fig. 6B is a schematic bottom view showing the state of Fig. 6A;
Fig. 7A is a partially sectional side view showing a state that the antenna of Fig. 1 is plenarily fixed on the vehicle body;
Fig. 7B is a schematic bottom view showing the state of Fig. 7A;
Fig. 8A is a top view of an antenna base in an antenna according to a second embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 8B is a side view of the antenna base of Fig. 8A;
Fig. 8C is a bottom view of the antenna base of Fig. 8A;
Fig. 8D is a section view taken along a line VIIID-VIIID in Fig. 8B;
Fig. 9A is a top view of a claw washer in the antenna of Fig. 8A;
Fig. 9B is a front view of the claw washer of Fig. 9A;
Fig. 9C is a side view of the claw washer of Fig. 9A;
Fig. 9D is a rear view of the claw washer of Fig. 9A;
Fig. 9E is a bottom view of the claw washer of Fig. 9A;
Fig. 10 is a side view showing members constituting a mounting structure for the antenna of Fig. 8A;
Fig. 11A is a partially sectional side view showing a state that the antenna of Fig. 8A is provisionally fixed on a vehicle body;
Fig. 11 B is a schematic bottom view showing the state of Fig. 11A;
Fig. 12A is a partially sectional side view showing a state that the antenna of Fig. 8A is plenarily fixed on the vehicle body;
Fig. 12B is a schematic bottom view showing the state of Fig. 12A;
Fig. 13A is a top view of an antenna base in an antenna according to a third embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 13B is a side view of the antenna base of Fig. 13A;
Fig. 13C is a bottom view of the antenna base of Fig. 13A;
Fig. 13D is a section view taken along a line XIIID-XIIID in Fig. 13B;
Fig. 14 is a side view showing members constituting a mounting structure for the antenna of Fig. 13A;
Fig. 15 is a side view showing members constituting a modified example of the mounting structure for the antenna of Fig. 1;
Fig. 16 is a side view showing members constituting a modified example of the mounting structure for the antenna of Fig. 13A;
Fig. 17A is a side view of an antenna according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 17B is a bottom view of the antenna of Fig. 17A;
Fig. 17C is a front view of the antenna of Fig. 17A;
Fig. 18 is an enlarged side view of a bottom part of the antenna of Fig. 17A;
Fig. 19A is a top view of a claw washer in the antenna of Fig. 17A;
Fig. 19B is a front view of the claw washer of Fig. 19A;
Fig. 19C is a side view of the claw washer of Fig. 19A;
Fig. 19D is a rear view of the claw washer of Fig. 19A;
Fig. 19E is a bottom view of the claw washer of Fig. 19A;
Fig. 20 is a side view showing members constituting a mounting structure for the antenna of Fig. 17A;
Fig. 21 is a partially sectional side view showing a state before the antenna of Fig. 17A is mounted on a vehicle body;
Fig. 22 is a schematic bottom view showing a state that the antenna of Fig. 17A is provisionally fixed on the vehicle body;
Fig. 23 is a schematic bottom view showing a state that the antenna of Fig. 17A is plenarily fixed on the vehicle body;
Fig. 24 is a side view showing members constituting a mounting structure for an antenna according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 25A is a front view of an antenna base in a related-art antenna;
Fig. 25B is a side view of the antenna base of Fig. 25A;
Fig. 26 is a partially sectional side view showing a state before the antenna of Fig. 25A is mounted on a vehicle body;
Fig. 27A is a partially sectional side view showing a state that the antenna of Fig. 25A is plenarily fixed on the vehicle body; and
Fig. 27B is a schematic bottom view showing the state of Fig. 27A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a vehicle antenna according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein an antenna base 10 is appropriately fixed in place within a housing 12, and a rubber pad 14 is provided on a lower face side of the antenna base 10. A proximal end portion of an antenna element 16 is fixed to an upper end portion of the housing 12. and a circuit board (not shown) which includes an amplifier circuit is appropriately accommodated within the housing 12. A bolt 20, on which a claw washer 18 is fitted, is screwed into the antenna base 10 at a distal end thereof from therebelow so as to be integrated into the antenna base 10. A cable 22, which constitutes a signal transmission path or the like, is let out of the antenna base 10.
The vehicle antenna configured as has been described above is inserted into a hole 24a opened in a roof or the like of a vehicle body 24 from thereabove with the cable 22 and the bolt 20 and the claw washer 18 passed through the hole 24a first, whereby the vehicle antenna is provisionally fixed to the vehicle body 24 (described later in detail). Furthermore, the bolt 20 that projects into an inside of the vehicle is fastened so that the vehicle antenna is fixed to the vehicle body 24 while an electric conductivity is secured.
As shown in Figs. 2A to 2D, the antenna base 10 formed of metal comprises: a protrusion 10a, which is formed substantially into a square shape in plan view, is provided on a bottom face of the antenna base 10; a cylindrical portion 10b, provided at the center of the protrusion 10a; and an internal thread 10c engraved within the cylindrical portion 10b. A wedge-shaped member 10d, which gets narrower as it extends downwards, is formed in such a manner as to extend from a comer of the substantially square protrusion 10a to a circumferential face of the cylindrical portion 10b. A cable hole 10e, through which the cable is to be passed, is opened in the wedge-shaped member 10d so as to form a through hole which penetrates through the antenna base 10 in a vertical direction. A recess 10f is provided on an upper face of the antenna base 10 for accommodating therein a provisional holder 26 (described layer), and bosses 10g are provided on the upper face of the antenna base 10 to be used to clamp the provisional holder 26 within the recess 10f. Holes 10h are opened in the upper face of the antenna base 10 in such a manner as to vertically penetrate through the antenna base 10 so as to allow the passage of claws 26a (described later) of the provisional holder 26 therethrough.
As shown in Figs. 3A to 3E, the claw washer 18 made of a sheet of metal is formed substantially into a truncated conical shape which gets narrower as it extends downwards. The claw washer 18 is partially cut to thereby form a slit 18a therein so as to be formed substantially into a C-shape as viewed from a top thereof. Then, three claws 18b are provided on an upper edge portion of the claw washer 18 in such a manner as to project upwards therefrom. Furthermore, a notch 18c is continuously formed with the slit 18a so that the wedge-shaped member 10d is inserted thereinto and the cable 22 is allowed to escape thereto. An outer diameter of the upper edge portion of the claw washer 18 including the claws 18b is set so as to pass through the hole 24a.
As shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the provisional holder 26 formed of elastic resin material comprises claws 26a extended from an upper connecting portion 26b. Opened in this connecting portion 26b are holes 26c into which the bosses 10g of the antenna base 10 are inserted to thereby be clamped.
As shown in Fig. 5, the bolt 20 formed of metal includes a head portion 20a of a hexagonal shape when viewed from a bottom thereof, and a truncated-conical portion 20b is formed on a bolt side of the head portion 20a. This truncated-conical portion 20b is configured so as to become wider from an upper end to a lower end thereof in such a manner that an upper outer diameter is slightly smaller while a lower outer diameter is larger than a lower inner diameter of the claw washer 18 in an original state.
The assembly of the respective members that have been described heretofore is implemented in such an arrangement as shown in Fig. 5. Firstly, the provisional holder 26 is assembled on to the antenna base 10 from thereabove and is fixed thereto by being clamped appropriately. Furthermore, a distal end portion of the bolt 20 on which the claw washer 18 is fitted is screwed into the internal thread 10c in the antenna base 10 from therebelow to a slight extent, whereby the bolt 20 and the claw washer 18 are integrated on to the antenna base 10. In implementing the assembly, the claw washer 18 is provided to realize such a positional relationship that the notch 18c therein is made to oppositely face the wedge-shaped member 10d of the antenna base 10 so that the wedge-shaped member 10d can be inserted into the notch 18c.
In such an integrated state, as shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, the cable 22 is firstly passed through the cable hole 10e in the antenna base 10 and is then inserted into the hole 24a in the vehicle body 24 from thereabove. Furthermore, the protrusion 10a of the antenna base 10 is made to face the hole 24a which is formed substantially into a square shape. The substantially square shape of the hole 24a is slightly larger than the substantially square shape of the protrusion 10a. Then, the bolt 20 and the claw washer 18 are inserted into the hole 24a from thereabove, the claws 26a of the provisional holder 26 elastically deform so as to be allowed to be inserted into the hole 24a, and after having passed through the hole 24a, the claws 26a elastically restore, whereby the hook portions at distal ends thereof are positioned at the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a to thereby be caught thereon. In the state shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, the antenna base 10 is prevented from being dislodged upwards by the claws 26a, whereby the antenna base 10 is provisionally fixed to the hole 24a.
Then, as shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, the bolt 20 is screwed strongly into the internal thread 10c in the antenna base 10, and the claw washer 18 is deformed by the wedge-shaped member 10d of the antenna base 10 and the truncated-conical portion 20b of the bolt 20 in such a manner that the diameter of the substantially C-shape thereof is increased, whereby the claw washer 18 is opened further. Then, the outer diameter of the three claws 18b on the upper edge portion of the claw washer 18 is increased so as to be larger than the diametrical dimension of the hole 24a, whereby the claws 18b are positioned at the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a. Furthermore, by continuing to tighten the bolt 20 strongly, the claws 18b are made to bite into the inner face of the vehicle body 24, whereby the antenna base 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 24, and an electrical conduction is established in the vehicle body 24 via the bolt 20 and the claw washer 18.
Here, during the operation of expanding the diameter of the substantially C-shape of the claw washer 18, friction force causes a force to act on the claw washer 18 which attempts to rotate the washer 18 around an axis thereof together with the bolt 20 in conjunction with the rotational tightening of the bolt 20. However, since one end of the slit 18a in the claw washer 18 is in abutment with the wedge-shaped member 10d of the antenna base 10 to thereby be restricted in position, only the other end of the slit 18a is expanded in the direction in which the claw washer 18 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20, whereby the notch 18c of the slit 18a is also expanded. Then, the cable 22, which is passed through the cable hole 10e provided in the central portion of the wedge-shaped member 10d, is surely kept remaining within the notch 18c, so as to be prevented from being brought into abutment with the claw washer 18, thereby making it possible to prevent the cable 22 from being damaged.
In the first embodiment, the cable hole 10e through which the cable 22 is passed is provided in the wedge-shaped member 10d of the antenna base 10. However, an appropriate notch through which the cable 22 is passed may be provided in the wedge-shaped member 10d of the antenna base 10 instead of the cable hole 10e.
In the first embodiment, the claws 26a of the provisional holder 26 are inserted into the hole 24a so as to be hooked on the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a. However, holes may be opened separately from the hole 24a opened in the vehicle body 24 so that the claws 26a are inserted to be caught therein.
Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figs. 8A to 12B. Components similar to those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and repetitive explanations for those will be omitted.
In the second embodiment, what is largely different from the first embodiment resides in a temporarily fixing structure. As shown in Figs. 8A to 8D, an antenna base 30 formed of metal comprises: a protrusion 30a, which is formed substantially into a square shape as viewed from a top thereof, and is provided on a bottom face of the antenna base 30; a cylindrical portion 30b, which is provided at the center of the protrusion 30a; and an internal thread 30c, which is engraved within the cylindrical portion 30b. A wedge-shaped member 30d, which gets narrower as it extends downwards, is formed in such a manner as to extend from a corner of the substantially square protrusion 30a to a circumferential face of the cylindrical portion 30b. A cable hole 30e, through which the cable is to be passed, is opened in the wedge-shaped member 30d so as to form a through hole which penetrates through the antenna base 30 in a vertical direction. Grooves 30f are provided at two corners of the substantially square protrusion 30a where the wedge-shaped member 30d is not provided, for receiving an elastic deformation of claws 32d of a claw washer 32 (described later). There is no structure corresponding to the recess 10f, the bosses 10g and the holes 10h which are provided in the first embodiment.
As shown in Figs. 9A to 9E, the claw washer 32 is made of a sheet of elastic conductive metal and formed substantially into a truncated conical shape which gets narrower as it extends downwards. The claw washer 32 is partially cut to thereby form a slit 32a therein so as to be formed substantially into a C-shape as viewed from a top thereof. Then, three claws 32b are provided on an upper edge portion of the claw washer 18 in such a manner as to project upwards therefrom. An outer diameter of the upper edge portion of the claw washer 32 including the claws 32b is set is set so as to pass through the hole 24a. A notch 32c is continuously formed with the slit 32a so that the wedge-shaped member 30d is inserted thereinto and the cable 22 is allowed to escape thereto. Two claws 32d are provided on the upper edge portion of the claw washer 32 at oppositely facing positions which are 90° apart in clockwise and counterclockwise directions from the slit 32a as viewed from the top thereof in such a manner as to project upwards from the upper edge portion so as to be gradually spaced apart from each other as they extend upwards. The claws 32d are made longer than the claws 32b, and a distance between distal ends thereof becomes larger than the outer diameter of the upper edge portion of the claw washer 32 including the claws 32b.
Then, as shown in Fig. 10, a distal end portion of the bolt 20 on which the claw washer 32 is fitted is screwed into the antenna base 30 from therebelow, whereby the bolt 20 and the claw washer 32 are integrated on to the antenna base 20. As this occurs, the antenna base 30, the bolt 20 and the claw washer 30 are disposed in a positional relationship in which the notch 32c in the claw washer 32 faces the wedge-shaped member 30d of the antenna base 30.
In such an integrated state, as shown in Figs. 11 A and 11 B, the cable 22 is firstly passed through the cable hole 30e in the antenna base 30 and is then inserted into the hole 24a in the vehicle body 24 from thereabove. Furthermore, the protrusion 30a of the antenna base 30 is made to face the hole 24a. Then, when the bolt 20 and the claw washer 32 are inserted into the hole 24a from thereabove, the claws 32d of the claw washer 32 elastically deform so as to be allowed to be inserted into the hole 24a, and after having passed through the hole 24a, the claws 32d elastically restore, whereby the distal ends thereof are positioned at the inner face of the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a. In the state shown in Figs. 11A and 11 B, the antenna base 30 is prevented from being dislodged upwards by the claws 32d, whereby the antenna base 30 is provisionally fixed to the hole 24a. When the claws 32d pass through the hole 24a, the claws 32d are inserted into the grooves 30f on the antenna base 30 to thereby permit an elastic deformation thereof in a direction in which the outer diameter thereof is reduced.
Then, as shown in Figs. 12A and 12B, the bolt 20 is screwed strongly into the internal thread 30c in the antenna base 30, the claw washer 32 is opened by the wedge-shaped member 30d of the antenna base 30 and the truncated-conical portion 20b of the bolt 20 in such a manner that the diameter of the substantially C-shape thereof is increased, whereby the outer diameter of the three claws 32b on the upper edge portion of the claw washer 32 is increased, and the claws 32b are positioned at the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a. By continuing to tighten the bolt 20 strongly, the claws 32b are made to bite into the inner face of the vehicle body 24, whereby the antenna base 30 is fixed to the vehicle body 24, and an electrical conduction is established in the vehicle body 24 via the bolt 20 and the claw washer 32. Then, as to the enlargement of the diameter of the substantially C-shaped claw washer 32, as with the first embodiment, since one end of the slit 32a in the claw washer 32 is restricted in position, only the other end of the slit 32a is expanded in a direction in which the claw washer 32 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20 to thereby expand the notch 32c. Here, since the cable 22 which is passed through the cable hole 30e formed at the central portion of the wedge-shaped member 30d is allowed to surely stay within the notch 32c, the cable 22 can be prevented from being damaged.
Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figs. 13A to 14. Components similar to those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and repetitive explanations for those will be omitted.
In the third embodiment, what is largely different from the first embodiment resides in that a bolt is integrally provided on an antenna base in such a manner as to project therefrom. As shown in Figs. 13A to 13D, a bolt 42 is integrally provided on an antenna base 40 in such a manner as to project downwards therefrom, in place of the internal thread 10c provided in the antenna base 10 in the first embodiment. As to the other components, as with the first embodiment, there are provided a protrusion 40a, a cylindrical portion 40b, a wedge-shaped member 40d, a cable hole 40e, a recess 40f, bosses 40g and holes 40h.
As shown in Fig. 14, a nut 44 which is screwed on the bolt 42 is formed of metal and includes a truncated-conical portion 44a which is formed to become wider as it extends from an upper end to a lower end thereof in such a manner that an upper outer diameter is smaller while a lower outer diameter thereof is larger than a lower inner diameter of the claw washer 18.
Then, the respective members are arranged as shown in Fig. 14, and the provisional holder 26 is assembled on to the antenna base 40, furthermore, the claw washer 18 is fitted on the bolt 42 so as to establish a positional relationship in which the notch 18c in the claw washer 18 faces the wedge-shaped member 40d of the antenna base 40, and the nut 44 is screwed on a lower end portion of the bolt 42, whereby the provisional holder 26, the claw washer 18 and the nut 44 are integrated on to the antenna base 40. Then, the integrated members so formed are inserted into the hole 24a in the vehicle body 24 from thereabove, so that the integrated members are provisionally fixed to the vehicle body 24 by the provisional holder 26. Furthermore, the nut 44 is tightened strongly, so that the antenna base 40 is fixed to the vehicle body 24 and an electric conduction is obtained.
In the third embodiment, the provisional fixation is designed to be attained using the provisional holder 26 formed of a resin material. However, the provisional fixation may be designed to be attained, as with the second embodiment, using the claws 32d which are provided on the claw washer 32 in place of the resin provisional holder 26.
In place of the bolt 20 in the first embodiment, a truncated-conical bush 50 may be fitted on a normal bolt 52 having a head portion as shown in Fig. 15. This bush 50 is formed to become wider as it extends from an upper end to a lower end thereof in such a manner that an upper outer diameter is smaller while a lower outer diameter thereof is larger than a lower inner diameter of the claw washer 18.
The nut 44 of the third embodiment may be divided into the truncated-conical bush 50 and a normal nut 54. Since the bush 50 is interposed between the claw washer 18 and the head of the bolt 52 and the bush 50 is also interposed between the claw washer 18 and the nut 54, a force acting on the claw washer 18 can be reduced which attempts to rotate the claw washer 18 around an axis thereof together with the bolt 52 and the nut 54 in conjunction with the rotation of the bolt 52 and the nut 54. Moreover, since the lower inner diameter of the claw washer 18 can be expanded by the bush 50, commercially available bolts and nuts can be used for the bolt 52 and the nut 54.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figs. 17A to 23. Components similar to those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and repetitive explanations for those will be omitted.
In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 17A to 18, a wedge-shaped member 60d, which becomes narrower as it extends downwards, is formed in such a manner as to extend between the protrusion 10a and a circumferential face of the cylindrical portion 10b. This wedge-shaped member 60d is provided in such a manner as to be deviated through an appropriate angle in an opposite direction to a rotational direction of the bolt 20 relative to a longitudinal center line C of the antenna base 10. Moreover, a slope 60e is formed on an opposite face of the wedge-shaped member 60d to the rotational direction of the bolt 20 in which the bolt 20 is screwed to be tightened in such a manner as to extend to the vicinity of a lower face of the protrusion 10a. In addition, a cable hole 60f is opened vertically through the protrusion 10a, and the cable 22 is let out therefrom. The protrusion 10a and the like which are provided on the lower face of the antenna base 10 are provided in such a manner as to protrude downwards from a hole 14a provided at a substantially central portion of the rubber pad 14.
As shown in Figs. 19A to 19E, a claw washer 68 is made of a sheet of conductive metal and is formed substantially into a truncated conical shape which becomes narrower as it extends downwards, the claw washer 68 being formed substantially C-shape, as viewed from a top thereof, by being partially cut to form a slit 68a. Then, three claws 68b are provided on an upper edge portion of the claw washer 68 at three locations of both end portions of the slit 68a and an opposite position to the slit 68a in such a manner as to project upwards therefrom. An outer diameter of the upper edge portion of the claw washer 68 including the claws 68b is set to such a dimension that allows the claws 68b to pass through the hole 24a in their natural state. In addition, an upper inner diameter of the upper edge portion of the claw washer 68 is set so as to be slightly larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 10b in its natural state.
As shown in Fig. 20, the truncated-conical portion 20b of the bolt 20 is configured so as to become wider in a tapered shape from an upper end to a lower end thereof in such a manner that an upper outer diameter is slightly smaller while a lower outer diameter thereof is larger than a lower inner diameter of the claw washer 68 in its original state.
The assembly of the aforesaid respective members is implemented as arranged in Fig. 20, and a distal end portion of the bolt 20 on which the claw washer 68 is firstly fitted from therebelow is screwed into the internal thread 10c in the antenna base 10, whereby the bolt 20 and the claw washer 68 are integrated on to the antenna base 10 as shown in Fig. 21. Incidentally, the antenna base 10 and the claw washer 68 are disposed in such a positional relationship that the slit 68a in the claw washer 68 faces the wedge-shaped member 60d of the antenna base 10.
The integrated members are inserted into the hole 24a in the vehicle body 24 from thereabove. Here, the hole 24a in the vehicle body 24 is opened in a dimension which is slightly larger than a horizontal shape of the protrusion 10a of the antenna base 10. Then, when the protrusion 10a is inserted into the hole 24a, the rotation of the bolt 20 around the axis thereof is restricted and the positional deviation of the bolt 20 in a direction normal thereto is also restricted. Furthermore, with the protrusion 10a inserted into the hole 24a, the claws 26 are locked on the inner face of the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a as shown in Fig. 22, whereby the antenna base 10 is restricted from being dislodged upwards. Thus, the antenna assembly is put in such a state that the assembly is provisionally fixed to the hole 24a in the vehicle body 24.
When the bolt 20 is strongly screwed into the internal thread 10c in the antenna base 10, the claw washer 68 is deformed by the wedge-shaped member 60d and the cylindrical portion 10b of the antenna base 10 and the truncated-conical portion 20b of the bolt 20 in such a manner that the diameter of the substantially C-shape thereof is increased, whereby the claw washer 68 is opened further. Then, the upper edge portion of the claw washer 68 is expanded so that the claws 68b are positioned on the inner face of the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a. Furthermore, by continuing to strongly tighten the bolt 20, the claws 68b are made to bite into the inner face of the vehicle body 24 while being deviated in their positions, whereby the antenna base 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 24 while an electrical conduction to the vehicle body 24 is established via the bolt 20 and the claw washer 68.
In the operation of expanding the claw washer 68, a force is caused to act on the claw washer 68 which attempts to rotate the claw washer 68 around the axis thereof together with the bolt 20 by a friction force generated in conjunction with the tightening rotation of the bolt 20. However, the one end portion of the slit 68a is in abutment with the slope 60e of the wedge-shaped member 60d of the antenna base 10 and hence, the position of the one end portion of the slit 68a is restricted. Since the one end portion of the slit 68a is deviated in position in an opposite direction to the direction in which the claw washer 68 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20, as shown in Fig. 23, the claw 68b situated at the one end portion of the slit 68a is moved from P1 to Q1 so as to face the inner face of the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a. In addition, the claw 68b situated at the other end portion of the slit 68a is expanded in the direction in which the claw washer 68 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20 and is then moved largely from P2 to Q2, whereby the claw 68b situated at the other end portion of the slit 68a is positioned so as to face an opposite different position on the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a. Furthermore, in conjunction with the enlargement in diameter of the claw washer 68, the remaining claw 68b that is provided opposite to the slit 68a is moved from P3 to Q3, so that the claw 68b is also positioned to face the inner face of the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a.
Thus, when the diameter of the claw washer 68 is expanded, the distance over which each claw 68b provided at both the end portions of the slit 68a is moved differs largely between the movement to the direction in which the claw washer 68 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20 and the movement to the opposite direction thereto as the bolt 20 is tightened. Then, by providing the wedge-shaped member 60d in such a manner as to be deviated through an appropriate angle in the opposite direction to the direction in which the claw washer 68 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20 relative to the longitudinal center line C of the antenna base 10 in accordance with the difference in the distance over which the claws 68b are so moved, the claws 68b which are situated at both the end portions of the slit 68a can be positioned substantially symmetrical with each other with respect to the longitudinal center line C of the antenna base 10 when the claw washer 68 is expanded.
Accordingly, the claws 68b which are situated at both the end portions of the slit 68a can be made to face the inner face of the circumferential edge portion at the substantially symmetrical positions on both the sides of the hole 24a. In addition, the slope 60e of the wedge-shaped member 60d not only restricts the movement of the position of the claw 68b situated at the one end portion of the slit 68a in the direction in which the claw washer 68 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20 but also allows the position of the claw 68b so situated to move in the opposite direction to the direction in which the claw washer 68 is attempted to be rotated together with the bolt 20. Consequently, by setting the slope 60e appropriately, the position of the claw 68b situated at the one end portion of the slit 68a can be surely made to face the circumferential edge portion of the hole 24a.
Next, a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Fig. 24. Components similar to those in the fourth embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and repetitive explanations for those will be omitted.
In the second embodiment, what largely differs from the fourth embodiment resides in that a bolt 42 is integrally provided on an antenna base 40 in such a manner as to project downwardly therefrom.
Then, a nut 44 formed of metal and including a truncated-conical portion 44a is screwed on the bolt 42. This truncated-conical portion 44a is formed so as to become wider from an upper end to a lower end thereof in such a manner that an upper outer diameter is smaller while a lower outer diameter is larger than a lower inner diameter of the claw washer 68.
Then, the respective members are arranged as shown in Fig. 24, and the claw washer 68 is fitted on the bolt 42 on the antenna base 10 so as to realize a positional relationship in which the slit 68a in the claw washer 68 faces the wedge-shaped member 60d of the antenna base 10, and the nut 44 is screwed on a lower end portion of the bolt 42, whereby the claw washer 68 and the nut 44 are integrated on to the antenna base 40. Then, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the integrated members so formed are inserted into the hole 24 from above the vehicle body 24 so as to be provisionally fixed by claws 26. When the nut 44 is tightened strongly, the antenna base 40 is fixed to the vehicle body 24 while obtaining an electrical conduction.
In place of the bolt 20 in the fourth embodiment, a truncated-conical bush 50 may be fitted on a normal bolt 52 having a head portion as shown in Fig. 15. This bush 50 is formed to become wider as it extends from an upper end to a lower end thereof in such a manner that an upper outer diameter is smaller while a lower outer diameter thereof is larger than a lower inner diameter of the claw washer 68.
The nut 44 of the fifth embodiment may be divided into the truncated-conical bush 50 and a normal nut 54. Since the bush 50 is interposed between the claw washer 68 and the head of the bolt 52 and the bush 50 is also interposed between the claw washer 68 and the nut 54, a force acting on the claw washer 68 can be reduced which attempts to rotate the claw washer 68 around an axis thereof together with the bolt 52 and the nut 54 in conjunction with the rotation of the bolt 52 and the nut 54. Moreover, since the lower inner diameter of the claw washer 68 can be expanded by the bush 50, commercially available bolts and nuts can be used for the bolt 52 and the nut 54.
Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body, the structure comprising:
a first fixation member, having a tubular body including a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end;

a protrusion, protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member;

a second fixation member, fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner;

a wedge member, provided on the protrusion and formed with a cutout portion, the wedge member being configured to be fitted into the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, and configured to expand the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a second screwing position where the protrusion and the second fixation member are closed to each other than the first screwing position; and

a cable, extending from the antenna device and led to a second side of the panel body while passing through the cutout portion of the wedge member and an aperture formed in the panel body, wherein:
the first width is smaller than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the first screwing position, so that the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member are allowed to pass through the aperture from the first side to the second side; and

the slit is expanded such that the first end of the first fixation member is made to have a second width which is greater than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the second position.
The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second fixation member is a bolt member adapted to be screwed into a hole formed in the protrusion, and the bolt has a head portion adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member to assist the wedge member to expand the slit.
The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second fixation member is a nut member adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member and screwed on a bolt formed on the protrusion to assist the wedge member to expand the slit of the first fixation member.
A structure for mounting an antenna device on a first side of a panel body, the structure comprising:
a first fixation member, having a tubular body including a first end having a first width, a second end, and a slit connecting the first end and the second end;

a plurality of claws, provided on the first end of the first fixation member at positions that are both sides of the slit, the claws being adapted to be bite into a second side of the panel body;

a protrusion, protruded from the antenna device and fitted into the first end of the first fixation member;

a second fixation member, fitted into the second end of the first fixation member while being coupled with the protrusion in a screwing manner;

a wedge member, provided on the protrusion, the wedge member being configured to be fitted into the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a first screwing position, and configured to expand the slit when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in a second screwing position where the protrusion and the second fixation member are closed to each other than the first screwing position, wherein:
the first width is smaller than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the first screwing position, so that the protrusion, the first fixation member and the second fixation member are allowed to pass through the aperture from the first side to the second side;

the slit is expanded such that the first end of the first fixation member is made to have a second width which is greater than the aperture when the protrusion and the second fixation member are in the second position;

the second fixation member is rotated in a first direction to be placed in the second screwing position; and

the wedge member has a slope face configured such that one of the claws, which is moved in the first direction in accompany with the rotation of the second fixation member, is abutted against the slope face and guided in a second direction opposite to the first direction while the second fixation member is moved to the second screwing member.
The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the wedge member is arranged at a position that is deviated from a center line of the aperture in the second direction.
The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second fixation member is a bolt member adapted to be screwed into a hole formed in the protrusion, and the bolt has a head portion adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member to assist the wedge member to expand the slit.
The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second fixation member is a nut member adapted to be fitted into the second end of the first fixing member and screwed on a bolt formed on the protrusion to assist the wedge member to expand the slit of the first fixation member.