GB2519680A

GB2519680A - Roof mount antenna device for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2519680A
Application number: GB1421409.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Katsuyuki Arisaka; Satoshi Oba
Original assignee: Harada Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Harada Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-07
Filing date: 2013-06-07
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-07
Also published as: GB2519680B; CN104507754A; JP2013252790A; CN104507754B; JP5627641B2; WO2013183756A1; GB201421409D0

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle, the roof mount antenna device being reliably temporarily affixed to the roof of the vehicle and having a temporary affixation section having a high degree of design freedom. [Solution] A roof mount antenna device for a vehicle comprises an antenna base (10), a pipe-shaped leg section (20), and a temporary affixation section (30). The pipe-shaped leg section (20) protrudes from the surface of the antenna base (10) which faces the vehicle roof (R). The temporary affixation section (30) is provided extending to the antenna base (10) side from the vicinity of the front end of the pipe-shaped leg section (20). An engagement claw (31) is provided on the front end side of the temporary affixation section (30), the engagement claw (31) being configured so as to be capable of deflecting about the vicinity of the front end of the pipe shaped leg section, the engagement claw (31) engaging with an installation hole provided in the vehicle roof. The engagement claw (31) deflects toward the inside of the pipe-shaped leg section (20) when the pipe-shaped leg section (20) penetrates through the installation hole (H), and after the penetration, the engagement claw (31) returns to the original position and engages with the installation hole (H).

Description

DESCRIPTION

ROOF MOUNT ANTENNA DEVICE FOR VEIIECLE

Technical Field

[00011 The present invention relates to a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle temporarily jointed to a vehicle roof when installed on the vehicle roof.

Background Art

[0002] In general, a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle is temporarily jointed to a vehicle roof with a temporary joint claw provided at a front end of a leg section extenthng to the vehicle roof side from an antenna base when installed, and then is fixed by screwing from the inside of the vehicle.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 filed by theY same applicant as the present application discloses a temporary joint structure, in which there are provided a plurality of protruding claws that can deflect on an antenna base side. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an antenna device is installed on a vehicle roof, a protruding claw is inserted through an installation hole of the vehicle roof, and a front end side of the protruding claw deflects to an inner side on the antenna base side. After passing through the installation hole, the protruding claw returns to the original shape, and is engaged with the vehicle roof. In this manner, the antenna base is temporarily jointed.

[00041 As another example of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle in which the antenna base is temporarily jointed to a vehicle roof by the above temporary joint claw, there is, for example, Patent Document 2.

Patent Document 2 discloses a temporary joint structure, in which an engagement claw that can deflect on the antenna base side is provided on a pipe-shaped body that protrudes from the antenna base. In this example as well, when the antenna device is installed on a vehicle roof, the pipe shaped body is inserted through the installation hole on the vehicle roof, and a front end side of the engagement claw deflects to an inner side of the installation hole on the antenna base side when the pipe-shaped body passes through the installation hole. After the pipe-shaped body passes through the installation hole, the engagement claw returns to the original shape, and is engaged with the vehicle roof. In this manner, the antenna base is temporarily jointed.

Citation List Patent Document 110005] [Patent Document 11 W020051054010 [Patent Document 21 Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No 2010-147777

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention [0006] However, all of the conventional techniques described above can deflect on the antenna base side. In such a configuration, there has been the case where a length of an engagement section, that is, a length to a front end section that extends from the antenna base side and passes through the installation hole on a vehicle roof to extend to an inside of the vehicle becomes long in accordance with a thickness and the like of the vehicle roof, and strength of the engagement section becomes weak, causing a large backlash of the antenna base at the time of temporary joint. There has also been the case where the engagement section passing through the installation hole on a vehicle roof keeps deflecting to an inner side and becomes easily bendable, causing a fixing force to be lowered and an antenna base to fall out at the time of screwing. There has been the case where, when the above deformation is generated, the antenna device cannot be fixed smoothly to the vehicle roof due to contacting of the fixing screw.

,Jhen the antenna device is necessarily removed once and attached again, the engagement section may have been broken at the time of the removal Since an installation space in a vehicle is limited, there has been a request to shorten the length of the temporary joint section protruding from the antenna base.

[00071 The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle that is reliably temporarily jointed to a vehicle roof and has a temporary joint section having a high degree of design freedom.

Means for Solving the Problems [00081 In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle may comprise an antenna base having a plate shape, a pipe-shaped leg section protruding from a surface on a vehicle roof side of the antenna base, and a temporary joint section that is provided to extend from a front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section to the antenna base side, and is configured to be able to deflect about the front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section. The temporary joint section has, on a front end side of the temporary joint section, an engagement claw engaged with an installation hole provided on the vehicle roof, deflects in an inner side direction of the pipe-shaped leg section when the pipe-shaped leg section passes through the installation hole, and returns to the original position to be engaged with the installation hole after the pipe-shaped leg section passes through the installation hole.

[00091 The roof mount antenna device may further comprise a cable connection section that is for connecting a cable from an inside of a vehicle to the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle, and is fitted from the inside of the vehicle after the pipe-shaped leg section passes through the installation hole. The cable connection section may include a pipe-shaped protruding section that protrudes from a surface on the antenna base side of the cable connection section and is fitted to an inner side of the pipe-shaped leg section.

[00101 The pipe-shaped protruding section may support the temporary joint section from the inner side of the pipe-shaped leg section so as to prevent the temporary joint section from deflecting in the inner side direction of the pipe-shaped leg section after the pipe-shaped leg section passes through the installation hole.

[00 iii An inner circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped leg section and an outer circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped protruding section may be shapes that are rotationally restricted in a rotation direction with an insertion direction as an axis, so that an angle at which the pipe-shaped protruding section is inserted into the pipe-shaped leg section is fixed to a predetermined direetion [0012] A front end of an outer circumference of the pipe-shaped protruding section may be chamfered.

[00131 The antenna base may include an anti-rotation protruthng section that protrudes from the surface on the vehicle roof side of the antenna base and has an engagement section. The cable connection section may include an engagement section that is engaged with the engagement section of the anti-rotation protruding section.

Advantages of the Invention [00141 The roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention has an advantage that the device is reliably temporarily fixed to a vehicle roof, and a temporary joint section has a high degree of design freedom.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] [FIG. ii FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

[FIG. 21 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

[FIG. 31 FIG. 3 is a bottom view for explaining the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

[FIG. 41 FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a cable connection section of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state where a pipe-shaped leg section is fitted to the cable connection section of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

[FIG. 61 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the state where the pipe-shaped leg section is fitted to the cable connection section of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

[FIG. 71 FIG. 7 is a side view for explaining another example of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinaftei; embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle. In the drawings, the parts having the same reference numerals are substantially identical with each other. As illustrated, the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention mainly includes an antenna base 10, a pipe-shaped leg section 20, and a temporary joint section 30. The roof mount antenna device for a vehicle is temporarily fixed to an installation hole H of a vehicle roof R. [00171 The antenna base 10 has a plate shape. An antenna cover (not shown) is provided to cover the antenna base 10. More specifically, the illustrated example shows a configuration where a conductive plate 11 for securing conduction to an antenna rod is insert-molded in resin. A screw 12 is arranged to pass through the antenna base. The screw 12 is fastened with a nut from an inside of a vehicle in a manner that the vehicle roof II is sandwiched. In the illustrated example, a screw head of the screw 12 is provided on the antenna base 10 side. The present invention, however, is not limited to this, and the configuration may be such that a nut or a screw hole is provided on the antenna base side, and then such a nut or a screw hole is fastened with a screw from the inside of the vehicle later on. The screw and the nut may be provided integTally with resin by insert molding.

The antenna base 10 may be formed as a conductive antenna base so as to function as, for example, ground of an antenna circuit substrate and the like. If an antenna circuit board and the like are mounted on the antenna base 10, the screw 12 may be configured to have a hollow screw boss shape.

[00181 A pipe-shaped leg section 20 protrudes from a surface on the vehicle roof II side of the antenna base 10. In the illustrated example, the pipe-shaped leg section 20 has an outer circumference in a cylindrical shape.

However, the outer circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 only needs to be determined in accordance with a shape of the installation hole H provided on the vehicle roof R. For example, if the installation hole H has a rectangular shape, the pipe-shaped leg section 20 only needs to be configured to have an outer circumferential shape of a quadratic prism as well in accordance with the installation hole H. The pipe-shaped leg section 20 is provided to enclose an outer circumference of the screw 12 provided on the antenna base 10 at a predetermined distance from the screw 12. The predetermined distance may be determined in accordance with a thickness of a pipe-shaped protrusion section of a cable connection section described later. The pipe-shaped leg section 20, which has a pipe shape, is deformed little when inserted into the installation hole H on the vehicle roof H. The pipe-shaped leg section 20 may have an outer circumferential front end chamfered. In this manner, the pipe-shaped leg section 20 can be easily inserted into the installation hole H. [00191 The temporary joint section 30, which is the most characteristic section of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention, extends from the a front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 to the antenna base 10 side. The temporary joint section 30 can deflect about the front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20.

That is, the temporary joint section 30 is configured such that the front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 is fixed and the antenna base 10 side is movable in a threction of an inner side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20. In the illustrated example, the temporary joint sections 30 are provided in two locations However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of the temporary joint sections 30 only needs to be as many as those that can be temporarily fixed, which may be one at minimum, or may be more than two. The temporary joint section 30 includes an engagement claw 31 to be engaged with the installation hole H provided on the vehicle roof H on a front end side of the temporary joint section. The temporary joint section 30 deflects in a threction of the inner side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 when the pipe-shaped leg section 20 passes through the installation hole H, and returns to the original position to be engaged with the installation hole H after the pipe-shaped leg section 20 passes through the installation hole H. At this time, even if the temporary joint section 30 deflects to an outer side due to a manufacturing error and the like, there is no possibility of benthng and the like of the temporary joint section 30 at the time of insertion, since the temporary joint section 30 is fixed to the front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 and is in a flat state at all times. By the above configuration, a length of the temporary joint section 30 is not influenced by a thickness of the vehicle roof R or the like, and the length of the temporary joint section 30 can be determined based on a deflection distance, rigidity, and the like of the temporary joint section 30.

[00201 When the room mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention having the above configuration is installed on a vehicle roof, the pipe-shaped leg section 20 protruding from the antenna base 10 is inserted through the installation hole H of the vehicle roof R. At this time, the temporary joint section 30 provided on the pipe-shaped leg section 20 deflects in an inner side direction of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 about the front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20. After the pipe-shaped leg section 20 passes through the installation hole H, the temporary joint section 30 returns to the original position, and the engagement claw 31 is engaged with the installation hole H. In this manner, the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle is temporarily jointed to the vehicle roof R The roof antenna device for a vehicle is screwed with a nut and the like corresponding to the screw 12 from the inside of the vehicle, and is completely fixed.

[00211 As described above, in the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention, the temporary joint section extends from a front end side of the pipe-shaped leg section to the antenna base side, and can deflect about the front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section. In this manner, the degree of freedom in designing a length of the temporary joint section is increased. Accordingly, the temporary joint section having a desired rigithty can easily be designed, and required space can also be reduced. Since rigidity can be improved, the temporary joint section can be prevented from being kept deflecting to the inner side and becoming easily bendable, and the temporary joint section is reliably and temporarily fixed to the vehicle roof.

[00221 Next, description will be made on an example in which there is included a cable connection section for connecting a cable from the inside of a vehicle to the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle by using FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the cable connection section of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views for explaining a state where the pipe-shaped leg section is fitted to the cable connection section. In the drawings, the parts having the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 etc. are substantially identical with those of the same reference numbers shown in FIG. 1 etc. In the illustrated example, the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention includes a cable connection section 50 for connecting a cable from the inside of a vehicle to the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle. The cable connection section 50 is fitted from the inside of the vehicle after the pipe-shaped leg section 20 passes through the installation hole H. The cable connection section 50 includes a pipe-shaped protruding section 51 that protrudes from a surface on the antenna base 10 side and is fitted to the inner side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20. An earth claw 52 that is connected, for example, to a ground line of the cable, is provided on the cable connection section 50. When the cable connection section 50 is screwed with a nut 60, the earth claw 52 digs into the vehicle roof fi, and the cable connection section 50 is electrically grounded to the vehicle roof H. [00231 As shown in FIG. 4, an outer circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 of the cable connection section 50 only needs to be formed in accordance with an inner circumferential shape of the pipe- shaped leg section 20 as shown in FIG. 3. For example, when the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 is configured so that an angle at which the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 is inserted into the pipe-shaped leg section 20 is fixed to a predetermined direction, the inner circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 and the outer circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 may be shapes that are rotationally restricted in a rotation direction with an insertion direction as an axis.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 is formed, for example, in an octagonal shape.

As shown in FIG. 4, the outer circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 is formed in an octagonal shape in accordance with the inner circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped leg section 20. In the present invention, when the cable connection section 50 is configured to be fixed to a predetermined direction, the outer circumferential shape of the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 is not limited to a polygonal shape as in the illustrated example, and only needs to be a shape that is rotationally restricted. By the above configuration, a connection angle between the pipe-shaped leg section 20 and the cable connection section 50 is ensured to be determined to a specific direction. Accordingly, fitting can be performed at a correct position. If the cable connection section is configured not to be fixed to a predetermined direction, shapes of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 and the cable connection section 50 may be a circular shape.

110024] A front end of an outer circumference of the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 may be chamfered. By being chamfered, the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 can be easily inserted into the pipe-shaped leg section 20, and the cable connection section 50 is fitted to the pipe-shaped leg section 20 by smoothly rotating in a specific direction from the chamfered section to the octagonal shape section.

110025] As shown in FIG. 5, after the pipe-shaped leg section passes through the installation hole H, the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 is fitted to the inner side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20, more specifically, to a predetermined space between the pipe-shaped leg section 20 and the screw 12, in a state where the temporary joint section 30 returns to the original position and is engaged with the installation hole H. That is, a thickness of the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 conforms to the predetermined space.

After the above, as shown in FIG. 6, the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 -10 -is completely fitted to the pipe-shaped leg section 20. As illustrated, the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 is configured to support the temporary joint section 30 from the inner side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20 so as to prevent the temporary joint section 30 from deflecting in the inner side direction of the pipe-shaped leg section 20. In this manner, even if the pipe-shaped leg section 20 is not completely inserted into the installation hole H, and the temporary joint section 30 keeps deflecting and does not return to the original shape, the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 being inserted pushes out the temporary joint section 30 to allow the temporary joint section 30 to return to the original shape from a fulcrum side of the temporary joint section 30. Accordingly, the temporary joint section 30 can be ensured to be brought to a correct position.

[00261 As described above, in the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention, the temporary joint section 30 is configured to be able to deflect about the front end near side of the pipe-shaped leg section 20. In this manner, even if the temporary joint section 30 is kept deflecting and does not return to the original shape, the temporary joint section 30 is ensured to be fixed in a manner that the pipe-shaped protruding section 51 of the cable connection section 50 is fitted from a front end side of the pipe-shaped leg section, and is pushed back to the original shape from a fulcrum side of the temporary joint section 30.

[00271 The roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention may also be configured as described below. FIG. 7 is a side view for explaining another example of the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention. In the drawings, the parts having the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 etc. are substantially identical with those of the same reference numbers shown in FIG. 1 etc. As illustrated, in the roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention, an anti-rotation protruding section 15 is provided on the antenna base 10.

The anti-rotation protruding section 15 protrudes from a surface of the -11 -vehicle roof B side of the antenna base 10, and is inserted into a second installation hole 112 provided on the vehicle roof B. The anti-rotation protruding section 15 is provided so that the antenna base 10 is fixed in a specific direction and not rotated by being fixed at two locations, which are the anti-rotation protruding section 15 and the pipe-shaped leg section 20 inserted into the installation hole H. An engagement section 16 is provided on the anti-rotation protruding section 15. An engagement section 56 that is engaged with the engagement section 16 of the anti-rotation protruding section 15 is provided on the cable connection section 50.

[00281 By the above configuration, when the cable connection section 50 is fitted from the inside of the vehicle after the pipe-shaped leg section 20 is inserted through the installation hole H on the vehicle roof B, the engagement section 56 of the cable connection section 50 is engaged with the engagement section 16 of the anti-rotation protruding section 15. At the time of the engagement, a clicking sound is generated at the engagement section. Accordingly, that the cable connection section 50 is ensured to be fitted to the pipe-shaped leg section 20 can also be confirmed by the sound.

[00291 The roof mount antenna device for a vehicle of the present invention is not limited to the above illustrative examples but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Symbols [00301 10: Antenna base 11: Conductive plate 12: Screw 15: Anti-rotation protruding section 16, 56: Engagement section 20 Pipe-shaped leg section -12 - 30: Temporary joint section 31: Engagement claw 50: Cable connection section 51: Pipe-shaped protruding section 52: Earth claw 60: Nut 11: Installation hole 112: Second installation hole fi: Vehicle roof -13 -