JP2003188619A - Onboard antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an onboard antenna in which a retractable antenna part 12, which is erected as a prescribed attitude from a base member 10 fixed to a vehicle, is tipped over under an external force, and when the force is released, it auto-restores to a prescribed attitude. <P>SOLUTION: A rod-like retractable antenna part 12, with a built-in antenna element 12b, where an oscillating shaft 14 penetrates its base end, is disposed on a base member 10 which is fixed to a vehicle, for free oscillation. The oscillating shaft 14 is loosely fitted with a coil spring 24. One end of the coil spring 24 is disposed to the retractable antenna part 12 while the other end is disposed to the base member 10. The elastic force around the oscillating shaft 14 of the coil spring 24 holds the retractable antenna part 12 in a prescribed attitude against the base member 10. Further, a click mechanism is provided which holds the retractable antenna part 12 in the prescribed attitude against the base member 10 by utilizing the elastic force around the oscillating 14 of the coil spring 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a base member fixed to a vehicle, in which a retractable antenna portion standing upright in a predetermined posture falls when a force is applied from the outside. The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted antenna adapted to self-return to a predetermined posture when is released.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 10, a conventional vehicle-mounted antenna has a base member 10 fixed to a vehicle, and an antenna element incorporated into the base member 10. Is arranged so as to be swingable, and the retractable antenna unit 12 is erected in a predetermined posture (for example, an elevation angle of approximately 60 degrees obliquely backward) and a position in which the antenna 12 is tilted forward and backward. A click mechanism for holding was appropriately provided.

Therefore, the tiltable antenna section 12 is used while the vehicle is running.
When standing in and out of a garage with a short height, with the standing state in a predetermined posture that allows efficient reception of desired radio waves,
It can be tilted either forward or backward so as not to damage the foldable antenna part 12.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional structure, if the user forgets to tilt the collapsible antenna unit 12 forward or backward and enters or exits a garage with a short height, the collapsible antenna unit 12 is damaged. There is a risk. In addition, the retractable antenna unit 1
The operation of switching between the upright state and the upright state is complicated. And it is difficult for a short person to switch the state of the tiltable antenna unit 12 of the vehicle-mounted antenna arranged on the roof of the car. In particular, for a small woman or the like wearing a dress or the like, it is extremely difficult to operate the tiltable antenna unit 12 without soiling the dress.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances of the prior art as described above, and it is not necessary to switch the state of the tiltable antenna section, and if a force is applied from the outside, the state falls. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle-mounted antenna that self-returns to a predetermined standing posture when the force is released.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle-mounted antenna according to the present invention has a base member fixed to a vehicle, in which an antenna element is incorporated, and has a substantially rod-shaped foldable antenna section. A base end portion is swingably arranged, and the retractable antenna portion is held in a predetermined posture with respect to the base member by elasticity of an elastic member.

A click mechanism for holding the tiltable antenna portion in the predetermined posture may be provided on the base member.

Further, the tiltable antenna portion is formed on the base member so that the base end portion of the tiltable antenna portion penetrates the swing shaft so as to be swingable.
A coil spring as the elastic member may be loosely fitted to the swing shaft, one end portion of the coil spring may be disposed in the tiltable antenna portion, and the other end portion may be disposed in the base member.

Further, first and second clutch plates are disposed on the tiltable antenna part and the base member so as to elastically contact each other by the elastic force of the coil spring in the swing axis direction, and the tiltable antenna part is provided. In the state of the predetermined posture, the click mechanism may be formed by providing a convex portion and a concave portion, which are fitted to each other, at the elastically contacting portions of the first and second clutch plates.

Further, the first clutch plate disposed on the tiltable antenna portion is formed of a conductive and elastic material and is electrically connected to the base end of the antenna element, and is disposed on the base member. The clutch plate may be formed of a conductive material and an antenna output terminal may be provided.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of the structure of an in-vehicle antenna of the present invention. Note that FIG. 1 shows the structure of one embodiment of the present invention,
It is a vertical cross-sectional arrow view corresponding to A cross section. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 4A and 4B are views of the first clutch plate, where FIG. 4A is a left side view, FIG. 4B is a front view, and FIG. 4C is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 5A and 5B are views of the second clutch plate, where FIG. 5A is a left side view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. 5C is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. FIG. 6 is a view of the first washer, (a) is a left side view,
(B) is a FF sectional arrow line view of (a). 7A and 7B are views of a coil spring, where FIG. 7A is a left side view, FIG. 7B is a front view, and FIG. 7C is a right side view. FIG. 8 is a view of the first bush, where (a) is a left side view and (b) is G- of (a).
A G cross-section arrow view, (c) is a right side view. FIG. 9 shows the third
4A is a left side view, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line HH of FIG.

1 to 9, a base end member 12a made of an insulating resin of the tiltable antenna portion 12 is a swing shaft 14
Are formed so that they can penetrate. Also, the base member 12a
4 includes a base end of the antenna element 12b and a first clutch plate 16 electrically connected to the base end of the antenna element 12b.
Are integrally formed by insert molding. This first
The clutch plate 16 of is made of a conductive and elastic material,
Further, the swing shaft 14 can pass therethrough, and a pair of convex portions 16b, 16b are radially formed on the periphery of the through hole 16a. Then, the second clutch plate 20 shown in FIG. 5 having the antenna output terminal 18 is integrally arranged by insert molding on the base member 10 made of insulating resin. The second clutch plate 20 is made of a conductive material and allows the swing shaft 14 to pass therethrough, and the through hole 20 thereof is provided.
A pair of concave portions 20b, 20b that are in surface contact with the first clutch plate 16 at the peripheral portion of a and that can be fitted with the convex portions 16b, 16b formed on the first clutch plate 16.
Are formed in the peripheral portion. Here, the one end side of the swing shaft 14 is connected to the base member 10 by the second clutch plate 20.
The first clutch plate 16 also supports the base end member 12a of the retractable antenna unit 12. Further, on the swing shaft 14, the first washer 22 shown in FIG. 6 is fitted inside the first clutch plate 16. The engaging protrusion 22 a provided on the first washer 22 is used as the base end member 1 of the retractable antenna unit 12.
The engaging recess 12c of 2a is inserted. Therefore, the first washer 22 is used as the base end member 12 a of the retractable antenna unit 12.
On the other hand, it is relatively movable in the direction of the swing shaft 14, but is arranged so as not to rotate relatively around the swing shaft 14. Further, the first washer 22 is provided with an engagement hole 22b with which one end of the coil spring 24 shown in FIG. Here, the first washer 22 and one end of the coil spring 24 do not rotate relative to each other around the swing shaft 14, and the one end of the coil spring 24 is connected to the tiltable antenna unit 12 via the first washer 22. The swing shaft 1
The second washer 26 is fitted and inserted into the outer side of the second clutch plate 20 of No. 4, and the nut is screwed to the swing shaft 14
Is prevented from falling out. The second washer 26 also supports one end of the swing shaft 14 on the base member 10.

Further, the third washer 28 shown in FIG. 9 is fitted and inserted into the other end side of the swing shaft 14 in which the coil spring 24 is loosely fitted, and the third washer 28 is shown in FIG. 1
Is inserted into the bush 30. This first bush 30
Is partially inserted into the second bush 32, and the second bush 32 is inserted into the base end member 12a of the tiltable antenna unit 12. Further, the remaining portion of the first bush 30 is inserted into the base member 10. Therefore, the other end of the swing shaft 14 is supported by the third washer 28 and the first and second bushes 30 and 32 with respect to the base end portion 12a of the tiltable antenna portion 12, and the third washer is also provided. 28 and the first bush 30 support the base member 10. Here, the third washer 28 is provided with an engaging slit 28a with which the other end of the coil spring 24 can be engaged, and further with an engaging protrusion 28b which is engaged with the first bush 30. The first bush 30 has a third washer 28.
The engaging notch 30a with which the engaging protrusion 28b can be engaged is provided. Furthermore, the base member 10 also has an engaging recess 10 with which the engaging protrusion 28 b of the third washer 28 can engage.
a is formed. Therefore, the third washer 28 and the other end of the coil spring 24 do not relatively rotate around the swing shaft 14,
The third washer 28 is provided with respect to the base member 10 and the swing shaft 1
No relative rotation around 4. Therefore, the coil spring 24
The other end of is connected to the base member 10. As a result, the retractable antenna unit 12 is connected to one end of the coil spring 24, and the base member 10 is connected to the other end.
Therefore, the tiltable antenna unit 12 is erected on the base member 10 via the coil spring 24 in a predetermined posture.

Further, the coil spring 24 is contracted and loosely fitted to the swing shaft 14, and the first clutch plate 16 is elastically brought into elastic contact with the second clutch plate 20, so that the first and second clutch plates 16 and 20 are electrically connected to each other with certainty, so that the base end of the antenna element 12b is electrically connected to the antenna output terminal 18. Furthermore, the first and second
Of the first clutch plate 16 by elastically contacting the clutch plates 16 and 20 of the first clutch plate 24 with the coil spring 24.
b and 16b are concave portions 20 of the second clutch plate 20.
It is fitted in b and 20b and the predetermined posture is maintained. Then, the first and second clutch plates 16 and 20 are moved relative to each other around the swing shaft 14 so that a force greater than the elastic force for maintaining the predetermined postures of the first and second clutch plates 16 and 20 acts. If you try to swing the
The posture of the recesses 20b and 20b can be changed by disengaging from the recesses 20b and 20b. Therefore, the click mechanism is formed. In addition,
Retractable antenna unit 1 held by this click mechanism
It is needless to say that the predetermined posture of No. 2 and the predetermined posture in which the retractable antenna unit 12 is erected on the base member 10 by the coil spring 24 are matched. Further, in the first clutch plate 16, the convex portions 16b and 16b are formed in the second clutch plate 2 in the peripheral portion through which the swing shaft 14 penetrates.
It is formed so as to be elastically deformable in the direction of the swing shaft 14 so that it can be fitted into and removed from the recesses 20b, 20b of 0.

In the vehicle-mounted antenna of the present invention having such a configuration, the retractable antenna portion 12 is erected in a predetermined posture by the coil spring 24 with respect to the base member 10,
When the force that causes the tiltable antenna unit 12 to swing about the swing shaft 14 acts from the outside, the coil spring 24 elastically deforms, and the swingable antenna unit 12 is allowed to swing. And
When the force from the outside is released, the retractable antenna unit 12 is self-returned to a predetermined posture by the elasticity of the coil spring 24. Moreover, when the retractable antenna unit 12 is in a predetermined posture, the coil spring 24 does not exert an elastic force and the posture is likely to be unstable. Even in this state, the click mechanism ensures that the predetermined posture is maintained. Maintained. Therefore,
Even when the retractable antenna unit 12 is in a predetermined posture when entering or exiting a garage with a short height, the force from the outside causes an appropriate collapsed state, and the force from the outside is released. Then, the retractable antenna unit 12 does not return to the predetermined posture and is not damaged. Therefore, the retractable antenna unit 1
There is no need to switch between the two postures.

In the above embodiment, the foldable antenna unit 1
The coil spring 24 has a predetermined posture and the click mechanism maintains the predetermined posture. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the click mechanism is not provided, and the coil spring 24 has a predetermined posture. May be retained. It is needless to say that the angle at which the tiltable antenna unit 12 is erected in a predetermined posture with respect to the base member 10 may be set to an appropriate elevation angle. Further, instead of the coil spring 24, another elastic member may be used. For example, arm portions are provided on both end sides of a tubular rubber member that is loosely fitted to the swing shaft 14, and both end sides are connected to the base member 10 and the tiltable antenna portion 12, respectively. The tilted antenna unit 12 is the swing shaft 14
When swung around, the tubular rubber member is twisted and elastically deformed, and when the force is released from the outside, the retractable antenna unit 12 self-returns to a predetermined posture by the elasticity of the tubular rubber member. May be Further, a leaf spring is appropriately provided so that the foldable antenna portion 12 is elastically deformed by bending or twisting when the foldable antenna portion 12 swings around the swing shaft 14 with respect to the base member 10, and the foldable antenna portion is elastically deformed by the leaf spring. 12
May be erected in a predetermined posture and self-returning to the swing. The cam surface and the elastic contact member elastically contacting the cam surface further allow the retractable antenna unit 12
May be maintained in a predetermined posture. For example, the base end member 12a of the tiltable antenna unit 12 is provided with a cam surface such that its end face is changed to be a slope by changing the direction of the swing shaft 14 coaxially with the swing shaft 14, and the elastic contact member is attached to this slope. Is elastically deformed so as to be elastically deformed in the direction of the swing axis 14, and the tiltable antenna unit 12 is brought into a predetermined posture in a state in which the elastic contact member elastically contacts the slope of the cam surface with the least elastic force. Then, when the tiltable antenna section 12 swings and the elastic contact member elastically contacts another position on the cam surface, the tiltable antenna section 12 has a predetermined posture due to the component force around the swing shaft 14 acting on the slope. It may be set to self-recover.

[0017]

Since the vehicle-mounted antenna of the present invention is constructed as described above, the following special effects are obtained.

In the vehicle-mounted antenna according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a force is applied from the outside, the tiltable antenna part swings against the elasticity, and when the force from the outside is released, a predetermined force is provided by elasticity. Since it automatically returns to its posture, it is not necessary to switch the posture of the tiltable antenna unit when entering or leaving a garage with a short height.

In the vehicle-mounted antenna according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the coiled antenna is loosely fitted to the swing shaft of the tiltable antenna section, the tiltable antenna section is held in a predetermined posture with respect to the base member. The structure is relatively simple.

In the vehicle-mounted antenna according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the click mechanism for maintaining the tiltable antenna part in the predetermined posture is provided, the tiltable antenna part is predetermined by the elasticity of the click mechanism and the elastic member. The posture is maintained and the predetermined posture is stably maintained.

In the vehicle-mounted antenna according to the present invention, the inclinable antenna is held in a predetermined posture by the coil spring, and the elastic force of the coil spring in the swing axis direction is also used as the elastic force of the click mechanism. Can be configured with a small number of parts.

According to another aspect of the vehicle-mounted antenna of the present invention, the base end of the antenna element incorporated in the retractable antenna section is securely connected to the antenna output terminal through the elastic first and second clutch plates. Can be electrically connected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of the structure of an in-vehicle antenna of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view of a first clutch plate, (a) is a left side view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a sectional view taken along the line D-D of (a).

5A and 5B are views of a second clutch plate, where FIG. 5A is a left side view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. 5C is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG.

6A and 6B are views of a first washer, FIG. 6A is a left side view, and FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view of a coil spring, (a) is a left side view,
(B) is a front view and (c) is a right side view.

8A and 8B are diagrams of a first bush, in which FIG. 8A is a left side view, FIG. 8B is a sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG. 8A, and FIG.

9A and 9B are views of a third washer, FIG. 9A is a left side view, and FIG. 9B is a sectional view taken along line HH of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a conventional in-vehicle antenna, in which a folding mechanism holds a retractable antenna portion with respect to a base member in a predetermined posture by a click mechanism at a position standing upright and at a position tilted forward and backward. .

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Base member 10a Engagement recess 12 Foldable antenna section 12a Base member 12b antenna element 12c Engagement recess 14 swing axis 16 First clutch plate 16a through hole 16b convex part 18 Antenna output terminal 20 Second clutch plate 20a through hole 20b recess 22 First Washer 22a engaging protrusion 22b Engagement hole 24 coil spring 26 Second washer 28 Third washer 28a Engagement slit 28b engaging protrusion 30 First Bush 30a engagement notch 32 Second bush

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A base member fixed to a vehicle, in which an antenna element is incorporated and a base end portion of a tiltable antenna portion having a substantially rod-shaped outer shape is swingably disposed, and the base member is fixed to the base member. An in-vehicle antenna, characterized in that the inversion antenna portion is configured to be held in a predetermined posture by elasticity of an elastic member. 2. The on-vehicle antenna according to claim 1, wherein the base member is provided with a click mechanism for holding the retractable antenna portion in the predetermined posture. . 3. The vehicle-mounted antenna according to claim 1, wherein the base member is provided with the tiltable antenna portion so that the base end portion of the swingable shaft extends through the swingable shaft so that the swingable shaft is swingable. An in-vehicle antenna, wherein a coil spring as a member is loosely fitted, and one end of the coil spring is arranged in the retractable antenna part and the other end is arranged in the base member. 4. The in-vehicle antenna according to claim 3, wherein the retractable antenna portion and the base member have first and second portions.
Clutch plates are arranged so as to elastically contact each other by the elastic force of the coil spring in the swing axis direction, and when the retractable antenna unit is in the predetermined posture, the first and second clutch plates are elastic. An in-vehicle antenna characterized in that a click mechanism is formed by providing a convex portion and a concave portion that are fitted to each other at a contacting position. 5. The vehicle-mounted antenna according to claim 4, wherein the first clutch plate disposed in the retractable antenna part is made of a conductive and elastic material and is electrically connected to a base end of the antenna element. An in-vehicle antenna, wherein the second clutch plate disposed on the base member is formed of a conductive material and an antenna output terminal is provided.