JP3946661B2 - Antenna device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an antenna device in which an antenna element is swingable and can maintain a predetermined posture.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An example of an antenna device in which a base end portion of a rod-shaped antenna element is swingably disposed on an antenna base fixed to a roof of an automobile, and the antenna element can be held in a predetermined posture. The applicant has already proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-252717.
[0003]
In the previously proposed technique, an engaging member is disposed on one side of the swinging piece of the swinging piece at the base end of the antenna element so as to be movable in the axial direction and not to rotate relative to the axis. In addition, a feeding plate that is electrically connected to the antenna element is provided on the other side of the swinging piece in the swinging axis direction. Then, the power supply plate is in contact with the power supply terminal portion fixed to the case main body, and the swinging piece is disposed on the case main body so as to face the engaging member so as not to rotate relative to the case main body about the axis. A locking member is assembled. Further, the swing support shaft is inserted through the power supply terminal portion, the power supply plate, the engaging member, and the locking member. In addition, the spring coil is free-ended on the swing support shaft between the power supply plate and the engaging member and is contracted.
[0004]
With this configuration, the power supply plate is elastically pressed against the power supply terminal portion and the engagement member is elastically pressed against the locking member due to the elasticity of the spring coil. Therefore, the convex portion provided on the engaging member and the concave portion provided on the locking member are engaged in a predetermined posture of the antenna element, and the predetermined posture is held elastically. Regardless of the attitude of the antenna element, the power supply plate is always in contact with the power supply terminal portion, and the electrical connection is maintained. Therefore, the antenna signal path is in a conductive state in any posture within the swingable range of the antenna element.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional structure as described above, one side of the swinging piece in the axial direction is supported by the feeding plate and the other side is supported by the swinging support shaft by the engaging member. Further, in the case body, the swinging support shaft is supported by the power supply terminal portion on one side in the axial direction and the locking member on the other side. Here, both the power supply plate and the power supply terminal portion are made of sheet metal, and are easily deformed by an excessive force. When the plastic deformation is performed, the antenna element cannot be smoothly swung. Further, the power feeding plate is formed of a sheet metal having conductivity and elasticity so that the power feeding terminal portion can be easily elastically contacted by the elasticity of the spring coil. For this reason, even if the power feeding plate does not plastically deform due to an excessive force, there is a possibility that it is difficult to swing due to elastic deformation. Furthermore, the swinging piece is integrally formed of resin by inserting the feeding plate in an electrically connected state to the antenna element, and it is difficult to fix the feeding plate having elasticity to the mold in a predetermined posture. . Therefore, there has been a demand for a structure in which a part can be molded with resin without the need to insert an elastic member, and the number of parts can be reduced.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances of the technology previously proposed by the applicant of the present invention. The swing mechanism can be configured to be robust, and an elastic member is inserted and molding with resin is not required. And it aims at providing the antenna device which reduced the number of parts.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the antenna device of the present invention has a pair of arms erected on an antenna base, and a base end portion of an antenna element is inserted and disposed between the pair of arms. Further, in the antenna device in which a swing support shaft is inserted and disposed in the pair of arms and the base end portion so that the antenna element can swing freely, the base end portion is made of a conductive material and the swing support shaft is axially moved. Is formed in a cylindrical member having a bottom and is electrically connected to the antenna element, and the swinging support shaft is passed through the bottom of the cylindrical member on the axis to freely swing. A power supply fitting is disposed so that the bottom part is in contact with and electrically connected to the one arm facing the bottom part, and the opening on the other end side of the cylindrical member is arranged in the axial direction. It is movable and does not rotate relative to the axis. It arranged an engagement member such, arranged such that the engagement member of the predetermined axis position to the other of the arm is not rotatable with respect to at least about an axis of the locking member that can engage resiliently engaged, The swinging support shaft is passed through the engagement member and the locking member on the shaft so as to be swingable, and the swing support is supported between the bottom portion and the engagement member in the cylindrical member. A spring coil is loosely fitted on the shaft and is contracted to elastically bias the engaging member toward the locking member.
[0008]
Furthermore, a washer made of a conductive material may be interposed between the power supply fitting and the bottom of the cylindrical member so that the washer does not rotate relative to the bottom around the axis.
[0009]
Furthermore, it is also possible to insert the power supply fitting and integrally form the arm with resin.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing that the antenna element can swing and can be held upright in a predetermined posture. 2A and 2B show the structure of the base end portion of the antenna element, where FIG. 2A is a right side view, FIG. 2B is a left side view, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the antenna base. FIG. 4 is a left side view of the antenna base. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a washer, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a right side view. 7A and 7B show the engaging member, where FIG. 7A is a front view, FIG. 7B is a plan view, FIG. 7C is a left side view, and FIG. 8A and 8B show the locking member, where FIG. 8A is a front view, FIG. 8B is a plan view, FIG. 8C is a left side view, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view in which the antenna element is erected vertically in the assembled state, and the engaging member is not engaged with the locking member. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view in which the antenna element is in a predetermined posture and the engaging member is engaged with the locking member. Note that FIG. 10 is illustrated as the antenna element standing vertically and having a predetermined posture.
[0011]
First, as shown in FIG. 2, the base end portion of the antenna element 10 is formed on a substantially bottomed cylindrical member 12 made of a highly conductive material with the swing axis as an axial direction. The base end of the antenna element 10 is appropriately fixed to the cylindrical member 12 by screwing or the like, and is electrically connected. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 14 denotes a resin portion integrally formed so as to cover the outer periphery around the axis of the cylindrical member 12. The outer surface of the bottom is provided with a substantially oval recess 12a for the washer 14 and a circular recess 12b for the O-ring shown in FIG. Further, since the engaging member 18 shown in FIG. 7 is disposed in the opening of the cylindrical portion 12, axial grooves 12c and 12c are provided on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface. And the hole 12d for penetrating the rocking | fluctuation support shaft 22 is drilled in the axial center position of a bottom part.
[0012]
The antenna base 16 has a pair of arms 16a and 16a provided upright, and a mounting screw 16b is engraved below. The mounting screw 16b is made of a conductive material, and one end of a power supply fitting 16c made of a conductive material is fixed and electrically connected to the attachment screw 16b, and the power supply fitting 16c made of a conductive material is connected to the mounting screw 16b. Is fixed and electrically connected. Further, the mounting screw 16b and the power supply fitting 16c are inserted, and the antenna base 16 including the arms 16a and 16a is integrally formed of insulating resin. The power supply fitting 16c is disposed on one arm 16a so as to be exposed on a surface (inner surface) where the pair of arms 16a and 16a face each other. A hexagonal square hole 16d is provided on the opposite surface (outer surface) of the one arm 12a provided with the power supply fitting 16c. Further, steps 16e and 16e for disposing the locking member 20 shown in FIG. 8 are provided on the surface (outer surface) opposite to the surface facing the other arm 16a. Note that a hole 16f through which the swing support shaft 22 is inserted is formed in the power supply fitting 16c.
[0013]
The engaging member 18 shown in FIG. 7 is disposed on the cylindrical member 12 with the opening side as the front surface, the side surface is substantially U-shaped, and the tongue pieces 18a and 18a provided on the upper and lower sides of the front surface are cylindrical. The engaging member 18 is inserted into the grooves 12c and 12c of the cylindrical member 12 so that the engaging member 18 can move in the axial direction relative to the cylindrical member 12 and cannot rotate relative to the axis. Further, engaging projections 18b and 18b are provided on the front surface. Further, a hole 18c through which the swing support shaft 22 is inserted is formed in the front axial center position.
[0014]
Further, the locking member 20 shown in FIG. 8 is disposed on the other arm 16a of the antenna base 16, and engages with the steps 16e and 16e on the upper and lower sides of the front face and cannot rotate relative to the arm 16a about the axis. In addition, engagement pieces 20a and 20a that are restricted from being inserted inward are provided. Further, engaging holes 20b and 20b into which the engaging convex portions 18a and 18a of the engaging member 18 in a predetermined posture can be inserted and engaged are formed in the front. Further, a hole 20c through which the swing support shaft 22 is inserted is formed in the front axial center position.
[0015]
And the assembly | attachment of the antenna apparatus of this invention is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. First, the washer 14 is fitted into the substantially oval recess 12a of the cylindrical member 12 at the base end of the antenna element 10, the O-ring 24 is fitted into the circular recess 12b, and the spring coil 26 is inserted into the cylindrical member 12. Then, the engaging member 18 is disposed in the opening. Then, the tubular member 12 is inserted between the pair of arms 16 a and 16 a of the antenna base 16 so that the spring coil 26 is contracted. In addition, a hexagon nut 28 is fitted into the square hole 16d outside the one arm 16a of the antenna base 16, and the locking member 20 is disposed outside the other arm 16a. Then, from the other arm 16a side, the swing support shaft 22 is inserted through the hole 20c of the locking member 20 and the hole 18c of the engaging member 18 and into the spring coil 26, and further, the hole 12d of the cylindrical member 12 The hole 14a of the washer 14 and the hole 16f of the power supply fitting 16c are inserted, screwed into the hexagon nut 28, and tightened appropriately so that the swing support shaft 22 does not come out. Here, the spring coil 26 is contracted.
[0016]
Then, the bottom of the cylindrical member 12 is brought into elastic contact with the power supply fitting 14 via the washer 14 by the elasticity of the spring coil 26, and electrical conduction is made. Further, the engaging member 18 is urged so as to elastically contact the locking member 20. Therefore, when the antenna element 10 is in a predetermined posture and the engagement protrusions 18b and 18b of the engagement member 18 are positioned so as to face the engagement holes 20b and 20b of the engagement member 20, as shown in FIG. The mating projections 18b and 18b are inserted and engaged with the engagement holes 20b and 20b, and the predetermined posture of the antenna element 10 is elastically held. If a force stronger than the holding elasticity is applied to the antenna element 10 in the swinging direction, the engaging projections 18b and 18b are disengaged from the engaging holes 20b and 20b against the elasticity of the spring coil 26, and the antenna element 10 is swung. It becomes movable.
[0017]
1, 9, and 10, 30 is a cover that covers the antenna base 16 so that the antenna element can swing, and 32 is interposed between the antenna base 16 and the car roof 34. This is a rubber pad having a watertight structure in between. Reference numeral 36 denotes a nut with a claw that is loosely fitted to the attachment screw 16b inside the roof, and 38 denotes a shield case attached to the attachment screw 16b. In the shield case 38, the antenna base 16 is fixed to the roof 34 and the shield case 38 is fixed to the mounting screw 16b by screwing and tightening a fastening nut (not shown) to the mounting screw 16b.
[0018]
The antenna device of the present invention having the above configuration, at the proximal end of the antenna element 10, one end side of the rocking shaft 22 is supported at the bottom of the tubular member 16, the other end is supported by the engagement member 18 Is done. Further, one of the swing support shafts 22 is supported by a power supply fitting 16c integrally formed on one arm 16a of the antenna base 16, and the swing support shaft 22 is supported by an engaging member 20 disposed on the other arm 16a. The other is supported. Therefore, the swing mechanism is configured to be robust, and smooth swing of the antenna element 10 is ensured. In addition, the member constituting the swing mechanism does not include an elastic member, and there is no problem that the member is elastically deformed and the swing is not smooth as in the conventional example. In addition, neither the base end portion of the antenna element 10 nor the antenna base 16 is integrally molded by inserting an elastic member, so that a molding die is simplified and a defective product may be generated. Absent. Furthermore, the action of the power feeding plate as a signal path electrically connected to the antenna element in the conventional example is performed by the cylindrical member 12 in the present invention, and the cylindrical member 12 corresponds to the swing piece of the conventional example. In this case, the number of parts is reduced in the present invention by the amount corresponding to the conventional power supply plate. Further, since the power supply fitting 16c is integrally formed with the arm 16a, the power supply fitting 16c is firmly arranged and fixed, and the number of parts at the time of assembly is reduced, so that the assembly is easy. In addition, in the present invention, the elastically deformed component is only the spring coil 26, and the component is not elastically deformed, so that the assembly is easy.
[0019]
Further, the bottom portion of the cylindrical member 12 and the power supply fitting 16c, and the engaging member 18 and the locking member 20 that are relatively swingable are inserted through the swing support shaft 22, so that a simple configuration is achieved. Can be relatively swiveled. Further, both the power supply fitting 16c and the washer 14 can be easily formed of sheet metal, and the contact surfaces of each other can be easily smoothed by using the surface of the sheet metal as it is. Therefore, the smooth contact surfaces of the power supply fitting 16c and the washer 14 can be in contact with each other over a wide area, and electrical conduction can be easily obtained reliably.
[0020]
In the above embodiment, the predetermined posture of the antenna element 10 can be elastically held in one posture, but may be elastically held in a plurality of predetermined postures. Further, the engagement mechanism of the engagement member 18 and the locking member 20 is not limited to the above embodiment, and an engagement hole may be provided in the engagement member 18 and an engagement convex portion may be provided in the locking member 20. The electrical connection between the bottom of the cylindrical member 12 and the power supply fitting 16c is not limited to the one with the washer 14 interposed, and the bottom of the cylindrical member 12 may be configured to directly contact the power supply fitting 16c. good. Furthermore, the engaging member 18 is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it is movable in the axial direction with respect to the cylindrical member 12 and cannot rotate relative to the axis. Furthermore, the locking member 20 may have any structure as long as it cannot rotate relative to the arm 16a around the axis.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
Since the antenna device of the present invention is configured as described above, the following special effects can be obtained.
[0022]
In the antenna device according to claim 1, since both ends of the swing support shaft are pivotally supported by the pair of arms erected on the antenna base, the swing support shaft can be firmly supported. it can. The swing support shaft is axially penetrated to the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical member at the base end portion of the antenna element and is axially penetrated to the engaging member disposed on the opening side of the cylindrical member. since not swingably disposed and can be disposed freely robust swing antenna element. Moreover, since the bottom of the cylindrical member at the base end of the antenna element is electrically connected by abutting a power supply fitting provided on the arm, a sheet metal power supply plate having elasticity like this type of conventional device is provided. It is not necessary, and the device of the present invention is easy to assemble because the parts are not elastically deformed.
[0023]
In the antenna device according to claim 2, since the washer arranged so as not to rotate relative to the bottom of the cylindrical member of the antenna element is brought into contact with the power supply fitting and electrically connected thereto, the washer and the power supply By smoothing the contact surfaces of the metal fittings, it is possible to make contact in a wide area and to ensure electrical conduction. In addition, by forming the washer and the power supply fitting with a sheet metal, the contact surfaces of each other can be easily and smoothly configured.
[0024]
In the antenna device according to claim 3, since the power supply fitting is inserted and the arm is integrally formed of resin, even if the power supply fitting is made of sheet metal, the power supply fitting is securely and securely arranged and fixed to the arm. The In addition, the number of parts at the time of assembly is small due to integral molding, and the operation is easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing that an antenna element can swing and can maintain a standing state in a predetermined posture.
2A and 2B show a structure of a base end portion of an antenna element, where FIG. 2A is a right side view, FIG. 2B is a left side view, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a right side view of the antenna base.
FIG. 4 is a left side view of the antenna base.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 shows a washer, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a right side view.
7A is a front view, FIG. 7B is a plan view, FIG. 7C is a left side view, and FIG. 7D is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 7A.
8A and 8B show a locking member, where FIG. 8A is a front view, FIG. 8B is a plan view, FIG. 8C is a left side view, and FIG.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view in which the antenna element is vertically raised in the assembled state and the engaging member is not engaged with the locking member.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view in which the antenna element is in a predetermined posture and the engaging member is engaged with the locking member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Antenna element 12 Cylindrical member 12a Concave part 12b Circular concave part 12c Groove 12d Hole 14 Washer 16 Antenna base 16a Arm 16b Mounting screw 16c Feeding metal fitting 16d Square hole 16e Step 16f Hole 18 Engagement member 18a Tongue piece 18c Engagement convex part 18c Hole 20 Locking member 20a Engagement piece 20b Engagement hole 20c Hole 22 Oscillating support shaft 24 O-ring 26 Spring coil 28 Hexagon nut 30 Cover 32 Rubber pad 34 Roof 36 Claw nut 38 Shield case

Claims (3)

A pair of arms is erected on the antenna base, and a base end portion of the antenna element is inserted and disposed between the pair of arms, and swing support is supported on the pair of arms and the base end portion from the side of the one arm. In an antenna device in which a shaft is inserted and arranged so that the antenna element is swingable, the base end portion is formed of a conductive member and one end side having the swing support shaft in the axial direction is formed on a bottomed cylindrical member. It is electrically connected to the antenna element, and the swinging support shaft is passed through the bottom of the cylindrical member on the axial center so as to be swingably supported, and the one arm facing the bottom is supported. A power supply fitting is disposed so as to be in contact with and electrically connected to the bottom portion, and the engagement member is movable in the axial direction to the opening on the other end side of the cylindrical member and does not rotate relative to the axis. And the other arm has a predetermined Wherein the locking member to which the engaging member around posture engageable resiliently arranged so as not to rotate relative to the at least axis, with the engagement member and the locking member on the axial center Yurado支A spring coil is loosely fitted on the swing support shaft between the bottom portion and the engagement member in the cylindrical member and is swingably supported in the cylindrical member. An antenna device characterized by being elastically biased toward the locking member.   The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein a washer made of a conductive material is interposed between the feeding metal fitting and the bottom portion of the cylindrical member, and the washer is configured not to rotate relative to the bottom portion around an axis. An antenna device characterized by the above.   3. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply fitting is inserted and the arm is integrally formed of resin.

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