JPH08335821A - Antenna for car - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To normally prevent an antenna element from being detached from an antenna cover, even though the antenna element can be easily attached and detached to/from the antenna cover. CONSTITUTION: A crotch-shaped connection metal fittings 17 which is made of a flexible metal and also has plural leg parts is attached to a base end part of an antenna element 10. An engaging projection 17a is formed on an outer plane of a point part of each leg part of the connection metal fittings, and locking holes into which the leg parts of the fittings 17 of the element 10 are inserted and interfitted are provided on an antenna cover 19. A locking recessed part 49, is formed on an inner plane of the locking holes, by which a locking projection that is formed on the leg part of the fittings 17 is locked. Further, a release-blocking means 29, which is freely attachable and detachable and which is lock-released by a solenoid 24 that blocks the inward deformation of each leg part, is provided so that the projection 17a of the leg part of the fittings 17 which is locked by the part 49 does not uncouple from the part 49.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle antenna in which an antenna element is detachably mounted on an antenna cover fixed to a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle antenna 100 of this type is mounted on the outside of the vehicle as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-083633, for example, on the rear portion of the roof of the vehicle body of the vehicle as shown in FIG. Has been. The antenna cover 101 of the automobile antenna 100 is fixed to the roof of the vehicle body by a screwing means, and the antenna element 102 is attached to the antenna cover 101. As shown in FIG.
03 is screwed into the female screw portion 104 of the antenna cover 101 to be detachably attached. Therefore, in order to prevent the antenna element 102 from being damaged in advance, for example, the rotating brush of the car wash machine collides with the vehicle when the vehicle is washed, or the ceiling of the garage is contacted when the vehicle is put into the garage, so that the antenna element 102 is not damaged. The antenna 102 can be removed from the antenna cover 101.

[0003]

However, if the antenna element 102 is detachably attached by screwing, the antenna element 102 may be stolen during parking.
Need to be removed from. However, the user forgets to remove the antenna element 102 when parked, or the antenna element 102 is difficult to remove, so the antenna element 1
There was a problem of parking with the 02 attached.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automobile antenna in which the antenna element cannot be removed at all times even though the antenna element can be easily removed from the antenna cover when it is desired to remove it.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the automobile antenna of the present invention, an antenna for an automobile is detachably attached to an antenna cover fixed to a vehicle body. The proximal end is provided with a crotch-shaped connecting fitting that is made of elastic metal and has a plurality of legs, and engages with the outer surface of the tip of each leg of the connecting fitting. On the other hand, a protrusion is formed, and on the other hand, the antenna cover is provided with a locking hole into which the leg of the connecting fitting of the antenna element is inserted and fitted, and the inner surface of the locking hole has the leg of the connecting fitting. An engaging recess is formed in which the engaging protrusion formed on is engaged. Further, detachable detachment preventing means for preventing the respective legs from being deformed inward so that the engagement projections of the legs of the connection fittings retained in the engagement recesses are not detached from the engagement recesses. Is provided.

The locking recess of the locking hole is preferably a ring-shaped locking groove. Further, the disengagement prevention means may be composed of a movable pin that can move forward and backward inside a leg portion of the connection fitting fitted in the locking hole, and a solenoid that retracts the movable pin. And
The movable pin is constantly urged toward the connection fitting by the urging means so as to enter the inside of the leg of the connection fitting, and the solenoid is excited by a switch in the vehicle compartment only when necessary. It is preferable that the movable pin is retracted from the inside of the leg portion of the connection fitting against the biasing force of the biasing means. Further, the disengagement prevention means may be composed of a movable pin that can be moved back and forth inside the leg of the connection fitting fitted in the locking hole, and a drive wire that moves the movable pin forward and backward.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when the antenna element is inserted into the locking hole of the antenna cover, the leg portion of the connection fitting provided at the base end portion of the antenna element is deformed inward, and the locking hole of the antenna cover is formed. And the engaging projection of the connection fitting is locked in the locking recess of the locking hole. Then, in this locked state, the separation preventing means prevents the engaging projections of the legs of the connection fittings locked in the locking recesses of the locking holes from coming off the locking recesses. Prevents inward deformation. Further, when the disengagement prevention means is released, the inward deformation of each leg portion of the connection fitting is allowed, and the engagement protrusion of the leg portion of the connection fitting can be detached from the locking recess. Since the detachment prevention means is released only when the antenna element is removed, the antenna element cannot be removed at all times and theft can be prevented.

Further, in the case where the disengagement prevention means is provided with a movable pin, when the movable pin enters the inside of each leg of the connection fitting, the inside of each leg is prevented from being deformed and the movable pin is connected. When the metal fitting is withdrawn from the inside of each leg, deformation of each leg is allowed. Further, only when it is necessary to remove the antenna element, the solenoid is energized to resist the urging force of the urging means, and the movable pin is withdrawn from the inner side of the leg portion of the connecting fitting so that the antenna element can be removed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of an automobile antenna according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an assembly exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an automobile antenna of the present invention,
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are exploded perspective views showing enlarged main parts thereof. In these figures, the antenna element 10 is configured by winding a conductor 15 in a coil shape on an insulator 16. An antenna top 11 is provided on the upper end of the antenna element 10, and the lower end of the antenna element 10 is molded with a flexible synthetic resin such as rubber to form a molded portion 14. This mold part 14
Inside the antenna element 10 trap coil 1
2 are connected, and the trap coil 12 is further connected to a coil spring 13 which is a part of the antenna element 10. And the coil spring 13
Is fixed to the connecting fitting 17 at the lower end. The connection fitting 17 is detachably attached to the upper end of the antenna cover 19, and the details will be described later.

The flexible mold part 14 containing the coil spring 13 absorbs the applied external force and prevents the antenna element 10 from being broken by bending the mold part 14 when an external force is applied to the antenna. I am trying. The electrical length from the antenna top 11 of the antenna element 10 thus configured to the connection fitting provided at the base end portion of the antenna is about ¼ wavelength of the FM radio band, and the connection fitting 17 to the trap coil 12 are used. The electrical length up to the lower end of the
It is said to be the wavelength. Therefore, this antenna resonates in the mobile radio telephone band and the FM radio band, and the antenna element 10 as a whole can receive the AM radio band.

The antenna cover 19 to which the antenna element 10 is fixed is fitted to the antenna base 18, and is screwed and fixed by a pair of screws 21. A circuit board 22 is arranged in a space formed by the antenna cover 19 and the antenna base 18, and the circuit board 22 is attached to a mounting member 23. And
The mounting bracket 23 is attached to the antenna base 1 by caulking or the like.
It is fixed at 8. In addition, this mounting bracket 23,
Fixing bracket 2 for fixing the solenoid 24 by caulking or the like
Similarly, 5 is fixed by crimping or the like. A coil spring 28 is inserted into the drive pin 27 of the solenoid 24, and a movable pin 29 is inserted from above. The movable pin 29 is the drive pin 27 of the solenoid 24.
It is fixed by caulking or the like. Reference numeral 31 is a waterproof rubber diaphragm.

Further, the antenna base 18 is an O-ring 3.
It is mounted on the pad 34 through the pad 3. This pad 3
4 is placed on the upper surface of the roof of the vehicle body (not shown), and the male screw portion 18a formed in the central portion of the antenna base 18 is
It penetrates through a hole (not shown) formed in the roof of the vehicle body and projects downward from the lower surface of the roof. Then, the mounting nut 3 is attached to the male screw portion 18a of the antenna base 18.
By screwing 6 in, the antenna base 18 is fixed to the roof of the vehicle body. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the power cord 37 is covered with a vinyl tube 39, and is connected to a signal cable 38, and a heat shrinkable tube 41 is fitted and integrated. The power cord 37 and the signal cable 38 pass through the central through hole of the antenna base 18 and enter the space inside the antenna cover 19. The power cord 37 is connected to the solenoid 24, while the signal cable 38 is connected to the circuit board 22 electrically connected to the movable pin 29. The circuit board 22 has a function of amplifying the signal received by the antenna element 10. However, the circuit board 22 does not necessarily have to be provided inside the antenna cover 19 and can be provided outside the antenna cover 19. In this case, the signal cable 38 has the movable pin 29.
Electrically connected to.

4A and 4B are explanatory views of the antenna cover 19, where FIG. 4A is a top view thereof, and FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.
(C) is the bottom view, (d) is the cross-sectional view. In these figures, an opening is formed at the top of the antenna cover 19, and a mounting bracket 46 for mounting the connecting bracket 17 of the antenna element 10 is embedded in the opening. The structure for locking the connection fitting 17 to the mounting fitting 46 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, FIG. 5 showing its locked state, FIG. 6 showing its unlocked state, and FIG.
Further, FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the antenna element 10 is detached from the antenna cover 19. Note that, in FIG. 7, A indicates the bottom surface of the connection fitting 17. In FIG. 7, the connection fitting 17 is made of a metal having elasticity, the tip of which has a shape in which a slit is formed in a cylinder, and a pair of legs are formed by bifurcating. In addition, a protrusion 17a as an engagement protrusion is formed on the outer surface of the tip of each leg.

On the other hand, the mounting member 46 embedded in the antenna cover 19 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a locking hole 46a is formed in the center thereof. Then, the locking hole 46
A ring-shaped groove 48 for the O-ring 47 is formed on the inner surface of a. Further, a locking groove 49, which is a similar ring-shaped locking recess, is formed below it. The outer diameter of the tip portion of the connecting fitting 17 inserted into the mounting fitting 46 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the locking hole 46a, but the outer diameter of the portion of the connecting fitting 17 where the protruding portion 17a is formed. Is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the locking hole 46a. Then, the movable pin 29 is fitted into the hole at the center of the diaphragm 31, and the outer end of the diaphragm 31 is provided at the antenna cover 1.
The inner surface of 9 is fixed to honey.

To attach the antenna element 10, the leg portion of the connecting fitting 17 is inserted into the locking hole 46a. At this time, the protruding portion 17a of the connecting fitting 17 has the locking hole 4
It is pushed inward while being displaced inward by the inner surface of 6a, and this protruding portion 17a is inserted up to the locking groove 49 of the locking hole 46a. Then, the leg portion of the connecting fitting 17 that was bent inward while the connecting fitting 17 was being inserted returns to its original state due to the restoring force due to its elasticity, and the protruding portion 17
a is displaced outward and engages with the locking groove 49. Further, the movable pin 29 pushed by the tip of the connecting fitting 17 against the coil spring 28 enters the leg portion of the connecting fitting 17 by the urging force of the coil spring 28 at this time.
Then, the locked state shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

The movable pin 29 has a protruding portion 17a.
The protrusion 17a is contacted with the inside of the leg formed therein to prevent the protrusion 17a from being displaced inside. Therefore, even if the antenna element 10 is pulled, the projecting portion 17a of the connection fitting 17 remains locked in the locking groove 49 of the locking hole 46a.
In this way, the movable pin 29 has the protrusion 17 a with the engaging groove 49.
The antenna element 10 cannot be pulled out from the locking hole 46a because it functions as a detachment prevention unit that prevents the antenna element 10 from being detached from the antenna element. Since the locking groove 49 is formed in a ring shape, the antenna element 10 can rotate around its axis.

The solenoid 24 for driving the movable pin 29 is controlled by the electric circuit shown in FIG. In this electric circuit, when the engine key is turned on, for example, when the automobile is running, the switch 52 is turned off, the solenoid 24 is not energized, and the movable pin 29 is turned on as shown in FIG. The coil spring 28 is urged to project and the antenna element 10 cannot be attached or detached. As a result, the antenna element 10 does not separate from the antenna cover 19 and fall while the vehicle is running.

Here, the vehicle is stopped, the engine key is turned off, the switch 52 is turned on, and the solenoid 24 is turned on.
To excite. Then, the movable pin 29 is attracted to the solenoid 24 against the coil spring 28, and is brought into the retracted state shown in FIG. Therefore, the connection fitting 1
The leg portion of 7 becomes deformable inward, and the antenna element 10 can be attached and detached. That is, in the unlocked state shown in FIG. 6, the antenna element 1
When 0 is pulled, the protruding portion 17a of the connection fitting 17 is displaced inward, the engagement with the engagement groove 49 of the engagement hole 46a is released, and the antenna element 10 can be removed from the engagement hole 46a.

By the way, in the unlocked state of FIG. 6, when the solenoid 24 is de-energized, the movable pin 29 is urged by the coil spring 28 so that the leg portion of the connecting fitting 17 having the protruding portion 17a is formed. When the antenna element 10 enters the space between the leg portion and the leg portion, the locked state shown in FIG.
It should be noted that when parking or washing the vehicle, the antenna element 10 may be removed and stored by stopping the engine and operating the switch 52. After the operation of the switch 52 is released, the antenna element 10 is locked to the mounting bracket 46 of the antenna cover 19,
It is impossible to remove the antenna element 10 and it is possible to prevent theft. Further, since the solenoid 24 is energized for a short time when the switch is operated, there is almost no fear that the circuit board 22 or the like will be heated when energized.

Next, a second embodiment of the automobile antenna of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a drive wire 61 is provided instead of the solenoid 24 of the first embodiment, and this drive wire 61 is inserted into a guide tube 62, which is a so-called push-pull cable. Are configured. 63 is a guide tube 62
Is a wire bracket that supports the. The end of the drive wire 61 is arranged in the driver's seat inside the automobile. In addition, in the second embodiment, a second O-ring 64 for waterproofing the movable pin 29 is provided at the lower end of the mounting member 46. Therefore, even when the antenna element 10 is pulled out, rainwater or the like can be prevented from entering the inside of the diaphragm 31.

In the second embodiment, when the antenna element 10 is removed, the drive wire 61 is pulled inside the automobile such as the driver's seat against the urging force of the coil spring 28 and the movable pin 29 is retracted. , The antenna element 10 is removed. Further, when the antenna element 10 is attached to the antenna cover 19, if the antenna element 10 is inserted into the attachment fitting 46, the movable pin 29 pushed by the tip of the connection fitting 17 of the antenna element 10 is attached to the coil spring 28. The antenna element 10 is locked to the mounting member 46 by automatically intruding into the leg of the connecting member 17 by the force.

In the above description, the automobile antenna is attached to the roof of the automobile, but the automobile antenna can be attached to an appropriate portion of the vehicle body such as the hood. It should be noted that the receiver sensitivity can be increased by mounting it on the roof at the highest position in the vehicle body. Further, the tip of the connecting fitting 17 is bifurcated, but if the tip is bifurcated, the number can be appropriately changed to trifurcated or the like. The movable pin can be moved back and forth by using a driving device such as a solenoid, a motor, a hydraulic piston, or manually.
Also, the electric circuit can be appropriately changed, such as a circuit in which the movable pin operates when the driver presses the switch at any time.

[0023]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the antenna element cannot be pulled out from the locking hole of the antenna cover unless the separation preventing means is released. Therefore, there is no possibility of being stolen as easily as the conventional fixing by the screwing means. Furthermore, since the antenna element can be removed by pulling,
The removal work becomes easy. Further, the antenna element can be removed from the locking hole of the antenna cover when necessary. Further, when the engine key of the automobile is turned off, the antenna element can be removed only for a certain period of time after it is turned off. Therefore, even if the user forgets to pull out the antenna element during parking, it cannot be removed after a certain period of time. The antenna element is not stolen. Further, since it is impossible to remove the antenna element while the vehicle is running, the antenna element does not separate from the vehicle and drop due to vibration during running.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a vehicle antenna according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly exploded perspective view of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an assembly exploded perspective view of another main part of the first embodiment.

4A and 4B are explanatory views of an antenna cover, where FIG. 4A is a top view thereof, FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, and FIG.
(D) is the cross-sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a main-portion cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the connection fitting of the antenna element is locked by the mounting fitting of the antenna cover.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts illustrating a state in which a connecting fitting of the antenna element is unlocked.

FIG. 7 is a main-portion cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the antenna element is detached from the antenna cover.

FIG. 8 is an electric circuit diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the second embodiment, (a) is an overall view,
(B) is an enlarged view of a main part.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an automobile to which an automobile antenna is attached.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a main part of a conventional automobile antenna.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Antenna Element 17 Connection Metal Fitting 17a Projection (Engagement Protrusion) 19 Antenna Cover 24 Solenoid 28 Coil Spring (Biasing Means) 29 Movable Pin (Disengagement Prevention Means) 46a Locking Hole 49 Locking Groove (Locking Recess) 61 Drive Wire

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kenji Yamaoka 4-7-4 Kitamachi, Warabi-shi, Saitama Inside the Warabi factory, Japan Antenna Co., Ltd. Foffs Bratz 1, D-6090 Russelsheim Adam Opel AG, Technical Development Center Within Europe

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automobile antenna in which an antenna element is detachably attached to an antenna cover fixed to a vehicle body, wherein a base end portion of the antenna element is formed of metal having elasticity and a plurality of antenna elements are provided. A crotch-shaped connecting fitting having legs is provided, and an engaging projection is formed on the outer surface of the tip of each leg of the connecting fitting. A locking hole into which the leg portion of the connection fitting is inserted and fitted is provided, and a locking recess is formed on the inner surface of the locking hole to which the engaging projection formed on the leg portion of the connection fitting is locked. Furthermore, detachable detachment prevention that prevents the inside of each leg from being deformed so that the engagement protrusion of the leg of the connection fitting that is engaged in the engagement recess does not disengage from the engagement recess. Means are provided An automotive antenna characterized by the above. 2. The antenna for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the locking recess of the locking hole is a ring-shaped locking groove. 3. The disengagement prevention means comprises a movable pin that can move back and forth inside a leg of the connection fitting fitted in the locking hole, and a solenoid that moves the movable pin forward and backward. The vehicle antenna according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The movable pin is constantly urged toward the connection fitting side so as to enter the inside of the leg of the connection fitting by an urging means, and the switch is provided inside the vehicle compartment only when necessary. The vehicle antenna according to claim 3, wherein the solenoid is excited to withdraw the movable pin from the inside of the leg portion of the connection fitting against the biasing force of the biasing means. 5. The disengagement prevention means comprises a movable pin that can move back and forth inside a leg of the connection fitting fitted in the locking hole, and a drive wire that moves the movable pin forward and backward. The vehicle antenna according to claim 1 or 2.