US2284752A - Automobile antenna - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1942. A. T. MACE AUTOMOBILE ANTENNA Filed Aug. 3, 1959 l 2 Sheets-sheet 1 INVENTO.. APrHug-TMACE t ATTORNEY.

Fig

June 2, l1942.

A. -T. MACE AUTOMOBILE ANTENNA 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 3, 1939 .Ml g.

Z Y Z NIMINI ATTORNEYS? Patented June 2, 1942 I f AUroMonmaANraNNA i Arum 'i'. Mace, aesrclevelsnd, ome, assigner a corporation of Ohio Application August 3, 1939, Serial No. 288,159

` (criss-2s) 8 Claims.

Thxs'iivention relates, es indicated, te temine` radio4 antennae, but has reference more speciii` cally to' radiol antennae which are capable of beextendedfrom. the interiorof the vehicle `in `which it is Vused in conjunction with vehicle radio sets.

The conventional type of extending or telescoping antennae are extended ,or 4telescoped from theexterior of the vehicle. -This results in inconvenience caused by' the necessity of getting in and out of the vehicle to extend-or collapse i the antennae. Also, due to the limitation of the human reach, theextenty of projection oi the antennae above the top of the vehiclewas restricted. An antenna which is collapsible and extensible lfrom the interior of the vehicle eliml inates this restriction and inconvenience, and moreover, has the advantage that it. may be collapsedto clear obstructionssuch as Igarage door openings and the like.

The primary object of the` invention ish'to .provide a radio antenna of the typedescribed which is `quickly and easily collapsible and extensible from the interior 'of the vehicle 'on which it is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide ya radio antenna of theltype described which is economical to manufacture and simple in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide Aan antenna of the type described which is resilientlyretained in any desired degree vof extension and in which efficient electrical connection `between the various parts thereof is constantly maintained.

vTo the accomplishment of the foregoing and yrelated ends, said invention, then, consists ofthe Vmeans hereinafter fully described and particutenna embodying the` invention mounted thereon;

Fig.2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of an antenna embodying this invention in' collapsed condition; l

Fig. 3 is a View. similar to Fig, the antenna partially extended;

Fig. 4 is a view similar lto Fig. 3', but'showing the antenna in the next step of extension:

Fig. 5 is kan enlarged -cross-sectionai view of the open position ofthe collet device used in thisinvention;

Fuz. 5a is a section on lineaa of Fig. 5.

The Radiart Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio,

Fig. 6 Vis a view similar to Fig. 5 but with thel collet in locked position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the antenna fully extended:

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a modification of the collet device shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged view of Fig..2.

Referring more particularly `to the drawings, there is illustrated a portion of an automobile having ahood I, dashboard 2, windshield l and top I.

A lead-in member 5, which comprises the base of the Yantenna is attached at one end by any lsuitable means to the dashboard 2 and at its other end supports by a metal to metal contact.

the innermost tubular metallic member 6 of the antenna which is slightly peened over at its upper end to provide an inwardly extending retaining lower end of which is attached as by threads 9 downwardly into the washer I0. being provided with a head I8a which is movable in the recess through the insulator 2| which is secured in the front of the top of the vehicle and constitutes Suitabli'v l2, but showing flange 1. Snugly iitting around tube 6, and projecting thereabove is metallic tubular` member 8, the

lof reduced diameter and is split longitudinally to provide a plurality of collet jaws i3, the purpose of which will presently appear.

, Snugly tted around tube 8 is a third metallic tubular member I4, the upper end .of which con-` stitutes a collet I5. The lower end of tube I4 is attached as by threads I6 to 'a washer-like member I'l which has a curved outer end. A

pin I8 is secured to the ywasher Il and projects- I2 of the latter. Surrounding pin I8 isa coil spring I9 which normally urges the washers I0' and Ilapart.

Snugly fitting around tube I4 is the outermost metallic tubular member 20" which snugly passes the second support for the antenna. attached to the lower end of the tube 20 is a finger'knob 22. The upper end of the tube 20 is `reduced in diameter to form neck 23, which snugly iits around and guides the wire 24 which lforms the uppermost portion of the antenna.

Wire 24` passes through collet l5, collet jaws I3,

projects into the innermost tube 6 and has-ay looped lower endy 25 which bears against the inner walls of tube `Ii and which is capable' of Operation `Assuming-the antennaembodying the invenl the wire 24 in the collet jaws I3, as shown in Fig.

6, so that if, while so locked, the tubes`8 and I4 are elevated to the position shown in Fig. 7, the

wire 24 is forced or pushed up through neck 23 and loop 25 passes through the flange 1 of the stationary tube 6.

To collapse the antenna from the interior of the vehicle the collet, as shown in Figs. 6 andI '7, is locked, while tubes 8 and I I are lowered, caus7 ing the antenna to be contracted to the condition shown in Fig. 4. With the collet opened, the tubes 8 and Il are raised as in Fig. 3, the collet then locked and the three tubes 8, I4 and 20 lowered, eecting the original collapsed arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2. v

A construction alternative to the collet arrangement shown particularly in Figs. 5, -5a and 6 is illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the tube 8 corresponds to tube 8 in the prior figures and has immediately below its upper end a plurality of holes 21 and 28 which accommodate steel balls 29 which encircle tube 8*. tube 8* is tube Il, the upper end of which is bulged as at 30 to house the balls 29. Surrounding tube Il'L is tube 20, which snugly fits around bulge 30 and whose upper portion is reduced `in Snugly fitted around through said open ends. jaws on one and a collet on the other of said inner tubes whereby said element may be locked by said jaws and moved with respect to said outer tube.

3. A device of the character described com- Y prising an outer and two inner nestedtubes', each "spect to said outer tube.

4. The combination of a* tube both ends of which are open, an elongate element projecting into one of said ends, movable means projecting into the other of said ends and presenting elastic jaws adapted for clampingly engaging. and disengaging said elements, an annular movable means to compress said elastic jaws whereby movement of said mst-mentioned means moves diameter to form a neck SI similar to neck 23-of 1 In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 8 by lowering tube Il* with respect to tube 8, the bulge 80 forces the balls 29 against the wire 24 thereby locking said wire as eectively as with lapsing can the collet construction which has been described. Since each tube constitutes a snug tit over its adjacent tube, loop 25 bears against the inner walls of tube 8, and-neck 23 snugly fits around wire 24, an emcient electrical contact is constantly maintained and the antenna is resiliently retained in any desired degree of expansion andis rattle-proof. .It is to be oted that the expansion and colquickly accomplished entirely from the interior of the vehicle with but a minimum of eiort and by the use of but one hand.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one `'explained,f--change being made as regards the'v mediate tubes forming collet jaws and said end said element relatively to saidtube.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tube having two openings, an

elongate element projecting into one of said' openings, means including a pair of movable elongate members projecting into the other of said openings, said elongate members having their ends formed to clampingly engage and rel lease each other when moved relatively to each other thereby clamping and unclarping said element, and means Afor urging said elongate members into unclamping position.

6. In a device of the characte" described, the combination of four independently movable tubes each having one end open, an element projecting into said open ends, means for moving the three outer tubes and said element relatively to the innermost tube, and means within the outermost tube responsive rto relative movement of the in-v termediary tubes for gripping said element whereby' movement of the intermediary tubesy relatively to the outermost tube moves said ele4 ment relatively to said outermost tube.

7. In a device of the character described, the

combination of independently movableI nested tubes the innermost tube of which is adapted to be stationarily mounted, there being three tubes surrounding lsaid innermost tube, all of said tubes having one end open, the two inner of said three tubes projecting beyond the outer of said three tubes, a movable element projectinginto said open ends, said two inner tubes having at their open ends members to clampingly engage each other for gripping said element and for moving it relatively to said outer tube,.and means for moving said three tubes and said element relatively to said innermost tube.

8. A device of the characterlv describedcomprising a tube both ends of which are open, an elongate element yprojecting into said tube through one of the said open ends, a pair of movable elongate members'projecting into said tube through the other of said openings, 'jaws within said tube on one of said members adapted for engaging said element and means within said of the other of said intermediate tubes forming a complementary -collet whereby said element may be locked by said jaws andmoved with respect to said outer tube.

2. A device of the character described comprising an outer and two inner nested tubes, each having one end open, an element projecting tube on the other of said members adapted for v actuating said jaws whereby relative movement of said members causes said jaws to clamp said element and joint movement of said members4 relatively to said tube moves said element relatively to said tube. a .y

AR'IHUR-T. MACE.

Images