US2536733A - Swivel ball antenna support - Google Patents

Description

1951 T. R. FINKE ET AL 2,536,733

SWIVEL BALL ANTENNA SUPPORT Original Filed May 14, 1947 H 7' Tam/r ya Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE and Lew s l-E.

Finnebnrgh.

r. Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to The Gabriel Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Orig nal application May 14. 1947, Serial No. 748,048., now Patent No. 2,470.693, dated May 1949. Serial No. 87,682

1 3 Claims.

This invention pertains to radio antennae for automotive vehicles and the like and, more particularly, to a radio antenna and supporting base having an angularly adjustable connection therebetween.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 748,048, filed May 14. 1947, now Patent No. 2,470,693, issued May 17, 1949.

An object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved radio antenna support adapted to be mounted at desired positions on the body of an automotive vehicle or the like and allow angular adjustment or tilting of the radio antenna relative thereto, which is attractive in appearance, has a minimum number of parts or members, may be manufactured in a minimum physical size, is self-centering in a mounting opening of the vehicle body, is easily and quickly assembled, and after assembly may be tightened to any desired adjusted angular or tilted position by access to only one side of the mounting, and when once tightened will remain adjusted, shakeproof, and rattleproof under even the most severe operating conditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved antenna support having members adapted to be positioned on each side of the panel of an automotive vehicle or the like for forming a relatively fixed base and a member connected to the antenna extending through the base angularly adjustable relative thereto. the member extending through the base having means for both clamping the base forming members against the body panel and fixing its position at any desired angular position relative thereto whereby the antenna support may be comprised of a minimum number of individual parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved antenna support having inner and outer members adapted to be positioned on the inner and outer sides respectively of the panel of an automotive vehicle or the like for forming a relatively fixed base and an assembly connected to the antenna and extending through the base, the assembly having threaded means each end for engaging with the inner and outer base forming members, which threaded both fix the angular position of the assembly relative to the base and clamp the base forming members threaded means at the outer end of the assembly being tightened down last whereby the final assembly operation and angular position of the antenna may be effected from one side of the vehicle panel only.

into relatively fixed position, the- Divided and this application April 11,

The invention resides n certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of an antenna and support embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded elevational View showing in greater detail some of the members in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the antenna in an adjusted angular position relative to the support.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in a radio antenna A of the so-called whip type mounted at its lower end on a supporting base B, in turn mounted or suitably positioned on the sloping panel C of an automotive vehicle body or the like.

The panel C shown may be any portion of an automotive vehicle body or the like, whether sloping, vertical, or horizontal. or at the front or rear thereof, and is preferably perforated or drilled to provide a suitable opening it for passage of a lead-in connection from the antenna A on the exterior of the panel to the interior thereof, as well as a passage for clamping means to fasten the base B onto the panel.

As shown, the case B is generally ball or spherical shaped and comprises a pair of half ball members, an inner or lower half ball memher I! and an outer or upper half ball member l2, positioned in aligned relationship on opposite sides of the body panel C concentric with the opening Ill. As shown, the inner or lower half ball member I I has a main generally hemispherical outer surface 13, and a chordal surface comprising an upwardly extending boss I4 and an inwardly or downwardly extending recess l5. Similarly, the upper or outer half ball member I 2 has a main generally hemispherical outer surface it and a chordal surface compris- -,of the ball members and centrally po itioned,

, bers thus leaving continuous rin like flat surfaces 29, 2! around the perimeters of the half ball mem- H, 12, respectively, which surfaces as shown abut against the respective sides of the body panel C. Ihe size of the opening ID is preferably ofsuch. asize to ju'stg-pass' the cylindrical boss formed by the mating semicylindrical bosses l4, 18 on their respective ball-like members. If desired, a sealing washer 22 of soft rubber or like sealing material -:may ;be;,pesitioned between the ringlike flat surface 2| on the half ball member 62 and the body panel C. As shown, the washer has an upwardly extending flange 23 on its outer edge'whicnfits into a corresponding groove in the perimeter of the half ball member l2.

Each ball member H, i2 is 'providedzwith aligned openings 25, 25, respectively, which openings as shown taper from a slot on the surface of the ball members to a generally central aligned opening on the interior of the assembled cballor base B. .These openings,provideapas- ,sage.for. clamping means to'fixedly position the Lhalf ball members relativeto the body panelfc aswell as toprovidea passage for'alead-in connection fromthe antenna A.

"The antenna maytakeany one of .a numberof 'di'iferent'forms, andmay beforme'd of metalor plastic. As shown, however, the'antenna-com- 7 prises a. lowerrodlikennember 28 preferablyof tubular'construction andan'upper-rodlike member 29' also preferably: of. tubular construction of a" smaller diameter than and-- telescopically" arranged with the lower member. The lower end of the lower member 28 is provided with astud bolt 3i, which as shown extends generally 'through'the entire length of the aligned'opem' ings in the half ball members. The stud bolt maybe'fixed to the antenna in any suitable man- =ner,'but inthe embodiment shown 'the'upper end thereof extends into and fits snugly with =the interior of'the lower end'ofthe lowertube '28. This'end has one'or'a plurality of spaced circumferentially*extending grooves 32 in its surface'into which adjacent portions of the wall of the lower tube 28 have been-spun or-presse'd 'as at l; thus providing a firm" and indestructible connectionbetween" the antenna A and thebbltv 3i. "Intermediatethegrooves 32; the'bolt may be knurled as at "35 'on its outer "surface; which Sknurls when the bolt is inserted-into the initeriorof the lower member 23 upon assembly tend to bitethroughanyfi1m,rust, or scale on the'interior thereof and'provide a noiseless elec- "-itricalr connection betweenthe antenna and the bolt, as .w'ellfiaspreventing rotation'of. thexb'o'lt i-3l' relative tow-the lower member 28 when the:antenna: mounting is installed.

'As shown, the *bolt :"Bi extends "fdownwardly ":Tthroughthealigned. openingsin the half-i-ball The sleeve nut 38 is one of the means'forf clamping the half ball'members H, l2 in engagement vwith theisidesof'the bodypanelb as well-as clamping theantenna in a'de'sired angular position, and" the clamping force thereof is "trans- 1'- mitted to the 'spherical surface I 1' of the upper half' ball member" 1 2*througha'= circular-=washer fizhaving a concavelower surface" and a'thin edges thereof. As shown, the washers 42, G3 are slipped over the boss 38 with the upper surface rof lthewasher 2 in abutting engagement with the lower surface of thefiange ifi. "It is preferred that as the sleeve nut 38 is tightened down that *the concave washer 3 engage the surface ll of v the upper tball member l2 principally at its outer edges, and for this reason the curvature thereof may be" slightly less than the curvature of the surface I! and, if desired, the edges there- -.of* m ay be:curved inwardly at an even shorter radius of curvature as shown at 45.

:rEoriinsulatingthe antenna A from the body t'pan'el C,-either the sleeve nut 38 or the half ball member I201: both may be formed of insulating material, although in the embodiment shown the sleeve nut is represented as being formed of a metallic material while the upper half member vl2 is represented as being a non-metallicinsolating material.

"Thebolt 3l provides a lead-in conductor for the.- antenna, as we lasa clamping or tie'b'olt for'firmly securing thehalf ball members I I, T2 in fixedassembled relationship to the body panel C. Itis preferredthat the, lowerhalf ball member beof' an electrically conducting material, for reasons. whichwill appear hereinafter, and ac- :cordingly means are providedfor insulating the J. lower end-of the bolt'3 i; from the conducting'rhalf ball member l i. In the embodiment shown; a grounding sleeve 58 is: positioned concentrically around the lower end of the bolt 3land insulated therefrom by an inner insulating sleeve 49 in turn supported on the bolt 3| by an inner threadedmet'allic sleeve 59. The sleeve 50 is threadably engaged on the' bolt 3! and has on its lower end a short outwardly extending flange 5l in abuttingengagement with the lower endof the "insulating sleevei9. "The groundingsleeveat-its upper end has a short inwardly extendingflange 53 abutting against the oppositeor' upper end of'the insulating sleeve 49 and at its lower end is externally threaded and extends below or "beyond thespherical surface l3 of the lower 'half ball member I i. Preferably the external diam- "eter ofthe grounding sleevedB as well asthe diameter of the boss 39 of the sleeve nut-38 are "the same and approximately equal to -the width of'the slots-in thehalf ball-memberssu'ch that the-antenna Awill be tiltable with respect to the ball members in only a' sing1e=-plane,-which plane may be rotated through 360- by rotating the base B-relative to the body panel 'C.

"While a nut' threaded-on the lower end of the grounding sleeve 38 and an eccentric concave washer similar to the concave eccentric washer 43 may be provided for engaging the spherical surface l3 of the lower ball member I l and hold- 'ing" the base B inassembled relationship,' it =is "preferredfor reasons of'simpli'city in structure and otherwise to utilize means on alead-in cable =connector assembly D for this purpose. The leadin cable connector. assembly D comprises a nut 55' shown'threadably engaged with the threads ofthe grounding sleeve w and a cup shaped-or concave wa'sher' fifi, the inner surface of which bears again'st'the spherical surface is of thelower ball'member H. "The'upper end of "the nut 55 has a' thincylin'drical extension 59around which the opening ofthe washer 56 is'fitted, and the extension then flared outwardly to retain/the washer 56- andthenut 55 in: assembled relation- ---T'ship. As' shown, the portion" of the washer 56 cu'p shaped or concave washer 43 having its 1 l I I defining the opening' is offset to receive 'the 'flared -opemng' eccentrically:positioned relative" tQ EhQ end of the extension 59 and prevent'interference frequency conductor 58.

with the spherical surface l3 of the lower ball member II. An internally-toothed lock washer Bl may be positioned intermediate the upper end of the nut 55 and the lower surface of the Washer oifset. The lower end of the nut 55 has a radially inwardly extending flange 62 defining an opening of reduced diameter through which a short grounding sleeve 63 extends having an outwardly flaring flange 64 at its upper end which abuts against the flange 62 of the nut for retaining same in assembled relationship. The grounding sleeve 83 receives a lead-in cable 6? comprising an inner radio-frequency conductor 58, an insulating sleeve 69, and a braided outer shield cov ering Hi. The shield Hi is preferably soldered to the grounding tube 63 for providing a physically strong and low resistance electrical connection. The insulating sleeve 69 preferably extends beyond the upper end of the grounding tube 63, and a female sleeve connector 12 of thin flexible material is positioned in the end thereof and suitably connected as by soldering to the radio- The female connector '12 is preferably slightly resilient and has an internal diameter such as to receive and form an electrical connection with a dog 14 on the lower end of the bolt M. The grounding tube 63 as shown has been spun or necked inwardly as, at '53 to firmly position the insulating sleeve 69 and the female sleeve connector 72 relative thereto. This construction is shown and described in the application for patent of Milton R. Friedberg and Theodore R. Finke, entitled Grooved Connector, Serial No. 657,438, filed March 27, 1946.

As hereinbefore stated, the lower half ball member H is preferably formed of an electrical conducting material for the purpose of providing a ground to the body panel C for the lead-in cable connector assembly D, the connection to the body panel C being formed from the braided shield 16 through the shielding tube 63, the nut 55, the concave washer 55, and the lower half ball member II. If desired, suitable means may be provided on the fiat ringlike chordal surfaces 20 of the lower ball member to insure that when the entire antenna assembly is tightened into final adjusted position, the means will bite through any rust, paint, or other films on the lower surface of the body panel C and provide a good electrical connection.

To install the preferred embodiment of the invention just described on the body panel of an automotive vehicle, the hole H! of appropriate size is first drilled or otherwise perforated there through. The lowe and upper ball members I l, l2, respectively, are then positioned on opposite sides of the body panel with the bosses thereof extending through the opening is into the mating recesses. The sleeve nut 38 is threaded upwardly on the bolt 3| as far as possible, and th sleeve 59, the insulating sleeve 49, and the grounding sleeve 58 are then assembled on the bolt 3i as shown, and the entire assembly is inserted through the aligned openings in the half ball members, at this time it being necessary to manually or otherwise hold the ball members in position. The nut 55 of the lead-in cable connector assembly D is then threaded onto the lower end of the grounding sleeve 48 and threaded upwardly as far as possible, bringing the lower end of the grounding sleeve 48 into engagement with the flange fi l on the grounding tube 63 and forcing the flange 54 to firmly bear against the fiange E2 on the nut 55. With the lead-in cable connector assembly D in position, it is still possible to tilt the antenna relative to the halfball mem bers or to rotate the ball members relative to the body panel C, which is then done so as to posi-- tion the antenna A at the exact angular posi tion desired for the final installation. The eccentric concave washer 43 is then turned to cover the slot opening 26 in th upper half ball member I2. For retaining the antenna in the adjusted position, the sleeve nut 38 is rotated down wardly on the bolt 3|, thus drawing the concave washer 55 upwardly and forcing the concave washer downwardly into firm engagement with the respective spherical surfaces of the half ball members, firmly clamping the half ball members into engagement with the body panel C and at the same time fixing the angular position of the antenna relative to the ball members and to the automotive vehicle or the like on which the antenna is being mounted. At the same time, the teeth of the lock washer iii are forced into firm biting engagement with the offset 58 of the con cave washer 55 and into the upper end of the nut '55. It willbe seen that the final tightening operation may be effected without access to the lower side of the body panel C, thus facilitating and enabling the installation by one man. 1 Thus it will be seen that an embodiment of the invention has been described which accomplishes the objects hereinbefore enumerated and others wherein a minimum number of supporting members provide a dual function of electrical insulation as well as adjustable physical support and which provides a mounting wherein the final adjustments may be effected from one side only.

Although in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes this invention is described as embodied in concrete form and the principle thereof has been described together with the best mode in which it is now contemplated applying that principle, it will be understood that the apparatus shown and described is merely illustrative and that the invention is not limited thereto, since alterations and modifications will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit of this invention 01' from the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. In an antenna and support therefor, an elongated antenna member, a base, a lead-in cable connector, said base comprising half ball members adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the panel of an automotive vehicle to form a generally ball-shaped base, and having slots eccentrically positioned in the surfaces of said half ball members and tapering inwardly to a central opening, said slots being generally aligned, said antenna having means extending through said slots, a threaded nut on the antenna end of said means, a sleeve threaded on said means having a short outwardly extending flange, an insulating sleeve on said first mentioned sleeve and abutting against said flange, a grounding sleeve surrounding said insulating sleeve and having an inwardly extending flang abutting against the opposite end of said insulating sleeve, the opposite end of said grounding sleeve being threaded, said lead-in cable connector having threads for engagement with said threads on said grounding sleeve and a cup-shaped extension for engaging the opposite side of said base from said nut.

2. In an antenna and support thereof, an elongated antenna member, a base, a lead-in sable connector, said base comprising half ball members adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the panel of an automotive vehicle to form a generally ball shaped base and having slets eooen-trically positioned .in the surface of said half ball members and tapering inwardly to a central opening, said slots being generally aligned, said antenna having means extending throughs saidslots, a threaded nut on the-antenna end of said means, a sleeve threaded on said means having a :short outwardly extending flange, an insulating sleeve on .said first mentioned sleeve and abutting against said flange, a grounding :sleeve surrounding said insulating sleeve and having inwardly extending flanges abutting against the opposite end of said insulating sleeve, the opposite end of said grounding sleeve being threaded, said lead-in cable connector having threads in engagement with said threads on said grounding sleeve and a cupshaped extension for engaging the opposite side of :said base from said nut.

3. In an antenna and support thereof, an elongated antenna member, a base, a lead-in cable connector, said base comprising members adapted to be'positione'd on opposite sides of the ,panel of an automotive vehicle and having openings itherethrough aligning with each other .and

8 with an opening in the panel, said antenna havingmeans extending through said openings, a nut on the antenna end of said means and adapted to engage one of th base members, a sleeve threaded on said means and having a short outwardly extending flange, an insulating sleeve on said first mentioned sleeve and abutting REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,365,886 :Lehmann Dec. 26, 1944

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