US3634864A

US3634864A - Antenna for use with an automobile

Info

Publication number: US3634864A
Application number: US72069A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Trachtenberg
Original assignee: Interdynamics Inc
Current assignee: Interdynamics Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-14
Filing date: 1970-09-14
Publication date: 1972-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-11
Also published as: CA930435A; FR2106493B1; GB1296000A; FR2106493A1; DE7134276U; IT940752B

Abstract

An automobile antenna is formed by laminating an electroconductive wire, between two layers of a clear synthetic tape. One surface or side of the tape is self-adhering and is capable of adhering to a window surface. The tape is clear and will not yellow thereby not interfering with visibility. The electroconductive wire is electrically connected to a cable adapted to be inserted into the antenna receptacle in the automobile radio.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Joseph Trachtenberg New York, N.Y. [21] Appl. No. 72,069 [22] Filed Sept. 14, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] Assignee Interdynamics, Inc.

Brooklyn, N.Y.

[54] ANTENNA FOR USE WITH AN AUTOMOBILE 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 343/713, 343/873 [51] Int. Cl H0lq 1/32 [50] Field of Search 343/705, 708,711, 712, 713, 720, 872, 873

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,855,155 4/1932 Sampson 343/908 4/1940 Wolauer 2,481,978 9/1949 Clouch 343/712 2,667,577 1/1954 Craziano 343/814 FOREIGN PATENTS 387,215 2/1933 Great Britain 343/720 734,320 7/1932 France 343/906 1,127,674 8/1956 France 343/713 Primary Examiner-451i Lieberman Attorney-Henry R. Lerner ABSTRACT: An automobile antenna is formed by laminating an electroconductive wire, between two layers of a clear synthetic tape. One surface or side of the tape is self-adhering and is capable of adhering to a window surface. The tape is clear and will not yellow thereby not interfering with visibility. The electroconductive wire is electrically connected to a cable adapted to be inserted into the antenna receptacle in the automobile radio.

PAIENIEUJAMHBYZ 3l534lg54 INVENTOR JOSEPH TRACHTENBERG ATTORNEY.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automobile antenna, and more particularly, to an automobile antenna capable of easy installation. I

Classically, automobile antennas include projecting telescoping metallic electroconductive members suitable for mounting on the front or rear fender. Unfortunately, such antennas are frequently the object of vandals destructive actions which requires their replacement when they are bent or broken. Further, the mounting for the automobile antenna frequently becomes loose requiring frequent repair. In order to eliminate the above-mentioned damage resulting from vandals, the automotive industry has adopted a self-retracting automatic automobile antenna. Such an antenna is relatively expensive, complex and frequently unwieldy, often resulting in frequent malfunctions requiring expensive and frequent repair.

Another approach of the automobile industry has been to place the antenna within a portion of the automobilebody thereby hiding it from vandals. As illustrative of such an approach, a US. Pat. No. 3,208,070 issued to JQH. Boicey on Sept. 21, 1965 entitled AUTOMOBILE WINDSI- IIELD OF LAMINATED GLASS HAVING EMBEDDED ANTENNA WIRES, discloses a laminated glass with an antenna em bedded therein. Such an approach eliminates the problems of the projecting-type automobile antenna, but the Boicey device has attendant serious disadvantages. For instance, with the antenna wire being embedded in the laminated glass, thetentire glass must be replaced if for some reason the antenna wire becomes broken. Additionally, it is suggested that the antenna wire be located in the front window. it is obvious that such an approach while eliminating one problem, that is the vandalism problem, introduces several others, among them the need to replace a relatively expensive windshield if the embedded automotive antenna is not-properly functioning. Further, the windshield is also frequently the object of a vandals unwarranted actions and thus, the replacement of a windshield having an embedded antenna wire is more expensive than the replacement of a conventional front window; and further, it is frequently more difficult to obtain such a window having the embedded antenna wires.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved automobile antenna.

Another object of the present invention is to providesuch an antenna which is relatively inaccessible to vandals.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such an antenna which is relatively invisible.

Yet another object of he present invention is to provide such an antenna which is capable of easy installation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such an antenna which is capableof easy and relatively inex pensive replacement.

Another object of the present invention is toprovide such an automobile antenna which may be replaced and installed by the average consumer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an antenna which is capable of being attached or secured to a portion of the automotive body, such as the front windshield.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing a self-adhering transparent or clear synthetic tape including two layers with an electroconductive wire laminated between the layers to form the antenna. The tape preferably is a crystal clear polypropylene film and one of the outer surfaces of the laminated layers is provided with a self-adhering surface to enable the laminated or layer assembly to be attached or secured to the inside of the front windshield. The tape is clear so as not to obstruct visibility and exhibits the characteristic of not yellowing with age. Additionally, the laminated layer assembly will not dry out with age, thereby enabling the tape to be securely fastened and attached to the inner surface of the front window. I

The electroconductive wire preferably is thin so as not to obstruct the drivers vision. However, a wire of any suitable thickness could be utilized as a conductor of radio signals within the laminated tape assembly. The wire is flexible enough to permit installation over the dashboard and on the window surface. The length of tape running across the front window may be as long as desired to permit AM reception. For FM reception, a length of no more than 44 inches is desirable since a greater length would not provide for adequate FM reception.

The laminated tap assembly will not crack, yellow or dry out in the severest of ambient temperature conditions. It may be seen that the present invention provides a relatively simple automobile antenna capable of easy installation for use with conventional AM and FM automobile radios. The self-adhering nature of the laminated clear plastic assembly permits easy installation on the inner surface of the front window. If for some reason, the antenna is inoperative or becomes defective, it may easily be replaced by merely removing the laminated layer assembly, as contrasted with the prior art requirement of replacing the entire front windshield. By securing the tape to the inner surface of the front windshield, the antenna is not accessible to vandals. To provide for ease of installation, the antenna is electrically connected to a shielded cable which terminates in a plug suitable for insertion into the antenna receptacle commonly found in the rear panel of automobile radios. A fastening lug suitable for grounding purposes is also provided on the shielded cable to enhance the reception obtained with the present automotive antenna.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary view of the front dashboard and windshield assembly conventionally found in automobiles.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the automotive antenna of the present invention including a shielded cable and connecting plug.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken alonglines 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the laminated assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the Figures, and particular FIGS. 2 and 3, which illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 1 illustrates its method of usage, the automobile antenna is provided'with a shielded cable 10 having an antenna plug 12 securely attached to one end of the shielded cable. A grounding. lug I4 is secured around the other end of the shielded cable 10 for attachment to a ground point on the automobile A suitable sheet metal screw is utilized for attaching the metal lug l4 to the automobile body. The shielded cable 10 generally includes an outer coaxial grounding shield to which grounding lug'l4 is electrically connected. The two inner conductors of the cable are separated in a pad member 16 which is attached to the lug end of the shielded cable 10. The inner conductors are then connected to an electroconductive wire 18 which is laminated between two clear or transparent layers or strips 20 and 22, having equal width forming a laminated assembly 24 which carries the electroconductive wire therein. Each layer of the laminated layer assembly, preferably, is a crystal-clear polypropylene film having adhering characteristics. The outer surface 32 of upper or first layer 22 preferably is nonadhering, while the inner surface 28 is adhering and does adhere to a nonadhering inner surface 30 of lower or second layer 20. The outer surface 26 of lower layer 20 is provided with a suitable adhesive or securing means to facilitate the securing of the laminated assembly to the front windshield.

FIG. 1 illustrates the present automobile antenna being connected to a radio 40.

' FM recep- What is claimed is:

1. An automotive tomobile windshield,

a. a fine electroconductive wire,

b. a first transparent stri sive along one surface magnitude as the width radio antenna for attachment to an aucomprising,

p of unifonn width and being adhethereof,

of said first transsaid second strip,

e. whereby a laminated assembly is formed having outer surthe adhesive surface of faces comprising,

strip,

second strip to defi respectively, said second strip and the nonadh ne an antenna 2. An automotive radio antenna wherein said first and second tran polypropylene film tape.

as set forth in claim 1, sparent strips comprise grounding lug, said grounding lug being electrically connected to the shield of said s securement to the body

Claims

1. An automotive radio antenna for attachment to an automobile windshield, comprising, a. a fine electroconductive wire, b. a first transparent strip of uniform width and being adhesive along one surface thereof, c. a second transparent strip of uniform width substantially of the same magnitude as the width of said first transparent strip, said second transparent strip being adhesive along one surface thereof, d. said first and second strips being secured in substantially juxtaposed coincident relation with said electroconductive wire therebetween with the confronting surfaces of said strips comprising the adhesive surface of said first strip and the surface other than the adhesive surface of said second strip, e. whereby a laminated assembly is formed having outer surfaces comprising, respectively, the adhesive surface of said second strip and the nonadhesive surface of said first strip, said laminated assembly being securable to said windshield surface along the adhesive surface of said second strip to define an antenna for said automobile.

2. An automotive radio antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second transparent strips comprise polypropylene film tape.

3. An automotive radio antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is provided cable means connected at one end thereof to said electroconductive wire and adapted to be connected at the other end thereof to an automobile radio.

4. An automotive radio antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cable means comprises a shielded cable having a grounding lug, said grounding lug being electrically connected to the shield of said shielded cable and being adapted for securement to the body of the automobile.