WO2013014096A1

WO2013014096A1 - Antenna supporting unit

Info

Publication number: WO2013014096A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/064329
Authority: WO
Inventors: Natalino Salin; Daniel Zamberlan; Ciman Massimo Calearo
Original assignee: Calearo Antenne S.P.A.
Priority date: 2011-07-22
Filing date: 2012-07-20
Publication date: 2013-01-31
Also published as: ITVI20110198A1

Abstract

The invention is a supporting unit (1) for an antenna, comprising: a base element (2) suited to be positioned against a laminar supporting element (27); a fixing element (8) comprising three projecting bodies (11) whose plan layout defines corresponding recesses (12); joining means suited to connect the fixing element (8) to the base element (2) through an opening (28) made in the laminar supporting element (27); a cover (13) suited to be rested against the base element (2), on the opposite side with respect to the fixing element (8); two threaded holes (15) belonging to the cover (13) and two first through holes (16) belonging to the base element (2), suited to be arranged so that they face the respective first through holes (16) and positioned so that, when the fixing element (8) is connected to the base element (2), the axis of each first through hole (16) is located inside a corresponding recess (12).

Description

ANTENNA SUPPORTING UNIT.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns a supporting unit for an antenna, particularly suited to be fixed to the roof of a vehicle.

A supporting unit for vehicle antennas of the known type is described, for example, in the Italian patent application number VI2010A000209, in the name of the same applicant that is filing the present application.

Said supporting unit comprises a base element that is arranged so that it rests on the external surface of the vehicle's roof, at the level of an opening made in the same roof.

There is also a fixing element that is associated with the base element on the opposite side with respect to the vehicle's roof by means of a fixing screw. The fixing element comprises a centre body provided with a through hole that houses said fixing screw, from which four projecting bodies extend so as to develop radially with respect to the through hole and in mutually orthogonal directions.

The base element is configured so as to separate said projecting bodies while the fixing screw is screwed in, so as to superimpose their ends to the opening in the roof.

The base element and the fixing element are thus tightened against the two opposite sides of the roof, in such a way as to firmly connect the supporting unit.

The projecting bodies of the fixing element are arranged in such a way as to define the same number of intermediate recesses in which it is possible to place the electrical connectors for the connection of the antenna.

On the opposite side of the base element there is the circuit of the antenna, protected by a cover that is associated with the base element through respective connection screws.

Said connection screws are arranged outside the area defined by the fixing element and the connectors and thus externally to the hole in the roof.

Said screws are arranged in a corresponding number of through holes made in the base element and are screwed into corresponding threaded holes made in the cover.

Therefore, there is the drawback that the size of the base element and of the cover must be larger than actually needed to allow the supporting unit to be rested on the vehicle's roof.

Said larger size is due to the need to provide a perimeter portion on the base element, arranged externally to the hole in the roof, in which the through holes housing the connection screws are made.

Furthermore, in order to allow the successive removal of the cover with no need to disassemble the entire supporting unit, the connection screws are generally arranged with the respective heads abutting against the internal surface of the roof, so that they remain accessible.

This makes it necessary to make further holes through the roof in order to house said connection screws.

Since these further holes constitute potential points of penetration of humidity from the outside, there is the drawback that it is necessary to provide them with suitable gaskets that make the supporting unit more complicated.

The object of the present invention is to overcome all the above-mentioned drawbacks that are typical of the supporting units for antennas of the known type.

In particular, it is the object of the present invention to provide a supporting unit for antennas, in particular vehicle antennas, whose overall size is smaller than that of analogous supporting units of the known type.

It is also the object of the invention to reduce the number of holes to be made on the vehicle's roof in order to install the supporting unit.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by a supporting unit for antennas carried out according to the main claim.

Further characteristics and details of the invention are described in the corresponding dependent claims.

Advantageously, the limited size of the supporting unit of the invention makes it possible to improve the aesthetic and aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle on which the supporting unit is installed.

Still advantageously, the reduced number of holes to be made in the vehicle's roof makes it possible to reduce the risk of penetration of external humidity in the antenna.

The said objects and advantages, together with others which will be highlighted below, are illustrated in the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 shows a side view of the supporting unit that is the subject of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a plan view of the underside of the supporting unit of Figure 1 ;

- Figures 3 and 4 show exploded axonometric views of the supporting unit of Figure 1 according to different angular positions.

The supporting unit of the invention, particularly suited to fix an antenna to a laminar supporting element 27 like, for example, the roof of a vehicle, is indicated as a whole by 1 in Figure 1 .

It is important to specify since now, for the sake of clarity, that the laminar supporting element 27 is represented in the figures with a dashed line.

The supporting unit 1 comprises a base element 2 provided with a first surface 3 that is arranged against a first side of the laminar element 27, at the level of an opening 28 made in the same laminar element and indicated with a dashed line in the figures.

The supporting unit 1 comprises also a fixing element 8 suited to connect the base element 2 to the laminar supporting element 27.

Said fixing element 8 comprises a centre body 9 from which four projecting bodies 11 extend defining corresponding mutually orthogonal planes of symmetry Y, whose intersection defines an axis of reference X perpendicular to the first surface 3.

The projecting bodies 11 are configured so that, in the plan layout of the fixing element 8, each pair of mutually adjacent projecting bodies 11 defines a corresponding recess 12, indicated in Figure 2.

In variant embodiments of the invention not illustrated herein, the number of projecting bodies 11 can be different from four, provided that they are at least three, and the respective planes of symmetry can define any mutual angle, provided that said planes of symmetry are concurrent at a single axis of reference and the projecting bodies are configured so as to define said recesses.

The supporting unit 1 also comprises joining means suited to connect the fixing element 8 to the base element 2 so as to arrange the ends 11a of the projecting bodies 11 against the laminar supporting element 27, on the opposite side with respect to the base element 2 and at the level of the perimeter edge of the opening 28. In this way, it is possible to tighten the base element 2 and the fixing element 8 on opposite sides of the laminar supporting element 27 in such a way as to fix the supporting unit 1.

Preferably and as shown in Figure 3, said joining means comprise a fixing screw 24 that is suited to be inserted through a through hole 10 belonging to the fixing element 8 and screwed into a fixing hole 5 belonging to the base element 2.

Obviously, in construction variants of the invention not illustrated herein, the joining means can be of any known type, provided that they are suited to move the fixing element 8 near the base element 2 so as to tighten it on the laminar supporting element 27.

In any case, when the fixing element 8 is associated with the base element 2, said recesses 12 define on the first surface 3 the same number of areas that are left uncovered by the projecting bodies 11.

The supporting unit 1 comprises also a cover 13 provided with a shaped rim 14 that is configured so that it rests against a second surface 4 of the base element 2 opposing the first surface 3.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, there are also connection means between the cover 13 and the base element 2, which comprise two first through holes 16 belonging to the base element 2 and two corresponding threaded holes 15 respectively facing a corresponding one of said first through holes 16 when the cover 13 is arranged with the shaped rim 14 against the base element 2.

The connection means also comprise connection screws 23 that are arranged in each first through hole 16 and screwed into the corresponding threaded hole 15.

Obviously, said connection screws 23 allow the removable connection of the cover 13 to the base element 2.

According to the invention, the first through holes 16 are positioned so that, when the fixing element 8 is associated with the base element 2, the axis of each first through hole 16 is contained in a corresponding recess 12.

In other words, each first through hole 16 is positioned in the uncovered areas included between the shaped bodies 11 of the fixing element 8.

Obviously, and as shown in Figure 2, said arrangement of the first through holes 16 allows the object of reducing the overall dimensions of the base element 2 to be achieved, as it makes it possible to exploit the areas present between the projecting bodies 11 of the fixing element 8 to house the first through holes 16.

Consequently, the size of the base element 2 can be limited to the minimum necessary to superimpose the base element 2 to the edge of the opening 28, so as to allow the respective sealing gasket to be interposed therebetween. On the contrary, in the supporting units of the known type the first through holes are arranged outside the area occupied by the fixing element, making it necessary to widen the perimeter of the base element to house said first through holes.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the opening 28 generally has a profile with convex cross section, typically circular, rectangular or polygonal, which circumscribes a circular area arranged at the centre of the opening 28 and whose diameter substantially corresponds to the diameter of the circumference 7 defined by the ends 11a of the fixing element 8, indicated in the figures with a dash-dot line.

In this way, the first through holes 16 in the arrangement described above come to be facing towards the inside of said circle and thus are in the area protected by the sealing gasket of the base element 2.

Consequently, it is not necessary to provide further holes in the laminar supporting element 27 to house the connection screws 23 or further gaskets intended to make said holes tight, thus achieving a further object of the invention.

Furthermore, the fact that the first through holes 16 face the opening 28 makes the connection screws 23 accessible and thus allows the cover 13 to be removed with no need to remove the entire supporting unit 1 completely.

Preferably, the two first through holes 16 are arranged on two corresponding mutually opposing recesses 12, that is, interposed between the other two recesses 12.

This advantageously makes it possible to arrange the connection screws 23 in diametrically opposite positions with respect to the cover 13 and, therefore, favours the stability of the connection of the latter to the base element 2.

Furthermore, to advantage, said arrangement favours the uniform compression of the shaped rim 14 of the cover 13 on the second surface 4 of the base element 2, improving the tightness of the corresponding gasket interposed between the above mentioned elements. Regarding the electrical connections, the base element 2 preferably comprises two second through holes 17, each one of which is suited to house a corresponding electric conductor.

Said second through holes 17 are arranged through corresponding recesses 12 different from the recesses 12 in which the first through holes 16 are arranged.

Advantageously, said arrangement of the second through holes 17 makes it possible to optimise the space available for each electric conductor, which in fact can occupy the respective recess 12 completely, without interfering with the tightening of the connection screws 23.

Preferably, and as shown in Figure 3, said electric conductors are cylindrical connectors 18 that, advantageously, allow the rapid and effective connection of corresponding pins, not illustrated herein.

The first surface 3 of the base element 2 preferably defines two projecting housings 19, each communicating with one of the second through holes 17 and configured so as to accommodate a corresponding cylindrical connector 18.

Advantageously, said projecting housing 19 serves as a protection element for the connector and as a guide for the corresponding pin.

Obviously, in construction variants of the invention the number of second through holes 17 and/or of projecting housings 19 can be less than two, depending on the manufacturer's needs.

Preferably, and as shown in Figure 4, the second surface 4 of the base element 2 also comprises one or more seats 20 suited to accommodate the side edge 21 of a laminar element 22 arranged substantially perpendicular to the second surface 4 and aligned with the second through holes 17.

In particular, said laminar element 22 can be the electrical circuit of the antenna, which is connected to the internal devices of the vehicle through said electric conductors.

Obviously, in construction variants of the invention not illustrated herein, the shape of the seat 20 can be different from that described above.

In particular, the seat 20 can be configured so as to accommodate a laminar element arranged parallel to the second surface 4 of the base element 2, instead of perpendicular to it.

Regarding the fixing element 8, it is preferably of the type described in the patent application VI2010A000209, already mentioned above.

In particular, each projecting body 11 comprises a deformable connection section 25 that allows the mutual separation of the projecting bodies 11 , so as to allow the supporting unit 1 to be fixed to the laminar supporting element 27. Said separation is obtained by means of four guide projections 6 belonging to the first surface 3 of the base element 2, visible in detail in Figure 3.

Said guide projections 6 are arranged around the fixing hole 5 according to angular positions that are spaced from each other by 90° so as to be arranged against the ends 11a of each projecting body 11 during the tightening of the fixing screw 24.

Furthermore, preferably, each projecting body 11 presents two contact surfaces 26, interconnected by said deformable section 25, mutually facing and spaced according to the direction of the axis X of the fixing hole 5.

Said contact surfaces 26 can be brought in mutual contact through the deformation of the deformable section 25 during the tightening of the fixing screw 24.

In practice, in order to associate the supporting unit 1 with a laminar supporting element 2 like, for example, the roof of a vehicle, first of all the supporting unit

1 is assembled.

In particular, the circuit of the antenna is positioned in the seats 20 of the base element 2 and then covered with the cover 13 that is fixed to the base element

2 through the two connection screws 23.

The fixing element 8 is associated with the base element 2 through the fixing screw 24 that is inserted through the through hole 10 of the fixing element 8 and partially screwed in the fixing hole 5 of the base element 2.

Successively, the supporting unit 1 is arranged with the base element 2 in contact with the external surface of the laminar element 27, inserting the fixing element 8 through the opening 28, as shown in Figure 1 .

Then the fixing screw 24 is tightened. The fixing screw 24 pushes the fixing element 8 towards the base element 2.

During said movement, the ends 11a of the projecting bodies 11 are positioned against the corresponding guide projections 6, which cause said ends 11a to slightly separate towards the outside, as previously described.

Due to said separation, the ends 11a are arranged at the level of the perimeter of the opening 28 and compress the laminar element 27 against the base element 2, so as to fix the supporting unit 1.

Successively, the opening of the cover 13 can be achieved with no need to disassemble the entire supporting unit 1 , as the connection screws 23 are directly accessible through the recesses 12 of the fixing element 8.

The above clearly shows that the supporting unit 1 of the invention achieves all the set objects.

In particular, as the first through holes are arranged within the area occupied by the fixing element, it is possible to reduce the overall dimensions of the base element.

Furthermore, as the two first through holes face the opening in the laminar element, it is not necessary to make further holes in the latter in order to accommodate the corresponding connection screws and thus the risk of humidity infiltrations and the need for further gaskets are reduced.

Further construction variants of the invention, even if they are neither described herein nor illustrated in the drawings, must all be considered protected by the present patent, provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the protection of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1 ) Supporting unit (1 ) for an antenna, comprising:

- a base element (2) provided with a first surface (3) suited to be arranged against a laminar supporting element (27) provided with an opening (28); - a fixing element (8) comprising a centre body (9) from which at least three projecting bodies (1 1 ) extend that have respective planes of symmetry (Y) concurring at the same reference axis (X) perpendicular to said first surface (3) and configured so that each pair of mutually adjacent projecting bodies (1 1 ) defines a corresponding recess (12) in the plan layout of said fixing element (8);

- joining means suited to connect said fixing element (8) to said base element (2) through said opening (28) so as to arrange the ends (1 1 a) of said projecting bodies (1 1 ) against said laminar supporting element (27) on the opposite side with respect to said base element (2);

- a cover (13) provided with a shaped rim (14) that is configured so that it rests against a second surface (4) of said base element (2) opposing said first surface (3);

- means for connecting said cover (13) to said base element (2), comprising at least two threaded holes (15) belonging to said cover (13) and at least two first through holes (16) belonging to said base element (2), each one of which is suited to be arranged facing a corresponding one of said threaded holes (15) when said cover (13) is arranged with said shaped rim (14) against said base element (2);

characterized in that said first through holes (16) are positioned so that, when said fixing element (8) is associated with said base element (2), the axis of each one of said first through holes (16) is located inside a corresponding one of said recesses (12).

2) Supporting unit (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said fixing element (8) comprises at least four of said projecting bodies (1 1 ), arranged at 90° with respect to each other so as to define four of said recesses (12), said two first through holes (16) being arranged on two mutually opposing corresponding recesses (12).

3) Supporting unit (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that said base element (2) comprises at least one second through hole (17) suited to accommodate an electric conductor, arranged through a corresponding recess (12) different from the recesses (12) in which said first through holes (16) are arranged.

4) Supporting unit (1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that said electric conductor is a cylindrical connector (18), said first surface (3) defining a projecting housing (19) that communicates with each one of said second through holes (17) and is suited to accommodate said cylindrical connector (18).

5) Supporting unit (1 ) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises two of said second through holes (17), each one arranged on a corresponding one of said recesses (12) different from those corresponding to said first through holes (16).

6) Supporting unit (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that said second surface (4) comprises a seat (20) suited to house a side edge (21 ) of a laminar element (22) arranged substantially perpendicular to said second surface (4) and aligned with said second through holes (17).

7) Supporting unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection means comprise two connection screws (23), each one of which is suited to be inserted in a corresponding one of said first through holes (16) of said base element (2) and screwed in the corresponding threaded hole (15) of said cover (13) when said cover (13) is coupled with said base element (2).

8) Supporting unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said joining means comprise a fixing screw (24) suited to be inserted in a through hole (10) belonging to said fixing element (8) and to be screwed into a fixing hole (5) belonging to said base element (2).

9) Supporting unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said projecting bodies (1 1 ) comprises a deformable connection section (25) suited to allow them to be separated with respect to the other projecting bodies (1 1 ), and two mutually facing contact surfaces (26) spaced according to the direction of said reference axis (X), interconnected by said deformable section (25) so that they can be brought in mutual contact through the deformation of said deformable section (25).

10) Supporting unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises said laminar supporting element (27), said opening (28) defining an inscribed circle suited to contain the projection of said first through holes (16) and of said second through holes (17).