Patent Application
20220123457
This invention relates generally to automobile equipment and, in particular to automobile antennas.
Prior art means for attaching an auxiliary communications antenna (CB radio, Satellite, etc.) to a vehicle consist of a magnetic base, clamp or similar temporary mount, which requires the coaxial cable from the radio to the antenna to be routed through the vehicle door or window to the antenna. This often leads to wind noise and/or water leakage through the door or window seal. Moreover, the ubiquitous temporary magnetic base antenna mount is becoming less and less universal as a result of the increasing use of non-ferromagnetic materials such aluminum and carbon fiber composites in vehicle construction. Permanent non-magnetic antenna installations require modification of (e.g. drilling holes in) the vehicle, which can also lead to water leakage if not done correctly, and requires irreversible modifications to the vehicle, which can reduce resale value.
The present invention comprises an antenna adapter which can be mounted to the roof of a vehicle equipped with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) roof-mounted “shark fin” antenna. According to an illustrative embodiment, the adapter comprises a spacer having a generally oblong body that matches the side walls of the OEM antenna but extends forward of the OEM antenna. The adapter has a mounting aperture that aligns with the mounting boss of the OEM antenna. In the illustrative embodiment, the forward end of the adapter has an aperture for mounting a New Motorola (NMO) mount. The underside of the adapter includes an oblong recess for routing an antenna cable from the NMO mount through the vehicle roof. The adapter is mounted to the vehicle roof using a threaded fastener that is longer than the OEM fastener. The fastener is tightened so that the adapter is sandwiched between the OEM antenna and the vehicle roof to provide a leakproof seal.
The present invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like references designate like elements and, in which:
The drawing figures are intended to illustrate the general manner of construction and are not necessarily to scale. In the detailed description and in the drawing figures, specific illustrative examples are shown and herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawing figures and detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but are merely illustrative and intended to teach one of ordinary skill how to make and/or use the invention claimed herein and for setting forth the best mode for carrying out the invention.
With reference to the drawing figures and, in particular FIG.1, a vehicle 10 is shown with a prior art Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) antenna 12, sometimes referred to as a “shark fin” antenna, mounted to the roof 14 of vehicle 10. Typically, the OEM antenna has an electrical cable 16 which passes downward through a cable aperture 18 in the roof 14 of the vehicle 10. A fastener is then used to attach the OEM antenna 12 to the vehicle. In some applications, such as a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, the single fastener is a bolt that threads into the OEM antenna 12 through cable aperture 18 from inside the cabin. A stand-off with at least one slot is placed between the bolt and the vehicle roof to provide an exit path for electrical cable 16 inside the vehicle cabin. In other applications, such as a 2012 Toyota Tacoma, the OEM antenna 12 has a stud with a passageway. The electrical cable is inserted into the passageway in the stud where the stud passes through cable aperture 18. A nut is threaded onto the stud from inside the cabin to hold the OEM antenna in place. In some applications, secondary apertures 20 are provided to give additional support to the OEM antenna with additional fasteners threaded through secondary apertures 20. The OEM antenna 12 has a perimeter surface 15 defined by a forward wall 17, a pair of lateral walls 19 and a rearward wall 21. The OEM antenna 12 further has a footprint 22, which is defined by the portion of the perimeter surface 15 that is in contact with the roof of the vehicle when the OEM antenna 12 is installed.
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With particular reference to
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Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the invention. For example, although in the illustrative embodiment spacer 26 extends forward of OEM antenna 12, spacer 26 could instead extent rearward of OEM antenna 12 without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.
Additionally, as used herein, references to direction such as “up” or “down” as well as recited materials or methods of attachment are intended to be exemplary and are not considered as limiting the invention and, unless otherwise specifically defined, the terms “generally,” “substantially,” or “approximately” when used with mathematical concepts or measurements mean within ±10 degrees of angle or within 10 percent of the measurement, whichever is greater. As used herein, a step of “providing” a structural element recited in a method claim means and includes obtaining, fabricating, purchasing, acquiring or otherwise gaining access to the structural element for performing the steps of the method. As used herein, the claim terms are to be given their broadest reasonable meaning unless a clear disavowal of that meaning appears in the record in substantially the following form (“As used herein the ______ term is defined to mean ______ ”)
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63092150 | Oct 2020 | US |
