CN101027816A - Antenna housing and method for producing an antenna housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna housing, especially for a vehicle antenna for mobile telecommunication, which comprises a base (10) facing a mounting surface and a cap (11). The inventive antenna housing is characterized in that the cap (10) at least partially encloses the base (11). The invention also relates to a method for producing an antenna housing, especially for a vehicle antenna for mobile telecommunication, which comprises a base (10) facing a mounting surface and a cap (11) enclosing the same when mounted. According to the inventive method, the base (10) and the cap (11) are produced in two separate injection molding process steps.

Description

Antenna housing and method for manufacturing antenna housing

current technology

The invention relates to an antenna housing and a method for producing an antenna housing according to the preambles of the independent claims.

Usually antenna housings, especially such vehicle antennas for mobile communication, are mounted on the roof of the vehicle. Conventional antenna housings are mostly rigid structures and basically consist of a base plate, one or more circuit boards, and necessary components and cables. On the circuit board the circuits are usually made of the same conductive material that makes up the conductive parts of the antenna.

Due to their exposed position on the roof of the vehicle, conventional antenna housings are particularly vulnerable to the risk of breaking and are frequently damaged, for example, by inappropriate action and inattention when driving into car washrooms and the like. Furthermore, in the event of a break there is the risk of damage to the vehicle body. In order to avoid such damage, conventional antenna housings have a predetermined breaking slit. Another alternative is to have the known antenna housings be dimensioned such that damage to the roof of the vehicle becomes more difficult in the event of abuse.

The size and geometry of conventional antenna housings are limited by regulations for accident prevention measures. Antenna housings according to the prior art have a predetermined breaking slit in the form of a material weakening which runs circumferentially on the inner side of the antenna around the base plate of the antenna cap. The risk of possible damage due to exposed sharp edges is thus avoided. In the usual construction of the antenna housing, the antenna housing is made of plastic, wherein the predetermined break-off slots are produced together with the housing in the same process, for example in injection molding. At the same time, depending on the process conditions, quality damage in the form of "shine spots" occurs on the housing surface visible from the outside, which also impairs the overall aesthetic impression. Furthermore, the production method of the antenna housing becomes relatively expensive and complicated by the arrangement of the necessary predetermined breaking openings in the profile form.

Another common form of accident prevention measure is the flexible construction of the tip or cap of the antenna, which can be achieved by suitable material selection. For example, conventional antenna caps are manufactured from a soft plastic. The usual manufacture of antenna housings takes place in a two-part process, in which a tip is injection-moulded from soft plastic on the free end of the base body of the antenna housing which is processed from a hard material. A disadvantage of this method is that, in the assembled state of the antenna housing, a joint line is produced between the base body and the antenna cap at the joint seam. On the one hand, this can have a negative effect on the surface quality of the antenna housing, and on the other hand, the bonding wire is visible from the outside on the body of the motor vehicle in the assembled state of the antenna housing and impairs the visual impression.

Advantages of the invention

In an antenna housing according to the invention, in particular a vehicle antenna housing for mobile communications, a base body facing the mounting surface and a cap lying thereon in the assembled state, the cap covering the base body at least in partial regions. In particular it is possible for the cap to completely cover the base body. Interfering bright spots that form during the production of the intended breaking seam can thus advantageously be avoided or covered up. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined breaking seam is formed on the joining edge of the main body. In particular it can form sharp edges. With this structural form, the intended breaking crack has a contour optimized for its breaking behavior. After the base body is covered by the cap according to the invention, there is also advantageously no risk of damage. Furthermore, the intended breaking seam is not visible from the outside and thus does not impede the overall visual impression. With the antenna housing according to the invention a greater degree of artistic freedom is possible in the arrangement of the antenna, while at the same time accident prevention regulations can be complied with.

The base body of the antenna housing according to the invention preferably consists of a rigid material, for example a hard plastic, and the antenna cap consists of a flexible material, for example a soft plastic. The arrangement of the flexible cap is advantageous in view of accident prevention regulations. It is also conceivable for the cap to have a circumferential sealing edge pressed against the mounting surface in a form-fitting manner. Advantageously, a detachable form-fit connection between the vehicle body and the antenna housing can thus be achieved without great outlay.

In the method according to the invention for producing an antenna housing, the base body and the cap are produced in two separate die-casting operations. In a particularly preferred production method of the antenna housing, in a first step, a rigid base body is produced from a first material, and in a subsequent second step, a cap is injection molded from a second material, wherein the base body Forms a material connection with a second material. The first material is preferably made of a rigid material, for example a hard plastic, and the antenna cap is made of a flexible material, for example a soft plastic. In order to produce a material connection between the two materials, it is advantageous for the two materials to have approximately the same melting point. It is also possible to use the same material for the cap and the base. In the production method, the base body is preferably machined from the first material in a first injection casting process, and the surface of the first material is subsequently welded with the material of the second injection casting process in a second injection casting process. In this way, a good material connection between the two materials can be achieved.

The production method according to the invention is simple and inexpensive. At the same time it is advantageous that a formed material weakening can be injection-molded onto the surface of the base body. At the same time, structural measures must be taken on the base body to cover at least a partial area of the base body by means of the antenna cap so that it cannot be seen from the outside. For this reason, particularly interfering visible lines are also avoided during the production of the predetermined break.

It is advantageous in the production method according to the invention that the sealing edge can be sprayed onto the soft plastic material. It proves to be particularly advantageous when the base body is completely covered by the cap, because at the same time the cap can be pressed against the mounting surface and together with the sealing edge creates a particularly stable and moisture-tight contact between the antenna housing and the mounting surface. connect. Preferably, the seal has an outwardly sloping recess or undercut, so that an improved sealing seat is obtained on the mounting surface, in particular if the sealing seat has a corresponding recess. Furthermore, the seal formed in this way is easier to remove, a simple tool can be inserted into the beveled portion of the recess and the seal can be separated effortlessly by pressing upwards and/or pulling.

Attached picture

Further embodiments, aspects and advantages of the invention are also obtained from the following exemplary embodiments of the invention represented in the drawings, independently of the general description in the claims and without general limitations.

In the example shown below:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through an antenna housing according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial enlarged view of the antenna housing shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another partial enlarged view according to the antenna housing shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is seen from above under assembled state, the perspective view of antenna shell structural form of the present invention; And

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the antenna housing seen from below in an unassembled state.

Example Description

Figure 1 shows a sectional view through an antenna housing according to the invention, in particular an automotive antenna housing for mobile communication, with a base body 10 towards the mounting surface not shown in Figure 1, and the upper part in the assembled state. Cap 11. The cap 11 consists of a flexible material and completely covers the base body 10 made of rigid material, so that in connection with the assembled state, the lower edge 15 of the cap 11 is pressed against the mounting surface. Overall the antenna housing has a fin-shaped basic shape, wherein the cap 11 of the antenna housing is arranged at the tip of the fin.

To produce the antenna housing, in the method according to the invention the base body 10 and the cap 11 are produced in two separate injection molding processes. Furthermore, in the first working step the preferably hard base body 10 is produced from a first, preferably hard material, and in the subsequent second working step the cap 11 is made from a second, preferably flexible material. In terms of manufacturing method, preferably in the first die casting process, the base body is made of the first material, and then the surface of the first material is welded by the material of the second die casting process in the second die casting process. In this way, a good material connection between the two materials can be achieved. Furthermore, the first and the second material preferably have approximately the same melting point.

The enlarged partial view shown in FIG. 2 illustrates the area circled in FIG. 1 and indicated by II. Like elements are each indicated with the same reference numerals in the figures.

The exact position of the predetermined breaking seam 12 is clearly visible in FIG. 2 . It is formed on the joining edge 13 of the base body 10 . The predetermined breaking seam 12 forms a sharp edge and has a contour optimized for its breaking behavior. Since the base body 10 is completely covered by the cap 11, the intended break 13 is not visible from the outside. In the event of a possible breakage of the antenna housing, the flexible cap 11 is preferably snapped off at this predetermined weak point.

FIG. 3 shows the area of the antenna housing according to FIG. 1 which is circled and denoted by III. The enlarged detail shown in FIG. 3 shows the bottom region of the antenna housing in the assembled state, with the cap 11 pressed against a not-shown mounting surface. The cap 11 has a circumferential sealing edge 14 which is positively pressed against the mounting surface, with which edge a detachable connection is produced between the antenna housing and the mounting surface. The sealing edge 14 is preferably injection-molded on the soft material forming the cap 11 with the production method according to the invention. At the bottom edge 15 facing the mounting surface, the seal 14 has an outwardly facing bevel 16 which can engage in a corresponding mounting surface (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the structure of the antenna housing according to the invention, seen from above in the direction of an unillustrated mounting surface in the plane of the illustration. Furthermore, only the cap 11 can be seen, while the base body 10 , which is completely covered by the cap 11 and overlaps, cannot be seen. The joining line between base body 10 and cap 11 is also not visible from the outside. Possibly occurring weak points of the manufacturing process on the surface of the base body 10 are also not visible because they are completely covered by the cap 11 .

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the antenna housing according to the invention, seen from the bottom, in the unassembled state. The circuit board, various components and cables are not shown in FIG. 5 . The bottom region of the antenna housing forms a double wall and comprises a base body 10 of rigid material, which is hollow inside and which is completely covered by a soft cap 11 . At its free end, the base body 10 has a joining edge 13 which forms a predetermined breaking slit 12 . The predetermined breaking slit 12 is sharp-edged, which has a positive effect on the breaking properties of the antenna housing. The fin-shaped cap 11 forming the hollow body is completely accommodated and protrudes above the base body 10 , wherein the base body 10 and the base surface on which the cap 11 presses against the mounting surface are arranged on the same plane. On its bottom edge, the cap 11 has a circumferential sealing edge 14 which, after assembly, is positively pressed against the mounting surface. Mounting points 17 are arranged on the bottom edge of the antenna housing facing the mounting surface, which serve to fasten the antenna housing on the mounting surface. For reasons of clarity, only a few assembly points are marked with reference numerals.

Claims (9)

1. An antenna housing, especially for a car antenna for mobile communication, comprising a base body (10) and a cap (11) facing the mounting surface, characterized in that the cap (11) covers the base body (10) at least in a partial area . 2. Antenna housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap (11) completely covers the base body (10) on its outer surface. 3. The antenna housing as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cap (11) consists of a flexible material. 4 . The antenna housing as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the cap ( 11 ) has a circumferential sealing edge ( 14 ) which is pressed in a form-fitting manner against the mounting surface. 5 . The antenna housing as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that predetermined breaking openings ( 12 ) are formed within the cap ( 11 ) at the joint edge ( 13 ) of the base body ( 10 ). 6. The antenna casing according to claim 5, characterized in that the predetermined break (12) is a sharp-edged structure. 7. A method for manufacturing an antenna housing, especially for an automotive antenna for mobile communications, said antenna housing comprising a base (10) facing the mounting surface and a cap (11) positioned thereon in the mounted state, characterized in In that, the base body (10) and the cap (11) are produced in two separate die-casting operations. 8. The method for manufacturing an antenna housing according to claim 7, characterized in that, in the first process, a hard substrate (10) is produced from a first material, and in the subsequent second process, The cap (11) is injection molded from the second material, a material connection being formed between the base body (10) and the second material. 9. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the first material and the second material have approximately the same melting point.

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