GB2188193A - Car aerial - Google Patents

Abstract

A replacement radio aerial for a vehicle is provided, in the form of a metal rod 1 of a length adapted to function as a radio aerial, said metal rod being provided with a taper 2 at an end thereof, said taper being such that the rod is receivable as a secure fit within an aperture resulting from the snapping off from a vehicle of a radio aerial. The taper may be formed by machining or otherwise shaping an end of the rod or by securing a tapered element to the rod adjacent an end thereof. The rod may be solid or hollow; the rod may be telescopic. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Radio aerial This invention relates to a radio aerial for a vehicle and in particularto a radio aerial to be usedto replace a vehicle radio aerial which has been accidentallyordeliberately broken off.

Motorcarsarefrequentlyvandalised by having their radio aerials snapped offfrom their mounting points. The result is of course that radio reception is very poor. The conventional solution is to insert a bent metal wire coat-hanger into the hole left as a result of breaking off the radio aerial; this is neither an aesthetically pleasing nor efficient solution.

According to the present invention there is provided a replacement radio aerial fora vehicle, in the form of a metal rod of a length adapted to function as a radio aerial,saidmetal rod being providedwithataperat an end thereof, said taper being such that the rod is receivable as a secure fit within an aperture resulting from the snapping off of a conventional vehicle radio aerial.

Thetaperformed on said metal rod may be provided by spot-welding, braising, soldering or otherwise securing a tapered element (suitably of metal or plastics material) onto the metal rod adjacent to one end thereof.

Alternativelythe metal rod may itself betapered in order to provide for the secure fit within the said aperture, e.g. by machining, stamping or otherwise shaping, as required.

The metal rod may be solid or hollow and may if desired be arranged to be telescopic.

Anembodimentofthepresentinventionwill now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the sing le figu re of the accompanying drawing, in which there is shown a radio aerial in the form of slender metal rod 1. Atapered metal element 2 is brazed to a distal end ofthe metal rod 1,theoverall diameter of rod plus metal element being such that the rod can be received in the aperture formed by snapping off of a vehicle radio aerial andtherein inserted until the metal rod is a secure fittherewithin.

It is to be understood that the invention may be performed otherwise than as has been particularly described and the present invention is intended to include within its scope all modifications and alterations as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

1. A replacement radio aerial for a vehicle, in the form of a metal rod of a length adapted to function as a radio aerial, said metal rod being provided with a taper at an end thereof, said taper being such thatthe rod is receivable as a secure fit within an aperture resulting from the snapping offfrom a vehicle of a radio aerial.

2. Aradio aerial according to Claim 1,wherein said taper is provided by means of a tapered metal element affixed to said rod.

3. A radio aerial according to Claim 2, wherein tapered metal element is affixed to said rod by meansofwelding, brazing or soldering.

4. A radio aerial according to Claim 1, wherein said taper is provided by tapering an end of said metal rod.

5. A radio aerial according to any preceding claim which is telescopic.

6. Aradio aerialforavehicle,substantiallyas hereinbefore described, or with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7. Avehicle including a radio aerial as claimed in any preceding claim.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Radio aerial This invention relates to a radio aerial for a vehicle and in particularto a radio aerial to be usedto replace a vehicle radio aerial which has been accidentallyordeliberately broken off. Motorcarsarefrequentlyvandalised by having their radio aerials snapped offfrom their mounting points. The result is of course that radio reception is very poor. The conventional solution is to insert a bent metal wire coat-hanger into the hole left as a result of breaking off the radio aerial; this is neither an aesthetically pleasing nor efficient solution. According to the present invention there is provided a replacement radio aerial fora vehicle, in the form of a metal rod of a length adapted to function as a radio aerial,saidmetal rod being providedwithataperat an end thereof, said taper being such that the rod is receivable as a secure fit within an aperture resulting from the snapping off of a conventional vehicle radio aerial. Thetaperformed on said metal rod may be provided by spot-welding, braising, soldering or otherwise securing a tapered element (suitably of metal or plastics material) onto the metal rod adjacent to one end thereof. Alternativelythe metal rod may itself betapered in order to provide for the secure fit within the said aperture, e.g. by machining, stamping or otherwise shaping, as required. The metal rod may be solid or hollow and may if desired be arranged to be telescopic. Anembodimentofthepresentinventionwill now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the sing le figu re of the accompanying drawing, in which there is shown a radio aerial in the form of slender metal rod 1. Atapered metal element 2 is brazed to a distal end ofthe metal rod 1,theoverall diameter of rod plus metal element being such that the rod can be received in the aperture formed by snapping off of a vehicle radio aerial andtherein inserted until the metal rod is a secure fittherewithin. It is to be understood that the invention may be performed otherwise than as has been particularly described and the present invention is intended to include within its scope all modifications and alterations as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. CLAIMS

1. A replacement radio aerial for a vehicle, in the form of a metal rod of a length adapted to function as a radio aerial, said metal rod being provided with a taper at an end thereof, said taper being such thatthe rod is receivable as a secure fit within an aperture resulting from the snapping offfrom a vehicle of a radio aerial.

2. Aradio aerial according to Claim 1,wherein said taper is provided by means of a tapered metal element affixed to said rod.

3. A radio aerial according to Claim 2, wherein tapered metal element is affixed to said rod by meansofwelding, brazing or soldering.

4. A radio aerial according to Claim 1, wherein said taper is provided by tapering an end of said metal rod.

5. A radio aerial according to any preceding claim which is telescopic.

6. Aradio aerialforavehicle,substantiallyas hereinbefore described, or with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7. Avehicle including a radio aerial as claimed in any preceding claim.