Antenna unit with spacer and glass window with antenna unit

Abstract

To enable an easy detachment of an antenna unit from a glass window.SOLUTION: An antenna unit with a spacer is detachably attached to a glass window via a detachment member. The detachment member is constructed by the spacer, and the spacer includes: a first spacer that is attached to the side of the antenna unit; and a second spacer that is attached to the side of a glass plate constructing the glass window. The first spacer and the second spacer are detachably attached, and each of the first spacer and the second spacer includes: a guide surface that is constructed by a column-like member having a long shaft, and performs a guide so as to be slidable along a direction of the long shaft; and a regulation part that regulates a coupling position of them within a slide range that can be slit. In the coupling position to be regulated by the regulation part, the first spacer and the second spacer are detachably coupled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an antenna unit with a spacer and a glass window with an antenna unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose proposals for converting an existing glass window into a double-glazed window by adhering (sticking) a glass plate with spacers to the glass plate of the existing glass window with butyl rubber.

[0003] The bottom of such a glass plate with spacers is placed on a setting block, and then the glass plate with spacers is pressed against the glass plate of the glass window, whereby the glass plate is adhered to the glass plate by the butyl rubber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-140766 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-148966 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The double-glazed windows disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 use glass plates with spacers that have an area approximately equal to the area of the glass plates of the glass window (the area of the main surfaces of the glass plates; the same applies below).Therefore, by placing the bottom of the glass plate with spacers on a setting block, the glass plate with spacers can be stably attached to the glass plates of the glass window.

[0006] On the other hand, when attaching a small component with an area smaller than the glass plate of a glass window to a high position on the glass plate, it is difficult to use the setting block described above, so in such cases it is possible to fix the small component to the glass plate using only an adhesive such as butyl rubber.

[0007] In recent years, there has been a demand for effectively utilizing the glass plates of existing glass windows as support members for antennas by attaching small antenna units with antenna functions (such as the ability to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves) to the glass plates of glass windows.

[0008] Such antenna units are required to be removed from the glass window when repairs or maintenance is required, but there is a problem in that when they are fixed with adhesive as described above, it becomes difficult to remove them from the glass plate.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide an antenna unit with a spacer and a glass window with an antenna unit, which allows the antenna unit to be easily removed from the glass window. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, one form of the present invention provides an antenna unit with a spacer that is attached via a spacer to a glass plate that constitutes a glass window, wherein the antenna unit is detachably attached to the glass window via a detachable member.

[0011] In one form of the present invention, the detachable member is composed of a spacer, and the spacer has a first spacer attached to the antenna unit side and a second spacer attached to the glass plate side, and it is preferable that the first spacer and the second spacer are attached so as to be freely detachable.

[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, the detachable member preferably has a fastener that detachably connects the first spacer and the second spacer.

[0013] In one form of the present invention, the first spacer and the second spacer are each composed of a columnar member having a longitudinal axis, and each have a guide surface that guides them slidably relative to each other along the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a determining portion that determines their connecting position within a slidable sliding range, and it is preferable that the first spacer and the second spacer are detachably connected by a fastener at the connecting position determined by the determining portion.

[0014] In one aspect of the present invention, the detachable member preferably has a rotatable rotating portion on the second spacer.

[0015] In one form of the present invention, when an antenna unit with a spacer is attached to a glass plate arranged along the vertical direction, it is preferable that the first spacer and the second spacer are arranged with their longitudinal axes along the vertical direction, and the first spacer is removed from the second spacer by being moved upward relative to the second spacer.

[0016] In one aspect of the present invention, the first spacer and the second spacer are preferably provided at their upper portions with engaging portions that engage with each other to restrict tilting of the first spacer relative to the second spacer.

[0017] In one form of the present invention, the engagement portion has a groove portion formed in one of the first and second spacers and a hook portion formed in the other spacer, and it is preferable that the groove portion and the hook portion are engaged to prevent the first spacer from falling relative to the second spacer.

[0018] In one form of the present invention, when an antenna unit with a spacer is attached to a glass plate arranged along the vertical direction, it is preferable that the first spacer and the second spacer are arranged with their longitudinal axes along the vertical direction, and the first spacer is removed from the second spacer by being moved downward relative to the second spacer.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna unit and the first spacer are preferably attached to each other by a first adhesive tape, and a second adhesive tape with a release paper pre-attached thereto is attached to the side of the second spacer facing the glass plate.

[0020] In one aspect of the present invention, the first spacer, the second spacer, the first adhesive tape and the second adhesive tape are preferably made of a transparent member.

[0021] In one form of the present invention, the detachable member is preferably constituted by a hanging member, and the hanging member preferably comprises a first detachable part that is detachably attached to the side of the spacer, and a second detachable part that is detachably attached to the side of the window frame that constitutes the glass window.

[0022] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, one form of the present invention provides a glass window with an antenna unit, which comprises a glass plate and a window frame attached to the periphery of the glass plate, and in which the spacer-equipped antenna unit of the present invention is attached. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present invention, the antenna unit can be easily removed from the glass window. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a glass window with an antenna unit according to a first embodiment, as seen from the indoor side of a building; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of an antenna unit with a spacer according to a first embodiment; [Figure 3] Assembly perspective view of the antenna unit with spacer shown in Figure 2 [Figure 4] An assembled perspective view of the spacer located on the left side of Figure 2. [Figure 5] An assembled perspective view of the spacer located on the right side of Figure 2 [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a glass window with an antenna unit according to a second embodiment, as seen from the indoor side of a building. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the antenna unit with a spacer according to the second embodiment; [Figure 8] 8 is an assembled perspective view of the antenna unit with spacer shown in Figure 7. [Figure 9] Assembly perspective view of the spacer located on the left side of Figure 7 [Figure 10] An assembled perspective view of the spacer located on the right side of Figure 7. [Figure 11] 10 is a perspective view of a main part of an antenna unit with a spacer according to a third embodiment; [Figure 12] 10 is an assembled perspective view of the antenna unit with a spacer according to the third embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of a left spacer of a modified example in the spacer-equipped antenna unit of the first embodiment; [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of a modified right spacer in the spacer-equipped antenna unit of the first embodiment; [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the antenna unit with the spacers when the first spacer of the left spacer of the modified example is attached to the antenna unit and engaged with the second spacer. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the antenna unit with the spacer when the first spacer of the modified example attached to the antenna unit is being removed from the second spacer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the antenna unit with a spacer and the glass window with an antenna unit according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a glass window 12 with an antenna unit according to the first embodiment, in which an antenna unit 10 with a spacer according to the first embodiment is attached to a glass window 17. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the antenna unit 10 with a spacer shown in Fig. 1. Note that Figs. 1 and 2 show the antenna unit 10 with a spacer as viewed from the indoor side of a building 14.

[0027] The spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an antenna unit 16, which is detachably attached to a glass plate 18 constituting a glass window 17 via a pair of spacers 20. The spacers 20 are an example of a detachable member. That is, in the first embodiment, the detachable member is constituted by the spacer 20, and the antenna unit 16 is detachably attached to the glass plate 18 by the spacer 20. Note that the X direction described below refers to the thickness direction of the glass plate 18, and the Y direction refers to the width direction of the glass plate 18, which is perpendicular to the X direction. Furthermore, the Z direction refers to the height direction of the glass plate 18, which is perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. In the embodiments, the vertical direction is exemplified as an example of the Z direction, but the Z direction does not refer only to the strictly vertical direction and may include a direction slightly inclined relative to the strictly vertical direction.

[0028] The glass window 17 is an existing fixture installed in the Z direction relative to the floor 22 of the building 14, in an opening 24 of the building 14. The glass window 17 has a rectangular glass plate 18 and a metal window frame (also called a "sash") 26 attached to the vertical and horizontal edges of the glass plate 18. The glass plate 18 may be a single-pane glass plate, or may be double-glazed or laminated glass. The window frame 26 is a known frame-like structure made up of an upper horizontal frame 26A and a lower horizontal frame 26B extending along the Y direction, and a left vertical frame 26C and a right vertical frame 26D extending along the Z direction.

[0029] 2, antenna unit 16 is mainly composed of a rectangular glass plate in a plan view, and has front and back main surfaces 16A and 16B, an upper end surface 16C, a lower end surface 16D, a left end surface 16E, and a right end surface 16F. In this description, the surface facing the outside of the room will be referred to as the front surface (main surface 16A), and the surface facing the inside of the room will be referred to as the back surface (main surface 16B).

[0030] 1, the antenna unit 16 is configured to have a smaller area than the glass plate 18, and is positioned at a high position on the glass plate 18 in relation to the sensitivity of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves. Here, the "high position" does not strictly specify the position, and for example, the high position may be defined as anything above the midpoint of the glass plate 18 in the Z direction. Note that, although a rectangular antenna unit 16 is exemplified in the embodiment, the shape may be a circle such as an ellipse or a perfect circle, or a polygon other than a rectangle.

[0031] The antenna unit 16 is provided with an antenna 28 on its main surface 16A. The antenna 28 is provided, for example, by printing a metal material on the main surface 16A. The metal material constituting the antenna 28 is a conductive material such as gold, silver, or copper. The antenna 28 is preferably optically transparent. A light-transmitting antenna 28 is preferable because it has good design properties and can reduce the average solar absorptance. A conductor (not shown) is connected to the antenna 28. The antenna unit 16 configured in this manner has vertical edge portions on both the left and right sides of the main surface 16A removably attached to the glass plate 18 via the pair of spacers 20, 20 described above.

[0032] Fig. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10. Fig. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the left spacer 20 shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the right spacer 20 shown in Fig. 2. In the following description of the configuration of the spacer 20, since the left and right spacers 20 shown in Figs. 3 to 5 have the same configuration, only the spacer 20 shown in Fig. 4 will be described, and the spacer 20 shown in Fig. 5 will be given the same reference numeral and will not be described again.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the spacer 20 has a first spacer 30 attached to the side of the antenna unit 16 (see Figure 3), a second spacer 40 attached to the side of the glass plate 18 (see Figure 1), and a fastener 50 that detachably fixes the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 together.

[0034] The first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 are each made of a columnar member having a longitudinal axis (Z axis). Specifically, the first spacer 30 is a columnar member having a substantially rectangular cross section in the XY plane, and the second spacer 40 is a columnar member having an L-shaped cross section in the XY plane.

[0035] The first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 each have guide surfaces 31, 41 that guide the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 so that they can slide relative to each other along the longitudinal axis direction, and defining portions 32, 42 that define their respective connection positions within a slidable range. The guide surfaces 31, 41 are configured as flat side surfaces facing each other in the Y-axis direction, for example. The defining portion 32 is configured as a flat lower surface formed on the lower part of the first spacer 30, for example, and the defining portion 42 is configured as a flat bottom surface formed on the lower part of the second spacer 40, for example. The defining portion 32 abuts against or rests on the defining portion 42, thereby detachably attaching the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40. The defining portion 32 and the defining portion 42 may be detachably fixed to each other using a set screw (not shown).

[0036] Furthermore, the upper surfaces 34, 44 of the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 are provided with engaging portions that engage with each other. The engaging portions have a groove 43 formed along the Z-axis direction on the upper surface 44 of the second spacer 40, and a hook portion 33 formed along the Z-axis direction on the upper surface 34 of the first spacer 30. The groove 43 and the hook portion 33 are engaged with each other by sliding the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 relative to each other in the Z-axis direction with the guide surfaces 31, 41 abutting each other. Therefore, the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 are connected at the connecting position defined by the defining portions 32, . This prevents the first spacers 30 from falling relative to the second spacers 40.

[0037] In the spacer 20 of this embodiment, in order to allow the above-described sliding and engaging operations, the upper part of the second spacer 40 is opened to allow the upper part of the first spacer 30 to protrude from the upper part. Furthermore, a wall portion 46 that abuts against the lower part of the first spacer 30 protrudes from the lower part of the second spacer 40 along the Z direction, and the lower part of the first spacer 30 abuts against this wall portion 46, thereby also restricting the above-described tilting. Note that the groove portion 43 may be formed on the first spacer 30 side, and the hook portion 33 may be formed on the second spacer 40 side.

[0038] Fastener 50 is configured in a generally lid-like shape having a top plate 51 and two wall portions 52, 53 that are perpendicular to each other, and top plate 51 is placed over top surface 34 of first spacer 30 and top surface 44 of second spacer 40. A screw hole (which may be a through-hole) 54 is formed in top plate 51 so as to pass through along the Z-axis direction, and a screw hole 35 is formed in top surface 34 of first spacer 30 opposite screw hole 54, along the Z-axis direction. Wall portion 52 also has a relief groove 55 formed along the Z-axis direction to avoid impact with hook portion 33 when top plate 51 is placed over the above-mentioned top surfaces 34, 44.

[0039] The fastener 50 configured as described above is connected to the first spacer 30 by placing the top plate 51 over the upper surfaces 34, 44 and fastening a set screw 56 (see FIG. 3 ) from the screw hole 54 to the screw hole 35. In this case, the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 are engaged by the engaging portion described above, and therefore, by connecting the fastener 50 to the first spacer 30 with the set screw 56 as described above, the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 are detachably connected by the fastener 50. Note that, although the fastener 50 is not an essential component in the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 of the embodiment, providing the fastener 50 is preferable because it can fix the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40. Furthermore, by fixing the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 with the fastener 50, the distance between the glass window 17 and the antenna unit 16 is maintained, thereby stabilizing the antenna performance of the antenna unit 16.

[0040] The spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 having the spacer 20 configured as described above is constructed by adhering the antenna unit 16 to the first spacer 30 with adhesive tape 60, as shown in Fig. 3. The spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 is also adhered to the glass plate 18 (see Fig. 1) with adhesive tape 62 adhered to the second spacer 40.

[0041] The adhesive tape 60 is an example of a first adhesive tape, and is adhered along the side surface 36 of the first spacer 30 facing the interior of the room. The adhesive tape 62 is an example of a second adhesive tape, and is adhered along the side surface 45 of the second spacer 40 facing the glass plate 18. Note that a release paper 64 is attached to the adhesive tape 62 in advance until the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 is adhered to the glass plate 18.

[0042] The first spacer 30, the second spacer 40, and the fastener 50 that make up the spacer 20 are preferably made of transparent materials. Similarly, the adhesive tapes 60, 62 are preferably made of transparent materials. By making the spacer 20 and the adhesive tapes 60, 62 out of transparent materials in this way, the transparency of the glass plate 18 can be ensured, thereby improving the design of the glass window 12 with an antenna unit. An example of the spacer 20 made of a transparent material is one made of acrylic. An example of the adhesive tapes 60, 62 made of a transparent material is an acrylic foam-based strong adhesive double-sided tape (VHB Tape (registered trademark) manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited).

[0043] The spacer 20 and adhesive tapes 60, 62 are not limited to being transparent materials; the spacer 20 may be made of, for example, AES (acrylonitrile·ethylene-propylene-diene·styrene) or polycarbonate, and the adhesive tapes 60, 62 may be made of butyl tape or HYPERJOINT (registered trademark) manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation.

[0044] Next, an example of a method for assembling the antenna unit-equipped glass window 12 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0045] First, to assemble the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10, the first spacers 30 are attached to the left and right vertical edge portions of the main surface 16A of the antenna unit 16 using adhesive tapes 60. Next, the first spacers 30, 30 to which the antenna unit 16 is attached, are connected to the second spacers 40. That is, with the top of the first spacer 30 protruding from the top of the second spacer 40 and the guide surfaces 31 of the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 abutting against each other, the first spacer 30 is slid downward relative to the second spacer 40 to engage the hook portion 33 with the groove portion 43. Next, the top plate 51 of the fastener 50 is placed over the top surfaces 34 of the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40, and then a set screw 56 is fastened from the screw hole 54 to the screw hole 35. This completes the assembly of the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10.

[0046] Next, the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 is attached to the glass plate 18. That is, after peeling off the release papers 64, 64 from the adhesive tapes 62, 62 attached to the second spacers 40, 40, the second spacers 40, 40 are attached to the glass plate 18 with the adhesive tapes 62, 62 (see FIG. 1). Then, the lower ends of linear members 66, 66 such as wires are connected to the fasteners 50, 50, and the upper ends of the linear members 66, 66 are connected to the upper horizontal frame 26A of the window frame 26. In this way, the glass window 12 with an antenna unit of the first embodiment is assembled. Note that the linear members 66, 66 are not essential members.

[0047] Next, a method for removing the antenna unit 16 from the glass window 17 for maintenance of the antenna unit 16 will be described.

[0048] First, the lower ends of the linear members 66 are removed from the fasteners 50. Next, the set screws 56 are loosened to remove the fasteners 50 from the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40. Next, the antenna unit 16 is lifted upward in the Z-axis direction. This moves the first spacer 30 upward relative to the second spacer 40, and the hook portion 33 of the first spacer 30 disengages from the groove portion 43 of the second spacer 40. This allows the first spacer 30 and the second spacer to be detached from each other at a position shifted from the connecting position. Thereafter, the antenna unit 16 is pulled toward the interior of the room. By this action, the antenna unit 16 can be removed from the glass window 17.

[0049] Therefore, according to the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 of the first embodiment, the antenna unit 16 can be removably attached to the glass plate 18 of the glass window 17 via the spacer 20, which is a detachable member, so that the antenna unit 16 can be easily removed from the glass window 17.

[0050] Here, in the spacer 20 of the first embodiment, the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 are engaged with each other using the aforementioned engaging portions, and then the fastener 50 is connected to the first spacer 30 to detachably connect the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40. In other words, although the embodiment using the engaging portions has been described as a detachable configuration, the engaging portions are not necessarily required. For example, four wall surfaces are connected to the lower part of the top plate 51 of the fastener 50 in a frame-like manner, and the upper parts of the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 are fitted into cubic recesses defined by the four side surfaces. Then, the fastener 50 is connected to the first spacer 30 or the second spacer 40 with a set screw 56. By using the fastener 50 configured in this way, the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 40 can be detachably connected with the fastener 50 without using the aforementioned engaging portions.

[0051] Fig. 13 is an assembled perspective view of a modified left spacer 320 in the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 of the first embodiment, and Fig. 14 is an assembled perspective view of a modified right spacer 320. In the following, in describing the configuration of the spacer 320, since the left and right spacers 320 have the same configuration, the spacer 320 shown in Fig. 13 will be described here, and the spacer 320 shown in Fig. 14 will be given the same reference numeral and description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 13 , the spacer 320 has a first spacer 330 attached to the antenna unit 16 (see FIG. 3 ) side and a second spacer 340 attached to the glass plate 18 (see FIG. 1 ) side, and does not include the fastener 50, but instead has a rotating portion 360 and a top plate 370. As with the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 of the first embodiment described above, the second spacer 340 and the first spacer 330 are engaged with each other by engaging the groove portion 343 with the hook portion 333, thereby preventing the first spacer 330 from tilting relative to the second spacer 340. When the groove portion 343 and the hook portion 333 are engaged with each other, the second spacer 340 protrudes in the longitudinal axis (Z-axis) direction relative to the first spacer 330, and the rotating portion 360 is connected to the second spacer 340 by fastening a screw (not shown) through a screw hole 364 to the screw hole 344. The rotating part 360 is L-shaped and is supported by the second spacer 340 so as to be rotatable within the YZ plane around the screw holes 364 and 344. The top plate 370 is connected to the first spacer 330 by fastening a screw (not shown) from the screw hole 374 to the screw hole 334.

[0053] 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the spacer-attached antenna unit 10 when the first spacer 330 of the left spacer 320 of the modified example is attached to the antenna unit 16 and engaged with the second spacer 340. There is a risk that the first spacer 330 may vibrate due to an earthquake or the like and move upward relative to the second spacer 340. Even if a force acts to move the first spacer 330 upward relative to the second spacer 340, the protruding portion 361 of the rotating portion 360 is positioned directly above the first spacer 330, so that the first spacer 330 comes into contact with the protruding portion 361. As a result, the hook portion 333 of the first spacer 30 does not come out of the groove portion 343 of the second spacer 40, and the antenna unit 16 is prevented from falling.

[0054] 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the spacer-equipped antenna unit 10 when a modified first spacer 330 attached to the antenna unit 16 is being removed from the second spacer 340. The rotating part 360 is rotated approximately 90° in the YZ plane from the position shown in FIG. 15 around the screw holes 364, 344 as axes. As a result, even if the first spacer 330 is moved upward relative to the second spacer 340, the first spacer 330 does not come into contact with the protrusion 361. Therefore, the hook part 333 of the first spacer 30 disengages from the groove part 343 of the second spacer 40, and the antenna unit 16 can be removed from the second spacer 340.

[0055] Next, a spacer-equipped antenna unit according to a second embodiment will be described.

[0056] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a glass window 112 with an antenna unit according to the second embodiment, in which the antenna unit 100 with a spacer according to the second embodiment is attached to a glass window 17. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the antenna unit 100 with a spacer shown in Fig. 6. Note that Figs. 6 and 7 show the antenna unit 100 with a spacer as viewed from the indoor side of the building 14.

[0057] In the following description of the antenna unit 100 with spacer and the glass window 112 with antenna unit, parts that are the same as or similar to the antenna unit 10 with spacer and the glass window 12 with antenna unit shown in Figures 1 to 5 will be given the same symbols and their description will be omitted.

[0058] 6, the antenna unit 10 with spacer shown has an antenna unit 16 detachably attached to a glass plate 18 via a pair of spacers 120, 120. The spacers 120, 120 are an example of a detachable member.

[0059] Fig. 8 is an assembled perspective view of the spacer-equipped antenna unit 100. Fig. 9 is an assembled perspective view of the left spacer 120 shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 10 is an assembled perspective view of the right spacer 120 shown in Fig. 6. In explaining the configuration of the spacer 120, since the left and right spacers 120 shown in Figs. 8 to 10 have the same configuration, only the spacer 120 shown in Fig. 9 will be explained here, and the spacer 120 shown in Fig. 10 will be given the same reference numerals and will not be explained again.

[0060] 9, the spacer 120 has a first spacer 130 attached to the antenna unit 16 (see FIG. 8) side, a second spacer 140 attached to the glass plate 18 (see FIG. 6) side, and a fastener 150 that detachably connects the first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140. The spacer 120 also has a defining portion 160 that defines the connecting position between the first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140.

[0061] The first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140 are configured as columnar members each having a longitudinal axis (Z axis). Specifically, the first spacer 130 is configured as a columnar member having an approximately rectangular cross-sectional shape in the XY plane, and the second spacer 140 is configured as a columnar member having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape in the XY plane.

[0062] The first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140 each have a pair of guide surfaces 131, 131, 141, 141 that guide the first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140 slidably relative to each other along the longitudinal axis direction, and the coupling position between the first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140 is defined by the defining portion 160. The guide surfaces 131, 131, 141, 141 are configured as flat side surfaces facing each other in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, for example. The defining portion 160 also includes, for example, a pair of dovetail grooves 162, 162 formed in the lower part of the second spacer 140, and a backing plate 166 having a pair of dovetail portions 164, 164 that are detachably fitted into the dovetail grooves 162, 162. The backing plate 166 is disposed below the second spacer 140, and the lower surface 132 of the first spacer 130 abuts or rests on the backing plate 166, thereby defining the coupling position between the first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140. The first spacer 130 and the receiving plate 166 may be detachably fixed together by a set screw (not shown).

[0063] The fastener 150 is integrally formed on the upper part of the second spacer 140 and has a top plate 151 and a wall portion 152. A through hole 153 is formed in the top plate 151 along the Z-axis direction, and a hole 134 is formed in the upper surface 133 of the first spacer 130 facing the through hole 153 along the Z-axis direction. A pin 154 shown in FIG. 8 is fitted into the through hole 153, and the lower part of the pin 154 that passes through the through hole 153 is inserted into the hole 134 of the first spacer 130. In this way, the first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140 are detachably connected by the pin 154 of the fastener 150. Furthermore, by inserting the lower part of the pin 154 into the hole 134, tilting of the first spacer 130 relative to the second spacer 140 is restricted.

[0064] In the spacer 120 of the embodiment, in order to allow the above-mentioned sliding movement, the lower part of the second spacer 140 is open so that the first spacer 130 can be inserted and removed from the lower part. In addition, the upper part of the first spacer 130 abuts against the wall part 152 of the fastener 150, thereby restricting the above-mentioned collapse.

[0065] Next, an example of a method for assembling the antenna unit-equipped glass window 112 of the second embodiment will be described.

[0066] First, to assemble the spacer-equipped antenna unit 100, the first spacers 130 are attached to the left and right vertical edge portions of the main surface 16B of the antenna unit 16 using adhesive tapes 60. Next, the first spacers 130 to which the antenna unit 16 is attached are connected to the second spacers 140. That is, the upper portion of the first spacer 130 is inserted through the lower open portion of the second spacer 140, and then, with the guide surfaces 131 of the first spacer 130 and the guide surfaces 141 of the second spacer 140 abutting against each other, the first spacer 130 and the second spacer 140 are slid relative to each other until the lower portion of the pin 154 is inserted into the hole 134 of the first spacer 130. Next, a backing plate 166 is placed below the second spacer 140, and the lower surface 132 of the first spacer 130 is placed on this backing plate 166. With the above steps, the antenna unit 100 with spacer is assembled.

[0067] Next, the spacer-equipped antenna unit 100 is attached to the glass plate 18. That is, after peeling the release papers 64 (see FIG. 3) from the adhesive tapes 62 (see FIG. 8) attached to the second spacers 140, the second spacers 140 are attached to the glass plate 18 with the adhesive tapes 62 (see FIG. 6). Then, the lower ends of the linear members 66 are connected to the fasteners 150, and the upper ends of the linear members 66 are connected to the upper horizontal frame 26A of the window frame 26 (see FIG. 6). This completes the assembly of the glass window 12 with an antenna unit according to the second embodiment.

[0068] Next, a method for removing the antenna unit 16 from the glass window 17 will be described.

[0069] First, the support plate 166 is removed from the bottom of the second spacer 140 to open the bottom of the second spacer 140. Next, the antenna unit 16 is moved downward in the Z-axis direction. This moves the first spacer 30 downward relative to the second spacer 40, and the pin 154 is disengaged from the hole 134. Thereafter, the antenna unit 16 is moved further downward, and the first spacer 130 is pulled out from the bottom open portion of the second spacer 140. This action allows the antenna unit 16 to be removed from the glass window 17.

[0070] Therefore, according to the second embodiment of the spacer-equipped antenna unit 100, the antenna unit 16 can be removably attached to the glass plate 18 of the glass window 17 via the spacer 120, which is a detachable member, so that the antenna unit 16 can be easily removed from the glass window 17.

[0071] Next, a spacer-equipped antenna unit according to a third embodiment will be described.

[0072] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the essential parts of the spacer-equipped antenna unit 200 of the third embodiment, and FIG. 12 is an assembled perspective view of the spacer-equipped antenna unit 200. As shown in FIG.

[0073] 11 and 12, the antenna unit 16 is detachably attached to an upper horizontal frame 26A of a window frame 26 (see FIG. 1) that constitutes the glass window 17 (see FIG. 1) via a suspending member 202. The suspending member 202 is an example of a detachable member. That is, the third embodiment shows an aspect in which the detachable member is constituted by the suspending member 202, and the antenna unit 200 with the spacer is detachably attached to the window frame 26 (see FIG. 1) by the suspending member 202.

[0074] Hanging member 202 includes fastener 206 detachably attached to the side of spacer 204, and bracket 208 detachably attached to the side of upper horizontal frame 26A (see FIG. 1). Fastener 206 covers the top of spacer 204 and the upper corners of antenna unit 16, and is detachably connected to the top of spacer 204 together with lower horizontal portion 210 of bracket 208 by set screw 212. Furthermore, upper horizontal portion 214 of bracket 208 is detachably connected to upper horizontal frame 26A (see FIG. 1) by set screw 216. Here, fastener 206 is an example of a first detachable portion, and bracket 208 is an example of a second detachable portion.

[0075] According to the spacer-equipped antenna unit 200 configured as described above, the antenna unit 16 can be removed from the glass window 17 (see Figure 1) by loosening the set screw 216 to remove the bracket 208 from the upper horizontal frame 26A (see Figure 1), or by loosening the set screw 212 to remove the antenna unit 16 from the bracket 208.

[0076] Therefore, according to the spacer-equipped antenna unit 200 of the third embodiment, the antenna unit 16 can be removably attached to the window frame 26 of the glass window 17 via the hanging member 202, which is a detachable member, so that the antenna unit 16 can be easily removed from the glass window 17.

[0077] 11 and 12 is preferably made of a single transparent member. The spacer 204 is preferably attached to the antenna unit 16 with adhesive tape 60 (see FIG. 3).

[0078] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 10...antenna unit with spacer, 12...glass window with antenna unit, 14...building, 16...antenna unit, 17...glass window, 18...glass plate, 20...spacer, 22...floor surface, 24...opening, 26...window frame, 28...antenna, 30...first spacer, 31...guide surface, 32...regulating portion, 33...hook portion, 34...top surface, 35...screw hole, 40...second spacer, 41...guide surface, 42...regulating portion, 43...groove portion, 44...top surface, 45...side, 46...wall portion, 50...fastener, 51...top plate, 52...wall portion, 53...wall portion, 54...screw hole, 55...relief groove, 56...set screw, 60...adhesive tape, 62...adhesive tape, 64...release paper, 100...antenna unit with spacer, 102...glass window with antenna unit, 120...spacer, 13 0...first spacer, 131...guide surface, 132...bottom surface, 133...top surface, 134...hole, 140...second spacer, 141...guide surface, 150...fastener, 151...top plate, 152...wall portion, 153...through hole, 154...pin, 160...regulating portion, 162...dovetail groove, 164...dovetail portion, 166...receiving plate, 200...antenna unit with spacer, 202...hanging member, 204...s Spacer, 206...fastener, 208...bracket, 210...lower horizontal portion, 212...set screw, 214...upper horizontal portion, 216...set screw, 320...spacer, 330...first spacer, 333...hook portion, 334...screw hole, 340...second spacer, 343...groove portion, 344...screw hole, 360...rotating portion, 361...protruding portion, 364...screw hole, 370...top plate, 374...screw hole

Claims

1. The antenna unit with the spacer is attached to a glass plate constituting a glass window via the spacer, the antenna unit is detachably attached to the glass plate via a detachable member, the detachable member is constituted by the spacer, The spacer is a first spacer attached to the side of the antenna unit; a second spacer attached to the glass plate; wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are detachably connected to each other, The first spacer and the second spacer are each constituted by a columnar member having a longitudinal axis, and each has a guide surface that guides the first spacer and the second spacer slidably along the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a defining portion that defines a connecting position between the first spacer and the second spacer within the slidable sliding range, and the first spacer and the second spacer are connected at the connecting position defined by the defining portion, and the first spacer and the second spacer are detachable at a position shifted from the connecting position. Antenna unit with spacer.

2. the defining portion of the first spacer abuts against or is placed on the defining portion of the second spacer; The antenna unit with a spacer according to claim 1 .

3. the detachable member has a rotating part rotatably supported by the second spacer; 3. The antenna unit with a spacer according to claim 1.

4. In the case where the spacer-equipped antenna unit is attached to the glass plate arranged along the vertical direction, the first spacer and the second spacer are arranged such that their longitudinal axes are aligned in a vertical direction; The first spacer is removed from the second spacer by moving the first spacer upward relative to the second spacer. The antenna unit with a spacer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. an engaging portion is provided at an upper portion of each of the first spacer and the second spacer, the engaging portion engaging with the first spacer to restrict tilting of the first spacer relative to the second spacer; The antenna unit with a spacer according to claim 4 .

6. the engaging portion has a groove portion formed in one of the first spacer and the second spacer, and a hook portion formed in the other spacer, and by engaging the groove portion with the hook portion, tilting of the first spacer relative to the second spacer is restricted. The antenna unit with a spacer according to claim 5 .

7. In the case where the spacer-equipped antenna unit is attached to the glass plate arranged along the vertical direction, the first spacer and the second spacer are arranged such that their longitudinal axes are aligned in a vertical direction; 3. The antenna unit with a spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer is removed from the second spacer by being moved downward relative to the second spacer.

8. the antenna unit and the first spacer are attached to each other by a first adhesive tape; a second adhesive tape having a release paper previously attached thereto is attached to a side surface of the second spacer facing the glass plate; The antenna unit with a spacer according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the first spacer, the second spacer, the first adhesive tape, and the second adhesive tape are each made of a transparent material; The antenna unit with a spacer according to claim 8 .

10. A glass window comprising a glass plate and a window frame attached to a peripheral edge of the glass plate, A glass window with an antenna unit, to which the spacer-and-antenna unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is attached.

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