Preassembled Antenna Mount with Spreader Element

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antenna mounts for motor vehicles require separate delivery and assembly of base and lock nut components, complicating logistics and increasing assembly time, and often require a lock nut to counter the anchoring part from the opposite side of the body part.

Innovation Solution

A preassembled antenna mount with a spreader element that bends the anchoring claw's arms to engage with the antenna base, eliminating the need for a lock nut and allowing the arms to serve as ground contact elements for grounding, and using a screw to hold the components together and apply force for bending, which can be tightened from either side depending on the antenna type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the antenna mount is delivered as separate base and lock nut components, then the assembly can be secured from both sides of the body part, but the logistics and handling are complicated and assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring capabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the base and anchoring claw into a single preassembled unit where the anchoring claw is integrally connected to the base. This merging eliminates the need for separate lock nuts and multiple components, allowing quick installation through a single opening while maintaining secure anchoring capability. The integral design ensures proper alignment and reduces assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the anchoring part has a smaller outer cross section than the opening, then it can be inserted through the opening from the inside, but a lock nut is required on the opposite side which complicates the assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinsertabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring insertion from the inside and securing from the outside with a lock nut, the patent inverts the approach by designing the anchoring claw to be inserted from the outside through the opening and to secure itself on the inside. The spreading element causes the claw arms to spread outward inside the vehicle, anchoring the base firmly without requiring any components on the opposite side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the anchoring claw arms are spread to anchor the base, then firm anchoring is achieved, but the overall height inside the motor vehicle increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring firmnessVSAvoidheight inside vehicle
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a vertical spreading mechanism (which would increase height) to a horizontal spreading mechanism. The anchoring claw arms spread outward in the horizontal plane parallel to the roof surface, rather than extending vertically downward. This dimensional change allows firm anchoring through lateral distribution of forces while maintaining a low profile inside the vehicle cabin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates easier logistics and reduced assembly time by providing a single structural unit with a firm anchoring solution that reduces movement during tightening and allows for electrical grounding, maintaining a low profile within the vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

the screw is tightened, thereby spreading and bending the arms (22) of the anchoring claw (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

These latter are pressed into the body part, especially when they are pointed according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, which not only contributes to an immovable seat of the antenna mount on the body part, but also allows the arms to be used as ground contact elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP1994602B1Antenna holder
Publication Date: 2014.06.11 BLAUPUNKT ANTENNA SYST
  • EP1994602B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1994602B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1994602B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an antenna holder (2) for mounting on a body part (4), which is provided with an opening (6), of a motor vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle roof (4) having an antenna foot (8) and an anchoring arrangement (12) which projects beyond the antenna foot (8) and whose external cross section is smaller than an opening cross section of the opening (6). The invention provides for the preassembled anchoring arrangement (2) to have an anchoring claw (20) with a plurality of arms (22) which can be spread apart, a spreading element (24) for spreading the arms (22) apart, and an operating element (26) to make the spreading element (24) approach the antenna foot (8) with the arms (22) being spread apart.