Patent ID: 6507317
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
An electronic device, comprising:a housing having an aperture to accommodate passing an antenna therethrough; a retractable quadrafilar antenna mounted in the housing proximate the aperture, the retractable antenna capable of being extended beyond the profile of the housing when in use, and capable of being retracted to within the housing when not in use, the quadrafilar antenna being spring-loaded to move the quadrafilar antenna to the extended position, energy being stored in a spring-loaded mechanism upon the quadrafilar antenna being retracted to within the housing; a latch having cooperating parts on the retractable quadrafilar antenna and on the housing, the latch capable of securing the retractable quadrafilar antenna in the retracted position; and an on-off switch, the on-off switch integral with the quadrifilar antenna, the on-off switch capable of completing a circuit to provide power to the electronic device when the quadrafilar antenna is extended beyond the profile of the housing, and capable of interrupting the circuit that provides power to the electronic device when the quadrafilar antenna is retracted within the housing.