Abstract:
An apparatus for storing an antenna for vehicle comprises a first roof device forming a portion of the vehicle roof, a second roof device cooperating with the first roof device to form therebetween a space for storing the antenna, and a supporting device for supporting the antenna and allowing the antenna to be pivotally moved such that the antenna is put in and out of the space.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for storing an antenna for vehicle mounted on the roof thereof. 
     It is well known that an antenna for vehicle is mounted on a roof panel of the vehicle. Such an example is seen in &#34;SKYLINE&#34; of types E-PJR30, E-UJR30, E-HR30 and K-ER30 made by Nissan Motors Co., Ltd. In an apparatus for attaching an antenna in these types, a support portion for supporting the antenna is disposed in the front portion of the roof panel. The antenna is supported by the support portion at one end thereof and the other end of the antenna is moved toward and away from the roof panel by a lever attached to the support portion and projecting into the compartment of the vehicle. The length of the antenna may be changed manually or by a power antenna mechanism provided with a driving device for increasing and decreasing the length of the antenna. 
     In such a conventional apparatus for attaching an antenna for vehicle to the roof thereof, the antenna and the support portion for supporting the antenna project above the roof panel so that the antenna is easily damaged by an accidental external force. For example, the end tip of the antenna may be caught in a brush and deformed during the washing operation of an automatic washing machine for washing a vehicle. Furthermore, the antenna tends to be damaged during the parking of the vehicle since a person can easily come in contact with the antenna. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the problems mentioned above, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for storing an antenna for vehicle in which the antenna is not easily damaged by an accidental external force or contact with a person. 
     With the above object in view, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for storing an antenna for vehicle comprising first roof means forming a portion of the vehicle roof, second roof means cooperating with the first roof means to form therebetween a space for storing the antenna, and supporting means for supporting the antenna and allowing the antenna to be pivotally moved such that the antenna is put in and out of the space. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be more apparent with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an apparatus for storing an antenna for vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II--II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III--III of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an apparatus for storing an antenna for vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along Line V--V of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along Line VI--VI of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, an elongated central roof panel 1 is secured to a vehicle body and a pair of movable roof panels 2a and 2b are detachably disposed on both sides of the central roof panel 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the central roof panel 1 has a generally rectangular central portion 1h in the center thereof and L-shaped side portions 1i and 1j on both sides of the central portion 1h. Inner weather strips 5a and 5b are mounted on the flanges 1a and 1b of the side portions 1i and 1j, respectively. The ends of the movable roof panels 2a and 2b on the central sides thereof respectively contact the inner weather strips 5a and 5b so that the movable roof panels 2a and 2b are hermetically connected to the flanges 1a and 1b of the central roof panel 1 through the weather strips 5a and 5b, respectively. 
     The central portion 1h and the side portion 1i of the central roof panel 1, the inner weather strip 5a and the movable roof panel 2a form a space portion 6, for storing an antenna 4, having a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the elongated central roof panel 1, i.e., the forward and backward direction of the car. However, the space portion 6 may be formed by the central roof panel 1, the weather strip 5b and the movable roof panel 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a support portion 3 for movably supporting the antenna 4 is attached to the front portion 1c of the central roof panel 1 and is located within the space portion 6. The antenna 4 may be put in and out of the space portion 6 by using a known lever joined to the support portion 3 within the compartment of the car so as to move the antenna 4. Furthermore, the length of antenna 4 may be changed manually or by using a known driving device such as a motor connected to the support portion 3 so as to increase or decrease the length of the antenna 4 by extending or retracting antenna tip 4a. In the above embodiment, the uppermost surface of the central portion 1h of the central roof panel 1 is substantially located at the same level as the uppermost surfaces of the movable roof panels 2a and 2b. 
     FIG. 4 shows an apparatus for storing an antenna for vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ends of movable roof panels 12a and 12b on the central sides thereof are in proximity to each other and oppose each other. An elongated central roof panel 11d is formed such that the uppermost surface thereof is recessed from the uppermost surfaces of the movable roof panels 12a and 12b by a predetermined length for storing an antenna 14 for vehicle. The central roof panel 11d has a pair of flanges 11e and 11f on both sides thereof for mounting inner weather strips 15a and 15b thereon, respectively. The inner weather strips 15a and 15b respectively hermetically contact the ends of the movable roof panels 12a and 12b on the central sides thereof. Accordingly, the movable roof panels 12a and 12b and the central roof panel 11d form a space portion 16a having an elongated opening only in the upper portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 6, a support portion 13 for movably supporting the antenna 14 is attached to the front portion 11g of the central roof panel 11d and is located within the space portion 16a. The antenna 14 is put in and out of the space portion 16a by the support portion 13 and a known lever joined to the support portion 13 within the compartment of the vehicle so as to move the antenna 14. Furthermore, the length of the antenna 14 may be changed manually or by a known driving device such as a motor connected to the support portion 13 so as to increase or decrease the length of the antenna 14 by extending or retracting antenna tip 4a. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the antenna 4 is rotated around the support portion 13 by a predetermined slanting angle and is put out of the space portion 16a. 
     In the above embodiments mentioned above, the space portions 6 and 16a having a predetermined length for receiving an antenna in the forward and backward direction of the vehicle are respectively defined by the central roof panels 1, 11d, and the movable roof panels 2a, 2b and 12a, 12b. The antenna is movably supported by a support device at one end thereof such that the antenna can be put in and out of the space portions 6 and 16a. 
     According to the construction of the apparatus of the present invention mentioned above, when a vehicle is parked and antenna is not used, the antenna can be stored within the space portion so that the antenna and a support portion for supporting the antenna are hidden from view. When the antenna is used, the antenna is rotated around the support portion by a predetermined slanting angle, thereby easily moving the tip of the antenna from the space portion toward a predetermined portion above the roof. Therefore, the antenna is not caught in a washing brush when the vehicle is washed by an automatic washing machine. Furthermore, since the antenna can be stored within the space portion, the antenna is not easily damaged by an external force and the manual operation of a person. The present invention can be preferably applied to a vehicle provided with the T bar roof described before.