Patent Publication Number: US-6710747-B1

Title: Modulized antenna sleeve

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a modulized antenna sleeve, and more particularly, to the modulized antenna sleeve that can be used for installing an antenna on an equipment housing briefly and reliably. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the communication products, the main function of an antenna is to transmit and receive signals. The antenna fixed to the communication product often needs rotating so as to obtain the optimum efficacy of transmitting and receiving signals, and additionally, the antenna exposed is vulnerable to the external impact, and the production cost of the antenna and related components has to be greatly reduced for gaining the market competitiveness. Hence, the mechanism design for fixing an antenna to a communication product has to posses the features of endurance; no entanglement of the conductive wires connected to the antenna while the antenna is rotated; and low cost. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of the conventional antenna fixed to an equipment housing, wherein an antenna  10  is installed on an equipment housing  30  of a communication product via a metal cylindrical tube  20  used as an antenna holder formed on the sidewall of the equipment housing  30 . While in mass production, the degree of tightness of the metal cylindrical tube  20  is not stable in quality and is not easy to meet the requirement of quality control, so that the metal cylindrical tube  20  and the equipment housing  30  are easy to be detached from the connection area thereof. Additionally, tolerating problems always exists in the production of every lot of metal cylindrical tubes, thus causing the inconsistent degree of tightness between the antenna and the metal cylindrical tube. Generally, the efficacy of tightness will be quite different even with only 0.1 mm difference of tolerance. Hence, the conventional metal cylindrical tube  20  has low production reliability. The antennas of different brands in the market have different sizes, and even the difference of about 0.1 mm would make the metal cylindrical tube fail to fit the antenna, and thus another metal cylindrical tube of different size needs to be used, therefore increasing the difficulty level of purchasing components. 
     Further, referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanism related to the rotation angle of the conventional antenna. After being installed on the equipment housing  30 , the antenna  10  has to be rotatable but with being restricted generally to 180 degree of angle, or the conductive wires (not shown) connected to the antenna  10  would be entangled. However, the metal cylindrical tube  20  as shown in FIG. 1 does not have the rotation-limiting design, and thus a rib element  42  has to be added to the cover  40  to block a protrusion element  12  of an antenna connecting element  14  for preventing the antenna  10  from over-rotation, and yet the rib element  42  makes the communication product lack integrality of appearance. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of the other conventional antenna fixed to an equipment housing, wherein the other conventional antenna  10  is inserted into a plastic antenna-mounting hole  22  so as to be installed on the equipment housing  30  of the communication product. The plastic antenna-mounting hole  22  is formed on the sidewall of the equipment housing  30 , and is fixed on the bottom of the equipment housing  30  by using a supporting foot  24   a  and a supporting foot  24   b . However, the structure of the plastic antenna-mounting hole  22  is quite complicated, and the requirement for the precision of molding tools and processing is high, and further the mechanism for preventing the antenna  10  from over-rotation has to be designed additionally, so that it is very inconvenient in using and manufacturing the conventional plastic antenna-mounting hole  22 . 
     It is worthy to be noted that, in accordance with different antenna products, different molding tools have to be made for manufacturing each of the aforementioned components, such as the metal cylindrical tube  20  shown in FIG. 1 or the plastic antenna-mounting hole  22  shown in FIG.  3 . Hence, not only those components are not sharable in use, but also the development expense of the molding tools occupies a great portion of the total production cost thereof. Moreover, since the structure of the molding tools for manufacturing the plastic antenna-mounting hole  22  is complicated, the expense needed for these molding tools is even higher. With the addition of other processing costs, the metal cylindrical tube  20  and the plastic antenna-mounting hole  22  both do not have competition edge in the market. 
     Hence, there is an urgent need to develop a modulized antenna sleeve for promoting reliability, lower production cost, preventing the antenna from over-rotation and increasing sharable possibility, so as to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional metal cylindrical tube and plastic antenna mounting hole. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforementioned background of invention, since the conventional metal cylinder tube and plastic antenna-mounting hole have the disadvantages of low reliability, high production cost and the communication product lacking integrality of appearance. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modulized antenna sleeve for promoting reliability; lowering production cost; and enhancing sharable possibility, etc., so that the modulized antenna sleeve is suitable for use in equipment housings (made of plastic or metal) of various thickness, and further the antenna installed can be prevented from over-rotation with maintaining the integrality of the appearance of the communication product. 
     In accordance with the aforementioned object, the present invention provides a modulized antenna sleeve used for installing an antenna on a base hole of an equipment housing, wherein at least one pair of folded portions are formed on the surrounding of the base hole, and the modulized antenna sleeve comprises: a hollow base member and a tubular main body located on a first surface of the hollow base member, wherein a through hole penetrates the hollow base member and the tubular main body, and the outer surface of the sidewall of the tubular main body has at least one pair of clipping hook elements, each of the clipping hook elements corresponding to each of the folded portions, each of the clipping hook elements comprising: a hook supporting portion, located on the first surface of the hollow base member, and on a second surface of the tubular main body adjacent to the first surface; and a hook portion, located on a surface of the hook supporting portion opposite to the first surface of the hollow base member, wherein the hook portion can be engaged with the folded portion. Moreover, the modulized antenna sleeve comprises: a rotation-blocking element, formed on a surface of the hollow base member opposite to the first surface, for restricting the rotation of the antenna within the range of an angle, wherein the antenna has a protrusion element, by which the antenna can stop rotating by the rotation-blocking element while the antenna is being rotated towards the aforementioned angle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of a conventional antenna fixed to an equipment housing; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanism related to the rotation angle of the conventional antenna; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of the other conventional antenna fixed to an equipment housing; 
     FIG. 4A, FIG.  4 B and FIG. 4C are schematic diagrams showing the assembly of an antenna, an equipment housing and a modulized antenna sleeve of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B are viewed from different angles, and FIG. 4C is the schematic diagram showing a finished assembly; 
     FIG.  5 A and FIG. 5B are 3-D schematic diagrams showing the modulized antenna sleeve of the preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively from different angles of view; 
     FIG.  6 A and FIG. 6B are schematic diagrams respectively showing the front view and back view of the modulized antenna sleeve, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram showing the top view of the modulized antenna sleeve, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6D is a schematic diagram showing the side view of the modulized antenna sleeve, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the front view of the other modulized antenna sleeve, according to the other preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram showing the front view of a base hole, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the top view of a base hole, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 4A, FIG.  4 B and FIG. 4C, FIG. 4A, FIG.  4 B and FIG. 4C are schematic diagrams showing the assembly of an antenna, an equipment housing and a modulized antenna sleeve of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B are viewed from different angles, and FIG. 4C is the schematic diagram showing a finished assembly. The modulized antenna sleeve  100  mainly has a tubular main body  110  and a hollow base member  120 . When the modulized antenna sleeve  100  is used to fix the antenna  10  to the equipment housing  30 , a base hole  200  is first formed on the sidewall of the housing  30 , of the communication product, and then folded portions  210   a  and  210   b  that are opposite to each other are formed on the surrounding of the base hole  200 , and thereafter, the tubular main body  110  is inserted into the base hole  200  until the clipping hook elements  112   a  and  112   b  are engaged with the folded portions  210   a  and  210   b . Subsequently, the antenna connecting element  14  of the antenna  10  is inserted into the modulized antenna sleeve  100 , wherein a rotation-blocking element  124  of the hollow base member  120  is located above the antenna connecting element  14 , whereby the protrusion element  12  of the antenna connecting element  14  can be blocked by the rotation-blocking element  124  when the rotation of the antenna  10  goes beyond a certain degree of angle (for example: 180 degree), so as to prevent the antenna  10  from over-rotation, thus avoiding the entanglement of the conductive wires (not shown) connected to the antenna  10 . Further, such as shown in FIG. 4C, after the modulized antenna sleeve  100  is assembled with the antenna  10  and the equipment housing  30 , the total appearance thereof is quite integral, wherein no other mechanism designs exist. 
     Hereinafter, the related structures of the modulized antenna sleeve of the present invention will be explained in details. 
     Referring to FIG.  5 A and FIG. 5B, FIG.  5 A and FIG. 5B are 3-D schematic diagrams showing the modulized antenna sleeve of the preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively from different angles of view. The modulized antenna sleeve  100  of the present invention comprises: the hollow base member  120  and the tubular main body  110 , wherein the tubular main body  110  is located on one surface of the hollow base member  120 , wherein a through hole  118  penetrates the hollow base member  120  and the tubular main body  110 . A pair of clipping hook elements  112   a  and  112   b , and a pair of notches  114   a  and  114   b  are formed the outer surface of the sidewall of the tubular main body  110 . The notches  114   a  and  114   b  are formed on one end of the sidewall of the tubular main body  110  which is not adjacent to the hollow base member  120 , thereby enhancing the elasticity of the tubular main body  110 , so that the modulized antenna sleeve  100  of the present invention can be suitable for use in the antennas of various diameters, thus increasing the sharable possibility of the present invention. 
     Referring to FIG.  5 A and FIG. 6A, FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram showing the front view of the modulized antenna sleeve, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The hollow base member  120  has a rotation-blocking element  124 , and the rotation-blocking element  124  is formed on the other surface of the hollow base member  120 , which is opposite to the connecting surface between the hollow base member  120  and the tubular main body  110 . Just as mentioned above, the rotation-blocking element  124  is used for limiting the rotation range of the antenna. Moreover, in order to meet the requirement of product drop test, reinforcement elements  122   a  and  122   b  can be formed respectively on both ends of the rotation-blocking element  124  so as to strengthen the structure of the hollow base member  120 . However, the modulized antenna sleeve  100  of the present invention also can be the structure without the reinforcement elements  122   a  and  122   b . Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the front view of the other modulized antenna sleeve, according to the other preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the hollow base member  120  is the structure merely with the rotation-blocking element  124  and the through hole  118 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5B, FIG.  6 C and FIG. 6D, FIG.  6 C and FIG. 6D are schematic diagrams respectively showing the top and side views of the modulized antenna sleeve, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The clipping hook elements  112   a  and  112   b  on the sidewall of the tubular main body  110  correspond to at least one pair of the folded portions  210   a  and  210   b  shown in FIG. 4B, and the clipping hook element  112   a  (or  112   b ) comprises: a hook supporting portion  115   a  (or  115   b ) and a hook portion  113   a  (or  113   b ). The hook supporting portion  115   a  (or  115   b ) is located on a surface of the hollow base member  120  connecting to the tubular main body  110 , and the hook portion  113   a  (or  113   b ) is located on a surface of the hook supporting portion  115   a  (or  115   b ) that is not connected to the hollow base member  120 . The hook supporting portion  115   a  (or  115   b ) has a hook dividing space  116   a  (or  116   b ) used to divide the hook supporting portion  115   a  (or  115   b ) into two parts, thereby enhancing the elasticity of the hook supporting portion  115   a  (or  115   b ), so that the hook portion  113   a  (or  113   b ) can be easily engaged with the folded portions on the equipment housing without fracture. 
     Referring FIG.  8 A and FIG. 8B, FIG.  8 A and FIG. 8B are schematic diagrams showing the front and top views of a base hole, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the application of the modulized antenna sleeve of the present invention, on the sidewall of the housing of the communication product, the base hole  200  and the folded portions  210   a  and  210   b  have to be formed, wherein the hook portions  113   a  and  113   b  can be engaged with the folded portions  210   a  and  210   b . The present invention can adjust the length of the folded portions  210   a  and  210   b  in accordance with the housing of various thickness, thus increasing the shareable possibility of the present invention. In addition, just as described above, the present invention is sharable among the antennas of various diameters, and hence, the present invention can be applied simultaneously to various antennas and housings, thus greatly reducing the production cost. 
     Moreover, the present invention has an idle-preventing means by using the design of asymmetry. Referring FIG.  6 B and FIG. 8A, FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing the back view of the modulized antenna sleeve, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. When being disposed horizontally, the clipping hook elements  112   a  and  112   b  of the present invention are asymmetrical in shape to the horizontal central line of the through hole  118 , the folded portions  210   a  and  210   b  corresponding to the clipping hook elements  112   a  and  112   b  are also asymmetrical in shape to the horizontal central line of the base hole  200 . Such as shown in FIG. 6B, the distance M 1  is not equal to the distance M 2 , and such as shown in FIG. 8A, the distance L 1  is not equal to the distance L 2 . Hence, when the modulized antenna sleeve of the present invention is installed, the rotation-blocking element  124  as shown in FIG. 6A has be situated in a fixed direction with respect to the through hole  118  (such as above the through hole  118 ), or the modulized antenna sleeve cannot be inserted into the base hole  200  successfully. 
     It is worthy to be noted that the modulized antenna sleeve of the present invention can be made of plastic material, and the tubular main body can be a cylinder, and the through hole can be circular. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a modulized antenna sleeve having the features of high reliability, low production cost, and high sharable possibility, etc. Not only equipment housings (made of plastic or metal) of various thickness are suitable for use in applying the modulized antenna sleeve, but also the over-rotation can be prevented while the integrality of the appearance of the communication product can be still maintained. 
     It is the other advantage of the present invention to provide a modulized antenna sleeve, which has a simple and strong structure, and has an idle-preventing means of asymmetrical design, so that not only the installation thereof is easy, but also the requirement of the product drop test can be satisfied. 
     As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present application are illustrated of the present application rather than limiting of the present application. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.