Patent Publication Number: US-2007115187-A1

Title: Mounting apparatus for antenna

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus readily allowing installation or removal of an antenna to or from an electronic device.  
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
      Following the development of communication technology, especially the development of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and Bluetooth, etc., many electronic devices, such as notebook computers, and mobile telephones, have the function of close range wireless telecommunication. To achieve the function, an antenna is used in an electronic device for receiving and transmitting signals. A typical antenna is directly mounted to a plastic cover of the electronic device by soldering or screws.  
      Following the development of alloy technology, typical covers of electronic devices are made of alloy. If an antenna is directly mounted to an alloy cover of an electronic device, the signals will be conducted to the alloy cover, which may interfere signals.  
      The present invention is desired to solve the above problem.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one preferred embodiment, a mounting apparatus for mounting an antenna to an electronic device, includes a cover being a part of the electronic device, and a locking member is configured for mounting the antenna thereto. The locking member is made of non-conductive material and coupled to the cover.  
      Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, together with two antennas, the mounting apparatus includes a cover, and a locking member;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial, enlarged view of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the locking member and the antennas of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a mounting apparatus for mounting two antennas  30  to an electronic device, includes a cover  12  of the electronic device, a locking member  20 , a resilient member  70 , two fasteners  80 , and two screws  90 . In the preferred embodiment, the electronic device is a notebook computer  10 , and the cover  12  is made of conductive material, such as magnalium.  
      The cover  12  includes a flange  11  extending up from a side thereof. The flange  11  defines a notch  122  in a middle thereof. A block  123  protrudes up from the cover  12  in the vicinity of the notch  122 . A U-shaped cutout  124  is defined in the block  123 . Two columns  129  protrude up from the cover  12  at opposite sides of the block  123 . A mounting hole  127  is defined in each column  129 . Two quadrate through-holes  126  are defined in the cover  12  at opposite sides of the two columns  129 . A plurality of raised portions  128  protrude up from the cover  12  along the flange  11 .  
      The locking member  20  is made of non-conductive material, such as plastic. The locking member  20  has an elongated body. A button  22  protrudes forward from a middle portion of the body of the locking member  20 . A first protrusion  23  and a second protrusion  24  protrude back from the body of the locking member  20  at opposite sides of the button  22 . A pole  232  extends from the first protrusion  23  toward the second protrusion  24 . Two sliding holes  21  are defined in the body of the locking member  20  in the vicinity of the first protrusion  23  and the second protrusion  24  respectively. Two hooks  25  extend down from the body of the locking member  20 , corresponding to the through-holes  126  of the cover  12  respectively. A post  26  extends out from each end of the body of the locking member  20 . Two mounting holes  28  are defined in the body of the locking member  20  in the vicinity of the ends of the body of the locking member  20  respectively.  
      Each antenna  30  includes a main portion  37 , a bending portion  32  extending forward from a side of a top edge of the main portion  37 , a first transmitting portion  34  extending from an end of an edge of the bending portion  32  away from the main portion  37 , a second transmitting portion  36  parallel to the first transmitting portion  34 , and a connecting portion  35  connected between the first and second transmitting portions  34 ,  36 . The connecting portion  35 , the first transmitting portion  34 , and second transmitting portion  36  cooperatively form an H shape and are substantially coplanar with the bending portion  32 . A first tab  38  extends forward from an end of the main portion  37 . A first hole  382  is defined in the first tab  38 . A second tab  39  extends forward from a top of the main portion  37  at an opposite end. A second hole  392  is defined in the second tab  39 . The second tab  39  is lower than the first transmitting portion  34  and the second transmitting portion  36 .  
      Referring also to  FIG. 3 , in assembling each antenna  30  to the locking member  20 , the first hole  382  of the first tab  38  of the antenna  30  fits about a corresponding post  26  of the locking member  20 . The main portion  37  of the antenna  30  is attached to a rear side of the locking member  20 , and the first and second tabs  38 ,  39  are attached to the end and a top of the locking member  20  respectively. The second hole  392  of the second tab  39  is aligned with the corresponding mounting hole  28  of the locking member  20 . One screw  90  extends through the second hole  392  of the second tab  39  and engages in the mounting hole  28  of the locking member  20 . Thus, the antennas  30  are mounted to the locking member  20 . Because the second tabs  39  of the antennas  30  are lower than the first transmitting portion  34  and the second transmitting portion  36 , the first transmitting portion  34  and the second transmitting portion  36  are apart from and face the top surface of the locking member  20  for transmitting signals effectively.  
      Referring also to  FIG. 4 , in assembling the combined assembly of the locking member  20  and the antennas  30  to the cover  12 , the resilient member  70 , such as a coil spring, fits about the pole  232  of the locking member  20 . The body of the locking member  20  is placed on the raised portions  128  of the cover  12 . The hooks  25  of the locking member  20  extend through the corresponding through-holes  126  of the cover  12 . A distal end of the pole  232  of the locking member  20  is received in the cutout  124  of the block  123  of the cover  12 , so that an end of the resilient member  70  is engaged with the block  123 . The fasteners  80 , such as two bolts, extend through the corresponding sliding holes  21  of the locking member  20  and engage in the mounting holes  127  of the corresponding columns  129  of the cover  12  respectively. The button  22  is accommodated in the notch  122  of the cover  12 , for driving the locking member  20  to lock or unlock the cover  12  to or from a base of the notebook computer  10 .  
      Because the locking member  20  is made of non-conductive material, the signals transmitted by the antenna  30  will not be conducted to the conductive material cover of the notebook computer  10 , avoiding interference for receiving and transmitting signals.  
      It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being a preferred or exemplary embodiment.