Patent ID: 7646351

Claim:
A detachable vehicle antenna comprising: an antenna base provided on a vehicle, said antenna base having an antenna base upper surface; an antenna mast detachably installed to said antenna base such that said antenna mast is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a first connector assembly disposed on said antenna base, said first connector assembly facing in a direction of said antenna mast; a second connector assembly disposed on said antenna mast, said second connector assembly facing in a direction of said antenna base, said second connector assembly being locked to said first connector assembly when said antenna mast moves from said unlocked position to said locked position; and a lock mechanism connecting mechanically and electrically between said first connector assembly and said second connector assembly, said lock mechanism comprising a movable portion provided on said antenna base, a shaft with a pin connected thereto and a cylinder having pin locking recesses, said movable portion receiving biasing power applied toward said antenna mast, said movable portion having a movable portion upper surface, said pin locking recesses extending in a direction opposite a direction of said applied biasing power, said second connector assembly engaging said first connector assembly such that said movable portion is moved in an axial direction from a first position to a second position when said movable portion is pressed by said cylinder in said axial direction, each pin locking recess receiving one end of said pin such that said pin is locked therein when said antenna mast is in said locked position, said movable portion returning to said first position when said antenna mast is in said unlocked position, said movable portion upper surface being aligned with said antenna base upper surface when said movable portion is in said first position, said movable portion upper surface being located at a position lower than a position of said antenna base upper surface when said movable portion is in said second position.