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US 5,634,209 AGranted
In-vehicle radio antenna
AssigneeElden, Inc.
InventorsDennis C. Prudhomme, Eugene Propp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radio antenna system has a special radio antenna that can be hidden from view so as to deter thieves and vandals as well as prevent damage to the antenna during car washes. In the preferred form, the radio antenna comprises a rear view mirror-mounted antenna. The radio antenna can also comprise a sun visor mounted antenna, side view mirror-mounted antenna, glove compartment-mounted antenna, or dashboard-mounted antenna.
Claims10
A radio antenna system for use in vehicles, comprising:
- a vehicle antenna-housing connected to a vehicle;
- a radio antenna secured to the vehicle antenna-housing at a location spaced from the trunk of the vehicle;
- a radio operatively connected to said antenna, said radio being selected from the group consisting of an AM radio, an FM radio, and an AM/FM radio;
- said radio antenna having substantially planar aligned outwardly-diverging antenna sections, each outwardly diverging antenna section having a cross section increasing stepwise towards a central portion of the antenna;
- and
- said vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an automobile, station wagon, van, truck, jeep, taxicab, bus, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, road-grading equipment, backhoe, tractor, and an agricultural vehicle.
3 more elements
A radio antenna system for use in vehicles, comprising:
- an in-vehicle antenna-housing assembly comprising a rear view mirror housing having an interior, a rear housing portion secured to a portion of a vehicle in proximity to a windshield and a front housing portion connected to said rear housing portion, said vehicle being selected from the group consisting of an automobile, station wagon, van truck, jeep, taxicab, bus, motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle, road-grading equipment, backhoe, tractor, and an agricultural vehicle;
- a rear view mirror secured to and peripherally surrounded by said front mirror portion, said rear view mirror having being located at a position for viewing by the driver of the vehicle;
- an in-vehicle radio antenna comprising a mirror-mounted radio antenna disposed in the interior of said rear view mirror behind said rear view mirror, said radio antenna being secured to said rear view mirror housing for receiving radio signals;
- a radio elected from the group consisting of an AM radio, an FM radio, and an AM/FM radio;
- a vehicle battery operatively connected to said radio;
- a coaxial feeder cable for connecting said mirror-mounted radio antenna to said radio;
- said coaxial feeder cable and said mirror-mounted antenna having substantially matching impedances to substantially minimize standing waves and signal interference;
- a substantially planer board disposed within and secured to said rear view mirror housing;
- a cable-receiving socket mounted on said board for receiving said coaxial feeder cable;
- and wherein said mirror-mounted radio antenna comprise a substantially planer conductive metal antenna mounted on said board and connected to said cable-receiving socket.
- said radio antenna having substantially planer aligned outwardly-diverging antenna sections, each outwardly-diverging antenna section having a cross section increasing stepwise towards a central portion of the antenna;
- one of said outwardly-diverging antenna sections having a thicker inner antenna portion;
- a central foot portion extending transversely from said thicker inner antenna portion, an elongated outer portion, an inwardly diverging frusto-conical tapered portion connecting said outer portion to said inner portion, and said inner portion having a larger cross section than said outer portion;
- and
- another of said outwardly-diverging antenna sections having a shorter, inner antenna portion, a thinner outer antenna portion, and an intermediate antenna portion integrally extending between the shorter inner portion and thicker outer antenna portions, inwardly diverging frustro-conical tapered portions connecting said shorter inner portion and thicker outer antenna portions, and said intermediate antenna portion having a cross section larger than said thicker outer portion but less than said shorter inner portion.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.