JP4287257B2 - Protective cover device - Google Patents

Description

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides a protective cover device, in particular, a protective cover that can satisfactorily protect an object to be protected and can be reused without being forgotten to be removed when the protection becomes unnecessary. Relates to the device.

  Conventionally, a glass antenna is known as an antenna mounted on a vehicle. This glass antenna is configured by attaching an antenna element capable of receiving radio waves of a desired frequency band (for example, radio waves of televisions, radios, wireless door locks, etc.) to a window glass. Therefore, unlike the rod antenna, the antenna element does not protrude outside the vehicle and does not affect the design of the vehicle. Furthermore, it is easy to configure diversity. Glass antennas include many of these advantages and are the mainstream of vehicle antennas.

  Such an antenna element of the glass antenna is connected to a processing circuit such as an amplifier in order to process a received signal. Usually, the processing circuit of the glass antenna is mounted on a substrate. For example, this substrate is supported by a substrate support base or the like, and is disposed and fixed on a roof portion or the like to which a rear window glass of a vehicle is connected (for example, Patent Document 1). On the substrate support base, a plurality of contact units capable of contacting end contact points formed at the end portions of the antenna elements attached to the window glass are mounted.

  The substrate including the contact unit is usually assembled in a separate manufacturing process, and in an assembled state, the substrate is transported to a process of assembling the glass antenna to the vehicle, where it is assembled to the vehicle.

  The assembled substrate support base conveyed to a predetermined process is fixed to a roof panel or the like of the vehicle in a state where the contact unit is exposed so as to contact the end contact of the antenna element on the window glass side. Thereafter, the window glass is connected to the vehicle. As a result, the contact unit is connected to the end contact of the antenna element.

  As a matter of course, if a good contact state is not ensured between the end contact of the antenna element printed on the window glass and the contact unit provided on the substrate side, good radio wave reception is performed. I can't. For example, when dust or liquid adheres to the contact unit, electrical contact is hindered. In order to eliminate such inconvenience, a protective measure is taken on the contact surface of the contact unit of the assembled substrate support base that is normally transported.

  Generally, when protecting a contact, a low-adhesive protective film is attached to the target contact. And this protective film is peeled off just before connecting a contact with the to-be-connected side actually. This prevents dust and liquid from adhering to the surface of the contact and causing contact failure (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-10-56317 JP 2003-80639 A

  However, the protective film to be adhered to the contacts is generally attached to each contact, that is, each contact unit. In the case of a glass antenna, a plurality of antenna elements (for example, four or more) exist, and a contact unit exists for each antenna element. For this reason, the operator who assembled the glass antenna had to remove all the protective films immediately before connecting the window glass to the vehicle. As described above, since a plurality of contact units are arranged on one substrate assembly, the work of removing the protective film is complicated and troublesome, and it is easy to forget to remove it. Moreover, since the protective film is thin, there is a possibility that the window glass is connected without noticing forgetting to remove it. That is, there is a problem that the assembly of the glass antenna is completed while the end contact of the antenna element and the contact unit on the substrate side are not in electrical contact due to the presence of the protective film.

  Further, since the protective film has low adhesiveness, it is difficult to reuse it, and it is generally disposable, which has been a cause of improving costs. Of course, disposal of the used protective film was also expensive.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a protective cover device that can well protect an object to be protected and can be reused without forgetting to remove it when protection is no longer necessary. For the purpose.

The present invention relates to a protective cover device for protecting a contact unit for a glass antenna disposed in an overlap portion between a roof panel of a vehicle and a window glass mounted on the roof panel, and at least the cover body covering the contact unit And an attachment / detachment operation portion that is formed on a part of the cover body and that is detachable from at least the contact unit, and is formed on a part of the cover body, and the cover body is not removed from the contact unit. And a warning part that abuts the window glass when the window glass with an antenna element is attached to the roof panel, prevents contact between the contact unit and the antenna element of the window glass, and warns that the cover is forgotten to be removed. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, the contact unit is well protected, and when the contact unit and the window glass antenna element are brought into contact with each other, it is possible to reliably prevent the protective cover device from being forgotten.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As an example to which the protective cover device of this embodiment can be applied, there is a substrate support base of a substrate on which a contact unit for a glass antenna of a vehicle is mounted. First, the configuration of the glass antenna for a vehicle will be described with reference to FIG.

  The glass antenna 10 is configured by attaching an antenna element 12 serving as an antenna to a vehicle compartment side of a rear window glass 14 of a vehicle by printing or the like. One end of each antenna element 12 extends to the overlapping portion A of the vehicle roof panel 16 and the window glass 14. A substrate support base 18 that supports a substrate on which a processing circuit such as an amplifier is mounted for processing a signal received by the antenna element 12 is fixed to the roof panel 16 with, for example, a bolt. Note that a cover or the like (not shown) is attached to the overlapping portion A so that it cannot be seen from the outside.

  The substrate support base 18 supports a substrate on which a contact unit 20 that contacts a processing circuit such as an amplifier or an end contact 12 a formed at an end of the antenna element 12 is placed. Accordingly, the substrate support base 18 is positioned and fixed to the roof panel 16 so that the contact unit 20 is in press contact with the end contact 12a. In FIG. 1, a pair of glass antennas 10 are provided so as to constitute diversity, but each glass antenna 10 is substantially the same. Further, the number of antenna elements 12 is not particularly limited, and is arranged according to the function and the like.

  When assembling the glass antenna 10 configured in this way, as described above, the substrate support base 18 that supports the substrate on which the processing circuit such as the amplifier and the contact unit 20 are mounted is supplied in the assembly process. The On the other hand, the rear window glass 14 in which the antenna element 12 and the end contact 12a are formed on the vehicle compartment side by printing or the like is also supplied. When the vehicle body to which the substrate support base 18 and the window glass 14 are attached reaches the assembly position, the substrate support base 18 is first fixed to the roof panel 16 of the vehicle body by a fixing means such as a screw. Subsequently, by placing the window glass 14 on the roof panel 16, the contact unit 20 and the end contact 12 a of the antenna element 12 are brought into contact with each other to complete the assembly of the glass antenna 10.

  As described above, the contact unit 20 that is assembled and supplied in a separate process causes poor conduction even if it is brought into contact with the end contact 12a when dust or moisture adheres to the contact part during its transportation or storage. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, a protective cover device 22 as shown in FIG. 2 is attached so as to cover the contact unit 20.

  The protective cover device 22 shown in FIG. 2 is disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cover main body 24 having a substantially box-shaped cover main body 24 whose bottom surface is open and capable of accommodating the contact unit 20 as an object to be protected. An attaching / detaching operation portion 26 including an operation knob 26b for opening / closing the engaging claw 26a when attaching / detaching the cover main body 24 from / from the protection object, and a warning portion integrally formed with the operation knob 26b of the attaching / detaching operation portion 26. And a warning pole 28.

  The cover body 24 is preferably formed of, for example, a resin material such as polypropylene or polyethylene, and can maintain a box shape even when a load is applied. Those that do not cause breakage are preferred.

  FIG. 3 shows details of the attachment / detachment operation unit 26. The attachment / detachment operation unit 26 can also be formed of a similar material, for example, a resin material such as polypropylene or polyethylene, as a part of the cover body 24. In FIG. 3, the attaching / detaching operation portion 26 is integrally formed with an engaging claw 26 a protruding from the lower surface of the cover body 24 and an operation knob 26 b. Therefore, in FIG. 3, when the operation knob 26b is pushed in the direction of arrow B, the engagement claw 26a moves in the direction of arrow C, and easily disengages from the engagement portion on the protected object side (not shown). Further, when the protective cover device 22 is attached to the object to be protected, the operation knob 26b is put on the object to be protected while being tilted in the direction of the arrow B, and the operation knob 26b is opened in this state, thereby The protective cover device 22 can be attached by engaging the claw 26a with the object to be protected. Of course, when the engaging claw 26a is formed of a resin material, it can be bent. Therefore, the protective cover device 22 is pressed against the object to be protected without operating the operation knob 26b. It can also be opened by pressing force.

  In the present embodiment, the operation knob 26b also functions as a warning pole 28 that warns an operator that the user has forgotten to remove the protective cover device 22 when the protective cover device 22 is to be removed from the object to be protected. . Due to the presence of the warning pole 28, the continuation of the assembly work is interrupted. The warning pole 28 protrudes from the upper surface of the cover body 24 by a predetermined height (for example, 10 mm or more) and does not easily deform even when a load is applied. Any shape can be used as long as the shape has rigidity and shape that can maintain the deformation in the height direction within a predetermined amount when a load is applied. In the present embodiment, since the operation knob 26b is used as the warning pole 28 as it is, the operation knob 26b is reinforced by providing a flange 26c.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the protective cover device 22 shown in FIG. 2 is mounted on the substrate support base 18 of the glass antenna 10 having the contact unit 20 that is the object to be protected. As described above, the protective cover device 22 is supported by the substrate support base 18 by engaging the engaging claws 26 a with a part of the contact unit 20 or a part of the substrate support base 18. Of course, a dedicated protrusion or hole that engages with the engaging claw 26a may be formed on the substrate support base 18 or the like. The protective cover device 22 is mounted when the assembly of the substrate support base 18 is completed, and thereafter, the state where the protective cover device 22 is mounted is maintained during transportation and storage. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dust and moisture from adhering to the contact unit 20 that has been assembled.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the warning pole 28 of the protective cover device 22 of the present embodiment.

  As described above, the protective cover device 22 is for protecting the contact unit 20 until the end contact 12 a of the antenna element 12 of the window glass 14 contacts the contact unit 20 of the substrate support base 18. Thus, in a normal operation, the window glass 14 is removed immediately before being attached to the roof panel 16. When the protective cover device 22 is removed, the window glass 14 can be attached at a predetermined position as indicated by a broken line in FIG. In the case of FIG. 5, the contact unit 20 has an upper spring 20 including a contact pushed downward by a spring disposed therein, and the end contact 12 a (see FIG. 1) of the antenna element 12 of the window glass 14 and a predetermined contact pressure. Good electrical contact is made while maintaining the above.

  On the other hand, if the user forgets to remove the protective cover device 22 from the substrate support base 18 immediately before attaching the window glass 14, the warning pole 28 comes into contact with the window glass 14 as shown by the solid line in FIG. It cannot be moved to the predetermined mounting position. That is, the attaching operation of the window glass 14 cannot be completed. In this case, the operator removes the protective cover device 22 again and attaches the window glass 14. As a result, the protective cover device 22 is reliably removed, and the electrical connection between the contact unit 20 and the end contact 12a can be reliably performed. Note that the removed protective cover device 22 is not easily reduced in viscosity or complicated to handle unlike the conventional film type, and thus is easily recovered and returned to the assembly process of the substrate support base 18. It can be reused for the protection of the contact unit 20 again.

  In the present embodiment, as an example of the warning portion, the protruding warning pole 28 integrated with the operation knob 26b has been described as an example. However, the window glass 14 cannot be mounted in a state where the protective cover device 22 protects the contact unit 20. If it is a structure, the shape of a warning part is arbitrary. For example, the upper surface of the cover main body 24 may be used as a warning part as it is, or even if a protrusion having an arbitrary shape is provided on the upper surface of the cover main body 24, the same effect as the above-described example can be obtained.

  By the way, in order to make an electrical connection between the contact unit 20 and the end contact 12a satisfactorily, it is necessary to avoid dust and the like as much as possible. For this reason, the protective cover device 22 has an antistatic function so as not to attract dust and the like. This charging function can be obtained, for example, by configuring the cover body 24 with a resin material containing an antistatic agent. It can also be obtained by coating the cover body 24 with an antistatic agent. Here, as the antistatic agent, anionic activators such as fatty acid salts, cationic activators such as fatty acid amine salts, nonionic activators such as polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, amphoteric activators such as imidazoline derivative forms, and other components described above A mixture of these can be used.

  By providing the cover body 24 with an antistatic function in this way, dust or the like is not attracted by static electricity, and dust or the like is not diffused around the protective cover device 22 even when the protective cover device 22 is handled. The attaching / detaching operation unit 26 preferably has an antistatic function.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2 etc., it is preferable that the outer peripheral surface of the cover main body 24 of the protective cover apparatus 22 of this embodiment is exhibiting the smooth substantially flat shape. Here, the substantially flat shape is sufficient if the substantially flat portion is present more than the non-flat portion, and does not require that the entire cover body 24 is completely flat, and there are a plurality of protrusions and rims. It means that it protrudes from the cover body 24 or there is no concavo-convex shape portion. When the shape of the cover body 24 is complicated, dust or the like is likely to accumulate in the recesses. In particular, when used for a long period of time, and when left for a long period of time, the possibility of dust accumulation increases. However, dust accumulation can be suppressed by flattening the outer peripheral surface. Also, even if dust or the like accumulates, it can be easily removed.

  As described above, according to the protective cover device 22 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably protect the object to be protected and perform a good contact connection operation without bringing dust or the like close to the protective cover device 22.

  The shape of the protective cover device shown in each drawing is an example. When the cover main body is not removed from the object to be protected, it comes into contact with the object to be attached to the object to be protected, and the object to be protected and the object to be attached are attached. The protective cover device can be appropriately changed according to the shape and size of the object to be protected, as long as it has a warning unit that prevents contact with the protective cover device 22 and forgets to remove the protective cover device 22. The same effect can be obtained. It should be noted that the cover main body 24 is configured with a conspicuous color different from the colors of other assembly parts, for example, yellow, etc., so that a warning to forget to remove the protective cover device 22 can be given visually.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the example which comprises the attachment / detachment operation part 26 by the engagement nail | claw 26a and the operation knob 26b was shown, the form is arbitrary, for example, a mushroom type engagement with a slit in the center. A pin may be used. In this case, it is necessary to form an engagement hole into which the engagement pin is inserted on the substrate support base 18 side or the like, but the work for attaching and detaching the protective cover device 22 is only withdrawing and pressing, thereby improving workability. Of course, the configuration of the attaching / detaching operation unit 26 is arbitrary, and can be appropriately changed as long as the protective cover device 22 can be attached / detached by an easy operation. In the present embodiment, the engaging claw 26a and the operation knob 26b are formed as a continuous integral structure. However, for example, the engaging claw 26a may be indirectly opened and closed by the operation knob 26b using a link mechanism or the like. Good.

  Further, the attachment / detachment operation unit 26 does not need to be provided at both ends of the cover main body 24 as long as the protection cover device 22 can be easily attached / detached.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the shape of the cover main body 24 is bilaterally symmetric, and the mounting operability to the substrate support base 18 is not required. It is also possible to cope with the case where the support base 18 has a left-right reversed structure such as for the right antenna and the left antenna.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the structural example of the glass antenna which assembles | assembles the assembly which can apply the protective cover apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view of the protective cover apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the protective cover apparatus concerning this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state which mounted | wore the board | substrate support base with the protective cover apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the warning pole of the protective cover apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Glass antenna, 12 Antenna element, 12a End contact, 14 Window glass, 16 Roof panel, 18 Substrate support base, 20 Contact unit, 22 Protective cover device, 24 Cover main body, 26 Detachment operation part, 26a Engagement claw, 26b Operation knob, 26c flange, 28 warning pole.

Claims (1)

A protective cover device for protecting a contact unit for a glass antenna arranged in a superposed portion of a roof panel of a vehicle and a window glass attached to the roof panel,
A cover body covering at least the contact unit ;
An attachment / detachment operation part formed on a part of the cover body, wherein the cover body is attachable / detachable at least with respect to the contact unit ;
When the window glass with an antenna element is attached to the roof panel with the cover body being formed on a part of the cover body and not being detached from the contact unit , the window panel is brought into contact with the window glass, and the antenna element of the contact unit and the window glass A warning section that prevents contact with the cover and warns you that you have forgotten to remove the cover;
A protective cover device comprising:

Images