A vehicle including an antenna device, the antenna device, and a fastening device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle (1) which comprises an antenna device (2) that is at least partially inserted into an antenna opening (3) of a roof (5) of the vehicle (1). The present invention proposes that the antenna device (2) has at least one fastening device (8). The fastening device (8) has a locking lever (9) which locks the antenna device (2) to the roof (5) in a predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9), and thereby fixes the antenna device (2) on the roof (5) in a predetermined final assembly position. The fastening device (8) has a spring device (10) which, due to the inherent tension of the spring device (10), acts on the locking lever (9) with a restoring force acting in the direction of the predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9), and thereby holds the locking lever (9) in the predetermined locking position. The spring device (10) engages with a latching edge (18) on an edge of the roof (5) and the antenna opening (3) in this predetermined final assembly position, and thereby holds the antenna device (2) at least indirectly on the roof (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising an antenna device, and to an antenna device and a fastening device for fastening the antenna device to a vehicle.

[0002] According to the prior art, the antennas for a vehicle are arranged on the antenna devices, and the electronic components for evaluating the received signals are also located on these antenna devices. These antenna devices can have printed circuit boards and are usually arranged at least partially on the roof of the vehicle. In order to be able to connect these antenna devices to the vehicle electronics, the antenna devices are usually located at the antenna openings on the roof. A part of the antenna device is arranged inside the vehicle and connected to the vehicle wiring.

[0003] According to the current prior art, there are two variants for fastening the antenna device in the antenna opening. The first variant provides that the antenna device is screwed into the antenna opening. This can ensure a firm hold, but in the case of repairs, the assembly and damage-free disassembly of the antenna device are more complicated.

[0004] The second variant provides that the antenna device is locked in place by means of a so-called latching device, thereby fastening the antenna device in the antenna opening. The advantage of these latching devices is that the antenna device can be quickly and easily installed in the antenna opening. If repairs are required, the antenna device can also be more easily disassembled.

[0005] For example, DE 10 2014 018 428 B4 discloses an antenna module for mounting on an opening in a roof. The antenna module can be locked by means of at least one spring element.

[0006] When a force acts on the antenna device, the described spring element can prevent the antenna device from being released from the antenna opening in the roof until a specific maximum force. In order to increase the maximum force, a spring unit of a larger mass can be used. However, a spring unit of a larger mass limits the tolerance related to the sheet metal thickness of the roof panel, and can damage the paint of the roof panel when the antenna device is arranged.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to increase the mechanical load-bearing capacity of the antenna device held by the spring unit without reducing the tolerance of the roof panel thickness.

[0008] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the present invention are apparent from the features of the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings.

[0009] The present invention provides a vehicle, which includes an antenna device that is at least partially inserted into an antenna opening in the roof of the vehicle. The antenna device has at least one fastening device, and the at least one fastening device has a locking lever that locks the antenna device to the roof at a predetermined locking position of the locking lever, and thereby fixes the antenna device to the roof in an oriented manner at a predetermined final assembly position relative to the antenna opening. The fastening device also has a spring device, and due to its inherent tension, the spring device acts on the locking lever with a restoring force acting in the direction of the predetermined locking position of the locking lever, and thereby holds the locking lever in the locking position. It is proposed herein that the spring device engages with a latching edge on the edge of the roof and the antenna opening in the predetermined final assembly position, and thereby holds the antenna device at least indirectly on the roof.

[0010] In other words, a vehicle is provided in which the antenna device is fastened in the antenna opening by a fastening device in a final assembly position. The final assembly position can be a predetermined position of the antenna device in the antenna opening. The at least one fastening device has a locking lever and a spring device. The locking lever is arranged to lock the antenna device at a predetermined final assembly position on the roof. The locking lever can be arranged to prevent the antenna device from separating from the antenna opening. For example, this may occur if the spring device cannot withstand the force applied to the antenna device. In this case, the antenna device cannot be held in the final assembly position only by the spring device. In this case, the locking lever may contact the roof and prevent the antenna device from being released from the antenna opening.

[0011] The spring device is designed to apply a restoring force on the locking lever so as to move it into the predetermined locking position, and hold the antenna device in the antenna opening by engaging with the latching edge of the spring device around the roof at the edge.

[0012] The advantage of the present invention is that the spring device enables the antenna device to be latched in the antenna opening during the assembly process, while ensuring the required mechanical stability through the locking lever.

[0013] The present invention also includes developments that bring additional advantages.

[0014] The development of the present invention proposes that the antenna device has a locking element that abuts against the locking lever and prevents the locking lever from being released from the predetermined locking position. In other words, the locking element is designed to prevent the fastening device from being released from the predetermined locking position by abutting against the locking lever to prevent the locking lever from moving out of the locking position. The advantage brought by this is that accidental unlocking of the fastening device can be prevented. For example, it can be proposed that the locking element abuts against the locking lever and thus prevents the locking lever from moving out of the locking position. The locking element can be formed, for example, in the shape of a wedge or a pyramid or a truncated pyramid.

[0015] The development of the present invention provides that a pivot pin is arranged on the locking lever, and the locking lever is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin between the antenna chassis of the antenna device and the locking element. In other words, the locking lever is fastened to the antenna chassis of the antenna device by the pivot pin. It can be provided that the pivot pin is surrounded by the antenna chassis and the locking element of the antenna device. The advantage of this is that it can prevent the antenna device from being released from the predetermined final assembly position by the pivot pin arranged on the lower side of the antenna chassis. For example, it can be provided that there is a receiving seat on the lower side of the antenna chassis, and the pivot pin can be inserted into the receiving seat. In order to be able to surround the pivot pin, it can be provided that the locking element is fastened in the antenna chassis of the antenna device. Therefore, the locking element can prevent the pivot pin from being released from the receiving seat of the antenna chassis.

[0016] The development of the present invention provides that the locking lever has a protrusion that locks the antenna device in a predetermined locked position. In other words, the locking lever has a protrusion that, in the locked position, is arranged opposite a sub-region of the top plate. This restricts the movement of the antenna device relative to the top plate, and as a result, it can prevent the antenna device from being released from the final assembly position. The advantage of this is that the movement of the antenna device away from the final assembly position is blocked by the protrusion. For example, it can be provided that the locking lever can absorb more mechanical energy than the spring device. For example, if a force acts on the antenna device, causing the spring device to yield, it can no longer be ensured that the antenna device is held in the predetermined final assembly position only by the spring device. In this case, the antenna device can move in such a way that the protrusion contacts the top plate of the vehicle roof, and thus prevents the antenna device from being released from the predetermined final assembly position.

[0017] The development of the present invention provides that when engaging around the vehicle roof, the spring device clamps the antenna device and the top plate of the vehicle roof between the locking edge of the spring device and the opposite surface of the antenna device, and thus holds the antenna device in a predetermined final assembly position relative to the antenna opening. In other words, by being locked on the top plate of the vehicle roof by the spring device, the antenna device is held in the predetermined final assembly position by the spring device. For this purpose, the spring device has a locking edge that rests on the top plate in a predetermined locking position and clamps the top plate between the locking edge and the opposite surface of the antenna device. The advantage of this development is that the antenna device can be fixed to the top plate with different sheet metal thicknesses. For example, it can be provided that the spring hardness of the spring device is selected such that the top plate can be clamped within a certain tolerance of the plate thickness.

[0018] In the development of the present invention, the projection of the locking lever is arranged at a certain distance from the roof panel in a predetermined locking position. In other words, in the predetermined locking position, the projection of the locking lever does not contact the roof of the vehicle. The advantage brought by this is that damage to the roof of the vehicle can be avoided due to the locking lever (which is rigid compared to the spring device). For example, it can be proposed that when the locking lever is in the locking position, the distance between the edge of the projection and the roof of the vehicle is within millimeters. This can prevent the projection from damaging the paint on the roof of the vehicle. At the same time, it can be ensured that the projection contacts the roof of the vehicle when the spring device yields. This can prevent the antenna device from separating from the antenna opening when the spring device yields.

[0019] In the development of the present invention, the spring device is designed as a wire helical spring. In other words, the spring device is designed as a wire spring, and the wire spring forms a helix wound around the pivot pin of the fastening element. The advantage of doing this is that the spring action on the locking lever is provided by the helix on the pivot pin of the locking lever.

[0020] In the development of the present invention, the locking lever is designed as a sheet metal spring. In other words, the locking lever is a sheet metal spring. The advantage of doing this is that the locking lever provides a spring action, and as a result, the thickness tolerance of the roof panel can be compensated.

[0021] The present invention further includes fastening means for fastening the antenna device to the vehicle. The fastening means has a locking lever which is arranged to lock the antenna device to the roof of the vehicle in a predetermined locking position of the locking lever, and thereby fix the antenna device on the roof of the vehicle in a predetermined final assembly position aligned with the antenna opening. The fastening means also has a spring device which is arranged to act on the locking lever with a restoring force acting in the direction of the predetermined locking position of the locking lever through the inherent tension of the spring device, and thereby hold the locking lever in the locking position. It is proposed that the spring device is arranged to engage with a locking edge on the edge of the roof and the antenna opening in the predetermined final assembly position, and thereby hold the antenna device on the roof of the vehicle at least indirectly.

[0022] The present invention further includes an antenna device to be arranged on the vehicle. The antenna device has fastening means. The fastening means has a locking lever which is arranged to lock the antenna device to the roof of the vehicle in a predetermined locking position of the locking lever, and thereby fix the antenna device on the roof of the vehicle in a predetermined final assembly position aligned with the antenna opening. The fastening means also has a spring device which is arranged to act on the locking lever with a restoring force acting in the direction of the predetermined locking position of the locking lever through the inherent tension of the spring device, and thereby hold the locking lever in the locking position. It is proposed that the spring device is arranged to engage with a locking edge on the edge of the roof and the antenna opening in the predetermined final assembly position, and thereby hold the antenna device on the roof of the vehicle at least indirectly.

[0023] The present invention also includes developments of the antenna device according to the present invention and the fastening device according to the present invention, which developments have the features as already described in connection with the developments of the vehicle according to the present invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the antenna device according to the present invention and the fastening device according to the present invention are not described herein again.

[0024] The present invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below. In this regard:

[0026] Figure 1 An antenna device is shown;

[0027] Figure 2 A fastening device is shown;

[0028] Figure 3 Another view of the fastening device is shown; and

[0029] Figure 4 Another view of the fastening device is shown.

[0030] The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiment each represent separate features of the present invention, and these separate features should be considered independently of each other and each also develop the present invention independently of each other and can therefore also be considered, either individually or in combinations other than the combinations shown, as part of the present invention. In addition, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the present invention that have already been described.

[0031] In the drawings, elements having the same function are each provided with the same reference numeral.

[0032] Figure 1A vehicle 1 with an antenna device 2 is shown. The antenna device 2 can be inserted into an antenna opening 3, which can be positioned in a roof panel 4 of a roof 5 of the vehicle 1. The antenna device 2 can have an antenna chassis 6 and a cover 7, and the antenna chassis 6 can abut against the underside of the roof 5. The cover 7 of the antenna device 2 can at least partially project from the antenna opening 3 in the roof 5. In order to be able to fasten the antenna device 2 to the roof 5 of the vehicle 1, the antenna device 2 can have a fastening device 8. The fastening device 8 can have a locking lever 9 and a spring device 10. The locking lever 9 can be arranged to fix the antenna device 2 in a predetermined final assembly position relative to the antenna opening 3 on the roof 5. In order to bring the locking lever 9 into a predetermined locking position, the spring device 10 can be arranged to act on the locking lever 9 with a restoring force acting in the direction of the predetermined locking position of the locking lever 9, and thereby hold the locking lever 9 in the locking position. The spring device 10 can be supported together with the roof 5 in the predetermined final assembly position. The support can occur in such a way that the area of the roof panel 4 presses against the opposite side 11 of the antenna chassis 6 through the spring device 10. A support block 11' can be provided here. In order to be able to fix the fastening device 8 in the final assembly position of the antenna device 2, a locking element 12 can be inserted into a guide channel 13 of the antenna chassis 6. The locking element 12 can thereby prevent the locking lever 9 from moving from the predetermined locking position.

[0033] Figure 2 The fastening device 8 is shown. The fastening device 8 can have a spring device 10 and a locking lever 9. The spring device 10 and the locking lever 9 can be plugged into each other through a connecting piece 14. In order to provide a restoring force, it can be proposed that the spring device 10 is designed as a wire helical spring, and the spring ends of the spring device 10 are designed as restoring ends 15, and these restoring ends can be arranged on the antenna chassis 6 of the antenna device 2. A pivot pin 16 can be formed on the locking lever 9, and this pivot pin can be inserted into a receiving seat 20 of the antenna chassis 6, as Figure 3 shown. The helix of the spring device 10 can be arranged around the pivot pin 16 and can be arranged to generate a restoring force. The spring device 10 and the locking lever 9 can have sliding surfaces 17, and these sliding surfaces can enable the fastening device 8 to be screwed into the roof 5. The spring device 10 can provide locking edges 18, and these locking edges can rest on the roof panel 4 of the roof 5 in the predetermined final assembly position. Thus, the antenna device 2 can be clamped on the roof 5. In the final assembly position, the locking lever 9 can rest on the roof 5 through its projection 19.

[0034] Figure 3Shows the fastening device 8 and the locking element 12 when the antenna device 2 is screwed into the antenna opening 3. Due to the inclined sliding surface 17 of the fastening device 8, a force can be applied when the antenna device 2 is moved through the antenna opening 3, and as a result, the locking lever 9 can be moved out of the locking position. In this case, the pivot pin 16 can be located in the receiving seat 20 of the antenna chassis 6. The locking element 12 can be arranged in the free position during the screwing connection and has not yet been caught in the guide channel 13 of the antenna chassis 6. The locking element 12 can provide an opposite side 21 which can rotatably support the pivot pin 16 and the receiving seat 20 of the antenna chassis 6.

[0035] Figure 4 Shows the fastening device 8 in the final assembled position of the antenna device 2. In the final assembled position, the top plate 4 of the vehicle roof 5 can be pressed against the opposite side 11 of the antenna device 2 by the spring device 10. Here, the top plate 4 can be positioned between the locking edge 18 and the opposite side 11. In the final assembled position, the locking lever 9 can be oriented in the locking position. The restoring end 15 of the spring device 10 can abut against the lower side of the antenna chassis 6 and thereby provide a spring force that can hold the locking lever 9 in the predetermined locking position. In order to be able to fix the fastening device 8 in the predetermined locking position, the locking element 12 can be arranged in the guide channel 13 and thus prevent the locking lever 9 from being released from the predetermined locking position.

[0036] The present invention comprises a combination of a locking lever 9 and a spring device 10 to form a fastening device 8 (spring system) by plugging the locking lever 9 into the spring device 10. The spring device 10 can be configured as a wire helical spring, and the locking lever 9 can be configured as a sheet metal spring. The wire helical spring enables the antenna device 2 to be easily screwed into the antenna opening 3. Due to its circular shape, the paint on the top plate 4 is not damaged. The spring device 10 allows the antenna device 2 to be pre-locked in the antenna opening 3 of the vehicle roof 5 until the locking element 12 (locking device) can be pressed in. The locking lever 9, which can be configured as a rigid sheet metal spring, is supported on the top plate 4 in the event of an impact / collision and thus conducts the impact force into the vehicle roof 5. The present invention allows the antenna device 2 to be installed in the antenna opening 3 of the vehicle roof 5 with one hand, with a tolerance compensation for the sheet metal thickness of the top plate 4 of 0.7 mm to 1.2 mm. This enables a mechanical shock of 150 g (collision situation) to be withstood without losing the connection between the antenna device 2 and the vehicle roof 5. There may be further applications in trucks, trains, and commercial vehicles where highly integrated and stacked printed circuit boards can be used. Through the spring device 10, the antenna device 2 can be assembled into the antenna opening 3 with one hand from inside the vehicle. The spring device 10 allows pre-locking of the antenna device 2 until the worker has pressed the locking element 12 (locking device) into the guide channel 13. The fastening device 8 can compensate for tolerances in the sheet metal thickness of the vehicle roof of 0.7 mm to 1.2 mm. In the event of a collision, the locking lever 9 can absorb an impact of 150 g without the antenna device 2 being released from the antenna opening 3.

[0037] Overall, the example shows how the present invention can provide a two-part mounting spring lock.

[0038] List of reference numerals

[0039] 1 Vehicle

[0040] 2 Antenna device

[0041] 3 Antenna opening

[0042] 4 Top plate

[0043] 5 Vehicle roof

[0044] 6 Antenna chassis

[0045] 7 Cover

[0046] 8 Fastening device

[0047] 9 Locking lever

[0048] 10 Spring device

[0049] 11 Opposite side

[0050] 11’ Support block

[0051] 12 Locking element

[0052] 13 Guide channel

[0053] 14 Connecting piece

[0054] 15 Recovery end

[0055] 16 Pivot pin

[0056] 17 Sliding surface

[0057] 18 Locking edge

[0058] 19 Protrusion

[0059] 20 Receiving seat

[0060] 21 Opposite side

Claims

1. A vehicle (1) comprising an antenna device (2), which is at least partially inserted into an antenna opening (3) of a roof (5) of the vehicle (1), characterized in that the antenna device (2) has at least one fastening device (8), which has - a locking lever (9), which in a predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9) locks the antenna device (2) to the roof (5) and thereby fixes the antenna device (2) to the roof (5) in a predetermined final assembly position aligned with the antenna opening (3), - a spring device (10), which due to its inherent stress acts on the locking lever (9) with a restoring force acting in the direction of the predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9) and thereby holds the locking lever (9) in the predetermined locking position, wherein - the spring device (10) engages around the roof (5) at an edge of the antenna opening (3) by means of a locking edge (18) in the predetermined final assembly position and thereby holds the antenna device (2) at least indirectly at the roof (5), the spring device (10) is designed as a wire helical spring, - and the locking lever (9) is designed as a rigid sheet metal spring, - wherein a pivot pin (16) is arranged at the locking lever (9) and the locking lever (9) is rotatably mounted at the pivot pin between an antenna chassis (6) of the antenna device (2) and the locking element (12).

2. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna device (2) has a locking element (12) which abuts against the locking lever (9) and prevents the locking lever (9) from being released from the predetermined locking position.

3. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking lever (9) has a projection (19) which locks the antenna device (2) in the predetermined locking position.

4. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when engaging around the roof, the spring device (10) clamps the antenna device (2) and a top plate (4) of the roof (5) between the locking edge (18) of the spring device (10) and an opposite surface (11) of the antenna device (2) and thereby holds the antenna device (2) in the predetermined final assembly position relative to the antenna opening (3).

5. The vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that in the locking position, the projection (19) of the locking lever (9) is arranged at a distance from the top plate (4) of the roof (5) in the predetermined locking position.

6. A fastening device (8) for holding an antenna device (2) in an antenna opening (3) of a vehicle roof (5) of a vehicle (1), characterized in that, The fastening device (8) has: - a locking lever (9), which is arranged to: lock the antenna device (2) to the roof (5) in a predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9) and thereby fix the antenna device (2) to the roof (5) in a predetermined final assembly position aligned with the antenna opening (3), and - A spring device (10) which is arranged such that a restoring force acting in the direction of a predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9) due to the inherent stress of the spring device (10) acts on the locking lever (9), and thereby holds the locking lever (9) in the predetermined locking position, wherein, - The spring device (10) is arranged such that in the predetermined final assembly position it engages around the roof (5) at the edge of the antenna opening (3) by means of a locking edge (18), and thereby holds the antenna device (2) at least indirectly at the roof (5), wherein a pivot pin (16) is arranged at the locking lever (9), and the locking lever (9) is rotatably mounted at the pivot pin between the antenna chassis (6) of the antenna device (2) and the locking element (12).

7. An antenna device (2) for at least partially inserting into an antenna opening (3) of a vehicle roof (5) of a vehicle (1), characterized in that, At least one fastening device (8) is provided, the at least one fastening device having: - A locking lever (9) which is arranged such that in a predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9) it locks the antenna device (2) to the roof (5), and thereby fixes the antenna device (2) at the roof (5) in a predetermined final assembly position aligned with the antenna opening (3), and - A spring device (10) which is arranged such that a restoring force acting in the direction of a predetermined locking position of the locking lever (9) due to the inherent stress of the spring device (10) acts on the locking lever (9), and thereby holds the locking lever (9) in the predetermined locking position, wherein, - The spring device (10) is arranged such that in the predetermined final assembly position it engages around the roof (5) at the edge of the antenna opening (3) by means of a locking edge (18), and thereby holds the antenna device (2) at least indirectly at the roof (5), wherein a pivot pin (16) is arranged at the locking lever (9), and the locking lever (9) is rotatably mounted at the pivot pin between the antenna chassis (6) of the antenna device (2) and the locking element (12).

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