Patent Publication Number: US-11398672-B2

Title: Roof antenna

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of German Patent Application No. 102019122677.5, filed on Aug. 23, 2019. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an antenna and, more particularly, to a roof antenna. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Roof antennas for mounting on a roof of a motor vehicle are known in the prior art. For mounting, many known roof antennas require access both from the upper side and from the lower side of the roof. However, access from the lower side of the roof is frequently complicated owing to a trim which is fitted there. 
     SUMMARY 
     A roof antenna including an antenna base with a base plate, a spindle, a driver arranged on the spindle, and a locking element having a first limb and a second limb. The first limb has a first latching hook and the second limb has a second latching hook. The first limb and the second limb extend through an aperture in the base plate. A translatory movement of the driver on the spindle is transferred into a displacement of the locking element in a displacement direction perpendicular to the base plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional perspective view of an antenna base of a roof antenna prior to mounting; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a driver of the roof antenna; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a locking element of the roof antenna; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional perspective view of the antenna base arranged on a mounting aperture in a roof before locking; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional perspective view of the antenna base arranged on the mounting aperture before locking; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional perspective view of the antenna base arranged on the mounting aperture after locking; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional perspective view of the antenna base arranged on the mounting aperture after locking; 
         FIG. 8  is sectional perspective detail view of a cover of the roof antenna with an aperture, a socket arranged in the aperture, and a stopper which can be arranged in the socket; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional perspective detail view of the cover with the socket and the stopper arranged in the socket; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional perspective detail view of the aperture in the cover, the socket, the stopper and a rod of the roof antenna screwed into the stopper; and 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional perspective view of the roof antenna mounted on the mounting aperture in the roof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings. The shown and described embodiments serve explanatory purposes only. The combination of features shown in the embodiments may be changed. For example, a feature which is not shown in an embodiment but described herein may be added if the technical effect associated with this feature is beneficial for a particular application. Vice versa, a feature shown as part of an embodiment may be omitted if the technical effect associated with this feature is not needed in a particular application. In the drawings, elements that correspond to each other with respect to function and/or structure have been provided with the same reference numeral. 
     A roof antenna  10  according to an embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1 . The roof antenna  10  can be provided for mounting on a roof of a motor vehicle, for example. The roof antenna  10  can be provided, for example, for radio reception and additionally or alternatively for transmitting mobile radio signals. 
       FIG. 1  shows a part of an antenna base  20  of the roof antenna  10  and a part of a roof  40  with a mounting aperture  41 , on which the roof antenna  10  is to be mounted. The roof  40  can be a roof of a motor vehicle, for example. An upper side or outer side of the roof  40  is shown. 
     The antenna base  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , has a base plate  100  with a substantially planar lower side. The base plate  100  can be made of a plastics material, for example. The base plate  100  can be formed integrally or be formed from several sub-elements. The base plate  100  has an aperture  110 . A sealing ring  120  bordering the aperture  110  in an annular manner is provided on a lower side of the base plate  100 . However, the sealing ring  120  can also be dispensed with in other embodiments. A holder  130  is formed on an upper side of the base plate  100 , opposite the lower side of the base plate  100 . 
     The antenna base  20  further comprises a cover  600 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The cover  600  can be made of a plastics material, for example. The cover  600  is arranged over the upper side of the base plate  100  in such a way that an inner region  25  of the antenna base  20  is enclosed between the base plate  100  and the cover  600 . The holder  130  is arranged in the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20 . The inner region  25  of the antenna base  20  is accessible through the aperture  110  in the base plate  100 . The cover  600  moreover has an aperture  610 , through which the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20  is accessible. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a circuit board  200  is arranged in the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20 . The circuit board  200  can be formed as a printed circuit board (PCB), for example. The circuit board  200  can have electrical conductor tracks and electrical components and structural elements, for example. Moreover, in the example of the antenna base  20  of the roof antenna  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , a first plug connector  210  and a second plug connector  220  are connected to the circuit board  200 . However, it is also possible for only one plug connector or more than two plug connectors to be provided. The first plug connector  210  and the second plug connector  220  extend through the aperture  110  in the base plate  100  and are therefore accessible from outside the antenna base  20 . 
     To mount the roof antenna  10  on the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 , the first plug connector  210  and the second plug connector  220  of the antenna base  20  are, in a first step, connected to a first cable  50  by a first plug connector mating part  51  and to a second cable  52  by a second plug connector mating part  53 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The cables  50 ,  52 , which are connected to the plug connector mating parts  51 ,  53 , produce electrically conductive connections to components of the motor vehicle. The cables  50 ,  52  extend out of a vehicle interior through the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 , such that the plug connector mating parts  51 ,  53 , which are connected to the cables  50 ,  52 , are accessible on the outer side of the roof  40 . As a result, it is made possible to connect the first plug connector mating part  51 , which is connected to the first cable  50 , to the first plug connector  210  of the antenna base  20  and to connect the second plug connector mating part  53 , which is connected to the second cable  52 , to the second plug connector  220  of the antenna base  20 , before the antenna base  20  of the roof antenna  10  is placed on the roof  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a spindle  300  is arranged in the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20 . The spindle  300  is formed as a threaded spindle with a spindle thread  310 , which is not depicted in detail in the figures. The spindle  300  has a longitudinal direction  330 , and is held on the holder  130  by a securing ring  320  in such a way that the spindle  300  is rotatable about a longitudinal axis parallel to its longitudinal direction  330 . At a longitudinal end, the spindle  300  has a drive profile  360 , which can be formed as an internal hexagon, for example. The drive profile  360  of the spindle  300  is accessible from outside the antenna base  20  through the aperture  610  in the cover  600 . 
     A driver  400  is arranged on the spindle  300 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 .  FIG. 2  shows an enlarged perspective view of the driver  400  without the other components of the roof antenna  10 . The driver  400  is formed as a spindle nut and, for this purpose, has a through-aperture  430  with an inner thread  440 , which is not depicted in detail in  FIG. 2 . The inner thread  440  of the driver  400  is formed to fit the spindle thread  310  of the spindle  300 . The driver  400  is arranged on the spindle  300  in such a way that the spindle  300  extends through the through-aperture  430  of the driver  400 . As a result, a rotary movement of the spindle  300  about its axis of rotation, which is parallel to its longitudinal direction  330 , is converted into a translatory movement of the driver  400  along the longitudinal direction  330  of the spindle  300 . 
     On its outer side, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the driver  400  has a first pin  410  and a second pin  420  which is collinear with the first pin  410 , which second pin  420  is opposite the first pin  410 . The first pin  410  and the second pin  420  are orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal direction  330  of the spindle  300 . 
       FIG. 1  shows that, moreover, a locking element  500  is arranged in the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20 . The locking element  500  is held on the holder  130  in such a way that the locking element  500  is displaceable along a displacement direction  540  shown in  FIG. 3  orientated perpendicular to the base plate  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a sectional depiction of the locking element  500 .  FIG. 3  shows a perspective depiction of the entire locking element  500  without the other components of the roof antenna  10 . 
     The locking element  500  if formed of an elastically deformable material, for example a metal. The locking element  500  can be manufactured from a sheet metal, for example.  FIG. 3  shows the locking element  500  in an unstressed state  501 , in which the locking element  500  is not resiliently deformed. 
     The locking element  500 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , has a first limb  510  and a second limb  520  which is formed mirror-symmetrically to the first limb  510 . The mirror plane is orientated parallel to the displacement direction  540 . The first limb  510  and the second limb  520  of the locking element  500  are connected to one another via a connecting section  550 . Starting from the connecting section  550 , the limbs  510 ,  520  extend substantially parallel to the displacement direction  540 . At a latching end  560  of the locking element  500 , opposite the connecting section  550 , the first limb  510  and the second limb  520  of the locking element  500  are free. As a result, a substantially U-shaped basic shape of the locking element  500  is produced. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first limb  510  has a first latching hook  511  at the latching end  560  of the locking element  500 . The second limb  520  has a second latching hook  521  at the latching end  560  of the locking element  500 . The latching hooks  511 ,  521  each extend outwards away from the plane of symmetry of the locking element  500 . The first limb  510  of the locking element  500  has a first elongate hole  512 . Correspondingly, the second limb  520  of the locking element  500  has a second elongate hole  522 . The first elongate hole  512  has a first longitudinal end  513  and a second longitudinal end  514 . The second elongate hole  522  has a first longitudinal end  523  and a second longitudinal end  524 . In this case, the elongate holes  512 ,  522  each extend along a longitudinal direction  530 . 
     The first limb  510  and the second limb  520  are not orientated exactly parallel to one another. Rather, a first spacing  531  of the limbs  510 ,  520  measured between the first longitudinal end  513  of the first elongate hole  512  and the first longitudinal end  523  of the second elongate hole  522  is smaller than a second spacing  532  of the limbs  510 ,  520  measured between the second longitudinal end  514  of the first elongate hole  512  and the second longitudinal end  524  of the second elongate hole  522 . 
       FIG. 1  shows that the locking element  500  is arranged in the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20  in such a way that the driver  400  is arranged between the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500 . The first pin  410  of the driver  400  is guided in the first elongate hole  512  of the first limb  510  of the locking element  500 . The second pin  420  of the driver  400  is guided in the second elongate hole  522  of the second limb  520  of the locking element  500 . As a result, the locking element  500  is mechanically coupled to the driver  400  in such a way that a translatory movement of the driver  400  on the spindle  300  brings about a displacement of the locking element  500  in the displacement direction  540  perpendicular to the base plate  100 . The latching end  560  of the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500  with the latching hooks  511 ,  521  protrudes out of the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20  through the aperture  110  in the base plate  100 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show perspective and in each case partially sectional depictions of the antenna base  20  during mounting of the antenna base  20  on the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40  in a mounted state chronologically following the depiction from  FIG. 1 . In this case,  FIGS. 4 and 5  show views from different viewing directions. 
     After the connecting of the plug connectors  210 ,  220  of the antenna base  20  to the cables  50 ,  52 , as described with reference to  FIG. 1 , the antenna base  20  has been arranged over the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40  in such a way that the lower side of the base plate  100  faces the outer side of the roof  40  and the aperture  110  in the base plate  100  is arranged over the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 , the plug connectors  210 ,  220  of the antenna base  20  extend through the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 . However, this is not absolutely necessary. The mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40  and the aperture  110  in the base plate  100  of the antenna base  20  are sealed from the outside by the peripheral sealing ring  120 . However, the sealing ring  120  can also be dispensed with. The antenna base  20  has been arranged over the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40  in such a way that the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500  extend through the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40  and the latching end  560  of the locking element  500 , with the latching hooks  511 ,  521  arranged on the limbs  510 ,  520 , are situated on the inner side of the roof  40 . 
     In the situation shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the antenna base  20  of the roof antenna  10  is still in a pre-mounting state. In this case, the driver  400  is positioned on the spindle  300  in such a way that the first pin  410  of the driver  400  is arranged close to the second longitudinal end  514  in the first elongate hole  512  of the locking element  500  and the second pin  420  of the driver  400  is arranged close to the second longitudinal end  524  in the second elongate hole  522  of the locking element  500 . The locking element  500  is in the unstressed state  501 , which is explained above with reference to  FIG. 3 . In this unstressed state  501  of the locking element  500 , the spacing of the limbs  510 ,  520  at the latching end  560  of the locking element  500  is dimensioned in such a way that the latching end  560  can be guided through the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40  in spite of the latching hooks  511 ,  521  formed at the latching end  560 . The spacing of the two latching hooks  511 ,  521  of the locking element  500  is therefore smaller than the diameter of the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 . 
     The longitudinal direction  330  of the spindle  300  forms a first angle  340  with the longitudinal direction  530  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the depicted example, the first angle  340  is less than 90 degrees. Moreover, the longitudinal direction  330  of the spindle  300  forms a second angle  350  with the displacement direction  540  of the locking element  500 . In the example shown in the figures, the second angle  350  is also less than 90 degrees. As a result of this orientation of the spindle  300  and the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500  in relation to one another, the locking element  500  can be moved in the displacement direction  540  by the driver  400 . 
     If the spindle  300  is rotated starting from the pre-mounting state shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  in such a way that the driver  400 , which is arranged on the spindle  300 , moves along the longitudinal direction  330  of the spindle  300 , the pins  410 ,  420  of the driver  400 , which are guided in the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500 , move from the second longitudinal ends  514 ,  524  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522  in the direction of the first longitudinal ends  513 ,  523  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500 . In this case, as a result of the orientation of the longitudinal direction  330  of the spindle  300  and the longitudinal direction  530  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522  in relation to one another, the locking element  500  is raised in the displacement direction  540  such that the latching hooks  511 ,  521  of the locking element  500  are pulled in the direction of the mounting aperture  41 . 
     At the same time as the displacement of the locking element  500  in the displacement direction  540 , the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500  are resiliently spread apart by the driver  400 . The second spacing  532  between the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500 , measured between the second longitudinal ends  514 ,  524  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500  as shown in  FIG. 3 , corresponds, in the unstressed state  501  of the locking element  500 , approximately to the width of the driver  400  arranged between the limbs  510 ,  520 . In contrast, the first spacing  531  of the limbs  510 ,  520 , measured at the first longitudinal ends  513 ,  523  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522 , in the unstressed state  501  of the locking element  500 , is smaller than the width of the driver  400 . If the driver  400  is moved in a translatory manner along the spindle  300 , such that the pins  410 ,  420  of the driver  400  in the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500  migrate from the second longitudinal ends  514 ,  524  in the direction of the first longitudinal ends  513 ,  523 , then the driver  400  presses the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500  resiliently apart, such that the first spacing  531  of the limbs  510 ,  520 , measured between the first longitudinal ends  513 ,  523  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522 , increases. The locking element  500  in this case is brought from its unstressed state  501  into a spread-apart state  502 . 
     As a result of the spreading-apart of the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500 , the spacing between the first latching hook  511 , which is arranged on the first limb  510 , and the second latching hook  521 , which is arranged on the second limb  520 , also increases. In the fully spread-apart state  502  of the locking element  500 , the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500  are spread apart in such a way that the latching hooks  511 ,  521  come to bear on an edge  42  of the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     The rotation of the spindle  300  about its axis of rotation, which is parallel to its longitudinal direction  330 , can take place by a suitable tool  60  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which is inserted through the aperture  610  in the cover  600  of the antenna base  20  into the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20  and engages on the drive profile  360  of the spindle  300 . The tool  60  can be a screwdriver, for example, having a drive profile which fits the drive profile  360  of the spindle  300 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show partially sectional, perspective views of the antenna base  20 , which is arranged on the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 , in a situation chronologically following the depiction from  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In this case,  FIGS. 6 and 7  show views from different viewing directions. 
     In the situation shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the driver  400  has been moved in a translatory manner on the spindle  300 , by rotating the spindle  300 , to the extent that the pins  410 ,  420  of the driver  400  are now arranged close to the first longitudinal ends  513 ,  523  in the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500 . As a result of the translatory movement of the driver  400 , the locking element  500  has been displaced in the displacement direction  540  to the extent that the latching hooks  511 ,  521  now come to bear on the edge  42  of the mounting aperture  41  on the lower side of the roof  40  and, as a result, fix the antenna base  20  on the roof  40 . At the same time, the limbs  510 ,  520  of the locking element  500  have been spread apart to the extent that the two latching hooks  511 ,  521  of the locking element  500  have come to bear on mutually facing sections of the edge  42  of the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 . 
     In the mounted state shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the antenna base  20  thus can no longer be removed from the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 , without previously moving the driver  400  on the spindle  300  in such a way that the pins  410 ,  420  of the driver  400  are displaced from the first longitudinal ends  513 ,  523  of the elongate holes  512 ,  522  of the locking element  500  in the direction of the second longitudinal ends  514 ,  524 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an enlarged and partially sectional depiction of the aperture  610  in the cover  600  of the antenna base  20  of the roof antenna  10 . A socket  700  is arranged in the aperture  610  in the cover  600 . The socket  700  can have a metal, for example. The socket  700  is inserted securely into the aperture  610  in the cover  600 , such that a permanent and tight connection is produced between the socket  700  and the cover  600 . For this purpose, the socket  700  can have suitable anchoring structures, for example an external hexagon, on an outer wall. The socket  700  has a continuous aperture with an inner wall  710 . As a result, the aperture  610  in the cover  600  offers access to the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20  even with the socket  700  arranged in the aperture  610 . For the above-described rotation of the spindle  300 , the tool  60  used for this purpose can be inserted through the aperture  610  in the cover  600  and into the socket  700  arranged in the aperture  610 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the inner wall  710  of the socket  700  has a first splined shaft profile  711 . However, the first splined shaft profile  711  can be dispensed with. Moreover, the inner wall  710  of the socket  700  has a peripheral first groove  720 . The electrically conductive socket  700  is connected in an electrically conductive manner to an associated contact surface of the circuit board  200  via a contact spring  730  which is arranged in the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20 . 
     After the fixing of the antenna base  20  of the roof antenna  10  on the roof  40 , it is expedient to seal the aperture  610  in the cover  600 , in order to prevent the ingress of dirt and moisture into the inner region  25  of the antenna base  20 . For this purpose, a stopper  800  is arranged in the socket  700 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The stopper  800  is formed of an electrically conductive material, for example a metal. The stopper  800  has a cylindrical basic shape with an outer wall  810 . The stopper  800  can be pushed into the socket  700 , which is arranged in the aperture  610  in the cover  600 , from the outer side of the antenna base  20 .  FIG. 8  shows a depiction with the stopper  800  only partially pushed into the socket  700 .  FIG. 9  shows a schematically sectional side view of the stopper  800  pushed fully into the socket  700 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the stopper  800  has, on its outer wall  810 , a second splined shaft profile  811 , which is formed to fit the first splined shaft profile  711  of the socket  700 . As a result of the first splined shaft profile  711  and the second splined shaft profile  811 , the stopper  800 , which is arranged in the socket  700 , is prevented from being twisted around a longitudinal axis of the socket  700  and of the stopper  800 . This anti-twist protection can, however, also be achieved in a manner other than by way of the first splined shaft profile  711  and the second splined shaft profile  811 . In this case, the splined shaft profiles  711 ,  811  can be dispensed with. 
     The stopper  800  is formed in a closed manner, as a result of which the aperture  610  in the cover  600  is sealed shut by the stopper  800 . In order to also achieve a sealing of the region between the inner wall  710  of the socket  700  and the outer wall  810  of the stopper  800 , one or more peripheral O-rings  820  can be provided on the outer wall  810  of the stopper  800 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the stopper  800  has three coaxially arranged O-rings  820 . These O-rings  820  are each arranged in grooves running around the outer wall  810  of the stopper  800 . However, more or fewer than three O-rings  820  can also be provided. The sealing between the stopper  800  and the socket  700  can also be achieved in another way. 
     At an outer longitudinal end, the stopper  800  has a rod-receiving aperture  850  with a thread  860 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The rod-receiving aperture  850  is provided for receiving a rod  30 , shown in  FIG. 9 , of the roof antenna  10 . The rod  30  can also be referred to as an antenna pole. The rod  30  has a thread  35 , which can be screwed into the thread  860  of the rod-receiving aperture  850  in the stopper  800 . 
     The outer wall  810  of the stopper  800  has a second groove  830 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The second groove  830  is arranged on the outer wall  810  of the stopper  800  in such a way that the second groove  830  of the stopper  800  is arranged concentrically in relation to the first groove  720  on the inner wall  710  of the socket  700 , when the stopper  800  is pushed fully into the socket  700 . A peripheral securing ring  840  is arranged in the second groove  830  of the stopper  800 . The second groove  830  has an opening, which extends from the outer wall  810  of the stopper  800  as far as the rod-receiving aperture  850 . A projection  845  of the securing ring  840  extends through this opening and protrudes into the rod-receiving aperture  850 . This can be seen in  FIG. 9 . 
     After the stopper  800  has been arranged in the socket  700 , the rod  30  can be screwed into the stopper  800 .  FIG. 10  shows a depiction of the aperture  610  in the cover  600 , the socket  700  arranged in the aperture  610 , the stopper  800  arranged in the socket  700  and the rod  30  screwed into the rod-receiving aperture  850  in the stopper  800 . As a result of the rod  30  being screwed into the rod-receiving aperture  850 , the projection  845  of the securing ring  840  protruding into the rod-receiving aperture  850  has been pressed outwards out of the rod-receiving aperture  850 , with the result that the securing ring  840  has deformed elastically in such a way that it now protrudes partially into the first groove  720  of the socket  700 , which first groove  720  is arranged concentrically in relation to the second groove  830  of the stopper  800 . The result achieved is that the stopper  800  is fixed in the socket  700  and is secured against being pulled out unintentionally. The stopper  800  thus can no longer be removed from the socket  700  without unscrewing the rod  30  from the stopper  800  beforehand. There is an electrically conductive connection from the rod  30  to the circuit board  200  of the roof antenna  10  via the stopper  800 , the socket  700  and the contact spring  730 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a schematic, perspective and partially sectional depiction of the roof antenna  10  after completion of the mounting of the roof antenna  10  on the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 . To dismount the roof antenna  10 , the above-described mounting steps must be performed in reverse order. For this purpose, therefore, the rod  30  is initially unscrewed. The stopper  800  is then removed from the socket  700 . Then, with the tool  60 , the spindle  300  can be screwed in such a way that the locking element  500  is displaced along the displacement direction  540  in such a way that the latching hooks  511 ,  521  of the locking element  500  detach themselves from the edge  42  of the mounting aperture  41  and the locking element  500  returns from its spread-apart state  502  to its unstressed state  501 . The antenna base  20  can then be lifted up from the mounting aperture  41  in the roof  40 . 
     The roof antenna  10  can advantageously be mounted on an outer side of the roof  40  without access being required from an inner side of the roof  40 . This is achieved by the antenna base  20  of the roof antenna  10  being able to be locked on the roof  40  by the locking element  500 . In this case, the locking element  500  can be locked from the outer side of the roof  40  by the spindle  300  and the driver  400 .