DE102023116603B3 - roof control module for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a roof control module (1) for a motor vehicle (2), wherein the roof control module (1) has at least one control element (4) which is covered by a pivotable, unlockable cover device (5). The cover device (5) is pre-tensioned and mounted in the roof control module (1) by means of a self-tensioning double leg spring (10). The roof control module (1) can have a housing part (30), wherein the housing part (30) has at least one rail (31), wherein when the cover device (5) moves towards the housing part (30) during mounting of the cover device (5) in the roof control module (1), a connecting wire (12) of the double leg spring (10), by which the two spring bodies (11) are connected to one another, can be moved along the at least one rail (31), as a result of which the at least one leg spring (10) can be pre-tensioned.

Description

The invention relates to a roof control module for a motor vehicle. The roof control module has at least one control element that is covered by a pivotable, unlockable cover device. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle with such a roof control module and to an assembly method for a roof control module.

A motor vehicle can have a roof control module in an interior on a roof of the motor vehicle. This can comprise at least one control element, such as a control element that is designed to trigger an automatic emergency call to a rescue service when operated. The control element can therefore be an emergency button or SOS button. A cover device can be provided for such a control element, which must first be opened in order to be able to reach the control element. For this purpose, the cover device is often under tension in a closed position and is locked. In order to achieve this pre-tensioning of the cover device, a complex installation of the cover device in the roof control module can be necessary.

The DE 10 2018 120 087 B3 discloses a hinge for an armrest of a motor vehicle covering a storage compartment, with a base part for connection to a container forming the storage compartment, a cover pivotably coupled to the base part about a pivot axis for covering the storage compartment, a driver engageable on the cover for pivoting the cover into a first open position, wherein the cover has a driver opening for receiving the driver.

The US 2007 / 0045332 A1 discloses a mechanism for opening and closing the lid of a container device for a vehicle, including: a container body provided in a vehicle interior of the vehicle; a lid attached to the body of the container device so as to be freely opened and closed; an elastic member interposed between the body of the container device and the lid and provided to bias the lid in an opening direction and a closing direction of the lid with biasing force

The CN 215621322 U discloses a key-removable car door for drowning prevention, which consists of a mounting assembly, a handle fixedly installed on the bottom of the front of the mounting assembly, embedded protective glass on the inner wall of the top of the mounting assembly, and an emergency button fixedly installed on the inner wall of the front of the mounting assembly. A pressed emergency button drives a push rod that slides on the inner walls of a positioning block and a fixing plate. Then, the left side of the push rod contacts a soft rod on the inner wall of a hollow tube and moves. The moved soft rod drives a touch plate connected to the bottom of the soft rod and moves. The touch plate is tensioned to drive a connecting rod and a clamp plate to slide. Then, the sliding clamp plate allows the protective glass to move relative to the intercept column.

The JP H07-19893 Y2 discloses a locking mechanism for the cover of a container, which is mechanically pre-tensioned via a spring element. The spring element can be mounted together with the cover over the container opening.

It is the object of the invention to provide a solution by means of which a roof control module with a covering device that can be installed quickly and easily can be provided.

The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a roof control module for a motor vehicle. The roof control module has at least one control element that is covered by a pivotable, unlockable cover device. The control element is, for example, an emergency button or SOS button. When the control element is operated, an automatic emergency call to a rescue service is activated and carried out, for example.

The cover device is pre-tensioned by means of a self-tensioning double leg spring and is mounted in the roof control module. The double leg spring is a component of the roof control module. The double leg spring is made, for example, from a wire, such as a steel wire. When assembling the roof control module, the cover device is brought into a state in which the double leg spring is tensioned. This means that, if, for example, a force is exerted on the cover device in order to unlock and open it, the cover device can be moved from a closed position to an open position after unlocking by means of the pre-tensioned double leg spring, wherein the pre-tensioned leg spring is at least partially relaxed. The movement between the two positions can be carried out as a pivoting or a This allows the cover device to be opened quickly and easily, after which the control element is accessible to a person in the vehicle.

Since the double leg spring is designed to be self-tightening, pre-tensioning during assembly is achieved without direct manual force being applied to the double leg spring. For this purpose, the roof control module can, for example, have another component with which the double leg spring interacts during assembly. What is particularly relevant here is that no manual pre-tensioning of the double leg spring is required, which means that the roof control module can be assembled quickly and easily with the cover device. In addition, an advantageous cover device is provided for the roof control module, which is always ready for use and therefore robust due to the pre-tensioned state of the self-tightening double leg spring.

One embodiment provides that the cover device has two bearing pins arranged at a distance from one another. The bearing pins can be rotated about a common axis of rotation. The axis of rotation runs, for example, through a central axis of the two bearing pins. The two bearing pins are arranged next to one another, spatially separated from one another, and have a common axis of rotation. A spring body of the double leg spring is arranged on each of the two bearing pins, so that when the bearing pins rotate about the common axis of rotation, the two spring bodies can also move. The double leg spring is therefore fastened to a bearing pin of the cover device by its two spring bodies, so that the rotational movement of the bearing pins can be transferred to the spring bodies and thus to the double leg spring. When the cover device is assembled, the rotational movement about the axis of rotation takes place, for example, whenever the cover device is moved between the open and closed positions.

Each spring body is a part of the double leg spring, on which the wire from which the double leg spring is made is wound several times. Each of the two spring bodies is bordered by a leg of the leg spring and a connecting wire that connects the two spring bodies to one another. Each spring body has a predetermined diameter and a predetermined number of turns of wire windings. The number of turns is, for example, five. Larger or smaller numbers of turns for the respective spring body are possible. The number of turns can, for example, determine the hardness of the leg spring.

The respective bearing pin has, for example, an attachment around which the spring body is arranged, i.e. around which the spring wire of the double leg spring is wound. To mount the cover device in the roof control module, for example, the double leg spring with its two spring bodies is placed on the attachments.

It becomes clear how a movement of the cover device can be transferred to the double leg spring, i.e. how these two components of the roof control module are reliably coupled to each other.

A further embodiment provides that the roof control module has a housing part. The housing part can be enclosed by a housing of the roof control module. The housing has, for example, several housing parts that can be installed together during assembly. The housing part has at least one rail. The rail can alternatively be referred to as a slide rail or skid. The rail has, in particular, a curved course. Due to the curved course, a first end of the rail is arranged higher than an opposite second end of the rail, for example when viewed in a vertical direction of the housing part. When the cover device moves towards the housing part, which takes place in the vertical direction of the roof control module, a connecting wire of the double leg spring can be moved along the at least one rail. This movement takes place while the cover device is being mounted in the roof control module. During assembly or installation, the connecting wire is moved along the at least one rail. The connecting wire first comes into contact with the first end of the rail and is then guided in the direction of the second end of the rail as it approaches the housing part further. A longitudinal direction of the at least one rail is arranged, for example, perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The two spring bodies are connected to one another by the connecting wire. The connecting wire can alternatively be referred to as the connecting element of the double leg spring.

The movement of the connecting wire along the rail moves the double leg spring into the tensioned position and thus pre-tensions it. When the cover device is installed in the roof control module, the cover device moves relative to the housing part, which causes the leg spring to be pre-tensioned. When moving along the rail, the connecting wire is at least partially moved in the vertical direction of the roof control module and in a longitudinal direction of the rail arranged transversely to it. The longitudinal direction of the rail is preferably oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

The housing part preferably has two rails which are arranged spatially separated from one another, in particular parallel to one another. In the assembled state, the two rails are arranged in the direction of the axis of rotation between the two bearing pins, so that a distance between the two rails is smaller than a distance between the two bearing pins of the cover device.

Another embodiment provides that the cover device has two holding elements. The respective holding element is arranged on the respective bearing pin. The holding element can be understood as an attachment of the respective bearing pin. The respective holding element holds a respective spring leg of the double leg spring. The respective spring leg is the respective free-standing leg of the double leg spring, which is facing away from the connecting wire. One of the spring legs of the double leg spring is fixed to the holding element in such a way that it cannot leave its place on the holding element during assembly and when changing from the open to the closed position.

When the bearing pins rotate about the common axis of rotation, the respective spring leg can move with them. The holding element is arranged in a fixed orientation and position relative to the bearing pin on the bearing pin, so that when the respective bearing pin rotates, the respective holding element that the respective spring leg holds moves with it. After assembly, the connecting wire remains on the rail, whereas the respective spring leg remains rotatable about the axis of rotation. An angle between the connecting wire and the respective spring leg can therefore become smaller with a corresponding rotational movement, whereby the double leg spring is at least partially relaxed, or larger, whereby the double leg spring is tensioned even further. This illustrates how the assembled double leg spring can be adjusted in terms of its tensioned state.

A further embodiment comprises that the respective holding element has a main part that protrudes from the bearing pin perpendicular to the axis of rotation and thus radially.

At least two protruding pins are arranged on a side of the main part facing the spring body, whereby this side can be understood as the surface of the main part. The respective pin can alternatively be referred to as an attachment, protruding element or protruding element. The two pins hold the spring leg in a predetermined position on the side of the main part. They are arranged offset from one another at least in a vertical direction of the main part and hold the spring leg in a fixed position in the vertical direction. At the beginning of assembly, the vertical direction is oriented parallel to the vertical direction of the roof operating mode. However, when rotating about the axis of rotation, the vertical direction of the main part is also moved. In addition, the two pins can be arranged offset from one another in a longitudinal direction arranged perpendicular to the vertical direction. The longitudinal direction is oriented radially to the axis of rotation. The pins are therefore preferably located in two different positions in both the vertical direction and the longitudinal direction, so that the pins hold the spring leg to the main part in two directions. This ensures that the spring leg cannot move undesirably relative to the spring body and/or the connecting wire.

The main part preferably has a length in the longitudinal direction that is greater than a height in the vertical direction and a thickness of the main part in a depth direction that runs perpendicular to the side. In particular, the main part does not extend over the entire bearing journal, but is only arranged locally on it.

According to a further embodiment, the roof control module has a housing part that has two bearing blocks in or on which one of the two bearing pins can be mounted. The respective bearing pin is mounted in the respective bearing block after assembly. For this purpose, the respective bearing pin can, for example, engage or snap into the respective bearing block during assembly. The two bearing blocks are designed, for example, as protruding elements that protrude from the housing part compared to other structures or elements of the housing part. The respective bearing pin and the respective bearing block together form a respective bearing of the roof control module. The housing part with the two bearing blocks can be the same housing part that has the at least one rail. Alternatively, different housing parts can be provided, which are each components of the roof control module and are, for example, connected to one another.

A distance between the two bearing blocks corresponds to the distance that is required to position both bearing pins together with the connecting wire arranged between them on the housing part. During the described movement of the cover device towards the housing part during assembly, the bearing pins are preferably moved towards the bearing blocks and in The bearing blocks in conjunction with the bearing pins illustrate how the cover device can be mounted so that it can rotate relative to the housing part and thus within the roof control module.

In an additional embodiment, it is provided that when the two bearing pins are inserted into the two bearing blocks during assembly of the cover device, the respective holding element can be moved downwards in the vertical direction of the roof control module and the connecting wire can be moved at least partially transversely thereto along the rail, whereby the double leg spring can be pre-tensioned. On the one hand, the bearing pin with the holding element and the spring leg attached to it is lowered relative to the connecting wire until the bearing pins are fastened in the bearing blocks, and at the same time the at least one rail ensures that the connecting wire cannot be lowered any further, but remains in a raised position in which the angle between the connecting wire and the respective spring leg is greater than before assembly, i.e. in an initial position. As a result, the double leg spring is moved into the tensioned position, i.e. pre-tensioned. This explains in summary how the described pre-tension of the double leg spring is realized.

In an additional embodiment, the respective bearing block has an entry area for the respective bearing pin. The entry area is tapered, i.e. in a vertical direction of the housing part that corresponds to the vertical direction of the roof control module, the width of the entry area increases from bottom to top. At the top is the place where the bearing pin enters the entry area during assembly, and at the bottom is the place up to which the bearing pin is inserted into the bearing block. The tapered entry area ensures that the bearing pin snaps or engages in the bearing block during assembly. This can prevent the respective bearing pin from being moved out of the bearing block again without force from the side of the housing part in the direction of the cover device and thus from bottom to top. This is only possible under the action of force in this direction, which is typically not applied in the roof control module. This ensures that the bearing pins always remain in the bearing blocks when assembly is complete.

In an additional embodiment, it is provided that the respective bearing pin has a protruding partial area. In addition, the roof module has a housing part with a brake attachment. The brake attachment is designed to block the rotational movement of the bearing pin about the axis of rotation as soon as the protruding partial area of the bearing pin hits the brake attachment. This specifies an angular range by which the bearing pin can be rotated about the axis of rotation at most. This specifies an end position up to which the cover device can be rotated, for example, and this end position can be assumed when the cover device is in the open position. It can therefore be ensured that the entire movement that can be carried out by the cover device is controlled and only takes place within given rotation ranges.

The housing part with the brake attachment can be the same housing part that has the two bearing blocks and/or the at least one rail. Alternatively, different housing parts can be provided, which are each components of the roof control module and are connected to one another, for example.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cover device has a cover element that covers the operating element. The cover element is designed, for example, as a flat plastic part that is designed, for example, as a straight or curved plate. The cover element provides the covering function of the cover device, i.e. is positioned in the closed position such that it covers the operating element. The cover element is connected at one edge to one of the bearing pins via two connecting elements of the cover device arranged next to one another. This makes it clear how the cover element can be moved along with the rotation of the bearing pins about the axis of rotation. The connecting elements can be designed to be straight or curved for this purpose. The double leg spring is therefore arranged spatially separate from the cover element. It is located in an interior of the roof control module. From an area around the roof control module, only one surface of the cover element can be seen from the cover device in the closed position when the roof control module is fully assembled. This illustrates how the control element can be concealed using the cover device.

Furthermore, an embodiment provides that the respective connecting element between a first end, which adjoins the cover element, and a second end, which adjoins the bearing pin, is at least partially L-shaped in a transverse direction to a connecting direction or connecting axis between the two ends. The The connection direction connects the two ends to each other. It runs along a straight line between the two ends. The connecting element is therefore thickened in several directions. This makes it possible to achieve a high level of stability, so that the covering device is particularly robust and can be used repeatedly, for example.

In addition, one embodiment includes that the cover device has a locking device. The locking device is designed to unlock the cover element when a force greater than a minimum force is applied to the cover element. The unlocked cover element can be moved from the closed position to the open position by the pre-tensioned double leg spring. As soon as the locking device has been unlocked, the cover element of the cover device opens automatically because the pre-tensioned double leg spring relaxes, whereby the two bearing pins with the main parts arranged on them are rotated. In this case, a relative movement of the respective spring leg takes place to the connecting wire held in position by the rails, whereby the angle between them is reduced, so that the double leg spring relaxes at least partially. It is then only possible to close the cover element again by applying force, as the spring is tensioned again when the cover element is moved back to its original position, as the bearing pins are rotated around the axis of rotation in the opposite direction to before. This explains why the pre-tensioned leg spring is necessary in order to be able to bring the cover device into the open position. It also explains why the cover device does not constantly move into the open position, but remains in the closed position until the cover element has been unlocked.

An additional embodiment provides that the locking device has a heart-shaped curve mechanism. It can therefore be based on a mechanical functional principle by means of which locking and unlocking can be initiated by means of a fine force. The locking device has, for example, a latch or bolt that is moved along a heart-shaped curve. Alternatively or in addition to this, other locking techniques can be used. It is important here that the cover element is kept closed by means of the locking device, so that despite the pre-tensioned double leg spring, there is no relative movement of the cover element from the closed to the open position without unlocking having taken place.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with a roof control module as described above. The motor vehicle is, for example, a passenger car, a truck or a bus.

An additional aspect of the invention relates to an assembly method for a roof control module. The roof control module has at least one operating element that is covered by a pivotable, unlockable cover device. The assembly method provides that the cover device is pre-tensioned in the roof control module by means of a self-tensioning double leg spring. It is relevant here that the cover device is mounted on a housing part that has in particular the two bearing blocks and the at least one rail, preferably two rails. If the cover device is moved towards this housing part, the bearing pins are simultaneously positioned in the respective bearing blocks and the connecting wire of the double leg spring is moved along the rail. The assembly therefore includes moving the cover device in a vertical direction of the roof control module towards the housing part of the control module. During assembly, a distance between the cover device and the housing part of the roof control module is reduced until a predetermined installation position is reached.

The embodiments described in connection with the roof control module according to the invention, each individually and in combination with one another, apply accordingly, where applicable, to the motor vehicle according to the invention and the assembly method according to the invention. The invention includes combinations of the described embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Dachbedienmoduls für ein Kraftfahrzeug,
• 2 eine schematische Perspektivdarstellung einer Abdeckeinrichtung eines Dachbedienmoduls,
• 3 eine schematische Perspektivdarstellung der Abdeckeinrichtung gemäß 2 vor ihrer Befestigung auf einem Gehäuseteil des Dachbedienmoduls,
• 4 eine schematische Querschnittszeichnung des Dachbedienmoduls gemäß 3,
• 5 eine schematische Perspektivdarstellung der Abdeckeinrichtung gemäß 2, sobald sie auf einem Gehäuseteil des Dachbedienmoduls montiert ist,
• 6 eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung des Dachbedienmoduls gemäß 5, und
• 7 eine schematische Darstellung einer Öffnungsbewegung einer Abdeckeinrichtung eines Dachbedienmoduls.

The following show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a roof control module for a motor vehicle,
• 2 a schematic perspective view of a covering device of a roof control module,
• 3 a schematic perspective view of the covering device according to 2 before it is attached to a housing part of the roof control module,
• 4 a schematic cross-sectional drawing of the roof control module according to 3 ,
• 5 a schematic perspective view of the covering device according to 2 as soon as they mounted on a housing part of the roof control module,
• 6 a schematic cross-sectional view of the roof control module according to 5 , and
• 7 a schematic representation of an opening movement of a covering device of a roof control module.

In the figures, functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference symbols.

1 shows a roof control module 1 for a motor vehicle 2. This is mounted here on a roof liner 3 of the motor vehicle 2. The roof control module 1 has at least one control element 4, which is covered by a pivotable, unlockable cover device 5. The control element 4 is arranged behind the cover device 5, which is closed here. Furthermore, the roof control module 1 can have, for example, lighting units 6 and/or further control buttons 7 or other types of control units. The respective lighting unit 6 can, for example, be switched on or off using the control buttons 7. The cover device 5 preferably covers the control element 4, which can make an automatic emergency call to a rescue service. An emergency call function is therefore provided for the motor vehicle 2 by the control element 4.

2 shows the cover device 5, on which a self-tensioning double leg spring 10 is positioned. This can have two spring bodies 11, which are connected to one another by means of a connecting wire 12. At respective open ends or legs of the leg spring 10, the respective spring body 11 can have a respective spring leg 13. The double leg spring 10 can be made of wire, for example of steel wire.

The cover device 5 can have two bearing pins 14 which are arranged at a distance from one another and can be rotated about a common axis of rotation A. One of the spring bodies 11 of the double leg spring 10 can be arranged on each of the two bearing pins 14. This means that when the bearing pins 14 rotate about the common axis of rotation A, the two spring bodies 11 are also moved. They can therefore be moved together.

The cover device 5 can have two holding elements 15. The respective holding element 15 is arranged on the respective bearing pin 14. Each of the holding elements 15 holds one of the spring legs 13 in a specific position. When the bearing pin 14 rotates about the common axis of rotation A, the respective spring leg 13 is moved along with it. In detail, the respective holding element 15 can have a main part 16 protruding from the bearing pin 14. It protrudes in the radial direction and thus perpendicular to the axis of rotation A. On a side of the main part 16 facing the spring body 11 and the spring leg 13, the main part 16 has at least two protruding pins 17. These are arranged offset from one another in a vertical direction 19 of the main part 16. It can be provided that they are also arranged offset from one another in a longitudinal direction 18 of the main part 16, as outlined here. The two pins 17 hold the spring leg 13 in the specified position on the side of the main part 16. The spring leg 13 can therefore move neither in the vertical direction 19 nor in the longitudinal direction 18 relative to the main part 16 when the rotational movement takes place about the axis of rotation A. Alternative arrangements of the pins 17 on the side are possible. For example, they can be arranged one above the other in the vertical direction 19, i.e. not offset from one another in the longitudinal direction 18.

The longitudinal direction 18 and the vertical direction 19 of the main part 16 are not always equal to a vertical direction (z-direction), longitudinal direction (y-direction) or transverse direction (x-direction) of the roof control module 1 or the covering device 5, as they are also shown here. These two coordinate systems can be moved relative to each other during the rotational movement.

The covering device 5 can have a protruding partial area 20 on the respective bearing pin 14. This is relevant in connection with braking the rotational movement about the axis of rotation A.

The cover device 5 can have a cover element 21 that covers the control element 4. The cover element 21 is connected at an edge 22 to one of the bearing pins 14 via two connecting elements 23 of the cover device 5 arranged next to one another. Here, the respective connecting element 23 is at least partially L-shaped between a first end 24, which adjoins the cover element 21, and a second end 25, which adjoins the bearing pin 14, in a transverse direction 26 to a connecting direction between the two ends. The transverse direction 26 is shown and does not correspond to the transverse direction (x-direction) of the roof control module 1 or the cover device 5. Ultimately, the connecting element 23 is thickened in several directions and is thus reinforced.

3 shows the cover device 5 together with a housing part 30 of the roof control module 1 before the cover device 5 is in the roof operating module 1 is mounted. The housing part 30 can have at least one rail 31 and two bearing blocks 32. Here, two rails 31 are provided, which are arranged parallel to one another between the two bearing blocks 32. It is also clear here that the cover device 5 with the cover element 21 covers the operating element 4.

In 4 the situation is 3 shown as a cross-section. The cross-section shows a relative height at which the cover device 5 with the double leg spring 10 is located to the at least one rail 31. It is clear that the connecting wire 12 rests on the at least one rail 31 and can be moved along it as it approaches the housing part 30. The rail 31 can have a curved course. Here, the bearing pins 14 are also still outside the bearing blocks 32 provided for them. In general, the respective bearing pin 14 of the cover device 5 can be mounted in the respective bearing block 32.

When mounting the cover device 5 in the roof control module 1, the cover device 5 is moved in an assembly direction 40 towards the housing part 30.

In 5 is the representation of 3 shown in a situation in which the cover device 5 is fully assembled in the roof control module 1, i.e., the bearing pins 14 have been inserted into the respective bearing block 32. In addition, it was achieved here that when the cover device 5 moved towards the housing part 30, the connecting wire 12 was moved along the at least one rail 31, whereby the double leg spring 10 was brought into a tensioned position.

In 5 It is also emphasized that the respective bearing block 32 has an entry area 41 in which the respective bearing pin 14 is received. The bearing block 32 is tapered at the entry area 41 so that the respective bearing pin 14 snaps or engages in the bearing block 32 during assembly. In addition, the housing part 30 can have a brake attachment 42. The rotational movement of the bearing pin 14 about the axis of rotation A can be blocked as soon as the protruding partial area 20 of the cover device 5 hits the brake attachment 42 of the housing part 30.

In 6 the situation is 5 shown as a cross-section. It is clear that the relative arrangement of the rail 31 to the cover device 5 has been changed. The dashed line shows the rail 31', which corresponds to the rail 31 in its position in 4 However, the position of the rail 31 relative to the connecting wire 12 has now changed and corresponds to the rail 31 sketched with a solid line. It is also clear that an angle α between the spring leg 13 and the connecting wire 12 of 4 to 6 has increased significantly. In 6 the double leg spring 10 is in the pre-tensioned and thus tensioned position, whereas in 4 is still not tensioned. When the two bearing pins 14 are inserted into the two bearing blocks 32 during assembly of the cover device 5 in the roof control module 1, the respective holding element 15 is moved downwards in the vertical direction (z-direction) of the roof control module 1 and the connecting wire 12 is moved at least partially transversely thereto along the respective rail 31, whereby this pre-tensioning takes place.

In 6 In addition, a locking device 51 is outlined, which can be included in the cover device 5. This is designed to unlock the cover element 21 whenever a force is applied to the cover element 21, if this force is greater than a minimum force. The unlocked cover element 21 can be moved by the pre-tensioned double leg spring 10 from a closed position, as shown in 6 is outlined, into an open position as shown in 7 is outlined. The locking device 51 is based here on a heart-shaped cam mechanism or another locking mechanism. The movement between the two positions can be understood as a pivoting of the cover element 21 open or closed.

7 shows the cover device 5 in the closed position (solid lines) and in the open position (dashed lines). A direction of movement 50 is shown in which the movement between the two positions took place. In the open position, the double leg spring 10 is again at least partially relaxed, which is shown by the reduction in the angle α. To change to the open position, the cover device 5 with the respective spring body 11 and spring leg 13 attached to it was rotated about the axis of rotation A while the connecting wire 12 continued to rest on the respective rail 31.

Overall, the examples show a self-tensioned spring. This leads to an improvement in the assembly process, since the spring, which is designed as a double leg spring 10, tensions itself during assembly. This means that no additional assembly steps are necessary. The self-tensioning of the double leg spring 10 is mainly based on the arrangement of the at least one rail 31 on the housing part 30 relative to the desired installation position in the roof control module 1.

Claims (15)

Roof control module (1) for a motor vehicle (2), wherein the roof control module (1) has at least one control element (4) which is covered by a pivotable, unlockable cover device (5), characterized in that the cover device (5) is mounted in the roof control module (1) pre-tensioned by means of a self-tensioning double leg spring (10). Roof control module (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that the covering device (5) has two bearing pins (14) arranged at a distance from one another, which can be rotated about a common axis of rotation (A), wherein a spring body (11) of the double leg spring (10) is arranged on each of the two bearing pins (14), so that when the bearing pins (14) rotate about the common axis of rotation (A), the two spring bodies (11) can also be moved. Roof control module (1) after claim 2 , characterized in that the roof control module (1) has a housing part (30), wherein the housing part (30) has at least one rail (31) which in particular has a curved course, wherein upon movement of the covering device (5) towards the housing part (30) during assembly of the covering device (5) in the roof control module (1), a connecting wire (12) of the double leg spring (10), by means of which the two spring bodies (11) are connected to one another, is movable along the at least one rail (31). Roof control module (1) after claim 3 , characterized in that the covering device (5) has two holding elements (15), wherein the respective holding element (15) is arranged on the respective bearing pin (14) and holds a respective spring leg (13) of the double leg spring (10) so that during the rotational movement of the bearing pin (14) about the common axis of rotation (A), the respective spring leg (13) can also be moved. Roof control module (1) after claim 4 , characterized in that the respective holding element (15) has a main part (16) projecting radially from the bearing pin (14), wherein on a side of the main part (16) facing the spring body (11) at least two projecting pins (17) are arranged, which are each arranged offset from one another in a vertical direction (19) of the main part (16), wherein the two pins (17) hold the spring leg (13) at a predetermined position on the side of the main part (16). Roof control module (1) according to one of the Claims 2 until 5 , characterized in that the roof control module (1) has a housing part (30) which has two bearing blocks (32), in each of which one of the two bearing pins (14) can be mounted. Roof control module (1) according to claims 4 or 5 and claim 6 , characterized in that when the two bearing pins (14) are inserted into the two bearing blocks (32) during assembly of the covering device (5) in the roof control module (1), the respective holding element (15) can be moved downwards in a vertical direction (z) of the roof control module (1) and the connecting wire (12) can be moved at least partially transversely thereto along the rail (31), whereby the double leg spring (10) can be prestressed. Roof control module (1) after claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the respective bearing block (32) has an entry region (41) for the respective bearing pin (14), wherein the entry region (41) is tapered so that the respective bearing pin (14) is snapped into the bearing block (32) after assembly. Roof control module (1) according to one of the Claims 2 until 8 , characterized in that the respective bearing pin (14) has a protruding partial region (20) and the roof control module (1) has a housing part (30) with a brake attachment (42), wherein the brake attachment (42) is designed to block the rotational movement of the bearing pin (14) about the axis of rotation (A) as soon as the protruding partial region (20) of the bearing pin (14) strikes the brake attachment (42) during the rotational movement. Roof control module (1) according to one of the Claims 2 until 9 , characterized in that the covering device (5) has a covering element (21) which covers the operating element (4), wherein the covering element (21) is connected at one edge (22) to one of the bearing pins (14) in each case via two connecting elements (23) of the covering device (5) arranged next to one another. Roof control module (1) after claim 10 , characterized in that the respective connecting element (23) between a first end (24) adjacent to the cover element (21) and a second end (25) adjacent to the bearing pin (14) is at least partially L-shaped in a transverse direction (26) to a connecting direction between the two ends (23, 24). Roof control module (1) according to one of the Claims 10 or 11 , characterized by , that the cover device (5) has a locking device (51) which is designed to unlock the cover element (21) when a force greater than a minimum force is applied to the cover element (21), wherein the unlocked cover element (21) can be moved from a closed position to an open position by the prestressed double leg spring (10). Roof control module (1) after claim 12 , characterized in that the locking device (51) has a heart-shaped cam mechanism. Motor vehicle (2) with a roof control module (1) according to one of the preceding claims. Assembly method for a roof control module (1) which has at least one operating element (4) which is covered by a pivotable, unlockable cover device (5), characterized in that the cover device (5) is mounted in the roof control module (1) pre-tensioned by means of a self-tensioning double leg spring (10).

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