SHIFTER WITH ONE-TOUCH ASSEMBLY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shifter assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- a shifter having a shift lever with a top section;
a knob with a bore configured to receive the top section for mounting thereon; and
a spring configured to fit within the bore and grip a material of the knob and extending longitudinally, the spring having at least one leg portion configured to flex and take up clearance between an outer surface of the top section and an inner surface of the bore, and to provide frictional retention of the knob to the shift lever.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shifter assembly includes a post-like shift lever, a knob with a bore configured to receive the top section, and a retainer spring extending longitudinally within the bore. The spring includes retainer barbs shaped to frictionally grip the knob and further has a leg(s) configured to frictionally engage the top section and also take up clearance between the top section and the bore for frictionally engaging the post-like shift lever. The spring can be alternative shapes, such as U-shaped or L-shaped. A method of assembly includes pressing the knob onto a shift lever with a single one-touch motion.
93 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A shifter assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
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a shifter having a shift lever with a top section; a knob with a bore configured to receive the top section for mounting thereon; and a spring configured to fit within the bore and grip a material of the knob and extending longitudinally, the spring having at least one leg portion configured to flex and take up clearance between an outer surface of the top section and an inner surface of the bore, and to provide frictional retention of the knob to the shift lever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A knob configured to be mounted to a shifter having a shift lever with a top section, comprising:
a knob with a bore configured to receive the top section for mounting thereon and a spring fit within the bore, the spring having retainers shaped to frictionally engage and grip a material of the knob, the spring further having at least one leg portion configured to flex and take up clearance between an outer surface of the top section and an inner surface of the bore, and to provide frictional retention of the knob to the shift lever. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of assembling a knob onto a shift lever comprising steps of:
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providing a shifter having a shift lever with a top section; providing a knob with a bore configured to receive the top section for mounting thereon; securing a spring to one of the top section and the knob, the spring being configured to fit within the bore and grip a material of the knob and extending longitudinally, the spring having at least one leg portion configured to flex and take up clearance between an outer surface of the top section and an inner surface of the bore to thus provide frictional retention of the knob to the shift lever; and motivating with a single assembly motion the knob and shift lever together so that the top section is positioned in the bore with the spring retaining the knob and shift lever together.
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Specification