Shifter with one-touch assembly

• US 8,424,409 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GHSP Division of JSJ Corporation
• Original Assignee: GHSP Incorporated (JSJ Corporation)
• Inventors: Kops, William R., Karner, Lee H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krause, Justin
• Application Number:
  US12/493,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20100000359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 744/733, 744/731, 745/53
• US Class Current: 74/473.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/0278 Constructional features of the selector lever, e.g. grip parts, mounting or manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/06 Details of their grip parts G05G1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/12 Means for securing the members on rotatable spindles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49874 Prestressing rod, filament or strand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20018 Transmission control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2014 Manually operated selector [e.g., remotely controlled device, lever, push button, rotary dial, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2084 Knob or dial

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.

Claims

1. A shifter assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a shifter having a shift lever with a top section having opposing flats that define uninterrupted planar surfaces;

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;

the spring being U-shaped and the at least one leg portion including opposing leg portions shorter than a length of the bore, with each leg portion having an outwardly-facing barb oriented to dig into a material of the knob when positioned in the bore, and each leg portion further having an arcuately bowed shape from end to end with an innermost curved surface slidingly engaging one of the flats on the shift lever to provide a frictional sliding retainer arrangement permitting sliding insertion and stable frictional retention and also permitting sliding removal without the use of separate fasteners or tools, with the arcuately bowed shape causing a lower insertion force and a very positive higher retention force of 4-10 times the lower insertion force.

2. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the spring has at least one long bowed resilient leg.

3. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the spring is U-shaped and has two bowed resilient legs.

4. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the spring has barbs that engage a plastic material of the knob.

5. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the spring forms a resilient leaf spring configured to hold itself within the bore and also to hold itself to the top section of the lever.

6. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the spring is more than three times longer than wide.

7. The shifter assembly defined in claim 6, wherein the spring is at least five times longer than its width.

8. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the spring is made from sheet metal.

9. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the knob defines the bore and includes a top portion for receiving the spring and a lower portion that extends below the spring for more stably engaging the top section of the shift lever.

10. The shifter assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the spring consists of a U-shape with two opposing leg portions, each being arcuately and oppositely bowed and engaging opposite side surfaces of the top section of the shift lever.

11. A knob configured to be mounted to a shifter having a shift lever with a top section having opposing flats that define uninterrupted planar surfaces, 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;

the spring being U-shaped and the at least one leg portion including opposing leg portions shorter than a length of the bore, with each leg portion having an outwardly-facing barb oriented to dig into a material of the knob when positioned in the bore, and each leg portion further having an arcuately bowed shape from end to end with an innermost curved surface slidingly engaging one of the flats on the shift lever to provide a frictional sliding retainer arrangement permitting sliding insertion and stable frictional retention and also permitting sliding removal without the use of separate fasteners or tools, with the arcuately bowed shape causing a lower insertion force and a very positive higher retention force of 4-10 times the lower insertion force.

12. The knob defined in claim 11, wherein the spring has at least one long bowed resilient leg.

13. The knob defined in claim 11, wherein the spring is U-shaped and has two bowed resilient legs.

14. The knob defined in claim 11, wherein the spring has barbs that engage a plastic material of the knob.

15. The knob defined in claim 11, wherein the spring forms a resilient leaf spring configured to hold itself within the bore and also to hold itself to the top section of the lever.

16. The knob defined in claim 11, wherein the spring is more than three times longer than wide.

17. The knob defined in claim 16, wherein the spring is at least five times longer than its width.

18. The knob defined in claim 11, wherein the spring is made from sheet metal.

19. The knob defined in claim 11, wherein the knob defines the bore and includes a top portion for receiving the spring and a lower portion that extends below the spring for more stably engaging the top section of the shift lever.