Summary of the invention
Manual transmission vehicles adopts flexible boot usually around the base portion of selection lever, this this bar of protective case bridge joint and gap between the Decorative pressing strip on every side, and adapt to of the motion of this bar with respect to this press strip.Such structure can not run into the problem that the present invention is concerned about.Yet, since some hand gear vehicle adopt around the selection lever with respect to around or adjacent decoration panel the gear selecting plate or other rigid construction that float and install, so manual transmission vehicles and being not precluded within outside the scope of the present invention.
In the existing gearshift finisher technical scheme that Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawings schematically shows, gear selecting plate 10 has the molded ornamenting bar 12 of C tee section around it.The C tee section of ornamenting bar 12 limits towards outer parallel flanges 14,16, the edge in the hole 18 around described flange slides and surrounds in the decoration panel 20.This structure when adapting to of the motion of gear selecting plate 10 with respect to panel 20, the gap between bridge joint gear selecting plate 10 and the panel 20.Yet, this structural limitations the aesthetic design of gear selecting plate 10, force gear selecting plate 10 general planar around it at least, and between gear selecting plate 10 and this panel, stay and seem inaesthetic seam.The vehicle assembling is also relatively more difficult.
Under this background, according to first aspect, the invention reside in a kind of gearshift ornamenting assembly, comprising: finisher, it is used for the gap between bridge joint gear selecting plate and adjacent or the vehicle decorative panel on every side; And holding element, it is used to be installed to described decoration panel; Wherein, described finisher can engage with described holding element, and is unsteady with respect to described holding element to allow described finisher.
Described finisher can be preferably and can engage with described holding element via fastener, and described fastener is configured as with described finisher and described holding element and engages.This fastener can selectively be set to utilize screen resilience that described finisher and described holding element are pressed against together, and can be for example plastic frame or spring clip.
Advantageously, described finisher can have towards the skirt section of described gear selecting plate.
Described holding element can preferably such ring, and promptly it is corresponding with the aspect of described finisher usually, and holds the skirt section of dangling from described finisher, has the gap between described skirt section and described holding element, and is described unsteady to allow.
Described finisher can be defined for the prone areal of support with the top moving contact of described holding element.
According to second aspect, the invention reside in a kind of fastener that engages with the finisher and the holding element of gearshift ornamenting assembly that is configured as, described fastener comprises flexible frame, described framework has and is used for a plurality of structures of engaging with described finisher and/or described holding element, and described framework is set to described finisher and described holding element are kept together.
According to the third aspect, the invention reside in and a kind of gearshift ornamenting assembly is installed to method on the vehicle, described vehicle has the gap between gear selecting plate and adjacent or on every side vehicle decorative panel, described gearshift ornamenting assembly comprises: finisher, and it is used for the described gap of bridge joint; And holding element, it is used to be installed to described decoration panel; Wherein, described finisher can engage with described holding element, and unsteady with respect to described holding element to allow described finisher, described method comprises: described holding element is installed on the described decoration panel; Described finisher is engaged, so that allow described finisher unsteady with respect to described holding element with described holding element; And described finisher is installed on the described gear selecting plate.
Notion of the present invention comprises the vehicle that is equipped with gearshift ornamenting assembly of the present invention.
The specific embodiment
For the present invention can be more readily understood, now will be by example, with reference to description of drawings two embodiment of the present invention.
Now with reference to Fig. 2 A, the 2B explanation first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 A in the accompanying drawing shows according to gearshift ornamenting assembly 24 of the present invention, and this gearshift ornamenting assembly is arranged in the opening 26 in the Decorative pressing strip 28 of the upper surface that limits center console 22.The main portion of the assembly 24 that can see in Fig. 2 A and 2B is finisher 30, snap ring 52 and plastic frame 100.
Referring now to Fig. 2 B, as can be seen, when finisher 30 is fixed on the gear selecting plate 32 and snap ring 52 when being fixed on the control desk 22, finisher 30 is around the gap 25 between the Decorative pressing strip 28 of gear selecting plate 32 and bridge joint gear selecting plate 32 and control desk 22.
With typical way, gear selecting plate 32 has the slit 34 that is used for holding A/T selection lever (from then on figure omits this bar) and is used for the space or the window 36 of mark of correlation such as PRND for example.As gear selecting plate 32 is installed in the prior art previously discussed.
At first with reference to Fig. 2 A, 2B explanation finisher 30.Finisher 30 is to be the ring of peltate in planar view.Finisher 30 has the hollow inclination cross-sectional plane that is limited by inside and outside wall 38 and 40 respectively, and it tilts away from the level and smooth central spine 42 of fillet.Inwall 38 from spine 42 downwards and extend inward into the upper surface 44 of gear selecting plate 32.Outer wall 40 from spine 42 downwards and extend outwardly into control desk 22 around Decorative pressing strip 28.Outer wall 40 deepens forward, so that spine 42 tilts from the downward rear end 48 of last front end.On the contrary, inwall 38 is a same depth around gear selecting plate 32 basically.
Therefore, arrange gear selecting plate 32 with respect to the upper surface 50 of control desk Decorative pressing strip 28 with identical with spine 42 basically degree of dip.
With reference to accompanying drawing 3,4A, 5A, 5B and 5C, further describe finisher 30.Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 A show can be in Fig. 2 A from below the gearshift ornamenting assembly 24 seen of part, for the purpose of clear, omitted gear selecting plate 32 and control desk Decorative pressing strip 28.
Finisher 30 has depth skirt section 58, dangles downwards from inwall 38 in this skirt section always.According to Fig. 2 B as can be seen, skirt section 58 is defined for the acceptance division that slides and admit and locate gear selecting plate 32.The rib 60 that separates at certain intervals around finisher 30 58 extends to outer wall 40 from the skirt section, to strengthen outer wall 40.These ribs 60 are defined for the low friction areal of support 62 of relative motion between finisher 30 and the snap ring 52 and cooperate jointly.The junction that opening of arranging around the bottom in skirt section 58 102 and recess 103 are defined for plastic frame 100.
Referring now to accompanying drawing 3,4A, 5A, 5B and 5C, further describe snap ring 52.Snap ring 52 comprises continuously shaped 66, and this shape of continuously shaped is roughly corresponding with the peltate aspect of finisher 30, but more small and thinner in the planar view part omitted.Specifically, bar is such along 68 width to its outer 70 in 66 from its, promptly makes the end that snap ring 52 can be engaged in the skirt section 58 of finisher 30 and outer wall 40 between 72.
In addition, by bar 66 interior along 68 apertures of describing 74 enough big skirt section 58 to hold finisher 30, and in the skirt section 58 around have the gap, thereby make the finisher 30 can be horizontal and vertical mobile when its skirt section 58 is positioned at snap ring 52.
Except slight reflecting surface depression was arranged, the major part of the bar 66 of snap ring 52 was located substantially in the plane, this means that the interior of bar 66 is higher than its outer 70 on every side a little along 68.Yet, interior further the rise along 68 of the preceding lateral part 76 of bar 66 is higher than outer 70, thereby the preceding lateral part 76 of bar 66 comprises rapid bevelled interior section, and this interior section extends up to the interior edge of rising from substantially horizontal exterior section with miter angle roughly.What raise is interior along 68 and the inclination interior section combination of preceding lateral part 76, and in preceding lateral part 76, produce upwardly extending bag shape portion 104, corresponding recess 106 in the skirt section 58 of bag shape portion 104 and finisher 30 combines, to hold the front protrusion of gear selecting plate 32.In general, when when look in the top, the preceding lateral part 76 of bar 66 also has convex curvature a little, the curvature coupling of this convex curvature and control desk 22, and in use snap ring 52 is installed on the control desk 22.
The bag shape portion 104 in the lateral part 76 of bar 66, the top general planar of the bar 66 of snap ring 52 and do not have feature.The top major part of bar 66 limits upper support face 78, and this upper support face leans against on the areal of support 62 of the rib 60 between the outer wall 40 of skirt section 58 and finisher 30.
Fixing and the location structure of single-piece is protrusion below the bar 66 of snap ring 52.These structures comprise four prone columns 80 (each side at bar 66 is arranged two columns), and comprise two pins 82 (each side at bar 66 is arranged a pin) between every column 80 of snap ring 52.The following major part of bar 66 limits the lower support surface 79 that leans against on the plastic frame 100.
With reference to Fig. 3,4A, 5A, 5B and 5C, further describe plastic frame 100.Plastic frame 100 is configured as the moulding ring along the general plane shape of finisher 30 and snap ring 52.The overall shape of framework 100 and size make around its skirt section that fits snugly in finisher 30 58, and the inside face 108 of framework 100 leans against on the outside face 59 in skirt section 58 here.Yet the inside face 108 of framework 100 comprises six towards interior snap fit salient 110, and described salient is arranged to three pairs, and each right parts is relative with another parts, and two parts of every pair lay respectively on each side of framework 100.In addition, the inside face 108 of framework 100 comprises four inwardly salients 111 of location, and described salient is arranged to two pairs.
Framework 100 also comprises seven towards outer support salient 112, each salient have in order to engage with the lower support surface 79 of bar 66 towards last surface.Be arranged to three pairs for six in the support salient 112 of framework 100, each right parts is relative with another parts, and two parts of every pair lay respectively on each side of framework 100, and residue salient 112 extends from the angied posterior end of framework 100.
Some details that specifically illustrates among Fig. 5 A, 5B and the 5C below has been described.Mention other details now.All these accompanying drawings also show " footprint " 94 of the increase that the spreading range of the motion of the finisher 30 that is allowed by the present invention limits.Shown in Fig. 5 B, rib 60 has the cut-out 61 that is used to hold framework 100.
How to constitute gearshift ornamenting assembly 24 with reference to Fig. 5 A, 5B and 5C explanation from finisher 30, snap ring 52 and framework 100.At first, shown in Fig. 5 B, snap ring 52 is placed between finisher 30 and the framework 100.In the recess 103 in the skirt section 58 of the salient 111 insertion finishers 30 of framework 100.Then, shown in Fig. 5 C, fixedly salient 110 engages with the opening 102 in the skirt section 58 of snap fit and finisher 30, so that framework 100 is firmly fixed in position.
Shown in Fig. 5 B, in the ornamenting assembly of finishing 24, snap ring 52 be absorbed in the low friction area supported 62 of finisher 30 and framework 100 support salient 112 towards between the last surface, thereby finisher 30 is supported, to slide with respect to snap ring 52.The degree of depth towards outer support salient 112 is such, promptly allows in ornamenting assembly 24 in the relative cross motion between finisher 30 and the snap ring 52, and support salient 112 makes up and prevents that interior snap ring 52 from slipping over framework 100.In the ornamenting assembly of finishing 24, the aperture 74 of snap ring 52 is not even as big as allowing framework 100 and supporting salient 112 and pass.
Assembly 24 also comprises the clip 56 on the snap ring 52, and the purposes of this clip is that snap ring 52 is installed on the control desk Decorative pressing strip 28.Shown in Fig. 5 A, clip 56 is installed on the column 80 of snap ring 52.Each clip 56 has retaining part 57, to prevent from snap ring 52 disengagings.Detailed view at a clip 56 shown in Fig. 4 B.
When being applied thereto when assembling finisher 30 and snap ring 52 and with framework 100, the salient 110 of framework 100 applies downward pressure to the opening 102 of finisher 30, shown in Fig. 5 C, simultaneously the salient 112 of framework 100 applies to the areal of support 79 of snap ring 52 and upwards pressure, shown in Fig. 5 B.Like this, parts are pushed or are biased in together, to prevent the relative perpendicular movement of parts with respect to another parts.Yet, the relative cross motion that framework 100 allows between finisher 30 and the snap ring 52, this function for assembly 24 is crucial.
How explanation now is installed in gearshift ornamenting assembly 24 in the vehicle.At first, provide vehicle (from institute's drawings attached, omitting selection lever) with selection lever and gear selecting plate 32.Then, control desk 22 is installed in the vehicle.Can see the gap 25 between the Decorative pressing strip 28 of gear selecting plate 32 and control desk 22.Then, shown in Fig. 2 A, assembly 24 is installed on the control desk.
According to Fig. 5 A, 5B and 5C, obviously the opening 26 in the control desk 22 have with snap ring 52 be supported on the recessed flange 90 around notch 88.This holds snap ring 52 to flush mounting means, to guarantee to have the clean and tidy decoration of minimum clearance between parts.Recessed flange 90 around the opening in the control desk 22 26 is provided with fixedly socket 96 (shown in Fig. 5 A) and location socket 97 (shown in Fig. 2 B).The fixedly socket 96 of control desk 22 is spaced apart with corresponding with the column 80 that dangles below the bar 66 of snap ring 52, and location socket 97 is spaced apart with corresponding with pin 82.
As previously mentioned, each column 80 of snap ring 52 has the clip 56 that is installed on the control desk 22 in order to auxiliary.Each clip 56 engages with fixedly socket 96 in the recessed flange 90.Shown in Fig. 5 A, 5B and 5C, gear selecting plate 32 has 44 skirt sections of dangling 92, surface from it, and skirt section 92 fits snugly in the skirt section 58 of finisher 30.
In installation process, assembly 24 is placed on the control desk 22, so that the skirt section 58 of finisher 30 is towards the skirt section 92 of gear selecting plate 32.Next, shown in Fig. 5 A, gearshift ornamenting assembly 24 simply pushes in the opening 26 in the control desk 22, in column 80 slips into fixedly socket 96, and by the clip 56 that column 80 carries be bonded on relevant fixedly socket 96 around, till remaining on assembly 24 in the opening 26.At this moment, shown in Fig. 2 B, the pin 82 of snap ring 52 is received in the correspondence location socket 97 of control desk 22, with the aligning and the location of auxiliary snap ring 52.
Therefore, the installation of gearshift ornamenting assembly 24 on center console 22 realizes by following steps, is about to holding element 52 and is installed on the Decorative pressing strip 28; By means of plastic frame 100 finisher 30 and holding element 52 are engaged, so that allow finisher 30 floating with respect to holding element 52; And this finisher is installed on the gear selecting plate 32.
In a word, gearshift ornamenting assembly 24 has following advantage.
At first, by permission selection lever positional tolerance greatly that has with respect to its desired location in all directions, and, make things convenient for the vehicle assembling by the finisher structure that goes for multiple selection lever or gear selecting plate is provided.Like this, when snap ring 52 was fixed on the control desk 22, the convenience of the relative motion between finisher 30 and the snap ring 52 allowed the position of gear selecting plate 32 to have than high tolerance in all directions.Specifically, by the horizontal tolerance of unsteady permission between finisher 30 and the snap ring 52, and the skirt section by finisher 30 58 allows vertical tolerance.
Secondly, gear selecting finisher 24 allows bigger aesthetic design degree of freedom, for example produces the AT finisher of various 3D shapes.
This is because assembly 24 allows to hide the seam between assembly 24 and the control desk 22, and finisher 30 not direct mount to control desk 22.When in use assembling and installing, the hidden to a great extent snap ring 52 of the outer wall 40 of finisher 30.
Referring now to the Fig. 6 in the accompanying drawing and Fig. 7, get back to second embodiment of concrete structure of the gearshift ornamenting assembly 124 of Fig. 2 A.Gearshift ornamenting assembly 124 is shown from the below again, for clarity, omits gear selecting plate 32 and control desk Decorative pressing strip 28.Obviously, as will be described, the assembly 124 of second embodiment comprises finisher shown in Figure 6 130, roughly extends with the cooresponding snap ring 152 of the aspect of finisher 130 with around snap ring 152 and finisher 130, to hold it in spring clip 154 together.In the detailed view of Shuo Ming Fig. 8 A, can find out better that below assembly 124 also comprises the clip 156 on the snap ring 152, the purposes of this clip is that snap ring 152 is installed on the control desk Decorative pressing strip 28.
Check Fig. 6 and 7 in detail, as can be seen, finisher 130 has depth skirt section 158, dangles downwards from inwall 138 in this skirt section always.Among Shuo Ming Fig. 8 A, 8B and the 8C, as can be seen, skirt section 158 is defined for the acceptance division that slides and admit and locate gear selecting plate 32 below.The rib 160 that separates at certain intervals around finisher 130 158 extends to outer wall 140 from the skirt section, to strengthen outer wall 140.As can be seen, these ribs 160 are defined for the low friction areal of support 162 of relative motion between finisher 130 and the snap ring 152 and cooperate jointly in Fig. 8 B.Around separating at certain intervals that the bottom in skirt section 158 is arranged, and replace with rib 160 towards outer lug 164.Illustrated as reference Fig. 8 C, these lugs 164 are defined for the junction of spring clip 154.
Snap ring 152 comprises continuous moulding band 166, and the size and dimension of the moulding band that this is continuous is roughly corresponding with the size and the peltate aspect of finisher 130.With 166 from being such along 168 width in it, promptly make the end that snap ring 152 can be engaged in the skirt section 158 of finisher 130 and outer wall 140 between 172 to its outer 170.Like this when in use assembling and installing, the hidden to a great extent snap ring 152 of the outer wall 140 of finisher 130.In addition, by with 166 interior along 168 apertures of describing 174 enough big skirt section 158 to hold finisher 130, simultaneously in the skirt section 158 around have the gap so that finisher 130 can be horizontal and vertical mobile snap ring 152 in.Elected plate washer 32 is fixed on the finisher 130 and snap ring 152 when being fixed on the control desk 22, and the convenience of the relative motion between finisher 130 and the snap ring 152 has been realized the unsteady installation of desirable gear selecting plate 32.
Except slight reflecting surface depression is arranged, snap ring 152 be with 166 to be located substantially in the plane, this means with 166 interior along 168 outers 170 that are higher than a little around it.When look in the top, the preceding lateral part 176 with 166 also has convex curvature a little, the curvature coupling of this curvature and control desk 22, and in use snap ring 152 is installed on the control desk 22.
The snap ring of can't see among Fig. 6 and 7 152 with above 166, described above general planar and do not have feature.Shown in Fig. 8 B, the top qualification areal of support 178 with 166, this areal of support lean against on the downside 162 of the skirt section 158 of finisher 130 and the rib 160 between the outer wall 140, thereby finisher 130 is supported, to slide with respect to snap ring 152.
Fixing and the location structure of single-piece from snap ring 152 with protrusion below 166.These structures comprise four prone columns 180 and two pin 182, arrange two columns in each side with 166, and in the front and back end of snap ring 152 pin of each center arrangement.Column 180 is the attachment points that are used for clip 156, can find out the function of clip 156 below among Shuo Ming Fig. 8 A better.Pin 182 be received in control desk Decorative pressing strip 28 in the adjacent respective aperture of opening 26 in, with in assembling process the neutralization aligning and the location of auxiliary snap ring 152 in use.
Spring clip 154 is to be configured as along the continuous loop general plane shape of finisher 130 and snap ring 152, that made by hard and flexible metal filament.Specifically, shown in Fig. 8 C, the overall shape of ring and size make around its skirt section that fits snugly in finisher 130 158, and Huan interior section 184 leans against on the skirt section 158 here, and engages with aforementioned lug 164.Yet the ring local deformation is to be limited to six salients 186 that this ring spaced around is opened, and salient 186 replaces with the interior section 184 of the ring of engagement lugs 164.These salients 186 are grouped into three pairs, and each right parts is relative with another parts, and each two right parts is respectively on each side of continuous loop, so that should encircle about its center longitudinal axis symmetry.In ornamenting assembly 124, salient 186 lean against snap ring 152 with on 166 the downside.Therefore, when being applied thereto when assembling finisher 130 and snap ring 152 and with spring clip 154, spring clip 154 applies downward pressure to the lug 164 of finisher 130, upward pressure and apply to snap ring 152 simultaneously, like this these parts are pushed or are biased in together, to prevent the relative perpendicular movement of parts with respect to another parts.Yet, the relative cross motion that spring clip 154 allows between finisher 130 and the snap ring 152, this function for assembly 124 is crucial.
Some details that specifically illustrates among Fig. 8 A, 8B and the 8C below has been described.Mention other details now.For example, according to all these accompanying drawings, obviously the opening 26 in the control desk 22 has snap ring 152 is supported on peripheral groove 88 on the recessed flange 90.This holds snap ring 152 to flush mounting means, guaranteeing to have the clean and tidy decoration of minimum clearance between parts, and allows finisher 130 with respect to snap ring 152 smooth sliding.
All Fig. 8 A, 8B and 8C show that gear selecting plate 32 has 44 skirt sections of dangling 92, surface from it, and skirt section 92 fits snugly in the skirt section 158 of finisher.All these accompanying drawings also show " footprint " 94 of the increase that the spreading range of the motion of the finisher 130 that is allowed by the present invention limits.
At last, the opening 26 recessed flange 90 on every side that Fig. 8 A shows in the control desk 22 is how to be provided with socket 96, and this there is shown a socket 96.Socket spaced apart with corresponding and admit from snap ring 152 with the column 180 that dangles below 166.Each column 180 has and is used for clip 156 is installed to hole 98 on the snap ring 152, clip 156 also with recessed flange 90 in the periphery of socket 96.In vehicle manufacturing process, gearshift ornamenting assembly 124 pushes in the opening 26 in the control desk 22 simply, slip in its socket 96 up to column 180, and be bonded on around the relevant socket 96, till remaining on assembly 124 in the opening 26 by the clip 156 that column 180 carries.
The installation of gearshift ornamenting assembly 124 on center console 22 according to any one embodiment realizes by following steps, is about to holding element 152 and is installed on the Decorative pressing strip 28; By means of plastic frame 100 or metal wire clamp 154 finisher 130 and holding element 152 are engaged, so that allow finisher 30/130 to float with respect to holding element 152; And this finisher is installed on the gear selecting plate 32.
Submission date is that the full content that the UK Patent Application No.0526289.4 on December 23rd, 2005 and submission date is the european patent application No.06125088.2 on November 30th, 2006 is incorporated this paper into by reference at this.
Can in the scope of notion of the present invention, carry out many modification.For example, though it is preferred that plastic frame or spring clip are provided, but also be optional feature: can be by becoming one with finisher or be installed to the direct fixing snap ring of salient on this finisher, the elastic deformation of one of them or two parts allows them assembled.Therefore, when determining protection scope of the present invention, should be with reference to appending claims, rather than aforementioned specifying.