GB2258520A

GB2258520A - Gear selector cover.

Info

Publication number: GB2258520A
Application number: GB9117129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Corbett
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1991-08-08
Filing date: 1991-08-08
Publication date: 1993-02-10
Also published as: GB9117129D0

Abstract

The cover assembly comprises a cover 12 and a mounting member 14. The mounting member 14 has two retaining brackets 34 and the cover 12 has on each side a backing strip 42 with two ridges 44, 46 defining a groove 51 therebetween. The mounting member 14 also has a securing bracket 30. To mount the cover 12 on the mounting member 14 the cover is slid onto the retaining brackets 34 so that they engage in the slots 51, and then the cover 12 is secured to the securing bracket 30 by a screw 54. <IMAGE>

Description

A GEAR SELECTOR COVER The present invention relates to a gear selector cover assembly and in particular to a cover assembly for an automatic gear selector in a vehicle.

A known gear selector cover assembly comprises a mounting member and a cover attached thereto by means of screws.

Because several screws are needed they tend to be time consuming to install. They also tend to make the cover unsightly.

The present invention provides a gear selector cover assembly comprising a cover member a mounting member and retaining means, the retaining means comprising = retaining part on the cover member ano a second retaining part on the mounting member, the retaining arts being adapted to engage one another to retain the cover member on the mounting member preferred emboaimenc of tfle present invention ill row be described by way of example only wlth reference to the accompanying drawing in which::- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a gear selector cover assembly according to the invention.

A gear selector cover assembly 10 comprises a cover i2 and a mounting member 14. The cover 12 has a generally domed portion 15 which has an opening in the form of a slot 16 through which a gear selector lever (not shown) can protrtade, and two side walls 17 and two end walls 18 depending from the base of the domed portion 15. One of the end walls 18, at a rear end 21 of the cover 12 has a I1n hole 19.

mounting member 14, shown partly in section, comprises a generally flat plate 20 with a well 22 therein to accommodate the end of the gear lever.

At one end of the mounting member 14, the front end, is an upturned rim 2, and at the esther rear end, the rear ena the sate 20 has an extended part 26 which Is bent so as o nave an upward step 23 ana a vertical end portion which tors a fixing bracket 30 with an aperture 32.

two retaining brackets 34 are mounted on the plate 20 of the mouting member 14, one on either side of the well 22. ach retaining bracket 34 has a generally C-shape section having two horizontal arms 36 joined by a vertical back section 40. One of the arms 36 is attached to the plate 20 by spot welding, leaving the other arm free forming a retaining part.

On the inside of each side wall 17 of the cover 12 near a front end 41 thereof, is mounted a further retaining part in the form of a backing strip 42 with an upper ridge 44 and a lower ridge 46 thereon. The upper ridge 44 is straight and horizontal. The lower ridge 46 has a horizontal portion 48 furthest from the front end 41 of the cover 12 and a sloping section 50 which slopes down towards the front end of the cover forming a guide part.

A groove 51 is defined between the upper and lower ridges 44, 46 which has a flared portion 52 between the upper ridge 44 and the sloping section 50 of the lower ridge 6.

The backing strip is welded ultrasonically to the cover 12.

A screw 54 and expander 5S are provided to secure the cover i2 to the securing bracket 30, and a spacer 58 is formed on the inside of, and integral with, the cover 12 around the securing hole 19. The expander 56 has two expander arms 60 which extend through the securing hole 19, and a flange 62 for axial location of the expander 56 against the fixing bracket 30.

To mount the cover 12 on the mounting member 14 the front end 41 of the cover is lowered onto the mounting member 14 so that the free arm 36 of each retaining bracket 34 engages the upper ridge 44 on a respective side of the over 12 forward of the guide part 50. The cover is then slid forward so that the free arms 36 slide into the grooves 51, being guided in by the guide parts 50. The rear end 21 of the cover is then adjusted until the securing hole 19 in the cover and the aperture 32 in the securing bracket 30 are aligned. The screw 5 is screw nto the expander to urge the expander arms 60 apart thus -.sea~ ing the expander in the aperture 32 and securing the cover 19 to the mounting member 14.

when the cover 12 is in position the retaining brackets 34 ana ridges 44, 46 provide retaining means which retain the cover 1 on the mounting member 14 by preventing the front end 41 of the over i2 from being lifted away drom the mounting member 14. The screw 54, expander 56 and securing bracket 30 form securing means which secure the cover 12 to the mounting member 14 preventing it from mowing In any direction and thereby preventing the cover trom sliding off the retaining brackets 34. Also the retaining brackets 34 and the ridges 44, 46 and backing strip 42 are inside the cover and are therefore concealed by it.

It will be clear to the man skilled in the art that many variations to the above described embodiment are possible. For example, the backing strip 42 and ridges 44, 46 could be formed integral with the cover 12, or the ridges 44, 46 could be formed on the side walls 17 of the cover, the backing strip 42 being omitted.

Claims

1. A gear selector cover assembly comprising a cover member, a mounting member and retaining means, the retaining means comprising a first retaining part on the cover member and a second retaining part on the mounting member, the retaining parts being adapted to engage one another to retain the cover member on ne mounting member.

gear selector cover assembly according to claim wherein one of the retaining parts defines a aroove and the other retaining part is adapted to fit into the groove.

3. ear selector cover assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein one of the retaining parts Includes a guide part for guiding the retaining arts into mutual engagement.

A ^ gear selector cover assembly according to any foregoing claim wherein the first retaining part is formed entegrally with the cover member.

5. A gear selector cover assembly according to any foregoing claim wherein the retaining means further comprises third and fourth retaining parts on the cover member and mounting member respectively.

6. A gear selector cover assembly according to any foregoing claim wherein the mounting parts are arranged so as to be concealed by the cover member when it is mounted on the mounting member.

7. gear selector cover assembly according to any foregoing claim wherein the retaining parts are adapted to slide into mutual engagement as the cover member is mounted on the mounting member.

A A gear selector cover assembly according to claim 7 further comprising securing means for securing the cover member to the mounting member to prevent the retaining parts from sliding out of engagement.

9. A gear selector cover assembly according to claim 8 wherein the securing means is at one end of the cover assembly and the retaining means at an opposite end thereof.

10. A gear selector cover assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

il. i vehicle having a gear selector cover according to any foregoing claim mounted therein.