GB2335258A - A gaiter arrangement for a gear lever - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaiter arrangement for a motor vehicle gear lever comprises a gaiter cover 1 e.g.of leather, plastic or fabric, and a clip band 2 secured to the cover e.g.by staples or adhesive and including clip elements 4 for securing the gaiter arrangement in the motor vehicle console panel. The clip band also includes a lip 7 for decorative consistency within the motor vehicle and may be integrally moulded from a plastics material.

Description

A GAITER ARRANGEMENT 2335258 The present invention relates to a gaiter

arrangement and more particular to a gaiter arrangement for a motor vehicle gear lever.

Traditionally, particularly with regard to manual motor vehicles, a gear stick or gear lever connected to the gearbox of that vehicle has been surrounded with a gaiter in order to provide an aesthetic, but flexible, covering. Thus, the gear lever may extend to the gearbox in order to provide the necessary gear change function whilst retaining appropriate styling within a motor vehicle.

Typically, the gaiter arrangement within a motor vehicle will be made from a sheet plastic or leather material. The gaiter arrangement will extend from beneath a motor vehicle's console panel in order to inhibit "ride up" which could expose unsightly mechanical features. Thus, the gaiter will include means to secure it below an aperture in the motor vehicle console along with a decorative frame for the gaiter to facilitate aesthetic appearance.

Such previous gaiter arrangements have been difficult to incorporate within a motor vehicle in terms of manufacturing steps and, due to there being several separate components, adding to logistic supply problems. It will be appreciated that securing the gaiter arrangement below the motor vehicle console makes such an assembly relatively complicated and so, in order to reduce manufacturing track side complexity, the console including a gaiter arrangement may be delivered as a pre-assembly for installation. Unfortunately, such pre-assembled gaiter and console arrangements can themselves add to complexity in that vehicles are increasingly specified with different trim levels chosen specifically by the purchaser of the vehicle. Thus, manufacture to purchaser demand is made more difficult in that different pre-assembled consoles would require delivery to manufacturing track side. Furthermore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that maintenance can be impeded by mounting previous gaiter arrangements from beneath the motor vehicle console.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaiter arrangement for a motor vehicle which is easier to incorporate during manufacture within such a motor vehicle and so allows easier maintenance and product specification.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a gaiter arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a gaiter and a clip band, said clip band being secured about a periphery of said gaiter and including directional clip means orientated within said clip band to facilitate retention of said arrangement within a reciprocal aperture of a motor vehicle with a lip of said clip band adjacent said aperture about its periphery in order to present said gaiter cover therefrom.

The clip band could include a resilient frame upon which a plurality of clip elements are located. Furthermore, the frame and clip elements could be integrally moulded from a plastics material. Each clip element being a protruding detent from said frame. The clip band generally has a laterally expansive nature in order to expand into reciprocal recesses or below the periphery of said reciprocal aperture.

The lip preferably has a decorative appearance consistent with the 10 styling of the motor vehicle and/or the gaiter cover.

Where distinct clip elements are secured to the frame of the clip band such elements may be secured using staples or adhesive.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective of a gaiter arrangement; and Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section of a gaiter arrangement illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing depicted a gaiter arrangement in accordance with the present invention. The gaiter arrangement comprises a gaiter cover 1 secured to a clip band 2. The gaiter cover 1 comprises appropriately assembled sheets of flexible material such as leather, plastic or fabric. The 5 clip band includes a gaiter frame 3 along with clip elements 4.

The clip band 2 is secured about a periphery of the gasket cover 1 using staples 5 or any other appropriate means such as adhesive. Thus, the clip band 2 presents the gasket cover 1 in an expanded bellows type format. In such circumstances, it will be appreciated that a gear lever will extend through the clip band 2 and within the cover 1 to be presented at an upper end of the cover 1.

The clip elements 4 are directional. Thus, these clip elements 4 act within reciprocal recesses of a motor vehicle console or simply below a shoulder of a reciprocal aperture within such a console. In either circumstances, the clip elements 4 secure the clip band 2 through interference with the reciprocal recesses or shoulder periphery of a console aperture.

The clip elements 4 being directional will be deflected into engagement within the reciprocal recesses or console aperture by a downward motion in the direction of arrowhead A. As the clip elements 4 are in opposed configuration about the clip band 2, it will be understood that the clip elements are generally laterally expansive relative to the direction A into the reciprocal engagement with recesses or a console aperture. Thus, the compounded effect of opposed clip elements 4 is to resiliently secure the clip band 2 relative to a motor vehicle console. It will be understood that the gear lever located within the gaiter arrangement will present lateral and perpendicular deformation to the gaiter arrangement but these deformations will not lift the clip band 2 due to the opposed configuration of clip elements 4.

Prevention of removal of the clip band 2 from an aperture within a motor vehicle console is also facilitated by the clip band 2 having a significant perpendicular depth d within a motor vehicle console aperture. This depth d accentuates the directional nature of the clip elements 4 in order to more focus upon the allowable direction of movement between the clip 2 and a console aperture. It will be appreciated that the adjacent surfaces of the clip 2 and the aperture in the console will be substantially concentric and thus limit angular or lateral movement. Typically, this concentric overlap between the clip band 2 and the console aperture will be at least 10 mm.

The clip elements 4 could be discrete components secured to a frame using adhesive or staples or could be integrally moulded with the frame 3.

The clip elements 4 include a lateral protrusion 6 which extends laterally into engagement with a reciprocal recess within the console aperture or simply engages the lower shoulder of that aperture.

In order to provide an aesthetically pleasing and consistent colour and 5 contour profile within a motor vehicle's styling, the clip band 2 includes a lip 7. This lip 7 extends substantially parallel with an upper shoulder of an aperture through which the gaiter arrangement is located within a motor vehicle. Thus, this lip 7 can either itself provide a colour, texture and configuration consistent with the motor vehicle interior and the gaiter cover 1 or provide an appropriate surface upon which consistent cover or trim can be applied. It will also be appreciated that the lip 7 facilitates and limits downward movement of the clip band 2 and being about the entire periphery of the gaiter arrangement and therefore having opposed section again inhibits vibration or deformation displacement "ride up" in use. The lip 7 could be provided with a metallic bright coating, ie. chromed, in order to provide a desirable styling feature.

As indicated above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaiter arrangement which is easier to fit within a motor vehicle during manufacture. The present gaiter arrangement can be located within a motor vehicle as a distinct assembly at any point in manufacture. In such circumstances, a generic motor vehicle console may be installed within a motor vehicle and a purchaser determined gaiter arrangement fitted as specified when convenient to the manufacturer. Thus, it will not be necessary to supply distinct pre-assembled console and gaiter arrangement for each motor vehicle level of trim to the manufacturing track side for motor vehicles. This will be greatly reduce motor vehicle manufacturing complexity whilst allowing a wider range of trim levels to be available to purchasers of such motor vehicles.

In order to remove the gaiter arrangement from the motor vehicle panel for maintenance, repair or service, it will be appreciated that excessive force can be provided through a leaver, ie. a screwdriver, against the lip 7 and the shoulder periphery of the console aperture. Sections of the lip 7 can be specifically strengthened in order to facilitate such removal. Previously, gaiter arrangements require removal of all or most of the console panel.

Claims (9)

1. A gaiter arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a gaiter cover and a clip band, said clip band being secured about a periphery of said gaiter cover and including directional clip means orientated within said clip band to facilitate retention of said arrangement within a reciprocal aperture of a motor vehicle.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1,wherein said clip band includes a lip in order to be adjacent to said aperture of a motor vehicle in use and so present said gaiter cover therefrom.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said clip band includes a plurality of clip elements arranged with opposed orientation.

An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said clip band is made from a plastic moulding.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said clip band is arranged to have a substantially lateral expansive component to engage an aperture of a motor vehicle console panel.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said clip band has a substantial depth to cooperate with an aperture of a motor vehicle panel in order to facilitate location of the gaiter arrangement therein.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said gaiter cover and said clip band are secured together using staples or adhesive.

8. An arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A motor vehicle including a gaiter arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim.