Abstract:
An improved shift knob is described having a shift knob capable of coupling to a shaft with a detent; a cap with a multiplicity of coupling screws; a knob with internal holes that can mate with the detent and an interior tubular section; and a stopping sleeve interposed between the shaft and the interior tubular section.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority of the Provisional Patent Application 62/153,476 filed on Apr. 27, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the apparatus and method for installing an improved shift knob assembly. 
         [0003]    Those skilled in the art will recognize the past improvements to stick shift knob assemblies. On Dec. 12, 1926, U.S. Pat. No. 1,609,724, issued to Kendall which depicts a gear shift knob that is screwed onto the lever arm. Shortly thereafter, on Apr. 23, 1929; U.S. Pat. No. 1,710,452 entitled “Gear Shift Lever Knob” was issued to Drolette; subsequently U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,808 was issued to Contero on Dec. 16, 1969. All of this prior art is relevant to the inventive subject matter described in this application. 
         [0004]    More recently, United States Patent Publication 2003/0143021 to Whalen describes a quick attach and release mechanism for shift knobs for manual transmission BMW® automobiles. 
         [0005]    Despite these prior art, there is still a need for an improved shift knob and the shift knob attaching mechanism that is easy to install, is lower in cost to manufacture, and does not require threading the stick shift. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The inventive subject matter describes an improved shift knob that is capable of coupling to a stick shift shaft having a detent, a base, a cap with a multiplicity of coupling screws, a knob with internal holes, that can mate with the detent and an interior tubular section, and a stopping sleeve interposed between the shaft and the interior tubular section. 
         [0007]    Also the inventive subject matter describes a kit that contains the stick shift assembly. This kit would contain the base, the cap, the coupling screws, the stopping sleeve and the knob. These items would be placed in packaging, typically a small corrugated box with upgrade instructions. 
         [0008]    Also the inventive subject matter describes the method for upgrading an OEM stick shift to the improved stick shift knob assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the stick shift with the improved stick shift knob. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the improved stick shift knob. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows cut-away view of the improved stick shift knob. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an assembled view of the improved stick shift knob. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a kit of parts used for the improved stick shift knob 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a method of upgrading the OEM stick shift knob to the stick shift knob assembly. 
       
    
    
     OVERVIEW OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
       [0015]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 100 
                 Shift Knob Assembly 
               
               
                 110 
                 Shaft 
               
               
                 200 
                 Shift Knob 
               
               
                 210 
                 Cap 
               
               
                 215 
                 Cap Screws 
               
               
                 220 
                 Knob 
               
               
                 225 
                 Stick Shift Detent 
               
               
                 230 
                 Stopping Sleeve 
               
               
                 235 
                 Detent Holes 
               
               
                 240 
                 Knob Base 
               
               
                 400 
                 Illustrative View 
               
               
                 500 
                 Kit of Parts 
               
               
                 600 
                 Method of upgrading 
               
               
                 610 
                 Removing the OEM knob 
               
               
                 620 
                 Installing the knob base 
               
               
                 630 
                 Inserting a stopping sleeve 
               
               
                 640 
                 Attaching a knob 
               
               
                 650 
                 Installing a knob cap 
               
               
                 660 
                 Securing the knob cap to the knob base with connecting screws 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific materials, methods, components, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present inventive subject matter. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. 
         [0017]    The present inventive subject matter describes an improved stick shift knob assembly and methods of installing the improved stick shift knob. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the stick shift knob assembly  100  has the improved stick shift knob  200  that is mounted on the existing stick shaft  110 . 
         [0019]    Now referring to  FIG. 2  which shows an exploded view of the shift knob  200 . The knob cap  210  has a number of cap screws  215  that connect through the knob  220  to the knob base  240 . Internal to the knob  220  is a pair of detent holes  235  that allow the shift detent  225  to pass through. This prevents rotation of the shift knob  200  around the knob base  240 . The stopping sleeve  230  helps in securing the shift knob  200  firmly over the knob base  240 . 
         [0020]    Now referring to  FIG. 3  which shows a side view of the shift knob  200 . The shift knob  200  is mounted on the stick shaft  110 . The shift knob  200  is an assembly of the cap  210  coupled to the knob base  240  using cap screws  215 . A Stopping sleeve  230  is inserted between the stick shaft  110  and knob based  240  to prevent rotation about the knob  200 . 
         [0021]    Now referring  FIG. 4  which is an illustrative view  400  of the components of the stick shift knob assembly on the stick shaft  110 . 
         [0022]    Now referring to  FIG. 5  shows a kit of parts  500  used for constructing the improved stick shift knob. The kit of parts  500  would contain within a shipping box or like material: the knob base  240 , the stopping sleeve  230 , the knob  220 , the knob cap  210 , and the connecting screws  215 . 
         [0023]    Now referring to  FIG. 6  shows a method of upgrading  600  a OEM stick shift knob to an improved stick shift knob. The steps involved would be to remove an OEM Shift knob  610 . This is followed by installing  620  a knob base  240 , inserting  630  a stopping sleeve  230 , attaching a knob  640 , and then installing  650  a knob cap  210 . The final step is to secure  660  a knob cap on to the base through the knob with connecting screws  215 . 
         [0024]    Although there is wide variety of materials that can be used to fabricate the various components, some preferred materials are provided as follows. In a preferred embodiment, the knob is made from a hard plastic material, typically an acetal or polyoxymethylene. The knob cap can be made of aluminum or other suitable material. The stopping sleeve can be made of any appropriate hard plastic material. The screws would be of appropriate dimensions. 
         [0025]    Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this inventive concept and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein. 
         [0026]    All patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes. 
         [0027]    While the applicant understands that claims are not a necessary component of a provisional patent application and has not included detailed claims, the inventor reserves the right to claim, without limitation, the following subject matter.