PREFORMED COATING, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTORVEHICLE GEAR SHIFT LEVERS

Abstract: The coating comprises a center sheath (11) enclosing the lever (20) and terminated at one end with a knob grip (12) which includes a lever end check seat (14), and, at the other end, with a bellows seal (13) formed with a groove adapted to cooperate with a mating check seat (13a) provided on the console (K).

Description: This invention relates to a coating or cover particularly intended for motorvehicle gear shift levers. Currently used gear shift levers comprise a metal rod projecting from a central cabinet on the car floor, commonly termed "console", and are provided with a knob grip, as well as with a bellows saal arranged to protect the lever swivel joint at said console. The knob, which may have various configurations and sizes, is threaded onto or snap engaged with the rod end; the bellows seal is fitted over the rod and generally jointed or clamped to the console base. This prior arrangement of parts is scarcely effective as regards the bellows capability to prevent dust and moisture penetration, and is inconvenient when the bellows seal itself is to be replaced. Accordingly the task of the invention is that of obviating the aforesaid deficiencies, while improving the aesthetic appearance of the gear shift lever assembly. According to the co-pending parent European patent application No.82102204.3 (EP-A- 0 061 662) this task is achieved by a preformed integral coating, particularly for motorvehicle gear shift levers, characterized in that it incorporates the lever knob grip and lever protective bellows seal for the lever articulation joint. Advantageously, the coating is of polymeric material, and comprises a central sleeve enclosing the lever rod and terminating, without continuity breaks, at one end in a knob, including a force-fit check seat for the rod end, and, at the other end, in a bellows seal formed with a groove adapted to cooperate with a mating check seat provided on the console. According to this patent application the said task is achieved by the invention as defined in claim 1. The invention will be more clearly understood by making reference to the detailed description which follows, in conjunction with the accompanying illustrative, and not limitative, drawings, where: Figure 1 is a partly sectional elevation view of the integral coating according to the above identified parent application; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the coating installed; Figure 3 is a partly sectional elevation view of the coating or cover according to a modified embodiment of the invention according to the said parent application; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a further cross-sectional view, taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 3; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is an elevation, partly sectional, view of an embodiment of this invention. Making reference initially to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the coating or cover according to the above identified parent application, and 20 the end of the metal rod constituting the gear shift lever of a passenger car. In accordance with the said parent application, the coating or cover 10, advantageously formed from a polymeric material such as soft PVC, comprises a central tubular sheath 11 which is terminated, as a one-piece construction and without continuity breaks, at one end in a knob grip 12, and, at the other end in a bellows seal 13 for protecting the lever articulation joint or connection. The knob 12 is provided with a check seat 14 adapted to accommodate the end 20 of the rod in force-fit relationship. The seat 14 is formed in an insert 15, preferably made of a rigid polymeric material embedded in the knob 12 by a co-molding process, and is provided with an O-ring 14a adapted to engage, by elastic deformation of its material, in a corresponding groove 20a on the rod end 20. The bellows seal 13, preferably in the shape of a truncated pyramid, is in turn provided with an end groove 13a adapted to be engaged by the edge of a corresponding opening provided in the console K, wherefrom there extends the gear shift lever. The coating or cover can be easily assembled by fitting it over the rod and pushing axially on the knob to produce the force-fit engagement of the rod end in the seat 14, as specified hereinabove. Then, the groove 13a of the bellows seal is engaged with the edge of the opening provided in the console K, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The coating continuity ensures a perfectly tight seal, impervious to dust and moisture, while imparting the shift lever a pleasing aesthetic appearance. In the modified embodiment of the parent application shown in Figures 3 to 7, the insert 15 comprises a hollow element formed by two juxtaposed half-shells 150-151 of a rigid polymeric material. Such half-shells define a spherical profile solid with recessed radial lobes 152 in cruciform relationship, which delimit corresponding outer depressions 153 wherein the material of the coating 10 (Figure 4) spreads to prevent any displacement of the insert relatively to the coating. The bottom half-shell 150 carries an axial tube 154 which, at the upper portion thereof, is surrounded, for checking and stiffening purposes, by the radial lobes 152 of the top half-shell 151. In the tube 154, there is force-fitted the depressed end 200 of the rod 20 which is urged to abut against the end of the tube. Again for lightening reasons, as well as to facilitate the fitting of the coating or cover over the lever 20, the sheath portion 11 of the coating has a bore of significantly larger diameter than the rod 20, and is provided with axial ribs 120, separated by respective lightening voids, which ribs lay adjacent the lever with the coating fitted in place. In the embodiment of this invention, shown in Figure 8, the coating or cover is formed by two portions 212-213, advantageously (but not limitatively) formed both from a polymeric material, and respectively including the protective bellows seal for the swivel joint and the knob grip of the lever, which otherwise are the same as in the parent application. The two portions, which should be molded separately, are detachably interconnected at C by means of a fastener formation which ensures an apparent surface continuity to form, upon completion of the connection, an integral coating sleeve. Preferably, the detachable fastener formation is implemented by providing on either of the two portions a collar 211 having an undercut toric profile, and on the other portion a mating seat 221; the collar and seat snap engaging together by virtue of the inherent elasticity of the material. This coating or cover may be assembled either by separately fitting the two portions 212-213 over the lever and then interconnecting them, or by fitting the coating as a whole after connecting the two portions together.

Claims: A cover, for a vehicle gear shift lever, comprising a sleeve portion (212), for covering at least the upper part (20) of the rod of the shift lever, and a bellows-like portion (213), for covering at least the zone of the articulation joint of the lever, said sleeve portion of the cover having a hollow bulbous formation at the free upper end thereof integral therewith, characterized in that a) said bellows-like portion (213) and said sleeve portion (212) are two detachably interconnectable portions having mutually complementary fastener formations (211, 221) on mutually abutting ends thereof providing the detachable interconnection and ensuring apparent surface continuity of said cover so that said cover, upon interconnection of said bellows-like portion and said sleeve portion, looks like and behaves as a single-piece member, b) said hollow bulbous formation (15) of the sleeve portion having been formed by being moulded around a previously fabricated insert (15) such that the insert is in mating engagement with the interior of the completed bulbous formation, said insert being fitted on the upper part (20) of said rod, in use of the cover, and c) said insert (15) and said hollow bulbous formation have structurally a mutual co-moulded relationship. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said fastener formations comprise a collar formation (211) having an undercut profile and provided on one of said portions (212, 213) and a collar mating seat (221) on the other of said portions (213, 212) allowing a snap engagement therebetween. A cover according to claims 1, 2, wherein said sleeve portion (212) and said bellows-like portion (213) are of soft polymeric material and said insert formation is of hard polymeric material and wherein said insert formation has a retaining seat (14) for the fitting engagement with the upper part (20) of said rod and wherein said bellows-like portion (213) has on its lower end portion a groove (13a) for engagement with a corresponding retaining seat provided on the console (K) wherefrom the lever projects. A cover according to claims 1-3, wherein said retaining seat (14) for the fitting engagement with the lever rod part (20) is of cylindrical shape and has an internally projecting O-ring formation (14a) adapted to engage, by deformation of its material, into a corresponding groove (20a) on the lever rod part (20). A cover according to claims 1-4, wherein said insert formation (15) comprises two juxtaposed half shells (150, 151) with a substantially spherical lugged profile end including a tube portion (154) adapted to be force-fitted over the end (200) of said lever rod (20), said sleeve portion (11) of the covering having axial ribs (120) in engagement with said lever rod (20). A cover according to claim 5, wherein said half-shells (150, 151) are made of a hard polymeric material and define a generally spherical contour having internally recessed radial lugs (152) integral therewith in cruciform relationship with each other, said lugs (152) defining outer depressions (153) into which the covering material is spread in co-molding relationship therewith to prevent displacement of said insert formation with respect to said covering. A cover according to claims 4-6, wherein said tube portion (154) extends upwardly from the bottom portion of said half shells (150) and is surrounded and engaged at the top portion thereof by the radial lugs (152) of the top half-shell (151) for retention and stiffening action thereon.

Inventors: FOGGINI, GIOVANNI
Applicants: LEAR S.N.C. DI FOGGINI & C.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G05G1
IPC codes: G05G25, G05G1, F16H59, B60K20