Abstract:
A shifter face plate assembly and method for an automatic transmission having a shifter rod in an opening of a floor console which includes an intermediary plate and top face plate. The intermediary plate supports the top plate and floats horizontally laterally to obtain the proper sidewise position of the top plate with respect to the console opening. The top plate floats horizontally longitudinally to obtain the proper lengthwise position of the top plate with respect to the console opening. An eccentric cone on the shifter rod is movable to accommodate any offset of the shifter rod relative to its slot in the top plate after the proper position of the top plate in the console opening is obtained.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an adjustable shifter face plate assembly for use with the flow-through instrument panel and console interface of a vehicle to accommodate floor build variations in vehicle assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the prior art, engineering faces a continuing challenge to achieve design goals when seeking a “flow-through” (i.e., the appearance of uninterrupted connection) between the instrument panel and the floor console. The mass assembly of vehicles may create build variations that complicate this design goal. Attempts to achieve a smooth flow-through between instrument panel and floor console under some circumstances may have resulted in uneven gaps between fixed portions of the instrument panel, particularly at the driver&#39;s knee bolster and the glove box. Such overhangs or shingling at these locations make it difficult to achieve high quality fits and a world class modern look. The problem is made more difficult when the designer seeks a reduction in the number of floor console parts and a shifter assembly which is adjustable with respect to a floor console opening. 
     As a result of such floor build variations, the automatic shifter face plate (PRNDL) may not align perfectly with a console opening to achieve the world class look that is desired and gap-hiding gaskets may be required. Thus, there is also a need in the prior art to improve the shifter face plate assembly so that floor build variations can be accommodated without adding gaskets and while still achieving a smooth flow-through between the instrument panel and the floor console. 
     Achieving these results by reducing the build variations results in high costs. Also, splitting the console base into several parts along the vehicle floor with the interface of the parts hidden by the seats results in an increase in the number of parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved adjustable shifter face plate assembly which accommodates variations in floor console location when the floor console is mounted on a vehicle floor which has been subject to build variations during assembly. A shifter rod assembly projecting through an opening in such floor consoles may be offset or nearer one side of the opening than the other side of the opening. This creates uneven gaps between the shifter rod assembly and a side of the opening. The shifter plate assembly of this invention is shiftable within the console opening to even the gaps so that an aesthetically pleasing appearance is achieved. There is no need for supplementary rings or gaskets to mask the gaps or accommodate the offset. This results in a less shape-restrained space for the adjustable shifter face plate, and allows more styling freedom. It gives a high quality fit and a world class modern look. 
     The improved adjustable shifter face plate assembly permits the top or face plate to float horizontally. This accommodates the floor build variations. There is an intermediary plate which carries indicia such as the shifter position marks (PRNDL) and can move with respect to the shifter rod and a top plate. The intermediary plate also has an anti-rattle feature. The top plate can move or float longitudinally with respect to the intermediary plate and has a transparent window to show the indicia or shifter position marks (PRNDL). An eccentric cone is incorporated on the shifter rod shaft. The cone can be pushed down on the shifter rod after the intermediary plate has found the right position on the shifter rod support and the shifter base in the floor console. The cone is then rotated to accommodate the resulting offset of the shifter rod relative to the top plate slot in which the shifter rod moves. The eccentricity of the cone is used to accommodate any lateral shift in the parts and is rotatable on the shifter rod so that a world class look is achieved. 
     The adjustable shifter face plate assembly of this invention includes a shifter rod, a top plate horizontally floatable longitudinally with respect to the shifter rod projecting from an opening in the floor console, an intermediary plate between the shifter rod support and the top plate and horizontally floatable transversely with respect to the opening in the floor console to permit the intermediary plate and the top plate to move sufficiently so that the top plate aesthetically fits within the opening in the console. Finally, an eccentric cone is positionable on the shifter rod to align the shifter rod aesthetically with respect to the opening slot in the top plate through which the shifter rod projects. 
     A further object of this invention is to add an adjustable shifter face plate assembly in an opening of the floor console of the unitary structure to accommodate the variations between instrument panel and the floor of a vehicle being assembled. The assembly includes a shifter rod support which is adapted to be fixed with respect to the floor. It also includes a shifter rod projecting upwardly from the shifter rod support. It includes a top plate horizontally floatable longitudinally with respect to the opening of the console to orient the top plate of the shifter face plate assembly within the console opening. The assembly includes an intermediary plate between the shifter rod support and the top plate. The intermediary plate is horizontally floatable laterally or transversely with respect to the opening of the console to orient the shifter face plate assembly with respect to the console opening. And finally, an eccentric cone is positionable on the shifter rod and is sufficiently slidably and rotatably moveable with respect to the shifter rod so that any resulting offset of the top plate and intermediary plate with respect to the console opening is accommodated. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide a method of adjusting a shifter face plate assembly to the console opening with another method which includes forming the instrument panel into two relatively pivotable portions to accommodate floor build variations in vehicle assembly and including the floor console as part of one portion. The other method includes spacing said instrument panel from the vehicle floor followed by sufficiently pivoting the one portion and floor console with respect to the other portion until the one portion and floor console engage the vehicle floor to accommodate floor build variations in vehicle assembly. This engagement accommodates any variation in the vehicle floor which exists between the instrument panel and the vehicle floor. The top plate of the shifter face plate assembly can then be aesthetically fitted within the console opening. Thus, two methods cooperate in achieving the world class look. 
     Another object of this invention is a shifter face plate assembly for the shifter rod of an automatic transmission. The assembly includes a top plate with a slot through which the shifter rod projects and a window. The assembly also includes an intermediary plate having shift indicia beneath the window of the top plate. In the assembly, the intermediary plate is floatable horizontally with respect to the console opening and longitudinally with respect to the top plate to position the indicia beneath the window of the top plate and to facilitate the proper orientation and movement of the top plate with respect to the floor console opening within which the top plate is moveable. 
     A further object of this invention is an adjustable shifter face plate assembly to accommodate the variations between the shifter face plate assembly and the floor console of a vehicle being assembled. The assembly includes a shifter rod base which is adapted to be fixed with respect to the floor. It also includes a shifter rod projecting upwardly from a shifter rod support on the shifter rod base. It also includes a top plate movable or horizontally floatable longitudinally with respect to the shifter rod support and has a window and a slot. The slot provides a passageway for the upwardly projecting and longitudinally movable shifter rod. And finally the assembly includes an intermediary plate between the shifter rod support and the top plate and has a slot alignable with the slot on the top plate to complete the passageway for the upwardly projecting and longitudinally shiftable rod. An indicia on the intermediary plate is aligned with the window in the top plate and is shiftable longitudinally with respect to the top plate. The intermediary plate also includes a slot oriented and configured sufficiently with respect to the shifter rod support to permit the intermediary plate to move or horizontally float sufficiently transversely so that the top plate is in a position aligned with the opening in the floor console through which the shifter rod projects. And finally, an eccentric cone is positioned on the shifter rod and is sufficiently slidably and rotatably moveable with respect to the slot in the top plate so that the shifter face plate assembly is aesthetically within the opening in the floor console to achieve a world class look where the floor console interfaces with the instrument panel. 
     This invention is also a method of adjusting a shifter face plate assembly to the shifter rod support in the opening of a floor console on a vehicle floor subject to floor build variations. The invention comprises affixing a shifter rod support to the vehicle floor with the shifter rod projecting upwardly, installing a top plate and an intermediary plate on the shifter rod, and laterally shifting the intermediary plate with respect to the shifter rod support and longitudinally shifting the top plate with respect to the intermediary plate to orient the plates with respect to the floor console opening. 
     The above features and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of an adjustable instrument panel and control console in a vehicle with a schematic exploded view of an adjustable shifter face plate assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an assembled shifter face plate assembly shown in  FIG. 1  and oriented with respect to an instrument panel and floor console in phantom; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the shifter face plate assembly with the longitudinally shiftable top plate removed to expose the face of the transversely shiftable intermediary plate; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded fragmentary perspective of the shifter face plate assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This is an invention to improve the fit and appearance or look of an instrument panel and console in an automotive vehicle built by mass assembly. With reference to  FIG. 1 , the vehicle  10  includes a structural frame  12 , a front wall  14 , and a floor  16 . During mass production, the orientation of the frame  12  and the vehicle floor  16  may vary slightly between the multiple vehicles being assembled. A passenger compartment  18  in such vehicles is defined by front wall  14  and floor  16 . Across the front of the passenger compartment is a vehicle instrument panel (IP)  20 . The instrument panel  20  includes a glove box panel or door  22  and a driver&#39;s side knee bolster panel  24 . A vehicle option package  30  normally rests between the glove box panel and the knee bolster panel. 
     The instrument panel  20  includes an instrument panel beam  34  having ends which connect to the frame  12  on opposite sides of the vehicle. The beam extends transversely across the front of the passenger compartment  18 . 
     The instrument panel beam  34  is transverse and horizontal to the vertical side edge  46  of the glove box panel. A similar inboard side edge (concealed) exists along the inboard side of the driver&#39;s side knee bolster  24 . A central stack modular structure  60  is horizontally pivotable on the instrument panel beam  34  and with respect to the inboard side edges  46  of the glove box panel  22  and the driver&#39;s side knee bolster  24 . The pivot axis should be as close as possible behind a feature line  48  which is part of the design theme shown in  FIG. 1 . This arrangement is the subject of another concurrently filed application GP-303891 (GM0451PUS) entitled “Pivoting Instrument Panel Central Stack Structure and Method for Flow-Through Instrument Panel Console Interface” and is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     The central stack modular structure  60  defines a vehicle option package  30  as a space into which one or more of a plurality of options can be placed. Such options may include a radio, CD and/or various air conditioning control knobs. These knobs extend into the passenger compartment from controls which are at least partially contained within the options package  30 . 
     A floor console  82 , including a floor console opening  111 , extends longitudinally along the floor  16  of the vehicle. The rearward end  76  of the console  82  is tiltable downwardly for connection to a bracket  88  on the floor  16  of the vehicle. In general, the floor console  82  and the central stack modular structure  60  are two portions of a pivotable unitary structure  74  designed to provide an improved flow-through instrument panel/console interface. 
     The improved instrument panel and floor console with the pivotable instrument panel central stack modular structure is complemented by the adjustable shifter face plate assembly  110 , also to accommodate floor build variations in vehicle assembly. In general and with reference to  FIG. 1 , the adjustable shifter face plate assembly  110  includes a shifter rod  112 , a shifter rod base  152  including a shifter rod support  114 , a top plate  116 , an intermediary plate  118  between the shifter rod support  114  and the top plate  116 , and eccentric cone  120  which is positionable on the shifter rod to align the shifter rod aesthetically with respect to the slot in the top plate through which the shifter rod projects. 
     The shifter plate assembly  110  will now be described with particular reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . The main parts are exploded in  FIG. 4  and include the shifter rod  112 , the shift rod support  114  on a shifter base  152 , the top plate  116  and the intermediary plate  118 . The top of the shifter rod  112  carries a handgrip  122  with a push button  123  to release the shifter rod for longitudinal movement when shifting the transmission (not shown). The eccentric cone  120  is axially shiftable and relatively rotatable on the shifter rod  112  for reasons to be described hereinafter. The shifter rod support  114  includes a plurality of masking plates  126  which slide with respect to one another to hide the transmission shifting mechanism therebelow. A transluscent indexing tab  127  underlays an indicia portion  144  of the intermediary plate  118  and moves with the shifter rod  112 . Shifter rod  112  projects through a hole  128  in one of the plates  126 . 
     The top plate  116  has a first longitudinal slot  130  through which the shifter rod  112  projects, and a second longitudinal window  132  for viewing the shift indicia  134  on the intermediary plate  118  therebelow. Both sides  136  of the peripheral skirt  137  of the top plate  116  carry a pair of longitudinal adjustment slots  140 . The girth or peripheral skirt  137  of the top plate is configured to fit aesthetically within the girth of the floor console opening  111 . 
     The intermediary plate  118  has a central slot  142  through which the shifter rod projects and which is alignable with the longitudinal slot  130  on the top plate. The intermediary plate has the indicia portion  144  carrying the shift markings or indicia PRNDL  134  or equivalent. Anti-rattle tabs  146  are positioned to bias against the underside of top plate  116  to quiet any potential rattling noise in the shifter assembly. The intermediary plate also has a pair of guide tabs  148  on each side which interfit with the slots  140  in the top plate  116 . Tabs  148  permit limited but sufficient longitudinal movement of the top plate with respect to the intermediary plate so that the plates  116 ,  118  can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other so that the top plate is aligned longitudinally to fit aesthetically within the console opening  111 . A pair of end slots  150  on each end of the intermediary plate provide for transverse adjustment of the intermediary plate  118  with respect to the shifter rod support  114 . This cooperates with the relative longitudinal movements of the plates so that the alignment of the top plate is completed with respect to the console opening both transversely and longitudinally. 
     The shifter rod support  114  is connected to the shifter base  152  which solidly bolts to the floor  16  of the vehicle. The console  82  also adjustably fastens to the vehicle floor with a bracket  88  and slots  90 . The console encloses the shifter base  152 . The shifter rod support  114  includes bosses  154  which extend through the oversize end slots  150  on the intermediary plate so that the intermediary plate  118  can float or shift horizontally transversely or laterally with respect to the shifter rod support  114 , whereby also to align the shifter rod  112  with the slots  130  and  142  of the top and intermediary plates. Thus the transversely or laterally horizontal float of the intermediary plate  118  cooperates with the longitudinal horizontal float of the top plate with respect to the intermediary plate to move the shifter face plate assembly sufficiently that the skirt  137  of the top plate  116  fits within the opening  111  in the console  82 . These cooperating respective movements move the girth or skirt of the top plate in a manner to accommodate and esthetically fit within the console opening so that a gap masking gasket is not needed. 
     Lastly, the eccentric cone  120  is shifted axially along the shifter rod until the cone resides generally within the slots  130 ,  142  of the top plate and intermediary plate, respectively. Then the cone is rotated to accommodate any offset of the shifter rod relative to the center plane of the top plate slot  130 . 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.