Patent ID: 8424409

Claim:
A shifter assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a shifter having a shift lever with a top section having opposing flats that define uninterrupted planar surfaces; a knob with a bore configured to receive the top section for mounting thereon; and a spring configured to fit within the bore and grip a material of the knob and extending longitudinally, the spring having at least one leg portion configured to flex and take up clearance between an outer surface of the top section and an inner surface of the bore, and to provide frictional retention of the knob to the shift lever; the spring being U-shaped and the at least one leg portion including opposing leg portions shorter than a length of the bore, with each leg portion having an outwardly-facing barb oriented to dig into a material of the knob when positioned in the bore, and each leg portion further having an arcuately bowed shape from end to end with an innermost curved surface slidingly engaging one of the flats on the shift lever to provide a frictional sliding retainer arrangement permitting sliding insertion and stable frictional retention and also permitting sliding removal without the use of separate fasteners or tools, with the arcuately bowed shape causing a lower insertion force and a very positive higher retention force of 4-10 times the lower insertion force.