Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates, generally, to a shifter assembly for an automotive vehicle, and more specifically, to an arrangement for mounting the shifter assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shifter assemblies in automotive vehicles with automatic transmissions allow the vehicle operator to select a mode of operation for the transmission from within a passenger compartment for the vehicle. Typically, the shifter assembly includes a base which is mounted to the floor pan of the vehicle. 
     The manufacturing assembly of vehicles may create build variations under some circumstances. As a result of such build variations, the shifter assembly may not align perfectly with reference to other vehicle components, particularly those within the passenger compartment that may be proximate to the shifter assembly, but not attached to the shifter assembly. However, reducing the build variations to maintain perfect alignment between these components results in high costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An arrangement for mounting a shifter assembly for a vehicle that can align the shifter assembly with other vehicle components and accommodate build variations is desired. A vehicle has a shifter assembly for shifting a transmission, and a floor pan for the vehicle. The shifter assembly includes a base and an attachment assembly for adjusting and attaching the shifter assembly to the floor pan. The attachment assembly includes a bushing that is adjustable in a horizontal direction relative to the floor pan or a vertical direction relative to the base. A bushing bolt prevents movement of the bushing relative to the floor pan when fully engaged. Further, when a pinch bolt is fully engaged, the pinch bolt causes at least a portion of the bushing to compress to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base. 
     The attachment assembly may include a clamp assembly. The clamp assembly would include the pinch bolt to compress the bushing and prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base when the pinch bolt is fully engaged. 
     A method of mounting the shifter assembly to the floor pan includes placing the bushing within a base opening defined by a base of the shifter assembly. The method then includes adjusting the bushing in one of the horizontal direction relative to the floor pan and the vertical direction relative to the shifter assembly base. Once the shifter assembly is in the desired position, a pinch bolt is threaded within an opening to compress at least a portion of the bushing. A bushing bolt is threaded within another opening to secure the bushing to the floor pan. 
     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and best modes for carrying out the present invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a shifter assembly for an automotive vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective fragmentary view of a first embodiment of a mounting arrangement for the shifter assembly of  FIG. 1  where the bolts have been removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the first embodiment of the mounting arrangement for the shifter assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective fragmentary view of the first embodiment of the mounting arrangement for the shifter assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of a second embodiment of a mounting arrangement for the shifter assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the second embodiment of a mounting arrangement for the shifter assembly of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of a third embodiment of a mounting arrangement for the shifter assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of the third embodiment of a mounting arrangement for the shifter assembly of  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to the same or similar components throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a vehicle  10  having a shifter assembly  12  mounted on a floor pan  14 . The shifter assembly  12  includes at least a handle  16  and a base  18 . The shifter assembly  12  is mounted to the floor pan  14  with an attachment assembly  20 . The attachment assembly  20  has a bushing  22 , a bushing bolt  24  and a pinch bolt  27  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The attachment assembly  20  is illustrated on one corner of the base  18 , the other corners may each have the attachment assembly  20  for securing the base  18  to the floor pan  14 , as well. Alternatively, the attachment assembly  20  may be located on two of the corners, such as the two closest to the engine compartment (not shown) of the vehicle  10 , and a traditional bolt may be utilized for the remaining two corners. 
     The bushing  22  is inserted within a base opening  26  defined by the base  18 . The base opening  26  extends through the base  18 . The base opening  26  includes an opening circular portion  26 A and an opening flange portion  26 B. The opening flange portion  26 B extends from the opening circular portion  26 B to an end  28  of the base  18 . Likewise, the bushing  22  that is inserted within the base opening  26  includes a bushing circular portion  22 A and a bushing flange portion  22 B. The bushing circular portion  22 A is inserted within the opening circular portion  26 A. The bushing circular portion  22 A may have an interference fit with the opening circular portion  26 A, but it is not necessary. The bushing flange portion  22 B fits within the opening flange portion  26 B and extends towards the end  28  of the base  18 . 
     The pinch bolt  27  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be inserted within a pinch opening  30 . The pinch bolt  27  extends through the bushing flange portion  22 B and threads into the base  18 . Prior to assembly the pinch bolt  27  may be partially threaded in the base  18  to assist in retaining the bushing  22  within the base opening  26 . 
     The bushing bolt  24  fits within the bushing circular portion  22 A and is threaded into the floor pan  14 . The bushing bolt  24  includes a bolt head  32  and a threaded portion  34 . The bushing circular portion  22 A is annular in shape and defines a bushing opening  35  having a bushing inner diameter  36 . The bushing inner diameter  36  is larger than a bolt diameter  38  of the threaded portion  34  of the bushing bolt  24 . A washer  40  may be located between the bolt head  32  and the bushing  22  to prevent the bushing bolt  24  from falling into the bushing opening  35  during assembly of the shifter assembly  12  on the vehicle  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one corner of the shifter assembly base  18  is illustrated. The bushing  22  is located within the bolt opening  26  in the base  18 . In  FIG. 3  the pinch bolt  27  is partially threaded in the base  18 . The bushing bolt  24  is partially threaded into the floor pan  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). As described above, the bushing  22  has a larger bushing inner diameter  36  than the bolt diameter  38  of the bushing bolt  24 . When the bushing bolt  24  and the pinch bolt  27  are partially threaded, the bushing  22  can move relative to the bushing bolt  24  due to the difference in size between the bolt diameter  38  and the bushing inner diameter  36 . In other words, the space between the bushing  22  and the bushing bolt  24  allows the shifter assembly  12  to move relative to the bushing bolt  24  and thus, the floor pan  14 . When the shifter assembly  12  is in the desired position the bushing bolt  24  and the pinch bolt  27  are tightened. The base  18  squeezes the bushing  22  around the bushing circular portion  22 A and the bushing flange portion  22 B due to the pressure on the base  18  applied by the pinch bolt  27 . The bushing inner diameter  36  is reduced as is a width  42  of the bushing flange portion  22 B. 
     Fully engaging the pinch bolt  27  with the base  18  prevents movement of the shifter assembly  12  in any horizontal direction. Fully engaging the bushing bolt  24  with the floor pan  14  prevents movement of the shifter assembly  12  in the vertical direction. The bushing bolt  24  is only partially threaded when adjusting the position of the shift assembly  12  to assist in moving the shifter assembly  12  without having to overcome the apply force of the bushing bolt  24  on the base  18 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the shifter assembly  12  when the pinch bolt  27  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) is threaded and tightened to retain the shifter assembly  12  to the floor pan  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) in the horizontal direction. After the pinch bolt  27  is tightened, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the base  18  applies pressure to the bushing  22 . The inner diameter  38  of the bushing  22  is decreased due to the pressure by the base  18 . The bushing inner diameter  36  is now the same size as the bolt diameter  38  and the shifter assembly  12  is prevented from moving relative to the floor pan  14 . Additionally, the width of the bushing flange portion  22 B is reduced when compared with  FIG. 2  when the pinch bolt  27  is not fully engaged. The desired position of the shifter assembly  12  may thus be located relative to another component within the vehicle  10 , for example an instrument panel (not shown). 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate another embodiment of a shifter assembly  112  having a base  118 . The shifter assembly  112  is mounted to the floor pan  114  with an attachment assembly  120 . The attachment assembly  120  is illustrated on one corner of the base  118 , the other corners may each have the attachment assembly  120  for securing the base  118  to the floor pan  114 , as well. The attachment assembly  120  has a bushing  122 , a bushing bolt  124  and a clamp assembly  144 . The clamp assembly  144  includes a pinch bolt  127  and a clamp bolt  146 . The base  118  defines a base opening  126 . The clamp assembly  144  is inserted into the base opening  126 . The clamp bolt  146  is threaded into the base  118  and retains the clamp assembly  144  within the base opening  126  and secures the clamp assembly  144  to the base  118 . 
     The clamp assembly  144  has a generally annular portion  145  defining a clamp opening  147 . Similar to the base opening  126 , the clamp opening  147  extends through the clamp assembly  144 . The bushing  122  is inserted within the clamp opening  147  and extends through the base  118  and the clamp assembly  144  to the floor pan  114 . 
     The bushing  122  is secured to the floor pan  114  with a bushing bolt  124 . The bushing bolt  124  includes a bolt head  132  and threaded portion  134 . The bushing  122  is annular in shape and defines a bushing opening  135  having a bushing inner diameter  136 . The bushing inner diameter  136  is larger than a bolt diameter  138  to allow the bushing bolt  124  to fit within the bushing opening  135 . The bushing opening  135  may also be large enough to accommodate a washer  140 , to prevent the bushing bolt  124  from falling through an opening  148  in the floor pan  114  and an opening  150  in the bushing  122 . 
     After the bushing bolt  124  is secured to the floor pan  114  and the clamp bolt  146  is secured to the base  118 , the shifter assembly  112  may still be adjusted in the vertical direction. Movement of the clamp assembly  144  and therefore, base  118  as well, relative to the bushing  122  would allow vertical adjustment of the shifter assembly  112  to the desired position. Once the shifter assembly  112  is in the desired position, the clamp assembly  144  is tightened around the bushing  122  to prevent further vertical movement of the shifter assembly  112 . 
     The pinch bolt  127  may be inserted within the clamp assembly  144 . A nut  152  secures the pinch bolt  127  to the clamp assembly  144 . The nut  152  is threaded onto the pinch bolt  127 . Threading nut  152  further on the pinch bolt  127  applies pressure to legs  154  and  156  of the clamp assembly  144  through which the pinch bolt  127  extends. The pressure on legs  154  and  156  moves the legs  154  and  156  towards one another to tighten the clamp assembly  144  around the bushing  122 . Once the clamp assembly  144  is tightened around the bushing  122 , the bushing  122  can no longer move relative to the clamp assembly  144 . Thus, the base  118  can no longer move vertically with respect to the bushing  122  and the shifter assembly  112  is, thus, secured to the floor pan  114 . The desired position of the shifter assembly  112  may thus be located to another component within the vehicle  10 , for example an instrument panel (not shown). 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate another embodiment of a shifter assembly  212  having a base  218 . The shifter assembly  212  is mounted to the floor pan  214  with an attachment assembly  220 . The attachment assembly  220  is illustrated on one corner of the base  218 , the other corners may each have the attachment assembly  220  for securing the base  218  to the floor pan  214 , as well. 
     The attachment assembly  220  has a bushing  222 , a bushing bolt  224 , a clamp assembly  244  and a reinforcing portion  258  defined by the base  218 . The clamp assembly  244  includes a pinch bolt  227 . The reinforcing portion  258  defines a keyhole slot  260  for receiving the pinch bolt  227  to secure the clamp assembly  244  to the base  218 . 
     The base  218  defines a base opening  226 . The base opening  226  extends through the base  218 . The base opening  226  includes an opening circular portion  226 A and an opening flange portion  226 B. The opening flange portion  226 B extends from the opening circular portion  226 B to the reinforcing portion  258  of the base  18 . 
     The clamp assembly  244  is inserted into the base opening  226 . The clamp assembly  244  has a clamp circular portion  244 A defining a clamp opening  247 . Similar to the base opening  226 , the clamp opening  247  extends through the clamp circular portion  244 A of the clamp assembly  244 . The bushing  222  is inserted within the clamp opening  247  and extends through the base  218  and the clamp assembly  244  to the floor pan  214 . Likewise, the bushing  222  that is inserted within the clamp opening  247  includes a bushing circular portion  222 A and a bushing flange portion  222 B. The bushing circular portion  222 A is inserted within the clamp circular portion  244 A. The bushing flange portion  222 B fits within the clamp flange portion  244 B and extends towards the reinforcing portion  258  of the base  218 . 
     The bushing  222  is secured to the floor pan  214  with a bushing bolt  224 . The bushing bolt  224  includes a bolt head  232  and threaded portion  234 . The bushing  222  is annular in shape and defines a bushing opening  235  having a bushing inner diameter  236 . The bushing inner diameter  236  is larger than a bolt diameter  238  to allow the bushing bolt  224  to fit within the bushing opening  235 . The annular opening  235  may also be large enough to accommodate a washer  240 , to prevent the bushing bolt  224  from falling through an opening  248  in the floor pan  214  and an opening  250  in the bushing  222 . 
     After the bushing bolt  224  is secured to the floor pan  214  the shifter assembly  212  may still be adjusted in the vertical direction. Movement of the clamp assembly  244  and the bushing  222  relative to the base  218  would allow vertical adjustment of the shifter assembly  212  to the desired position. The keyhole slot  260  provides the pinch bolt  227  with a range of alignment positions relative to the base  218 . Once the shifter assembly  212  is in the desired position the pinch bolt  227  is threaded into the reinforcing portion  258  of the base  118  and is tightened. The clamp assembly  244  includes a clamp aperture  262  and the bushing includes a bushing aperture  264 . The pinch bolt  227  extends through both apertures to retain the bushing  222  and the clamp assembly  244  relative to the base  118 . 
     After the clamp assembly  244  is tightened around the bushing  222  the bushing  222  and the clamp assembly  244  can no longer move relative to the base  218 . Thus, the shifter assembly  212  is secured to the floor pan  214 . The desired position of the shifter assembly  212  may thus be located to another component within the vehicle  10 , for example an instrument panel (not shown). 
     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.

Technology Category: 4