Structure for mounting a built-in gearshift lever to a holder

Abstract

A structure for mounting a built-in gearshift lever (10) to a bracket (20), the structure coupling the bracket (20) of various heights and configurations to a lower end of the built-in gearshift lever (10), and the built-in gearshift lever (10) having a lever shaft (14) that effectively shifts a gearshift lever of a vehicle, the structure comprising: an extended portion (30) projecting from a front end of the installable shift lever (10) so as to extend forward; a recessed portion (40) formed by recessing a front end of the holder (20) forward to receive the extended portion (30); a first through hole (16) formed to penetrate a rear end of the installable shift lever (10) in left and right directions; a second through-hole (26) formed to penetrate a rear end of the holder (20) in the left and right directions and positioned corresponding to the first through-hole (16); a bolt (70) which can be inserted into the first through-hole (16) and the second through-hole (26) in such a way that it fixes the installable shift lever (10) to the holder (20); a projection (32) projecting upward from an upper front end of the extended portion (30); a projection receiving portion (42) formed by recessing an inner surface of an upper portion of the recessed portion (40) upwardly so as to receive the projection (32); a pair of joints (50) projecting from the sides of the installable shift lever (10) and extending in the left and right directions; and a pair of joint receiving portions (60) formed by recessing an inner surface of the holder (20) in the left and right directions to receive the joints (50), wherein the installable shift lever (10) is coupled to the holder (20) by inserting the extended portion (30) into the recessed portion (40) and inserting the bolt (70) into the first through-hole (16) and the second through-hole (26), wherein the projection (32) formed on the extended portion (30) of the installable shift lever (10) is fixed to the projection receiving portion (42) formed in the recessed portion (40) of the holder (20), and wherein the joints (50) formed on the installable shift lever (10) are inserted into the joint receiving sections (60) formed on the holder (20) and coupled thereto.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a structure for mounting a built-in shift lever to a bracket, and more particularly, to a structure for mounting a built-in shift lever to a bracket that can be automatically manufactured by inserting an extended portion formed at a front end of the built-in shift lever into a depressed portion formed at a front end of the bracket, and passing a bolt through a first through hole and a second through hole to couple the built-in shift lever to the bracket.

[0002] In general, a transmission is a device that converts the power of an engine into a rotational force and a speed suitable for a driving condition of a vehicle to transmit it to driving wheels, and is mainly classified into a manual transmission and an automatic transmission.

[0003] A driver of the vehicle operates a console around a driver's seat or a gearshift lever attached to a handle and can shift a gearshift lever of the manual transmission or the automatic transmission to a desired gear position.

[0004] When the driver selects a gear suitable for the vehicle's operation using the gearshift lever, the movement of the gearshift lever is transmitted to the manual transmission via a cable or force. When the driver operates the gearshift lever, the driver's desired operation is transmitted to the automatic transmission via a cable by operating a lock switch, allowing the driver to drive as desired.

[0005] According to the related art, since the above-mentioned shift lever is made integrally with the bracket coupled to the vehicle body, there is a disadvantage in that when a console design is changed depending on a type of vehicle, it is necessary to newly manufacture a mold for the shift lever and the bracket.

[0006] In recent years, a split type in which a built-in shift lever having commonly used operating components and a bracket which varies depending on a height and a configuration of a console changed depending on the type of vehicle are separately provided, and the built-in shift lever and the bracket are mounted to be fixed to the vehicle body has been developed, and the split type has been increasingly used.

[0007] In the case of the split type, since the integrated shift lever is applicable to all types of vehicles, unlike the one-piece type, the same quality is possible for every type of vehicle, and the vehicle is easy to handle. Furthermore, unlike the one-piece type, since it is not necessary to develop a mold for each type of vehicle, development costs can be reduced.

[0008] As in Fig. 1, in a structure for mounting a built-in shift lever 1 to a bracket 4 using a split type, the built-in shift lever 1 having commonly used operating components such as a knob 2 and a lever shaft 3 is arranged above the bracket 4, and a bolt 5 is attached to a portion of the bracket 4 to mount the built-in shift lever 1 to the bracket 4.

[0009] However, in the structure for mounting the installable shift lever to the bracket according to the related art, since the installable shift lever is coupled by means of the screw bolt, a manufacturing process may be complicated, the manufacturing cost may be increased, and the weight of the vehicle may be increased.

[0010] To mount the installable shift lever to the bracket using the screw bolt, the positions of the installable shift lever and the bracket must be precisely adjusted for assembly. Furthermore, since there is likely to be a misalignment between the screw bolt mounting holes, automated production may not be easy.

[0011] When the lever shaft of the installable shift lever is operated for a long time, since the screw bolt fixing portions become loose, the installable shift lever is separated in the rearward and forward directions and the left and right directions, so that a friction noise may be caused when the lever shaft is operated.

[0012] US 2010 / 0 270 456 A1, EP 1 795 782 A1 and US 2003 / 0 213 326 A1 each describe a structure for mounting a built-in shift lever to a bracket, comprising an extended portion protruding from a front end of the built-in shift lever so as to extend forward, a depressed portion formed by recessing a front end of the bracket forward so as to receive the extended portion, a first through-hole penetrating a rear end of the built-in shift lever in left and right directions, a second through-hole penetrating a rear end of the bracket in the left and right directions and positioned corresponding to the first through-hole, and a bolt insertable into the first and second through-holes to fix the built-in shift lever to the bracket.

[0013] US 4 941 557 A describes an intermediate plate positioning device for a multi-disk friction clutch with a spring bolt.

[0014] US 2003 / 0 084 636 A1 describes a connection system for floor panels, each having an extended portion with a projection formed thereon and a recessed portion with a projection receiving portion formed therein.

[0015] The invention provides a structure for mounting a built-in shift lever to a bracket, in which, by mounting the built-in shift lever to the bracket by means of an extended portion of the built-in shift lever and a depressed portion of the bracket, a manufacturing process is simple, the manufacturing cost and weight of a vehicle body are reduced, automated production is easy, and no friction noise is caused when a lever shaft is operated.

[0016] This is achieved according to the invention by a structure according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the subclaims.

[0017] Since the structure for mounting a built-in shift lever to a bracket according to the invention is a simple structure in which the extended portions are inserted into the depressed portions and the bolt passes through the first through hole and the second through hole to couple the built-in shift lever to the bracket, a process of assembling the built-in lever to the bracket is simplified, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the weight of the vehicle body is reduced.

[0018] Unlike the related art using the screw-bolt fastening method, since a method of inserting the installable shift lever into the holder for mounting is used, an assembly of the coupled installable shift lever and holder can be easily produced automatically.

[0019] By means of the projections and the joints, the installable shift lever can be prevented from being separated in the rearward and forward directions and in the left and right directions, so that it is possible to significantly reduce the friction noise caused between the installable shift lever and the holder when the lever shaft is operated.

[0020] Because the installable gearshift lever is applicable to all types of vehicles, it is possible to maintain the same quality regardless of the vehicle type, and it is easy to handle the vehicle. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to redevelop a mold for each type of vehicle, development costs can be reduced.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 is a view of a structure for mounting a built-in shift lever to a bracket according to the related art; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a mountable shift lever according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a holder according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a side view of the mounting structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a state during mounting of the installable shift lever to the holder; Fig. 5 is a side view of the mounting structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a state where the installable shift lever is mounted on the holder; Fig. 6 an enlarged view of a section A from Fig. 5; Fig. 7 an enlarged view of a section B of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a rear view of the mounting structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a state where the installable shift lever is coupled to the holder; Fig. 9A is a perspective view of the mounting structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a state in which the installable shift lever and the holder are coupled to each other by means of a bolt; and Fig. 9B is an enlarged view of the bolt from Fig. 9A.

[0022] In a structure for mounting a built-in shift lever 10 to a bracket 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the bracket 20, the height and external configuration of which vary depending on the type of a vehicle, is coupled to a lower end of the built-in shift lever 10 having a lever shaft 14 operable to shift a gear shift lever of the vehicle.The structure includes extended portions 30 protruding from a front end of the installable shift lever 10 so as to extend forward, recessed portions 40 formed by recessing a front end of the holder 20 forward so as to receive the extended portions 30, a first through-hole 16 formed to penetrate a rear end of the installable shift lever 10 in left and right directions, a second through-hole 26 formed to penetrate a rear end of the holder 20 in left and right directions and positioned corresponding to the first through-hole 16, and a bolt 70 coupled to pass through the first through-hole 16 and the second through-hole 26 to fix the installable shift lever 10 to the holder 20.The installable shift lever 10 is coupled to the holder 20 by inserting the extended portions 30 into the recessed portions 40 and then passing the bolt 70 through the first through-hole 16 and the second through-hole 26.

[0023] As in Fig. 2, the installable shift lever 10 is configured by assembling operating components such as a knob 12 and the lever shaft 14, which are generally used, as a common assembly regardless of the type of vehicle.

[0024] The knob 12 is configured to control a transmission by being held by a driver of the vehicle. The knob 12 may have a circular or substantially circular shape, or an elliptical or substantially elliptical shape to allow the driver to comfortably hold and move the knob 12. The knob 12 may be made of various materials, such as plastic, rubber, and leather.

[0025] The lever shaft 14 is a rod having a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear shape and coupled to a lower end of the knob 12 so as to be capable of straight sliding and rotation, and serves to transmit the driver's operation via the knob 12.

[0026] As in Fig. 2, two extended portions 30 are formed to protrude forward from a lower front end of the installable shift lever 10 and are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other.

[0027] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more extended portions 30 may be formed depending on the type of the installable shift lever 10 and a coupling positional relationship of the installable shift lever 10 and the holder 20, the extended portion 30 may be formed at a middle front end or an upper front end other than the lower front end, and a distance between the plurality of extended portions 30 may be variously changed.

[0028] As in Fig. 4, the first through hole 16 is formed in a lower rear end of the installable shift lever 10 so as to penetrate the installable shift lever 10 in the left and right directions to enable the bolt 70 described below to be coupled.

[0029] As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the holder 20 is coupled to the lower end of the installable shift lever 10 to support the installable shift lever 10 between a driver's seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle.

[0030] In addition to supporting the installable shift lever 10, the holder 20 varies depending on the size and purpose of the vehicle to adjust a height of the installable shift lever 10 and improve the interior environment of the vehicle.

[0031] As in Fig. 3, the holder 20 includes a mounting portion 22 having a downwardly depressed shape for receiving all or substantially all of the lower portion of the above-mentioned installable shift lever 10 and a fixing portion 24 for fixedly coupling the holder 20 to the vehicle body.

[0032] After the installable shift lever 10 is mounted on the mounting portion 22, the installable shift lever 10 and the bracket 20 are fastened, and the assembly of the attached installable shift lever 10 and bracket 20 is coupled to the vehicle body by screwing via the fastening portion 24. Through this process, the installable shift lever 10 is attached to the vehicle.

[0033] As in Fig. 3, the recessed portions 40 are formed at an upper front end of the holder 20 to be recessed forward to receive the extended portions 30 of the installable shift lever 10.

[0034] The recessed portion 40 may have a shape corresponding to the extended portion 30 of the installable shift lever 10. As with the extended portion 30, one or more recessed portions 40 may be formed depending on the type of the installable shift lever 10 and a coupling positional relationship between the installable shift lever 10 and the bracket 20, and may be variously arranged at an upper portion or a center.

[0035] As in Fig. 3, the second through hole 26 is formed at an upper rear end of the holder 20 so as to penetrate the holder 20 in the left and right directions to correspond with the first through hole 16 of the installable shift lever 10.

[0036] As in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the first through-hole 16 and the second through-hole 26 are preferably formed such that they are precisely aligned with each other when the installable shift lever 10 is mounted to the mounting portion 22 of the holder 20.

[0037] As in the Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B, after the installable shift lever 10 is mounted to the holder 20, the bolt 70 passes through the first through hole 16 and the second through hole 26, so that a fastening process of the installable shift lever 10 and the holder 20 is completed.

[0038] The bolt 70 is preferably a spring bolt formed by rolling a steel plate of a resilient material into a cylindrical shape to generate a spring force in a radial direction of the bolt 70, ie, in an outward direction with respect to the center of a circle.

[0039] As described above, by using the spring bolt, it is possible to prevent the installable shift lever 10 from being separated due to a deviation between the first through hole 16 and the second through hole 26, and since the spring force is continuously generated in the radial direction, it is possible to maintain the fastening force for a long time.

[0040] As in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, a projection 32 is formed upwardly projecting from an upper portion of the extended portion 30, and a projection receiving portion 42 is formed upwardly recessed at an upper portion of the depressed portion 40 to receive the projection 32. That is, the installable shift lever 10 is coupled to the holder 20 by inserting the extended portions 30 of the installable shift lever 10 into the depressed portions 40 of the holder 20 and simultaneously engaging the projections 32 with the projection receiving portions 42.

[0041] The projection receiving portion 42 is formed in a shape corresponding to the projection 32, and in the exemplary embodiment, the projection 32 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, however, it may be formed in various shapes depending on the type of the installable shift lever 10.

[0042] As mentioned above, when the installable shift lever 10 and the holder 20 are fixed, the projections 32 and the projection receiving portions 42 are fixed, so that it is possible to limit the movement of the installable shift lever 10 in the rearward and forward directions.

[0043] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, a pair of hinges 50 are projected from left and right sides of the lower portion of the installable shift lever 10 so as to extend in left and right directions, and a pair of hinge receiving portions 60 are formed on left and right inner surfaces of the holder 20 so as to be recessed in the left and right directions.

[0044] As in the Fig. 5, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the joint 50 preferably has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape with a circular or substantially circular cross section and protrudes in the left and right directions, and the joint receiving portion 60 preferably has an inlet 62 into which the joint 50 is inserted to receive the joint 50 and a pressing portion 64 into which the joint 50 is pressed.

[0045] As in Fig. 7, the joint receiving portion 60 preferably has a substantially U-shape, and the inlet 62 is preferably formed as an inclined surface 66 having a predetermined angle of inclination toward the inside of the joint receiving portion 60.

[0046] The pressing portion 64 of the joint receiving portion 60 has a width in the rear and front directions that is relatively smaller than a diameter of the joint 50, so that the joint 50 is preferably inserted into and coupled with the joint receiving portion 60.

[0047] As in Fig. 8, when the holder 20 is viewed from the rear, the left and right sides of the joint receiving portion 60 are preferably formed as inclined surfaces 66 having a predetermined angle of inclination toward the inside of the joint receiving portion 60.

[0048] That is, the widths of the joint receiving portion 60 in the rearward and forward directions and in the leftward and rightward directions gradually become narrower as the joint receiving portion 60 narrows from the inlet 62 to the pressing portion 64. The sloped surface 66 formed at the inlet 62 serves to absorb the tolerance generated when the installable shift lever 10 and the holder 20 are coupled.

[0049] As mentioned above, since the joints 50 formed on the installable shift lever 10 are fitted into and coupled with the joint receiving portions 60 formed on the holder 20, the movement of the installable shift lever 10 in the left and right directions can be restricted.

[0050] The following describes the process of assembling the installable shift lever 10 to the holder 20 according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0051] As in Fig. 4, the installable shift lever 10 is positioned obliquely over the holder 20, and the extended portions 30 of the installable shift lever 10 are inserted into the recessed portions 40 of the holder 20.

[0052] Then, as in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the entire or substantially entire lower portion of the installable shift lever 10 is mounted to the mounting portion 22 of the holder 20 by rotating the installable shift lever 10 in a counterclockwise direction. At this time, the projections 32 and the hinges 50 formed on the installable shift lever 10 are received by the projection receiving portions 42 and the hinge receiving portions 60 formed on the holder 20, respectively, to limit the movement of the installable shift lever 10.

[0053] As in the Fig. 9A and Fig.9B, the installable shift lever 10 is mounted on the holder 20, and the bolt 70 is inserted into the first through hole 16 formed in the installable shift lever 10 and the second through hole 26 formed in the holder 20, so that the installable shift lever 10 and the holder 20 are completely coupled.

[0054] Finally, the assembly of the fully coupled installable shift lever 10 and holder 20 is coupled to the vehicle body in such a manner that it can be fixed by means of the fixing portion 24 formed on the holder 20, so that the installable shift lever 10 is attached to the vehicle body.

[0055] For ease of explanation and precise definition in the appended claims, the terms "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "left", "right", etc., are used to describe the features of the exemplary embodiment with reference to the positions of those features in the figures.

Claims

[1] A structure for mounting a built-in gearshift lever (10) to a holder (20), the structure coupling the holder (20) of various heights and configurations to a lower end of the built-in gearshift lever (10), and the built-in gearshift lever (10) having a lever shaft (14) that effectively shifts a gearshift lever of a vehicle, the structure comprising: an extended portion (30) projecting from a front end of the installable shift lever (10) so as to extend forward; a recessed portion (40) formed by recessing a front end of the holder (20) forward to receive the extended portion (30); a first through hole (16) formed to penetrate a rear end of the installable shift lever (10) in left and right directions; a second through-hole (26) formed to penetrate a rear end of the holder (20) in the left and right directions and positioned corresponding to the first through-hole (16); a bolt (70) which can be inserted into the first through-hole (16) and the second through-hole (26) in such a way that it fixes the installable shift lever (10) to the holder (20); a projection (32) projecting upward from an upper front end of the extended portion (30); a projection receiving portion (42) formed by recessing an inner surface of an upper portion of the recessed portion (40) upwardly so as to receive the projection (32); a pair of joints (50) projecting from the sides of the installable shift lever (10) and extending in the left and right directions; and a pair of joint receiving portions (60) formed by recessing an inner surface of the holder (20) in the left and right directions to receive the joints (50), wherein the installable shift lever (10) is coupled to the holder (20) by inserting the extended portion (30) into the recessed portion (40) and inserting the bolt (70) into the first through-hole (16) and the second through-hole (26), wherein the projection (32) formed on the extended portion (30) of the installable shift lever (10) is fixed to the projection receiving portion (42) formed in the recessed portion (40) of the holder (20), and wherein the joints (50) formed on the installable shift lever (10) are inserted into the joint receiving sections (60) formed on the holder (20) and coupled thereto. [2] Structure according to claim 1, wherein the holder (20) comprises: a mounting portion (22) formed by recessing the holder (20) downwards to receive substantially the entire lower portion of the installable shift lever (10); and a fastening portion (24) formed at a lower end of the holder (20) to couple the holder (20) to a vehicle body. [3] Structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: each joint (50) of the pair of joints (50) has a substantially cylindrical shape with a substantially circular cross-section extending in the left and right directions, and each joint receiving portion (60) of the pair of joint receiving portions (60) has an inlet (62) into which the joint (50) is inserted and a pressing portion (64) into which the joint (50) is pressed, and has a U-shaped cross section. [4] The structure according to claim 3, wherein the inlet (62) has a sloped surface (66) with a predetermined angle toward an inner side of the joint receiving portion (60) to minimize a tolerance generated when the installable shift lever (10) and the holder (20) are coupled. [5] The structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bolt (70) is a spring bolt formed by rolling a spring steel plate into a substantially cylindrical shape to generate a spring force in a radial direction of the bolt (70).

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