Shifter-supporting base and shifter assembly and vehicle employing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9738155-B2
Application number	US-201514877982-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2015
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a base for supporting shifter, wherein the base includes longitudinal axis, a first cross-section including a first border defining therein a first aperture, and a second cross-section positioned spaced apart from the first cross-section along the longitudinal axis and including a second border defining therein a second aperture. The base as provided is believed to be advantageous in supporting the shifter while allowing arrangement for the air duct to pass through and therefore to improve comfort for the rear-seat passenger without having to necessarily increase the interior packaging size.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A base for supporting a shifter, the base comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a first cross-section including a first border defining therein a first aperture; and
a second cross-section positioned spaced apart from the first cross-section along the longitudinal axis and including a second border defining therein a second aperture,
wherein the first and second borders define a wall positioned there-between, and the first and second apertures define a tunnel positioned there between, the tunnel being at least partially enclosed by the wall.

2. The base of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first border and the second border is defined by four sides.

3. The base of claim 1 , wherein two opposing sides of the four sides are positioned with an angle there-between of no greater than 45 degrees.

4. The base of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture differ in area.

5. The base of claim 1 , wherein the tunnel is provided with dimensions large enough to receive a vehicle air duct.

6. The base of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the wall includes one or more reinforcing ribs.

7. The base of claim 1 , wherein the wall includes first, second, third and fourth walls each extending in a different plane.

8. The base of claim 7 , further comprising a protrusion to be attached to a shifter body, the protrusion being positioned on one of the first, second, third and fourth walls.

9. The base of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion further includes a locking hole to receive a locking pole via which the base is attached to the shifter body.

10. A shifter assembly, comprising:
a shifter body; and
a base supporting the shifter body and having a longitudinal axis, a first cross-section of the base including a first border defining therein a first aperture, a second cross-section of the base positioned spaced apart from the first cross-section along the longitudinal axis and including a second border defining therein a second aperture,
wherein the first and second borders define a wall positioned there-between, and the first and second apertures define a tunnel positioned there between, the tunnel being at least partially enclosed by the wall.

11. The shifter assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a locking pole via which the shifter body is attached to the base.

12. The shifter assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture differ in area.

13. A vehicle with a longitudinal axis, comprising:
a central console including an armrest and an air outlet positioned below the armrest; and
a shifter assembly positioned anterior to the air outlet of the central console and including a shifter body and a base supporting the shifter body, wherein the base includes a first cross-section including a first border defining therein a first aperture, and a second cross-section positioned spaced apart from the first cross-section along the longitudinal axis and including a second border defining therein a second aperture.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising an air duct connected to the air outlet of the central console, a portion of the air duct being received through the base of the shifter assembly.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the base includes a first portion and a second portion to engage the first portion, the first portion and second portions together defining a tunnel to receive at least a portion of the air duct.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture differ in area.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first portion and second portions together define a first wall of the base, a second wall opposing to the first wall, and a third and fourth wall connecting to the first wall and the second wall respectively.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the tunnel is defined by the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall.

19. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a pair of protrusions positioned on the base to support the shifter body, the pair of protrusions defining a pair of relatively located locking holes by which the shifter body is attached to the base.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Chen Leo
• Mullen Gary D
• Jones Iain Raymond
• O'Shannessy Denis Gerald
• Schmidt Paul

Classifications

• B60N2/78

  post or panel mounted · CPC title

• B60N2/75

  Arm-rests · CPC title

• B60K20/02 Primary

  of initiating means · CPC title

• B60N3/101

  fixed · CPC title

• B60H1/24

  Ventilating devices where the heating or cooling is irrelevant (nozzles or air-diffusers B60H1/34) · CPC title