Vehicle component escutcheon

Details Vehicle component escutcheon Vehicle component escutcheon

2000-02-15

2001-11-20

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)

Joints and connections

Manually releaseable latch type

Spring biased manipulator

C403S282000, C403S329000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06318925

ABSTRACT:

GENERAL BACKGROUND
A current design of an escutcheon for a vehicle transmission shifter console features a two piece system. The bottom part of this system performs the functional, console-defining aspect of the design. The top part serves more of a decorative function. Typically, the bottom and top parts are joined together by a snap fit.
This current design employs a snap fit arrangement to prevent unintentional separation of the console and cover. However, this design makes the cover difficult to assemble and difficult to disassemble. Also, this design does not prevent the console and cover from rattling against each other, but rather relies on close manufacturing tolerances of the cover and console to prevent such a rattle.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Representative prior art dealing with vehicle component escutcheon arrangements include the following:
Country
Patent
Inventor(s)
Date
U.S.
3,473,404
Ross
10/1969
U.S.
4,446,809
Dennis
 5/1984
U.S.
4,712,341
Harris, Jr. et al
12/1987
U.S.
4,865,501
Ferris
 9/1989
U.S.
4,964,359
Richmond
10/1990
U.S.
4,980,803
Richmond et al
12/1990
U.S.
5,186,069
Asano et al
 2/1993
U.S.
5,289,621
Kaneko
 3/1994
U.S.
5,339,501
Gugle et al
 8/1994
U.S.
5,372,415
Tisbo et al
12/1994
U.S.
5,417,126
DeCrouppe et al
 5/1995
U.S.
5,505,103
Nordstrom et al
 4/1996
U.S.
5,540,180
Kataumi et al
 7/1996
U.S.
5,560,253
Ishikawa et al
10/1996
U.S.
5,566,582
Beadle et al
10/1996
U.S.
5,582,073
Takeuchi et al
12/1996
U.S.
5,623,124
Chien
 4/1997
U.S.
5,848,855
Roosien
12/1998
EPO
0279087A1
 8/1988
Germany
4429972C1
12/1995
Japan
61-239313A
10/1986
Japan
6137425A
 5/1994
Russian
709413
 1/1980
Federation
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one major aspect, the invention is considered to reside in the following combination:
An apparatus is provided for securably connecting an escutcheon to a shifter base of a motor vehicle, this apparatus comprising:
first and second extensions extending outwardly from the shifter base,
the escutcheon having first and second holes corresponding to the first and second extensions extending from the shifter base; and
at least one tab formed in the shifter base for biasing the escutcheon into engagement with one of the first and second extensions, with
this at least one tab providing spring support for holding the escutcheon rigidly against the shifter base.
Another independently significant aspect of the invention involves the following combination:
An apparatus for securably connecting an escutcheon to a shifter base of a motor vehicle, and comprising:
first, second, third, and fourth extensions extending outwardly from the shifter base;
the escutcheon having first, second, third, and fourth holes corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth extensions extending from the shifter base;
first and second tabs formed in the shifter base for biasing the escutcheon into engagement with said first and second extensions;
each of the first and second tabs defining a lock tab extending inwardly from an outer edge of the shifter base in opposition to one of the first and second extensions;
the lock tab having
a body portion connected to the shifter base and
a lower extension portion extending from the body portion;
the escutcheon forcing the body portion down until one of the first and second extensions fits into one of the first and second holes;
the lower extension portion providing residual spring force to bias the escutcheon upwardly against one of the first and second extensions to create a tight fit;
third and fourth tabs formed in the shifter base for biasing the escutcheon into engagement with the third and fourth extensions,
each of the third and fourth tabs defining a second lock tab extending outwardly from the shifter base parallel to one of the third and fourth extensions,
the second lock tab having
a body portion connected to the shifter base, and
a lower extension portion extending from said body portion;
the escutcheon forcing the body portion down until one of the third and fourth extensions fits into one of the third and fourth holes;
the body portion of the second lock tab providing residual spring force to bias the escutcheon upwardly to create a tight fit, and
the lower extension portion providing residual spring force to bias the escutcheon inwardly against one of the third and fourth extensions to create a tight fit.
Yet another significant aspect of the invention resides in the following combination concept:
An apparatus for securably connecting a trim member to a body component of a motor vehicle which comprises:
at least one extension extending outwardly from the body component;
the trim member having at least one hole corresponding to the at least one extension extending from the body component; and
at least one tab formed in the body component for biasing the trim member into engagement with the at least one extension, with
the at least one tab providing spring support for holding the trim member rigidly against the body component.
Additionally, a further independently significant facet of the invention resides in a combination as follows:
An interactive vehicle console area to be covered and an escutcheon comprising:
a vehicle including
a vehicle area to be covered;
an escutcheon operable to
be manually and detachably engaged with the vehicle area,
be manually removed from the vehicle area, and
be restrained from rattling in response to the detachable engagement with the vehicle area;
at least one locking lug, carried by the vehicle area, and including
an escutcheon camming face, and
an escutcheon locking face;
at least one recess face defining a locking lug receiving recess carried by the escutcheon; and
at least one locking tab carried by the vehicle area and including
a spring portion operable to resiliently deflect away from the escutcheon in response to engagement of the escutcheon with the vehicle area in the course of initiating the detachable engagement with the vehicle area, and
an escutcheon biasing extension operable to resiliently urge the recess face, defining the locking lug receiving recess, into biasing engagement with the escutcheon locking face and restrain the escutcheon from rattling;
the escutcheon being operable to be urged against the vehicle area and sequentially cause
the escutcheon to engage the escutcheon camming face and permit the escutcheon to cammingly move over the locking lug,
the escutcheon to engage and resiliently deflect the spring portion of the vehicle area locking tab,
the locking lug of said vehicle area to be received by the locking lug receiving recess of the escutcheon, and
the escutcheon biasing extension of the locking tab to engage the escutcheon and resiliently bias the lug receiving face into cover rattle restraining engagement with the escutcheon locking face.
Other independently significant and valuable aspects of the invention reside in structural features as delineated in the appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3473404 (1969-10-01), Ross
patent: 3722927 (1973-03-01), Miska
patent: 4354566 (1982-10-01), Yuda
patent: 4446809 (1984-05-01), Dennis
patent: 4712341 (1987-12-01), Harris, Jr. et al.
patent: 4865501 (1989-09-01), Ferris
patent: 4964359 (1990-10-01), Richmond
patent: 4980803 (1990-12-01), Richmond et al.
patent: 5186069 (1993-02-01), Asano et al.
patent: 5289621 (1994-03-01), Kaneko
patent: 5372415 (1994-12-01), Tisbo et al.
patent: 5417126 (1995-05-01), DeCrouppe et al.
patent: 5505103 (1996-04-01), Nordstrom et al.
patent: 5540180 (1996-07-01), Kataumi et al.
patent: 5560253 (1996-10-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 5566582 (1996-10-01), Beadle et al.
patent: 5582073 (1996-12-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5588329 (1996-12-01), Nedachi
patent: 5623124 (1997-04-01), Chien
patent: 5848855 (1998-12-01), Roossien
patent: 5887485 (1999-03-01), VanOrder et al.
patent: 44 29 972 C1 (1995-12-01), None
patent: 0 279 087 B1 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 61-239313 (1986-10-01), None
patent: 6-137425 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 709413 (1980-01-01), None

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