Granted Patent B2

US 7,017,436 · App. 10/268,404 · Granted Mar 28, 2006

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A vehicle boot assembly comprising:

a retainer adapted to be connected w vehicle structure of a vehicle;

a boot for surrounding either one of a shifter and a parkbrake of the vehicle; and

a flexible material seal connected to said boot to form an enlarged end on said boot having a thickness greater than a thickness of a remainder of said boot, wherein said seal is stretched and said enlarged end is disposed in a recess formed between a fixed portion of said retainer and a movable portion of said retainer to prevent said boot from exiting said retainer, wherein said boot has a channel therein, said seal being disposed in said channel, and wherein said boot has a hem in the lower end, said hem forming said channel.

2. A vehicle boot assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises an o-ring.

3. A vehicle boot assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seal is made of an elastomeric material.

4. A vehicle boot assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer comprises a side wall, a top wall extending generally perpendicular from said side wall, and an exterior wall being fixed and extending generally perpendicular to and downwardly from said top wall.

5. A vehicle boot assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said side wall includes at least one clip rib having a retention surface and being movable to form the movable portion of said retainer, said enlarged end being disposed between said retention surface and said exterior wall.

6. A vehicle boot assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said side wall includes a slot on each side of said at least one clip rib to allow said at least one clip rib to flex.

7. A vehicle boot assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boot has an upper end and a lower end, said seal being connected to said lower end to form said enlarged end.

8. A vehicle boot assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boot is made of a flexible material.

9. An assembly comprising:

a console of a vehicle having either one of a shifter and a parkbrake extending therethrough;

a retainer surrounding the one of said shifter and said parkbrake and connected to said console;

a boot surrounding the one of said shifter and said parkbrake; and

a flexible material seal connected to said boot to form an enlarged end having generally circular cross-sectional shape, wherein said seal is stretched and said enlarged end is disposed in a recess between a fixed portion of said retainer and a movable portion of said retainer to prevent said boot from exiting said retainer, wherein said boot has a channel therein, said seal being disposed in said channel, and wherein said boot has a hem in the lower end, said hem forming said channel.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said seal comprises an o-ring.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said seal is made of an elastomeric material.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said retainer comprises a side wall, a top wall extending generally perpendicular from said side wall, and an exterior wall being fixed and extending generally perpendicular to and downwardly from said top wall.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said side wall includes at least one clip rib having a retention surface and being movable to form the movable portion of said retainer, said enlarged end being disposed between said retention surface and said exterior wall.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said side wall includes a slot on each side of said at least one clip rib to allow said at least one clip rib to flex.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said boot has an upper end and a lower end, said seal being connected to said lower end to form said enlarged end.

16. An assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a center console of a vehicle having either one of a shifter and a parkbrake extending therethrough;

a retainer surrounding the one of said shifter and said parkbrake and connected to said center console, said retainer comprising a side wall, a top wall extending generally perpendicular from said side wall, and an exterior wall being fixed and extending generally perpendicular to and downwardly from said top wall, said side wall including at least one clip rib having a retention surface, said clip rib being movable inwardly;

a boot surrounding the one of said shifter and said parkbrake, said boot having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end having a hem forming a channel; and

an o-ring disposed in said channel in said lower end of said boot such that said lower end of said boot forms an enlarged diameter end having a generally circular cross-sectional shape, said o-ring being stretched and said clip rib being moved inwardly such that said enlarged diameter end is disposed between said retention surface of said clip rib and said exterior wall to prevent said boot from exiting said retainer.

Assignments (13)