IP Library Granted Patent US 8,172,031
Granted Patent B2
US 8,172,031 · App. 12/274,382 · Granted May 8, 2012

Pinch bolt mounting of a shifter assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,172,031
App. No.
12/274,382
Granted
May 8, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle has a shifter assembly for shifting a transmission, and a floor pan. The shifter assembly includes a base and an attachment assembly for adjustably 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.

Claims (40)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a shifter assembly for shifting a transmission, wherein the shifter assembly includes a base;

a floor pan;

an attachment assembly for adjustably attaching the shifter assembly to the floor pan, wherein the attachment assembly includes:

a bushing that is adjustable in one of a substantially horizontal direction relative to the floor pan and a substantially vertical direction relative to the base;

a bushing bolt to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the floor pan;

a pinch bolt to cause at least a portion of the bushing to compress to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base, when the pinch bolt is fully engaged;

a clamp assembly;

wherein the clamp assembly is received within an opening defined by the base;

wherein the clamp assembly has a generally annular portion defining a clamp opening;

wherein the bushing is received within the clamp opening; and

wherein the pinch bolt engages the clamp assembly to tighten the clamp assembly around the bushing to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly is secured to the base with a clamp bolt.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly is secured to the base with the pinch bolt.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bushing comprises a flange portion extending from the generally annular portion, and wherein the pinch bolt compresses the flange portion of the bushing.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bushing is received within a base opening defined by the base, and wherein the pinch bolt engages the base to tighten the base around the bushing to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the bushing comprises a flange portion and the pinch bolt compresses the flange portion of the bushing.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bushing has a generally annularly shaped portion having an inner diameter, and wherein the inner diameter is larger than a diameter of the bushing bolt.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a shifter assembly for shifting a transmission, wherein the shifter assembly includes a base;

a floor pan;

a bushing that is secured to the floor pan and adjustable in a substantially vertical direction relative to the base;

a clamp assembly, wherein the clamp assembly includes a pinch bolt to cause at least a portion of the bushing to compress to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base, when the pinch bolt is fully engaged; and

wherein the pinch bolt extends in a substantially horizontal direction.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the clamp assembly is received within an opening defined by the base;

wherein the clamp assembly has a generally annular portion defining a clamp opening;

wherein the bushing is received within the clamp opening; and wherein the pinch bolt engages the clamp assembly to tighten the clamp assembly around the bushing to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the clamp assembly is secured to the base with the pinch bolt.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the bushing comprises a flange portion extending from the generally annular portion, and wherein the pinch bolt compresses the flange portion of the bushing.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the clamp assembly is secured to the base with a clamp bolt.

13. A method of mounting a shifter assembly for a transmission to a floor pan for a vehicle comprising:

placing a bushing within a base opening defined by a base of the shifter assembly;

adjusting the bushing in one of a substantially horizontal direction relative to the floor pan and a substantially vertical direction relative to the base;

threading a pinch bolt within a pinch opening, to compress at least a portion of the bushing;

threading a bushing bolt within the base opening to secure the bushing to the floor pan;

placing a clamp assembly within the base opening;

placing the bushing within a clamp opening defined by the clamp assembly; and

wherein threading the pinch bolt includes tightening the clamp assembly around the bushing to prevent movement of the bushing relative to the base.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said threading the pinch bolt further comprises, compressing a flange portion of the bushing.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the threading the bushing bolt further comprises locating at least a portion of the bushing bolt within a bushing opening defined by the bushing.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034384/0758 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0769 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2008
From: VANARSDALE, ROBERT G., JR.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021864/0415 →