FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A gear shift knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Mahesh Mungi, Suresh Babu M
and Vinayak Gogate
all are Indian Nationals
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED,
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention is related to gear shifting system and more particularly to a gear shift knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Generally the gear shift knob is provided at the end of gear shifter used to manually change the gears. The said gear shift knob is usually made of hard plastic consisting of a threaded steel insert which joins with the gear shifter. Such a construction is quite rigid and leads to severe injuries in case an occupant head is impacted in the event of an accident.
In the event of a crash, the occupant impacts on the interior components of the automobile and get injured. The impact on head is more damaging. So the components in the trajectory of the head are required to be soft and be able to absorb the said impact energy. The gear knob is a solid protruding object that comes in the said head impact trajectory, especially if it is mounted on the dashboard of vehicle. Therefore there is a need to soften the construction to achieve better energy absorption and reduce the probability of severe head injuries. The present invention is developed to provide a gear shift knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety.
OBJECT OF INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved gear knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved gear knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety which absorbs the energy and reduce the probability of severe head injuries due to gear knob in case of an accident.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved gear knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety which is simple in construction and cost effective.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention discloses an improved gear shift knob mounting system for occupant's safety comprises a gear shift knob (1); a gear shift lever (2) wherein said gear shift knob (1) is configured with stepped cavity constituting a lower cavity (1.1) and upper cavity (1.2) in the said gear shift knob (1); said lower cavity (1.1) is configured to accommodate the profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) in normal operation of gear shift knob; said lower cavity (1.1) and upper cavity (1.2) is configured to be connected with each other through a neck portion (1.3) wherein said neck portion (1.3) is configured to restrain said profiled upper end (2.1) of gear shift lever from moving to upper cavity (1.2) in normal operation of said gear shift knob and to allow said profiled upper end (2.1) into said upper cavity (1.2) during head impact. The movement of the said profiled upper end (2.1) through the narrow neck portion (1.3) is configured to absorb energy of impact. The amount of said energy absorption is configured to be controlled by varying the diameter size of said neck portion (1.3).
An improved gear shift knob mounting system for occupant's safety comprises; a gear shift knob (1); a gear shift lever (2) wherein said gear shift knob (1) is configured with a tapered cavity (1.4) to mount on said gear shift lever (2); said gear shift lever (2) is configured with a profiled upper end (2.1) disposed in the said tapered cavity (1.4) constituted verticallly and co-axiallly to the axis of said gear

shift lever (2); said profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) is configured to be disposed in said tapered cavity (1.4) to an extent which is able to hold said gear shift knob (1) in normal operation of gear shift knob and to allow said profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) to forced through said tapered cavity (1.4) with gradually increasing reaction force absorbing the energy during head impact. The amount of said energy absorption is configured to be controlled by varying the taper angle and the depth of said tapered cavity (1.4).
An improved gear shift knob mounting system for occupant's safety comprises a gear shift knob (1); a gear shift lever (2) wherein said gear shift knob (1) is configured with at least two layers constituting an inner layer (1.5) and an outer layer (1.6); a gear shift lever (2) is configured with an upper end (2.1) disposed in said inner layer (1.5) wherein said upper end (2.1) is configured to be forced through said inner layer (1.5) to absorb the energy during head impact. The energy absorption is configured to be controlled by selecting predetermined material of said inner layer (1.5). The inner layer (1.5) and outer layer (1.6) are made up of different materials. The outer layer (1.6) is stiffer than the inner layer (1.5).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure-01 shows the gear shift knob mounting arrangement in accordance with one embodiment.
Figure-02 shows the gear shift knob mounting arrangement in accordance with further embodiment.
Figure-03 shows the gear shift knob mounting arrangement in accordance with further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.
In accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention, an improved gear shift knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety comprises; a gear shift knob (1), a gear shift lever (2), wherein said gear shift knob (1) is provided with stepped cavity constituting at lower cavity (1.1) and upper cavity (1.2) in the said gear shift knob (1), the said lower cavity (1.1) is provided to accommodate the profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) in normal operation of gear shift know arrangement. The said lower cavity (1.1) and upper cavity (1.2) is connected with each other through a neck portion (1.3). The said neck portion (1.3) is configured in such a way that the said neck portion (1.3) doesn't allow said profiled upper end (2.1) to move to upper cavity (1.2) in normal operation of said gear shift knob arrangement. However, in the event of head impact, the profiled upper end (2.1) of said shift lever (2) is forced into the upper cavity (1.2) through said neck portion (1.3). The movement of the said profiled upper end (2.1) through the narrow neck portion (1.3) absorbs energy. The energy absorption can be controlled by appropriate selection of the diameter of said neck portion (1.3).
In accordance with the further embodiment of the present invention, an improved gear shift knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety comprises; a gear shift knob (1), a gear shift lever (2), wherein said gear shift knob (1) is provided with a tapered cavity (1.4) through which the said gear shift knob (1) is mounted on said gear shift lever (2). The said gear shift lever (2) is having a profiled upper end (2.1) disposed in the said tapered cavity (1.4). The said tapered cavity (1.4) is vertical and co-axial to the axis of said gear shift lever (2). The profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) is disposed in said tapered cavity (1.4) to an extent which is

able to hold said gear shift knob (1) in normal operation of gear shift knob mounting arrangement. In the event of head impact, the said profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) is forced through the said tapered cavity (1.4) with gradually increasing reaction force to absorb the energy during head impact. The energy absorption can be controlled by appropriate selection of the tapered angle and the depth of said tapered cavity (1.4)
In accordance with the further embodiment of the present invention, an improved gear shift knob mounting arrangement for occupant's safety comprises; a gear shift knob (1), a gear shift lever (2), wherein said gear shift knob (1) comprises of at least two layer constituting an inner layer (1.5) and an outer layer (1.6), a gear shift lever (2) is having an upper end (2.1) disposed in the said inner layer (1.5). The said inner layer (1.5) and outer layer (1.6) are made up of different materials. The said outer layer (1.6) is stiffer than the inner layer (1.5). In the event of head impact, the said upper end (2.1) is forced through the inner layer (1.5) to absorb the energy during head impact. The energy absorption can be controlled by appropriate selection of the material of said inner layer (1.5).
ADVANTAGES
The present invention facilitates the improved energy absorption, easier implementation and improved occupant's safety in the event of head impact
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

WE CLAIM
1. An improved gear shift knob mounting system for occupant's safety comprises
a gear shift knob (1);
a gear shift lever (2) wherein said gear shift knob (1) is configured with stepped cavity constituting a lower cavity (1.1) and upper cavity (1.2) in the said gear shift knob (1);
said lower cavity (1.1) is configured to accommodate the profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) in normal operation of gear shift knob;
said lower cavity (1.1) and upper cavity (1.2) is configured to be connected with each other through a neck portion (1.3) wherein said neck portion (1.3) is configured to restrain said profiled upper end (2.1) of gear shift lever from moving to upper cavity (1.2) in normal operation of said gear shift knob and to allow said profiled upper end (2.1) into said upper cavity (1.2) during head impact.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein movement of the said profiled upper end (2.1) through the narrow neck portion (1.3) is configured to absorb energy of impact.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein amount of said energy absorption is configured to be controlled by varying the diameter size of said neck portion (1.3).
4. An improved gear shift knob mounting system for occupant's safety comprises;
a gear shift knob (1);
a gear shift lever (2) wherein said gear shift knob (1) is configured with a tapered cavity (1.4) to mount on said gear shift lever (2);

said gear shift lever (2) is configured with a profiled upper end (2.1) disposed in the said tapered cavity (1.4) constituted verticallly and co-axiallly to the axis of said gear shift lever (2);
said profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) is configured to be disposed in said tapered cavity (1.4) to an extent which is able to hold said gear shift knob (1) in normal operation of gear shift knob and to allow said profiled upper end (2.1) of said gear shift lever (2) to forced through said tapered cavity (1.4) with gradually increasing reaction force absorbing the energy during head impact.
5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the amount of said energy absorption is configured to be controlled by varying the taper angle and the depth of said tapered cavity (1.4).
6. An improved gear shift knob mounting system for occupant's safety comprises
a gear shift knob (1);
a gear shift lever (2) wherein said gear shift knob (1) is configured with at least two layers constituting an inner layer (1.5) and an outer layer (1.6);
a gear shift lever (2) is configured with an upper end (2.1) disposed in said inner layer (1.5) wherein said upper end (2.1) is configured to be forced through said inner layer (1.5) to absorb the energy during head impact.
7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the energy absorption is configured to be controlled by selecting predetermined material of said inner layer (1.5).
8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said inner layer (1.5) and outer layer (1.6) are made up of different materials.
9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said outer layer (1.6) is stiffer than the inner layer (1.5).

10. An improved gear shift knob mounting system as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings and illustration.