Claims:
1. A supporting structure (100) for a gear shifter lever (125), said supporting structure (100) comprising:
a frame (105) having a slot (120) configured to provide passage to said gear shifter lever (125) and facilitate travel of said gear shifter lever (125);
a first flexible flap (130) residing in said frame (105) and slidable in first directions (X), said first flexible flap (130) having a first elongated opening (140); and
a second flexible flap (145) connected to said first flexible flap (130), said second flexible flap (145) having a second opening (150) aligning with said first elongated opening (140) to provide passage to the gear shifter lever (125), said second flexible flap (145) is displaced along with said first flexible flap (130) when the gear shifter lever (125) is operated in the first directions (X) and said second flexible flap is displaced alone when the gear shifter lever (125) is operated in second directions (Y).
2. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said first flap (130) is more than the length of said slot (120) on said frame (105).
3. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second flexible flap (145) is pivotably connected to said first flexible flap (130) via a T-lock (160).
4. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first directions (X) are orthogonal to said second directions (Y).
5. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame (105) includes guides (135) to receive said first flexible flap (130), said guides (135) configured to allow displacement of said first flexible flap (130) in said first directions (X) and restrict displacement in said second directions (Y0.
6. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said guides (135) have curved ends (137) and a flat portion (139) extending between said curved ends (137).
7. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second flexible flaps (130, 145) are of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
8. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second flexible flaps (130, 145) are of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV).
9. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said first elongated opening (140) is more than the diameter of said second opening (150).
10. The supporting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame (105) is of plastic.
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]

A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR A GEAR SHIFTER LEVER

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED, HAVING ADDRESS: MAHINDRA RESEARCH VALLEY, MAHINDRA WORLD CITY, PLOT NO:41/1,
ANJUR P.O. , CHENGALPATTU, TAMILNADU – 603004, INDIA

THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of supporting structures for a gear shifter lever of vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a vehicle, a gear shifter lever is connected to a gearbox of the vehicle and extends therefrom into a driver’s cabinet. The driver operates the gear shifter lever in order to change the gears of the vehicle. If the gear shifter lever is not properly sealed at the entry of the driver’s cabin, dust particles pass through the space around the gear shifter lever at the entry of the driver’s cabin and enter the driver’s cabin or vice versa.
Conventionally, a rubber bellow cover is provided with the gear shifter lever to prevent passing of dust through the space around the gear shifter lever at the entry of the driver’s cabin. The rubber bellow cover is flexible in nature and facilitates travel of the gear shifter lever. However, the conventional bellow covers lack aesthetics. They provide resistance to the travel of the gear shifter lever which may result in slippage of gears. Further, due to bellow resistance, the driver may need to increase lever effort to operate the gear shifter lever. The configuration of the conventional bellow covers needs to alter with respect to the profile of the gear shifter lever for various vehicles. This adds to the manufacturing cost. Typically, the conventional bellows have a tree shaped structure. Such bellows occupy large space in driver’s cabin. Further, the life of the bellow cover is very low, and it may become hard over the time and may easily tear after some time.
Therefore, there is felt a need of a supporting structure for a gear shifter lever that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks of conventional supporting structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention envisages a supporting structure for a gear shifter lever comprising a frame, a first flexible flap, and a second flexible flap. The frame has a slot configured to provide passage to the gear shifter lever and facilitate travel of the gear shifter lever. The first flexible flap resides in the supporting structure and is slidable in first directions. The first flexible flap has a first elongated opening. The second flexible flap is connected to the first flap. The second flap has a second opening aligning with the first elongated opening to provide passage to the gear shifter lever. The second flexible flap is displaced along with the first flexible flap when the gear shifter lever is operated in the first directions and the second flexible flap is displaced alone when the gear shifter lever is operated in second directions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a supporting structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates another isometric view depicting a bottom side of the supporting structure of figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the supporting structure of figure 1.
Figure 4, Figure 5, figure 6, and figure 7 illustrate isometric views of the supporting structure depicting operative configuration of the structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.
References in the specification to “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
The present invention envisages a dust preventive supporting structure for a gear shifter lever. The supporting structure comprises a frame. The frame also acts as a cover plate. The frame has a slot configure to provide passage to said gear shifter lever and facilitate travel of the gear shifter lever. The dimensions of the slot are determined so as to facilitate all the possible displacements of the gear shifter lever. The supporting structure further comprises a first flexible flap and a second flexible flap. The first flexible flap slidably resides in the frame. The frame can have suitable arrangement for slidably receiving the first flexible flap. The length of the first flexible flap is more than the length of the slot on the frame. The first flexible flap has an elongated opening. The second flexible flap is connected to the first flap. The second flexible flap has a second opening aligning with the first opening on the first flap. The second flexible flap is configured to be displaced in first directions along with the first flexible flap, and alone in second directions.
The supporting structure of the present invention is now described in detail with reference to accompanying figure 1 to figure 7.
Referring to figures 1 to 7, a supporting structure (100) in accordance with the present invention is shown.
The supporting structure (100) comprises a frame (105), a first flexible flap (130), and a second flexible flap (145). The frame (105) is rigid in nature. The frame (105) can be made of any suitable material. In an embodiment, the frame (105) is made of plastic. The frame (105) also acts as a cover plate of the supporting structure (100). The frame (105) is arranged in the driver’s cabin of a vehicle at its designated place. The shape and configuration of the frame is determined according to the aesthetics within the vehicle and space available. The frame (105) has a slot (120) configured thereon. The slot (120) provides a passage to a gear shifter lever (125) and facilitates travel of the gear shifter lever (125). The gear shifter lever (125) enters the driver’s cabin (not shown) in the vehicle (not shown) through the slot (120) on the frame (105).
The first flexible flap (130) resides in the frame (105), and is slidable in first directions (X). The frame (105) has a provision to receive the first flexible flap (130) and facilitate its secured sliding movement. In an embodiment, as shown in figures 2 and 3, the frame (105) includes guides (135) to receive the first flexible flap (130). In an embodiment, the guides (135) have curved ends (137) and a flat portion (139) extending between the curved ends (137). The guides (135) includes slots (not shown) to receive the first flexible flap (130), and to facilitate sliding movement of the first flexible flap (130). The guides (135) facilitate sliding movement/displacement of the first flexible flap (130) in first directions. Further, the guides (135) prevent displacement of the first flexible flap (130) in second directions. The first directions and the second directions are shown by alphabets X and Y respectively in figures 1, 5, and 6. Here, the first directions (X) are defined along the longitudinal edges (122) of the slot (120) of the frame (105). The first directions include two directions, both being opposite to each other. More specifically, the first directions correspond to directions of back and forth motion of the gear shifter lever (125). Similarly, the second directions (Y) are defined along the lateral edges (124) of the slot (120) of the frame (105). The second directions (Y) also include two directions, both being opposite to each other. More specifically, the second directions (Y) correspond to directions of sideways movement of the gear shifter lever (125). In an embodiment, the first directions (X) are orthogonal to the second directions (Y).
The first flexible flap (130) has a first elongated opening (140) configured thereon. The first elongated opening (140) is smaller than the slot (120) on the frame (105). The first elongated opening (140) provides a passage to the gear shifter lever (125). Further, the length of the first flexible flap (130) is more than the slot (120) configured on the frame (105). In an embodiment, as shown in figures 2 and 3, the length of the first flexible flap (130) is more than the length of the frame (105).
The second flexible flap (145) is connected to the first flexible flap (130). The second flexible flap (145) has a second opening (150) configured thereon. The second flexible flap (145) is displaceable about the joint of the first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145). While displacing, the second flexible flap (145) angularly displaces about the joint and can slide along the surface of the first flexible flap (130).
The second opening (150) is aligned with the first elongated opening (140) to provide passage to the gear shifter lever (125). Preferably, the second opening (150) is circular in shape, and is configured such that the circumferential edges of the second opening (150) abut the gear shifter lever (125) passing through the second opening (150), thereby preventing dust particles to pass through the space around the gear shifter lever at the entry of the driver’s cabin. The length of the first elongated opening (140) is more than the diameter of the second opening (150).
The second flexible flap (145) is displaceable with the first flexible flap (130) when the gear shifter lever (125) is operated in the first directions (X) and the second flexible flap (145) is displaceable alone when the gear shifter lever (125) is operated in the second directions (Y). More specifically, the first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145) can be displaced together in the first directions (X), whereas, in the second directions (Y), only the second flexible flap (145) can be displaced as the displacement of the first flexible flap (130) is restricted in the second directions due to arrangement of the guides (135). The first elongated opening (140) extends in the second directions (Y).
To facilitate aforementioned displacement of the second flexible flap (145), the second flexible flap (145) is pivotably and slidably connected to the first flexible flap (130) via a T-lock (160). Appropriate slots (155) are configured on both the first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145) to receive the T-lock (160). The connection between the first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145) is such that the second flexible flap (145) is angularly displaceable about the joint therebetween. This facilitates displacement of the second flexible flap (145) in the second directions (Y) without displacing the first flexible flap (130). Further, opposite edges of the second flexible flap (145) are received in the guides (135) of the frame (105). This prevents hanging down of the second flexible flap (145).
The first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145) can be made of any suitable flexible material. In an embodiment, the first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145) are made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Preferably, the first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145) are made of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV).
To assemble the supporting structure (100), initially, the frame (105) having the guides (135) is configured. Further, the first elongated opening (140) is configured on the first flexible flap (130) and the second opening (150) is configured on the second flexible flap (145). The second flexible flap (145) is connected to the first flexible flap (130) such that the second flexible flap (145) is displaceable about the joint between the first flexible flap (130) and the second flexible flap (145).
In an operative configuration, when the driver pushes the gear shifter lever (125) in either of the first directions (X) (as shown in figure 4), the first flexible flap (130) slides in the respective first direction (X) through the guides (135). At this time, the second flexible flap (145) is also displaced in the respective first direction (X) along with the first flexible flap (130). When the driver pushes the gear shifter lever (125) in either of the second directions (Y) (as shown in figures 5 and 6), only the second flexible flap (145) is displaced in the respective second direction (Y) and the first flexible flap (130) remains at its place. The second opening (150) keeps aligning with the first elongated opening (140) throughout the displacement of the second flexible flap (145) in the second directions (Y), thereby allowing free movement of the gear shifter lever (125) without any resistance.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others, skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERNCE NUMERALS
100 – Supporting structure
105 – Frame
120 – Slot of the frame
122 – Longitudinal edges
124 – Lateral edges
125 – Gear shifter lever
130 – First flexible flap
135 – Guides 137 – Curved ends
139 – Flat portion
140 – First elongated opening
145 – Second flexible flap
150 – Second opening
155 – Slots on the flaps
160 – T-lock