[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to structure of gear shift knob assembly of a vehicle and, in particularly, to a top cover structure and assembly of the top cover on the gear shift knob.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Referring to figure la and lb, gear shift knob assembly has top cover and shift knob. As show in the figure la, the shift knob 101 has a slot 102 to guide the top cover 103 for assembly. The top cover 103 is assembled on the shift knob 101 by means of snap locking. Both the shift knob 101 and the top cover 103 have snap locking means. The top cover 103 has a guiding portion 104 which matches with the slot 102 of the shift knob 101 during assembly.
[003] During the impact of vehicle, the occupant head hits the gear shift knob from upper side. Due pressure, the top cover 103 breaks and pop out from the assembly. The popping out and breaking of the top cover creates sharp edges in the gear shift knob assembly which is dangerous for the occupants and the driver.
[004] Therefore, there is a requirement to protect the occupants and the driver from the sharp edges during the impact.
[005] In view of the above, it is beneficial to have a gear shift knob assembly which has rigid structure which do not break during knob impact resultantly do not generate sharp edges.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[006] The principal object of the present invention is to provide a gear shift knob assembly.
[007] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a top cover with combination of variable rib structures to make the top cover rigid.

[008] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a plurality of vertical ribs on upper surface of the gear shift knob to accommodate the top cover and provide a rigid assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[009] The present subject matter disclosed herein relates to a gear shift knob assembly to avoid generation of sharp edges during knob impact condition. The gear shift knob assembly includes two parts, i.e., top cover and gear shift knob. The top cover being mountable over the gear shift knob by means of snap fit. The top cover is made rigid to bear load and avoid braking of the top cover during the impact. The top cover is divided into two parts, i.e., first half portion and second half portion. The top cover is in circular shape therefore, two half portions are two half semicircles. The first half semicircular portion has a plurality of concentric circular ribs with variable radius and a plurality of radial ribs extending from the center to outer rim of the top cover. The combination of the plurality of concentric circular ribs and the plurality of radial ribs make the first half portion of the top cover rigid. The second half portion of the top cover is empty without any rib structure. On the other hand, upper surface of the gear shift knob is divided into two portions, such as first half portion and a second half portion corresponding the two portions of the top cover. The second half portion of the gear shift knob corresponding to the second half portion of the top cover has a plurality of vertical ribs positioned at equal distance from each other. The first half portion of the gear shift knob does not have any rib structure. During assembly of the top cover over the gear shift knob, the first half portion of the top cover matches with the first half portion of the gear shift knob and the second half portion of the top cover matches with the second half portion of the gear shift knob. The top cover is assembled over the gear shift knob by means of snap fit mechanism. The first half portion of the cover is rigid by combination of ribs and the second half portion of the cover is supported by the plurality of vertical ribs of the gear shift knob. Therefore, the assembly of the gear shift knob with the top cover is so rigid that it does not break during knob impact.

[0010] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0012] Fig. la illustrates gear shift knob as known in the art;
[0013] Fig. lb illustrates top cover of gear shift knob assembly as known in the art;
[0014] Fig. 2a illustrates top cover of gear shift knob assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0015] Fig. 2b illustrates top surface of the gear shift knob of gear shift knob assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0016] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0017] The present subject matter disclosed herein relates to a gear shift knob assembly to avoid generation of sharp edges during knob impact condition. The gear shift knob assembly includes two parts, i.e., top cover and gear shift knob. The top cover being mountable over the gear shift knob by means of snap fit. The top cover is made rigid to bear load and avoid braking of the top cover during the impact. The top cover is divided into two parts, i.e., first half portion and second half portion. The top cover is in circular shape therefore, two half portions are two half semicircles. The first half semicircular portion has a plurality of concentric circular ribs with variable radius and a plurality of radial ribs extending from the center to outer rim of the top cover. The combination of the plurality of concentric circular ribs and the plurality of radial ribs make the first half portion of the top cover rigid. The second half portion of the top cover is empty without any rib structure. On the other hand, upper surface of the gear shift knob is divided into two portions, such as first half portion and a second half portion corresponding the two portions of the top cover. The second half portion of the gear shift knob corresponding to the second half portion of the top cover has a plurality of vertical ribs positioned at equal distance from each other. The first half portion of the gear shift knob does not have any rib structure. During assembly of the top cover over the gear shift knob, the first half portion of the top cover matches with the first half portion of the gear shift knob and the second half portion of the top cover matches with the second half portion of the gear shift knob. The top cover is assembled over the gear shift knob by means of snap fit mechanism. The first half portion of the cover is rigid by combination of ribs and the second half portion of the cover is supported by the plurality of vertical ribs of the gear shift knob. Therefore, the assembly of the gear shift knob with the top cover is so rigid that it does not break during knob impact.
[0018] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily

utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject 5 matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and 10 conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
15 [0019] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the
20 principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0020] Referring to figure 2a and 2b which illustrate structure of the top cover of the gear shift knob assembly 400, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The gear shift knob assembly 400 has top cover 200 and a gear shift knob 300. The top cover 200 has marking or indication about the gears
25 on outer surface which is visible from outside. The outer surface has gear changing pattern, such as H pattern for gear shift. The top cover 200 has combination of ribs on inner surface to make the top surface rigid. From the inner surface which mounts with the gear shift knob 300 by means of snap fit mechanism, the top cover 200 has two half portions, i.e., first half portion 202 and
30 second half portion 201. The top cover 200 is substantially in circular shape. The
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first half portion 202 has a combination of rib structures to make it rigid while the second half portion 201 does not have any rib structure. The second half portion 201 defines an enclosure which can receive other raised portion.
[0021] The first half portion 202 has a plurality of concentric circular ribs 204 and 5 a plurality of radial ribs 205. Each concentric circular rib 204 from the plurality of concentric circular ribs 204 has different radius. The plurality of concentric circular ribs 204 provides strength in circular direction to the top cover 200. Further, difference of radius between two consecutive concentric circular ribs 204 may be same and may be different. Both combinations are under the scope of the
10 present subject matter. Each radial rib 205 from the plurality of radial ribs 205 extend from the center to outer rim 206 which define boundary of the top cover 200. The plurality of ribs 205 is disposed at an equal distance from each other. In other words, the angular distance or angle difference between each radial rib 205 is equal to other. The angular distance between two consecutive radial ribs may
15 differ.
[0022] Referring to figure 2b, upper surface of the gear shift knob 300 has two portions, such as first half portion 302 and a second half portion 301 corresponding the two portions 202, 201 of the top cover 200. The second half portion 301 of the gear shift knob 300 corresponding to the second half portion
20 201 of the top cover 200 has a plurality of vertical ribs 303 positioned at equal distance from each other. The first half portion 302 of the gear shift knob 300 does not have any rib structure. During assembly of the top cover 200 over the gear shift knob 300, the first half portion 202 of the top cover 200 matches with the first half portion 302 of the gear shift knob 300 and the second half portion
25 201 of the top cover 200 matches with the second half portion 301 of the gear shift knob 300. The top cover 200 is assembled over the gear shift knob 300 by means of snap fit mechanism. The first half portion 202 of the top cover 200 is rigid by combination of ribs 204, 205 and the second half portion 201 of the top cover 200 is supported from behind by the plurality of vertical ribs 303 of the gear
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shift knob 300. Therefore, the assembly of the gear shift knob 300 with the top cover 200 is so rigid that it does not break during knob impact.
[0023] Referring to figure 2a and 2b, the top cover 200 is provided with a slot 207 on the second half portion 201. Corresponding to the slot 207 on the top cover 5 200, a protrusion 305 is provided on the gear shift knob 300. The slot 207 engages with the protrusion 305 to guide assembly of the top cover 200 over the gear shift knob 300. Combination of the slot 207 and the protrusion 305 is provided for correct and efficient fitment of the top cover 200 over the gear shift knob 300.
[0024] The rim 206 of the top cover 200 has protruded portion for snap locking 10 means. The rim 304 of the gear shift knob 300 has slot to receive the protruded portion of the rim 206 of the top cover for snap fit mechanism.
[0025] The top cover 200 is manufactured by molding process. The combination of plurality of concentric circular ribs and the radial ribs with the plurality of vertical ribs provide necessary strength to the top cover structure so that the top 15 cover does not break during knob impact.
[0026] The term “vehicle” or “Automobile” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any moving vehicle that is capable of carrying one or more human occupants or Goods and is powered by any form of energy. The term “vehicle” is a motor vehicle which includes, but is not limited 20 to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs.
[0027] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be 25 interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the
8

following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such 5 introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition,
10 even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention
15 analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).
20 In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,
25 B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the
30 possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
9

[0028] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of "comprising" or "including" also contemplates embodiments that "consist essentially of or "consist of the recited feature.
[0029] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:

A gear shift knob assembly (400) comprising: a gear shift knob (300); and
a top cover (200) being mountable over the gear shift knob (300), characterized in that
wherein the top cover (200) has first half portion (202) and a second half portion (202), the first half portion (202) of the top cover (200) comprises:
a plurality of concentric circular ribs (204); a plurality of radial ribs (205) extending from center (203) to rim (206) of the top cover (200).
2. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each concentric circular rib (204) from the plurality of concentric circular ribs (204) is of different radius.
3. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of radial rib (205) from the plurality of radial ribs (205) intermediate the plurality of concentric circular ribs (204).
4. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of radial rib (205) from the plurality of radial ribs (205) is disposed at equal distance from other.
5. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein upper second half portion (301) of the gear shift knob (300) has a plurality of vertical ribs (303) corresponding to the second half portion (201) of the top cover (200).
6. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper second half portion (301) of the gear shift knob (300) receives the second half portion (201) of the top cover (200).

7. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of vertical ribs (303) disposed equally spaced apart.
8. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second half portion (201) of the top cover (200) provided with a slot (207) corresponding to protrusion (305) of the gear shift knob (300), the protrusion (305) guides assembly of the top cover (200) over the gear shift knob (300).
9. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first half portion (202) of the top cover (200) matches with first half portion (302) of the gear shift knob (300) and the second half portion (201) of the top cover matches with the second half portion (301) of the gear shift knob (300) to make the gear shift knob assembly (400).
10. The gear shift knob assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top cover (200) assembled over the gear shift knob (300) by snap fit mechanism.