FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a vehicle construction and more particularly, relates to a pull collar assembly for a gear lever.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Generally, gear levers are pulled in vertical direction for initiating reverse gear engagement in 6MT transmissions. The gear levers are provided with a pull collar 90, as shown in Figs. 1a and 1b, which is gripped and pulled by a driver or an occupant for initiating the reverse gear engagement. However, aesthetics, for example color, design, etc., of the pull collar are not appealing to the driver or the occupant of the vehicle. The driver or the occupant may thus desire to alter the aesthetics of the pull collar 90. However, it becomes difficult, costly, and complex to alter aesthetics of the pull collar 90, the pull collar 90 being a unitary structure extending across the gear lever length.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[003] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a multi piece pull collar assembly for a gear shift lever.
[004] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a simple, cost effective, and efficiently designed pull collar assembly that is distinct from all conventional designs, and allows convenient altering of aesthetics associated with it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[005] The present invention relates to a multi piece pull collar assembly for a gear shift lever. The multi piece pull collar assembly includes a lower pull collar secured to a lower portion of the gear shift lever, the lower pull collar defining a first plurality of walls enclosing a vacant depth for receiving the lower portion of the gear shift lever, at least one of the first plurality of walls having at least one male protrusion; and an upper pull collar secured to an upper portion of the gear shift lever. The upper pull collar defines a top gripping part, a bottom part extending below from the top gripping part, the bottom part defining a second plurality of walls enclosing a hollow depth for receiving the upper portion of the gear shift lever, and at least one engagement latch extending substantially over the hollow depth and below from at least one of the second plurality of walls corresponding to the at least one of the first plurality of walls having the at least one male protrusion, the at least one engagement latch includes a female receptacle for receiving the at least one male protrusion.
[006] 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
[007] 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:
[008] Figs. 1a and 1b illustrate a conventional pull collar known in the art;
[009] Figs. 2a and 2b illustrates a multi piece pull collar assembly for a gear shift lever in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0010] Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the multi piece pull collar assembly; and
[0011] Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the multi piece pull collar assembly of Fig. 3.
[0012] 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:
[0013] The present disclosure presents embodiments for a multi piece pull collar assembly for a gear shift lever. The multi piece pull collar assembly includes a lower pull collar secured to a lower portion of the gear shift lever, the lower pull collar defining a first plurality of walls enclosing a vacant depth for receiving the lower portion of the gear shift lever, at least one of the first plurality of walls having at least one male protrusion; and an upper pull collar secured to an upper portion of the gear shift lever. The upper pull collar defines a top gripping part, a bottom part extending below from the top gripping part, the bottom part defining a second plurality of walls enclosing a hollow depth for receiving the upper portion of the gear shift lever, and at least one engagement latch extending substantially over the hollow depth and below from at least one of the second plurality of walls corresponding to the at least one of the first plurality of walls having the at least one male protrusion, the at least one engagement latch includes a female receptacle for receiving the at least one male protrusion.
[0014] 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 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 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.
[0015] 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 principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0016] Figs. 2a and 2b illustrates a multi piece pull collar assembly 100 for a gear shift lever 102 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In operation, a functionality associated with multi piece pull collar assembly 100 is to pull the gear shift lever 102 for engagement of reverse gear. Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the multi piece pull collar assembly 100, and Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the multi piece pull collar assembly 100.
[0017] Referring to Figs. 2a, 2b, 3, and 4, the multi piece pull collar assembly 100 includes a lower pull collar 104 secured to a lower portion of the gear shift lever 102. The lower pull collar 104 defines a first plurality of walls 106 enclosing a vacant depth for receiving the lower portion of the gear shift lever 102. In an embodiment, at least one of the first plurality of walls 106 includes at least one male protrusion 108.
[0018] The multi piece pull collar assembly 100 further includes an upper pull collar 110 secured to an upper portion of the gear shift lever 102. In an embodiment, the upper pull collar 110 defines a top gripping part 112. In an example, the top gripping part 112 is configured to be gripped and pulled by an occupant of the vehicle, for example a driver, for initiating the reverse gear engagement. The upper pull collar 110 further includes a bottom part 114 extending below from the top gripping part 112. The bottom part 114 defines a second plurality of walls 116 enclosing a hollow depth “Hd” for receiving the upper portion of the gear shift lever 102.
[0019] In an embodiment, the bottom part 114 of the upper pull collar 110 further includes at least one engagement latch 118 extending substantially over the hollow depth “Hd” and below from at least one of the second plurality of walls 116 corresponding to the at least one of the first plurality of walls 106 having the at least one male protrusion 108. In an example, a surface area covered by the engagement latch 118 extending over the hollow depth “Hd” of the second plurality of walls 116 provides strength, rigidity, and stability to the upper pull collar 110. Further, the surface area covered by the engagement latch 118 leads to less vibrations and fluctuations being transmitted and / or originated from the upper pull collar 110. In an embodiment, the at least one engagement latch 118 includes a female receptacle 120 for receiving the at least one male protrusion 108. In an example, the upper pull collar 110 engages with the lower pull collar 104, as the female receptacle 120 receives the male protrusion 108, the engagement of the upper pull collar 110 with the lower pull collar 104 provides a uniform structure corresponding to the multi piece pull collar assembly 100. In an example, the upper pull collar 110 is made of resin and is capable of receiving chrome plating. Further, the upper pull collar 110 is also configured to receive a gear indicating knob as known in the art.
[0020] In operation, the driver of the vehicle grips the multi piece pull collar assembly 100 from the top gripping part 112 of the upper pull collar 110 for initiating the reverse gear engagement. Further, as the driver pulls the top gripping part 112 in a vertical direction, the engagement latch 118, extending from the upper pull collar 110 and engaged with the lower pull collar 104, exerts the pulling force on the lower pull collar 104. Further, the lower pull collar 104 gets pulled up along with the gear lever 102 allowing the driver to initiate the reverse gear engagement. In an example, pulling of the upper pull collar 110 is done against a spring like element provided between the gear indicating knob and the upper pull collar 110. Further, the spring like element also helps in maintaining the engagement of the upper pull collar 110 with the lower pull collar 104.
[0021] Considering the aesthetics of the vehicle employing the multi piece pull collar assembly 100 with the gear lever 102, a cover is generally provided over the multi piece pull collar assembly 100 that substantially houses the lower collar part 104, making only the upper collar part 110 visible. Further, as is understood from the aforementioned description, the upper collar part 110 is removably secured to the lower collar part 104. Hence, it becomes easy, convenient, cost effective, and simple to alter the aesthetics, for example color, design, chrome plating, etc., of the upper collar part 110 only as desired by the driver or any other occupant of the vehicle, as against altering the complete pull collar 90 of the conventional designs. Further, the lower collar part 104 and the upper collar part 110 of the multi piece pull collar assembly 100 includes no child parts, thereby making it a simple structure.
[0022] 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.

Claims:We claim:
1. A multi piece pull collar assembly (100) for a gear shift lever (102), the multi piece pull collar assembly (100) comprising:
a lower pull collar (104) secured to a lower portion of the gear shift lever (102), the lower pull collar (104) defining a first plurality of walls (106) enclosing a vacant depth for receiving the lower portion of the gear shift lever (102), at least one of the first plurality of walls (106) having at least one male protrusion (108); and
an upper pull collar (110) secured to an upper portion of the gear shift lever (102), the upper pull collar (110) defining:
a top gripping part (112),
a bottom part (114) extending below from the top gripping part (112), the bottom part (114) defining a second plurality of walls (116) enclosing a hollow depth (Hd) for receiving the upper portion of the gear shift lever (102), and
at least one engagement latch (118) extending substantially over the hollow depth (Hd) and below from at least one of the second plurality of walls (116) corresponding to the at least one of the first plurality of walls (106) having the at least one male protrusion (108), the at least one engagement latch (118) includes a female receptacle (120) for receiving the at least one male protrusion (108).
2. The multi piece pull collar assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top gripping part (112) of the upper pull collar (110) is configured to be gripped and pulled by an occupant of the vehicle for initiating a reverse gear engagement.
3. The multi piece pull collar assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper pull collar (100) is made of resin and is capable of receiving chrome plating.
4. The multi piece pull collar assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper pull collar (110) is configured to receive a gear indicating knob.
5. The multi piece pull collar assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein pulling of the upper pull collar 110 is done against a spring like element provided between the gear indicating knob and the upper pull collar (110).
6. The multi piece pull collar assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spring like element helps in maintaining the engagement of the upper pull collar (110) with the lower pull collar (104).
7. The multi piece pull collar assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement latch 118 extending over the hollow depth “Hd” of the second plurality of walls 116 covers a surface area.