Plastic steering-column gearshift lever

Abstract

A steering-column gearshift lever includes a molded tube comprised of a polymeric material and forming a conduit from an operative end to an attachment end, a metal insert secured to the attachment end which is sized and shaped for mechanical cooperation with components auxiliary to the lever, and a molded covering of polymeric material which extends over at least a portion of an exterior surface of the tube and the insert. The plastic tube and the plastic covering are formed in separate injection molding operations. The lever further includes an electrical switch supported by the operative end of the tube and wires connected to the electrical switch which pass through the conduit of the tube from the operative end to the attachment end. The wires extend from the attachment end of the tube through a passage in the insert where they can be suitably connected to auxiliary components at the steering column when the gearshift lever is attached to the steering column. The tube preferably has complex compound bends and the conduit follows the complex compound bends so that a handle portion at the operative end of the tube is suitably positioned relative to the steering column. The tube preferably includes a main portion and a cover portion adapted to cooperate with the main portion to form the conduit. The main and cover portions are adapted for injection molding and cooperate when placed together to seal the conduit during subsequent molding of the covering. Preferably, the covering secures the tube main and cover portions together and the tube and insert together without the need for additional fastening means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.