Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A shift lever supporting structure (10, 10') for pivotally supporting a shift lever (12) which is formed with an enlarged spherical portion (16), comprising: a holding member (22) secured to a rigid structure (20) of the vehicle; a socket member (42) secured to said holding member; a bearing member (52) held in said socket member and receiving therein the spherical portion of said shift lever so that said shift lever is pivotal about the spherical portion thereof relative to the fixed socket member; and fail-safe means (48, 46), (86, 88) for assuring the operative pivotal movement of said shift lever even when said spherical portion of the shift lever slips out of said socket member accidently, said fail-safe means including a stopper plate member (48, 86) stationarily arranged in the vicinity of said socket member, said stopper plate member having therethrough a stopper opening (46, 88) through which one end portion of said shift lever other than said spherical portion passes, said stopper opening being sized smaller than the spherical portion of the shift lever so that upon disengagement of said spherical portion from said bearing member, said spherical portion becomes engaged with said stopper plate member and is prevented from passing through said stopper opening. (Figs. 1 to 9)
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A shift lever supporting structure (10, 10') for pivotally supporting a shift lever (12) which is formed with an enlarged spherical portion (16), comprising: a holding member (22) secured to a rigid structure (20) of the vehicle; a socket member (42) secured to said holding member; a bearing member (52) held in said socket member and receiving therein the spherical portion of said shift lever so that said shift lever is pivotal about the spherical portion thereof relative to the fixed socket member; and fail-safe means (48, 46), (86, 88) for assuring the operative pivotal movement of said shift lever even when said spherical portion of the shift lever slips out of said socket member accidently, said fail-safe means including a stopper plate member (48, 86) stationarily arranged in the vicinity of said socket member, said stopper plate member having therethrough a stopper opening (46, 88) through which one end portion of said shift lever other than said spherical portion passes, said stopper opening being sized smaller than the spherical portion of the shift lever so that upon disengagement of said spherical portion from said bearing member, said spherical portion becomes engaged with said stopper plate member and is prevented from passing through said stopper opening. (Figs. 1 to 9)
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 1, in which said stopper opening has substantially the shape of a circle of diameter which is equal to the maximum diameter of said spherical portion (16) of said shift lever. (Figs. 1 to 9)
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 2, in which said stopper opening has smaller diametrically opposed portions (68a, 68b) of diameter slightly less than the diameter of said spherical portion of the shift lever and an enlarged portion (70) of diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said spherical portion. (Fig. 4)
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 2, in which said stopper opening has four smaller evenly spaced portions (72a, 72b, 72c, 72d) of diameter slightly less than the diameter of said spherical portion of the shift lever and four larger evenly spaced portions (74a, 74b, 74c, 74d) of diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the spherical portion. (Fig. 5)
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 2, in which said stopper opening has substantially the shape of a circle of diameter slightly less than the diameter of said spherical portion and has a portion (76) at which the diameter thereof abruptly increases to a value slightly larger than the diameter of said spherical portion. (Fig. 6)
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 2, in which said stopper opening has smaller diametrically opposed portions (78a, 78b), (82a, 82b) of diameter slightly less than the diameter of the spherical portion of said shift lever and larger diametrically opposed portions (80a, 80b), (84a, 84b) of diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said spherical portion. (Figs. 7 and 8)
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 6, in which the inner side of each of the smaller diametrically opposed portions is slightly curved convexly, and the arc of each of the larger diametrically opposed portions is concentric with the circle of the imaginary circle of the stopper opening. (Fig. 7)
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 6, in which the inner side of each of the smaller diametrically opposed portions is straight. (Fig. 8)
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A shift lever supporting structure as claimed in Claim 1, in which said stopper plate member constitutes a part (48) of said socket member. (Fig. 9)