Remote shift lever mechanism

Claim 2

A remote shift lever mechanism comprising: a housing to which the mechanism is attached and through which a portion of the mechanism extends; an actuatable lever member; an actuated motion transmitting arm attached to one end of the lever; said lever pivotably attached to a fixed point on said housing by a ball joint; said arm having an angled construction with a first leg projecting at an angle from a second leg; said first leg rotatably and axially movably attached to the housing on an axis radially spaced from said fixed point; the said second leg pivotably attached to the said one end by a ball joint whereby movement of the lever around its pivotable attachment to the housing imparts rotary or axial movement to said first leg; and slidable connecting means between two attached-together portions of said mechanism accommodating forces tending to change the distance between the said fixed pivot point and the one end, said connecting means spaced from the attachment of said second leg to the one end.

Claim 3

A remote shift lever mechanism comprising: a housing member; a lever member having a ball joint socket intermediate the ends thereof; the lever member connected to the housing in pivotable relationship by a ball ended stud received in said socket; a motion-transmitting arm having one leg thereof projecting at an angle to another leg thereof; said one leg thereof pivotably received through said housing; the other leg thereof extending in a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane of the lever member; a connecting member; one end of said connecting member attached to the free end of the said other leg through a ball joint; a stem portion projecting from the said one end; said stem and a portion of the said lever member spaced from the said socket telescopically connected together with a portion of one of said stem and said portion of said lever member projecting into an axial opening in one of said stem and said portion of said lever member.

Claim 4

A remote shift lever mechanism comprising: a housing member; a lever member having a ball joint socket intermediate the ends thereof; the lever member connected to the housing in pivotable relationship by a ball ended stud received in said socket; a motion-transmitting arm having one leg thereof projecting at an angle to another leg thereof; said one leg thereof pivotably received through said housing; the other leg thereof extending in a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane of the lever member; a connecting member; one end of said connecting member attached to the free end of the said other leg through a ball joint; a stem portion projecting from the said one end; said stem and a portion of the said lever member spaced from the said socket telescopically connected together with a portion of one of said stem and said portion of said lever member projecting into an axial opening in one of said stem and said portion of said lever member.

Claim 5

A remote shift lever mechanism comprising: a lever arm; a housing member; said lever arm connected to said housing member intermediate the ends of the said lever arm through a pivotable connection; a motion transmitting arm; said motion transmitting arm having a first leg projecting at an angle from the second leg; said second leg lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane of the lever arm; one end of said lever arm connected through a pivotable connection to the second leg; the said first leg projecting through a portion of the said housing in a plane normal to the longitudinal plane of the said lever arm; the said first leg projecting through bushings received in the said housing; the said bushings rotatable in the said housing; the said first leg axially movable in the said bushings; said first leg received through an opening in said bushings; said opening restraining non-axial movement of said first leg except along one diameter of the said bushing; and said first leg free to move along said diameter in sliding relation with the sides of said opening.

Claim 6

A remote shift lever mechanism comprising: a lever arm; a housing member; said lever arm connected to said housing member intermediate the ends of the said lever arm through a pivotable connection; a motion transmitting arm; said motion transmitting arm having a first leg projecting at an angle from the second leg; said second leg lying in a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane of the lever arm; one end of said lever arm connected through a pivotable connection to the second leg; the said first leg projecting through a portion of the said housing in a plane normal to the longitudinal plane of the said lever arm; the said first leg projecting through bushings received in the said housing; the said bushings rotatable in the said housing; the said first leg axially movable in the said bushings; said first leg received through an opening in said bushings; said opening restraining non-axial movement of said first leg except along one diameter of the said bushing; and said first leg free to move along said diameter in sliding relation with the sides of said opening.

Claim 7

A remote shift lever mechanism comprising: a housing member; a lever member; a motion-transmitting arm; said motion-transmitting arm having a first leg thereof projecting at an angle from the second leg thereof; said second leg thereof projecting through bushings in the said housing; said bushing restraining the said first leg thereof against radial movement while allowing and rotational movement thereof; said second leg attached to one end of the said lever member through a pivotable attachment; a hollow ball socket attached to said housing at a point spaced from the said bushings; a ball received in said hollow ball socket; said ball having a diametrical opening therethrough; said lever member projecting through said diametrical opening; and said lever member free to move axially with respect to said ball socket; said ball socket providing a pivotable connection between said lever member and said housing.

Claim 8

A remote shift lever mechanism comprising: a housing member; a lever member; a motion-transmitting arm; said motion-transmitting arm having a first leg thereof projecting at an angle from the second leg thereof; said second leg thereof projecting through bushings in the said housing; said bushing restraining the said first leg thereof against radial movement while allowing and rotational movement thereof; said second leg attached to one end of the said lever member through a pivotable attachment; a hollow ball socket attached to said housing at a point spaced from the said bushings; a ball received in said hollow ball socket; said ball having a diametrical opening therethrough; said lever member projecting through said diametrical opening; and said lever member free to move axially with respect to said ball socket; said ball socket providing a pivotable connection between said lever member and said housing.

Claim 9

The mechanism of claim 4 wherein the said pivotable connection between the said one end of the said lever member and the said second leg of the said motion-transmitting arm comprises a ball-ended stud joint.