Transmission shift control

Claim 2

A control linkage system comprising a pivotally mounted operating lever, cam plate means mounted for rotation in response to manual movement of said operating lever, latch means for retaining said cam plate means in selected rotary positions, means formed on said cam plate means for securing an actuating cable thereto, a contoured opening formed in said cam plate means including locking and drive ratio portions, a bar member mounted for reciprocal movement adjacent said cam plate means, a tab formed on said bar member and adapted to extend into said contoured opening, a rotatable lock mechanism, means formed on said lock mechanism for reciprocally moving said bar member in response to manual rotation of said lock mechanism, the resultant movement of said tab in said contoured opening being such that said cam plate means is locked when said tab is positioned in said locking portion and rotatable by manual movement of said operating lever into selected reverse and forward drive positions when said tab is positioned in said drive ratio portion.

Claim 3

A control linkage system comprising a pivotally mounted operatIng lever, cam plate means mounted for rotation in response to manual movement of said operating lever, latch means for retaining said cam plate means in selected rotary positions, means formed on said cam plate means for securing an actuating cable thereto, a contoured opening formed in said cam plate means including two locking and two drive ratio portions, a bar member mounted for reciprocal movement adjacent said cam plate means, a tab formed on said bar member and adapted to extend into said contoured opening, a rotatable lock mechanism, means formed on said lock mechanism for reciprocally moving said bar member in response to manual rotation of said lock mechanism, the resultant movement of said tab in said contoured opening being such that said cam plate means is locked when said tab is positioned in one of said two locking portions and rotatable by manual movement of said operating lever into selected reverse and forward drive positions when said tab is positioned on a line between said two drive ratio positions.

Claim 4

A control linkage system comprising a pivotally mounted operatIng lever, cam plate means mounted for rotation in response to manual movement of said operating lever, latch means for retaining said cam plate means in selected rotary positions, means formed on said cam plate means for securing an actuating cable thereto, a contoured opening formed in said cam plate means including two locking and two drive ratio portions, a bar member mounted for reciprocal movement adjacent said cam plate means, a tab formed on said bar member and adapted to extend into said contoured opening, a rotatable lock mechanism, means formed on said lock mechanism for reciprocally moving said bar member in response to manual rotation of said lock mechanism, the resultant movement of said tab in said contoured opening being such that said cam plate means is locked when said tab is positioned in one of said two locking portions and rotatable by manual movement of said operating lever into selected reverse and forward drive positions when said tab is positioned on a line between said two drive ratio positions.

Claim 5

A control linkage system comprising an operating lever pivotally mounted on a fixed support, first and second cam plates rotatably mounted on said fixed support, latch means for retaining said first and second cam plates in selected rotary positions, lost motion connection means between said first cam plate and said operating lever, a contoured opening formed in said first cam plate, an opening formed in said first cam plate, a lever arm formed on said second cam plate, a transmission cable connected to said lever arm, a first pin member secured to said second cam plate and extending into said opening, a second pin member secured to said fixed support, a spring having its ends straddling said first and second pin members and urged toward one another, a toothed rack bar mounted adjacent said first cam plate, a tab formed on said rack bar and extending into said contoured opening, and a lock mechanism including a gear segment in mesh with said toothed rack bar.

Claim 6

A control linkage system comprising an operating lever pivotally mounted on a fixed support, first and second cam plates rotatably mounted on said fixed support, latch means for retaining said first and second cam plates in selected rotary positions, lost motion connection means between said first cam plate and said operating lever, a contoured opening formed in said first cam plate, an opening formed in said first cam plate, a lever arm formed on said second cam plate, a transmission cable connected to said lever arm, a first pin member secured to said second cam plate and extending into said opening, a second pin member secured to said fixed support, a spring having its ends straddling said first and second pin members and urged toward one another, a toothed rack bar mounted adjacent said first cam plate, a tab formed on said rack bar and extending into said contoured opening, and a lock mechanism including a gear segment in mesh with said toothed rack bar.

Claim 7

The control linkage system described in claim 3, wherein said contoured opening includes oppositely disposed locking position portions for said tab, and transversely positioned oppositely disposed reverse and forward position portions for said tab.

Claim 8

The control linkage system described in claim 3, and a second tab formed on said rack bar for contacting said latch means and releasing same from said first and second cam plates when said lock mechanism is in start position.

Claim 9

The control linkage system described in claim 3, and a second gear segment rotatably mounted on said fixed support, a second lever arm formed on said second gear segment, and a steering column cable connected to said second lever arm.

Claim 10

The control linkage system described in claim 3, and a back-up light switch mounted adjacent said first-mentioned lever arm so as to be actuated thereby when said first cam plate is rotated to reverse position.

Claim 11

The control linkage system described in claim 3, and vehicle ignition switch means operatively connected to said lock mechanism.

Claim 12

The control linkage system described in claim 3, and fixed transmission ratio indicia, a light source mounted on said operating lever for movement therewith, and fixed lens means mounted intermediate said light source and said fixed transmission ratio indicia.

Claim 13

A control linkage system comprising transmission ratio indicia mounted on a vehicular dash panel, slotted openings formed on said dash panel adjacent said indicia, an operating lever pivotally mounted on a fixed support and alternately extending through said slotted openings, first and second cam plates rotatably mounted on said fixed support, spring-loaded latch means for retaining said first and second cam plates in selected rotary positions, lost motion connection means between said first cam plate and said operating lever, resilient means operatively connected to said lost motion connection means for urging said operating lever away from said first cam plate and agaInst a side of said respective slotted openings, a contoured opening formed in said first cam plate and having oppositely disposed locking position portions and transversely oppositely disposed reverse and forward position portions, an opening formed in said first cam plate, a lever arm formed on said second cam plate, a transmission cable connected to said lever arm, a first pin member connected to said second cam plate and extending through said opening, a second pin member secured to said fixed support, a spring having its ends straddling said first and second pin members and urged toward one another, a toothed rack bar mounted adjacent said first cam plate, a tab formed on said rack bar and extending into said contoured opening, and a lock mechanism including a gear segment in mesh with said toothed rack bar for reciprocally moving said rack bar.

Claim 14

A control linkage system comprising transmission ratio indicia mounted on a vehicular dash panel, slotted openings formed on said dash panel adjacent said indicia, an operating lever pivotally mounted on a fixed support and alternately extending through said slotted openings, first and second cam plates rotatably mounted on said fixed support, spring-loaded latch means for retaining said first and second cam plates in selected rotary positions, lost motion connection means between said first cam plate and said operating lever, resilient means operatively connected to said lost motion connection means for urging said operating lever away from said first cam plate and agaInst a side of said respective slotted openings, a contoured opening formed in said first cam plate and having oppositely disposed locking position portions and transversely oppositely disposed reverse and forward position portions, an opening formed in said first cam plate, a lever arm formed on said second cam plate, a transmission cable connected to said lever arm, a first pin member connected to said second cam plate and extending through said opening, a second pin member secured to said fixed support, a spring having its ends straddling said first and second pin members and urged toward one another, a toothed rack bar mounted adjacent said first cam plate, a tab formed on said rack bar and extending into said contoured opening, and a lock mechanism including a gear segment in mesh with said toothed rack bar for reciprocally moving said rack bar.

Claim 15

A control linkage system comprising transmission ratio indicia mounted on a vehicular dash panel, slotted openings formed on said dash panel adjacent said indicia and forming a stepped path therealong, an operating lever pivotally mounted on a fixed support and alternately extending through said slotted openings, first and second cam plates rotatably mounted on a pivot pin secured to said fixed support, a plurality of indentations formed along an edge of each of said cam plates, spring-loaded latch means cooperable with said plurality of indentations for retaining said first and second cam plates in selected rotary positions, a longitudinal slot formed in said operating lever, a pin secured to said first cam plate and extending into said longitudinal slot to form lost motion connection means between said first cam plate and said operating lever, a first coil spring mounted around said pin and compressed between said first cam plate and said operating lever for urging said operating lever away from said first cam plate and against a side of said respective slotted openings, a contoured opening formed in said first cam plate and having north and south oppositely disposed locking position portions and east and west oppositely disposed reverse and forward position portions, an opening formed in said first cam plate, a lever arm formed on said second cam plate, a transmission cable connected to said lever arm, a first pin member secured to said second cam plate and extending through said opening in said first cam plate, a second pin member secured to said fixed support, a second coil spring mounted around said pivot pin and having straight extensions formed on the ends thereof straddling said first and second pin members and urged toward one another, a toothed rack bar mounted adjacent said first cam plate, a tab formed on said rack bar and extending into said contoured opening, and a lock mechanism including a gear segment in mesh with said toothed rack bar for reciprocally moving said rack bar and thereby repositioning said tab in said contoured opening.

Claim 16

A control linkage system comprising transmission ratio indicia mounted on a vehicular dash panel, slotted openings formed on said dash panel adjacent said indicia and forming a stepped path therealong, an operating lever pivotally mounted on a fixed support and alternately extending through said slotted openings, first and second cam plates rotatably mounted on a pivot pin secured to said fixed support, a plurality of indentations formed along an edge of each of said cam plates, spring-loaded latch means cooperable with said plurality of indentations for retaining said first and second cam plates in selected rotary positions, a longitudinal slot formed in said operating lever, a pin secured to said first cam plate and extending into said longitudinal slot to form lost motion connection means between said first cam plate and said operating lever, a first coil spring mounted around said pin and compressed between said first cam plate and said operating lever for urging said operating lever away from said first cam plate and against a side of said respective slotted openings, a contoured opening formed in said first cam plate and having north and south oppositely disposed locking position portions and east and west oppositely disposed reverse and forward position portions, an opening formed in said first cam plate, a lever arm formed on said second cam plate, a transmission cable connected to said lever arm, a first pin member secured to said second cam plate and extending through said opening in said first cam plate, a second pin member secured to said fixed support, a second coil spring mounted around said pivot pin and having straight extensions formed on the ends thereof straddling said first and second pin members and urged toward one another, a toothed rack bar mounted adjacent said first cam plate, a tab formed on said rack bar and extending into said contoured opening, and a lock mechanism including a gear segment in mesh with said toothed rack bar for reciprocally moving said rack bar and thereby repositioning said tab in said contoured opening.