US4078447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floor control shift lever mechanism in automatic transmission of motor vehicle
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1976-08-24
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1996-08-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved floor control shift lever mechanism in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, more particularly, an improved mechanism for moving up and down a detent rod so as to effect shifting of a shift lever and maintain its shifted condition. The detent rod is inserted in a cylindrical shift lever and axially reciprocates therein, and this detent rod is constantly drawn downward by means of a compression spring. The detent rod is provided with a pin at the upper end thereof. A hollow shift lever knob is attached to the upper end of the shift lever and a knob button is slidably inserted in the shift lever knob. One end of the knob button is protruded from the shift lever knob and another end of the knob button is pressed by a compression spring furnished within the shift lever knob. Between the knob button and the detent rod, there is provided means for joining the knob button to the detent rod. When the knob button is pushed inward, the detent rod is pulled up and simultaneously the lowermost edge of the detent rod is released from the engagement with a detent plate positioned thereunder and the shift lever becomes rotatable. When the knob button is released, the detent rod goes down and the lowermost edge of the detent rod is placed at a desired position on the detent plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Kato
- 👤 Kiyoshi Tazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:02
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/04; G05G1/06; F; F16; F16H; F16H59/00; F16H59/02; F16H59/0278; F16H2059/0282; F16H59/08; F16H59/10; F16H61/00; F16H61/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20018; Y10T74/20085; Y10T74/20098; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/20672; Y10T74/20696; Y10T74/20702
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A floor control shift lever mechanism in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle comprising a cylindrical shift lever, a detent rod positioned within said shift lever and axially movable therein, a shift lever knob attached to the upper end of said shift lever, said shift lever knob having a blind hole, a knob button slidably positioned within said blind hole of said shift lever knob, a pin transversely mounted to the upper end of said detent rod, a pair of inclined guide rails provided on said knob button along which said pin moves, means for constantly pressing said knob button in an outwardly direction from said blind hole of said shift lever knob, and means for drawing down said detent rod, wherein said detent rod is pulled upwardly by pushing said knob button inwardly so that said detent rod is released from the engagement with a detent plate located thereunder and said detent rod is drawn down by releasing said knob button to retain it where it was so that said detent rod is engaged with said detent plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A floor control shift lever mechanism in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle comprising a cylindrical shift lever, a detent rod positioned within said shift lever and axially movable therein, a shift lever knob attached to the upper end of said shift lever, said shift lever knob having a blind hole, a knob button slidably positioned within said blind hole of said shift lever knob, a pin transversely mounted to the upper end of said detent rod, a pair of inclined guide rails provided on said knob button along which said pin moves, means for constantly pressing said knob button in an outwardly direction from said blind hole of said shift lever knob, and means for drawing down said detent rod, wherein said detent rod is pulled upwardly by pushing said knob button inwardly so that said detent rod is released from the engagement with a detent plate located thereunder and said detent rod is drawn down by releasing said knob button to retain it where it was so that said detent rod is engaged with said detent plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said pin is loosely inserted in a pin hole provided in the upper end of said detent rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the upward movement of said detent rod is restricted by a stop portion provided in said knob button to be pressed against the exterior surface of said detent rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of said detent rod is inserted between said pair of inclined guide rails and said pin is projected from both said surfaces of said detent rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said knob button is provided therein with a space of enough width for preventing said pin from contacting with the inner surface of said knob button when said shift lever knob is rotated so as to set said shift lever knob to said shift lever under the conditions that said knob button is inserted in said shift lever knob and said pin mounted to the upper end of said detent rod is situated in said knob button.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 5, wherein a notch is provided in that upper wall portion of said knob button which is adapted to engage with said detent rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said pair of inclined guide rails have horizontal flat portions at the lower sides thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said flat portions are so designed that the lowermost edge of the lower part of said detent rod is engaged with the concavo-convex surface formed on said detent plate including a certain shift range in a slightly raised condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the lowermost edge of the lower part of said detent rod is constantly engaged with the concavo-convex surface of said detent plate including parking, neutral, "D" and "2" ranges in a slightly raised condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
188 words
A floor control shift lever mechanism in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle comprising a cylindrical shift lever, a detent rod, positioned within said shift lever and axially movable therein, a shift lever knob attached to the upper end of said shift lever, said shift lever knob having a lateral slit, a knob button which is slidably positioned within said lateral slit of said shift lever knob, a pin transversely secured to the said knob button, a member attached to the upper end of said detent rod having an inclined groove in which said pin rides and which guides said pin, means for constantly pressing said knob button in an outwardly direction from said lateral slit of said shift lever knob, and means for drawing down said detent rod, wherein said detent rod is pulled upwardly by pushing said knob button inwardly so that said detent rod is released from the engagement with a detent plate located thereunder and said detent rod is drawn down by releasing said knob button to retain it where it was so that said detent rod is engaged with said detent plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
188 words
A floor control shift lever mechanism in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle comprising a cylindrical shift lever, a detent rod, positioned within said shift lever and axially movable therein, a shift lever knob attached to the upper end of said shift lever, said shift lever knob having a lateral slit, a knob button which is slidably positioned within said lateral slit of said shift lever knob, a pin transversely secured to the said knob button, a member attached to the upper end of said detent rod having an inclined groove in which said pin rides and which guides said pin, means for constantly pressing said knob button in an outwardly direction from said lateral slit of said shift lever knob, and means for drawing down said detent rod, wherein said detent rod is pulled upwardly by pushing said knob button inwardly so that said detent rod is released from the engagement with a detent plate located thereunder and said detent rod is drawn down by releasing said knob button to retain it where it was so that said detent rod is engaged with said detent plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said pin is secured across a space defined by the side walls of said knob button and said member having said inclined groove is inserted in said space so as to engage with said pin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A floor control shift lever mechanism according to claim 11, wherein a concavity is provided in said lateral slit of said shift lever knob in a position opposite to said member to receive the upper end of said member when said member is moved upwardly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |