Automatic transmission selector lever lock

Claim 2

In a vehicle having an automatic transmission selector lever, movement of which rotates a collar on the steering column adjacent a portion which remains stationary during said movement, an interlock mechanism for mechanically locking said lever in the "park" position until intentionally released, said mechanism comprising: (a) an element having a detent-receiving opening therein; (b) a movable detent member; (c) means biasing said detent member towards movement into said opening when aligned therewith; (d) one of said element and detent member being mounted upon said collar and the other upon said stationary portion for relative movement as said collar rotates; and (e) said element and detent member being respectively positioned for alignment of said detent member and said opening only when said selector lever is in said "park" position, engagement of said detent member in said opening being effective to prevent rotation of said collar relative to said stationary portion of said steering column and thereby prevent movement of said selector lever until said detent member is removed from said opening against the force of said biasing means.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said element comprises an arcuate member having a surface adjacent and parallel to a plane through the juncture of said stationary portion and said rotatable column, said opening extending into said surface.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said detent member includes a terminal end portion facing said arcuate member and held by said biasing means in engagement with said surface thereof as said selector lever is moved with the transmission in other than the "park" position.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said arcuate member is mounted upon said rotatable collar and said detent member upon said stationary portion of said steering column.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 1 and further including signal means actuable in response to a predetermined vehicular condition when said detent member is out of said opening.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said signal means is electrically operated in response to simultaneous actuation of two switches, one responsive to said detent means being out of said opening and the other responsive to said predetermined vehicular condition.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said predetermined vehicular condition is the opening of a door.

Claim 10

Apparatus for releasably locking a transmission selector lever in the "park" position and for signaling to indicate that the lever is not in the "park" position in response to a predetermined vehicular condition, said apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) an electrical power source; (b) a first electrical switch which is closed in response to movement of a first vehicle part; (c) a locking device having two elements respectively mounted on second and third vehicle parts which are moved relative to one another in response to movement of the transmission selector lever; (d) said two elements being constructed and arranged for movement into locking engagement to prevent further relative movement of said second and third vehicle parts, and thereby of said selector lever, upon movement of the latter to the "park" position; (e) said two elements having electrically conducting portions which remain in contact when said selector lever is in other than the "park" position and which are removed from contact when said lever is placed in the "park" position; (f) said electrically conducting portions forming a second electrical switch wired in series with said first switch; and (g) an electrically actuated signaling device connected to said first and second switches and to said power source for actuation only when both of said switches are closed.

Claim 11

Apparatus for releasably locking a transmission selector lever in the "park" position and for signaling to indicate that the lever is not in the "park" position in response to a predetermined vehicular condition, said apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) an electrical power source; (b) a first electrical switch which is closed in response to movement of a first vehicle part; (c) a locking device having two elements respectively mounted on second and third vehicle parts which are moved relative to one another in response to movement of the transmission selector lever; (d) said two elements being constructed and arranged for movement into locking engagement to prevent further relative movement of said second and third vehicle parts, and thereby of said selector lever, upon movement of the latter to the "park" position; (e) said two elements having electrically conducting portions which remain in contact when said selector lever is in other than the "park" position and which are removed from contact when said lever is placed in the "park" position; (f) said electrically conducting portions forming a second electrical switch wired in series with said first switch; and (g) an electrically actuated signaling device connected to said first and second switches and to said power source for actuation only when both of said switches are closed.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said signaling device provides an audible signal when actuated by simultaneous closure of said first and second switches.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said first vehicle part is a door and said first switch is closed in response to opening movement of said door.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 9, 10, or 11 wherein said second and third vehicle parts are, respectively, a collar which is rotated about the steering column as the transmission selector lever is moved and a stationary sleeve portion of the steering column adjacent said collar.