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US4474085A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Transmission floor shifter control with a park/lock mechanism

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1982-09-13
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Granted: 1984-10-02
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Expires: 2002-09-13
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Abstract

Abstract A floor mounted transmission shift control has a shift lever with a pushbutton mechanism for releasing the detent mechanism so that shifting from the Park position can be accomplished. The Park/Lock lever is pivotally mounted on the shift control assembly and has one end thereof connected through a lost motion mechanism with the detent pushbutton mechanism and the other end thereof connected with an ignition lock control cable. The one end of the Park/Lock lever is normally not aligned with the pivot axis of the shift lever but is alignable therewith by the operation of the pushbutton mechanism. The ignition lock control cable prevents pivoting of the Park/Lock lever unless the vehicle ignition is unlocked thus preventing shifting from the Park position when the ignition lock control cable is held stationary. The alignment between the shift lever axis and the one end of the Park/Lock lever reduces the loading on the shift lever during manual change to and from the Park position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard A. DeVogelaere
  • 👤 Carl D. Simancik

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 06:29
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H59/00; F16H59/02; F16H59/08; F16H59/10; F16H59/0278; F16H2059/0282; F16H59/74; F16H2059/746; F16H61/00; F16H61/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5889; Y10T70/5925; Y10T70/5934; Y10T70/5938; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20018; Y10T74/20085; Y10T74/20098; Y10T74/20207; Y10T74/20238; Y10T74/20244; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/20672; Y10T74/20696; Y10T74/20702

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 226 words
A manually operable floor mounted transmission shift control mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising; a base member secured to the vehicle; a manually operable shift lever pivotally supported about an axis on said base member; means secured to said shift lever for operably connecting said shift lever to a transmission; a manually operable detent mechanism operatively connected between said base member and said shift lever and including detent means connected to said base member for selectively preventing pivoting of said shift lever relative to said base member and manually operable means for selectively disconnecting said detent means from said base member; Park/Lock lever means pivotally disposed on said base member on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said shift lever, said Park/Lock lever including a first arm operatively connected with said manually operable means of said detent mechanism on an axis normally displaced from the pivot axis of said shift lever and being movable to a position coincidental to the pivot axis of said shift lever when the manually operable means is operated to permit detent disconnection and a second arm; and manually selectively actuatable lock means secured to said second arm for selectively preventing pivoting of said Park/Lock lever such that manual operation of said detent disconnecting means is prevented whereby said shift lever cannot be pivoted from a predetermined transmission selected position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 226 words
A manually operable floor mounted transmission shift control mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising; a base member secured to the vehicle; a manually operable shift lever pivotally supported about an axis on said base member; means secured to said shift lever for operably connecting said shift lever to a transmission; a manually operable detent mechanism operatively connected between said base member and said shift lever and including detent means connected to said base member for selectively preventing pivoting of said shift lever relative to said base member and manually operable means for selectively disconnecting said detent means from said base member; Park/Lock lever means pivotally disposed on said base member on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said shift lever, said Park/Lock lever including a first arm operatively connected with said manually operable means of said detent mechanism on an axis normally displaced from the pivot axis of said shift lever and being movable to a position coincidental to the pivot axis of said shift lever when the manually operable means is operated to permit detent disconnection and a second arm; and manually selectively actuatable lock means secured to said second arm for selectively preventing pivoting of said Park/Lock lever such that manual operation of said detent disconnecting means is prevented whereby said shift lever cannot be pivoted from a predetermined transmission selected position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 256 words
A manually operable floor mounted transmission shift control mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising; a base member secured to the vehicle; a manually operable shift lever pivotally supported about an axis on said base member; means secured to said shift lever for operably connecting said shift lever to a transmission; a manually operable detent mechanism operatively connected between said base member and said shift lever and including a manually operable pushbutton, a detent rod connected with the pushbutton and being guided for linear movement in said shift lever and a detent cam plate connected to said base member and being engaged by said detent rod for selectively preventing pivoting of said shift lever relative to said base member and said manually operable pushbutton being operable to selectively disconnect said detent rod from said detent cam plate; Park/Lock lever means pivotally disposed on said base member on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said shift lever, said Park/Lock lever including a first arm operatively connected with said detent rod on an axis normally displaced from the pivot axis of said shift lever and being movable to a position coincidental to the pivot axis of said shift lever when the manually operable pushbutton is operated to permit detent disconnection and a second arm; and manually selectively actuable lock means secured to said second arm for selectively preventing pivoting of said Park/Lock lever such that manual operation of said detent disconnecting means is prevented whereby said shift lever cannot be pivoted from a predetermined transmission selected position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 256 words
A manually operable floor mounted transmission shift control mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising; a base member secured to the vehicle; a manually operable shift lever pivotally supported about an axis on said base member; means secured to said shift lever for operably connecting said shift lever to a transmission; a manually operable detent mechanism operatively connected between said base member and said shift lever and including a manually operable pushbutton, a detent rod connected with the pushbutton and being guided for linear movement in said shift lever and a detent cam plate connected to said base member and being engaged by said detent rod for selectively preventing pivoting of said shift lever relative to said base member and said manually operable pushbutton being operable to selectively disconnect said detent rod from said detent cam plate; Park/Lock lever means pivotally disposed on said base member on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said shift lever, said Park/Lock lever including a first arm operatively connected with said detent rod on an axis normally displaced from the pivot axis of said shift lever and being movable to a position coincidental to the pivot axis of said shift lever when the manually operable pushbutton is operated to permit detent disconnection and a second arm; and manually selectively actuable lock means secured to said second arm for selectively preventing pivoting of said Park/Lock lever such that manual operation of said detent disconnecting means is prevented whereby said shift lever cannot be pivoted from a predetermined transmission selected position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 293 words
A manually operable floor mounted transmission shift control mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising; a base member secured to the vehicle; a manually operable shift lever pivotally supported about an axis on said base member; means secured to said shift lever for operably connecting said shift lever to a transmission; a manually operable detent mechanism operatively connected between said base member and said shift lever and including detent means connected to said base member and having a plurality of position locating means including a "Park" position for selectively establishing pivotal positions of said shift lever relative to said base member, manually operable means for selectively disconnecting said detent means from said base member and spring means for urging connection of said manually operable means with said detent means; Park/Lock lever means pivotally disposed on said base member on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said shift lever, said Park/Lock lever including a first arm operatively connected with said manually operable means of said detent mechanism on an axis normally displaced from the pivot axis of said shift lever and being movable to a position coincidental to the pivot axis of said shift lever when the manually operable means is operated to permit detent disconnection and a second arm; and manually selectively actuatable lock means secured to said second arm for selectively preventing pivoting of said Park/Lock lever such that manual operation of said detent disconnecting means is prevented whereby said shift lever cannot be pivoted from a predetermined transmission selected position, said Park/Lock lever means being pivoted in one direction by said manually operable means and in the other direction by said spring means and said pivoting in said other direction having a maximum extent when the Park position is selected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 293 words
A manually operable floor mounted transmission shift control mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising; a base member secured to the vehicle; a manually operable shift lever pivotally supported about an axis on said base member; means secured to said shift lever for operably connecting said shift lever to a transmission; a manually operable detent mechanism operatively connected between said base member and said shift lever and including detent means connected to said base member and having a plurality of position locating means including a "Park" position for selectively establishing pivotal positions of said shift lever relative to said base member, manually operable means for selectively disconnecting said detent means from said base member and spring means for urging connection of said manually operable means with said detent means; Park/Lock lever means pivotally disposed on said base member on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said shift lever, said Park/Lock lever including a first arm operatively connected with said manually operable means of said detent mechanism on an axis normally displaced from the pivot axis of said shift lever and being movable to a position coincidental to the pivot axis of said shift lever when the manually operable means is operated to permit detent disconnection and a second arm; and manually selectively actuatable lock means secured to said second arm for selectively preventing pivoting of said Park/Lock lever such that manual operation of said detent disconnecting means is prevented whereby said shift lever cannot be pivoted from a predetermined transmission selected position, said Park/Lock lever means being pivoted in one direction by said manually operable means and in the other direction by said spring means and said pivoting in said other direction having a maximum extent when the Park position is selected.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4235123A Cited
US4232571A Cited
US4249404A Cited
US4304112A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-10-02 1988-04-02 1988-10-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-10-02 1992-04-02 1992-10-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-10-02 1996-04-02 1996-10-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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