Method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism

• US 20080045381A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vermeersch, Michael C., Burr, Larry W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/066 Locking of hand actuated control actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/22 Locking of the control input devices constructional features of locking or disabling mechanisms F16H63/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20085 Restriction of shift, gear selection, or gear engagement

Abstract

A method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism comprises the steps of: detecting a predefined event; moving a locking device into an engaged position with a shift mechanism upon the occurrence of the predefined event to retain the shift mechanism in at least one of a park, reverse, neutral, and drive position; and maintaining an ignition system in a substantially off position during the detecting of the event and the moving of the locking device into the engaged position. A vehicle assembly is also provided comprising the transmission shift mechanism and the locking device coupled to the shift mechanism. The vehicle assembly also includes the ignition system, which is movable between off, accessory, run, and start positions, and a controller with the controller energizing the locking device in response to the predefined event to move the locking device into the locked position while the ignition system remains substantially in the off position.

Claims

1. A method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism of a vehicle utilizing a locking device, an ignition system, and a controller, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a predefined event;

moving the locking device into an engaged position with the shift mechanism upon the occurrence of the predefined event to retain the shift mechanism in at least one of a park, reverse, neutral, and drive position; and

maintaining the ignition system in a substantially off position during the detecting of the event and the moving of the locking device into the engaged position.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including a key cylinder mounted to the vehicle and connected to the controller and a vehicle key 32, and wherein the step of detecting a predefined event is further defined as inserting the vehicle key into the key cylinder.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further including an alarm device connected to the controller, and wherein the step of detecting a predefined event is further defined as activating the alarm device.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 further including the steps of moving the vehicle key within the key cylinder to move the ignition system from the off position to an accessory position and maintaining the locking device in the engaged position during the movement of the ignition system to the accessory position.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 further including the steps of moving the vehicle key within the key cylinder to move the ignition system from one of the off position and the accessory position to a run position and maintaining the locking device in the engaged position during the movement of the ignition system to the run position.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 further including a vehicle brake mounted to the vehicle and further including step of moving the locking device to a disengaged position upon actuation of the vehicle brake to permit movement of the shift mechanism.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including a wireless receiver mounted to the vehicle and connected to the controller and a vehicle key having a wireless ignition transmitter, and wherein the step of detecting a predefined event is further defined as activating the wireless receiver through a relative proximity of the vehicle key to the wireless receiver.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 further including the steps of activating the ignition system to one of an accessory position and a run position and maintaining the locking device in the engaged position during the activation of the ignition system.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 further including a vehicle brake mounted to the vehicle and further including step of moving the locking device to a disengaged position upon actuation of the vehicle brake to permit movement of the shift mechanism.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including a wireless receiver mounted to the vehicle and connected to the controller and a wireless entry transmitter, and wherein the step of detecting a predefined event is further defined as actuating the wireless entry transmitter.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of actuating the wireless entry transmitter is further defined as unlocking a door of the vehicle.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of moving the locking device into the engaged position to retain the shift mechanism in at least one of a park, reverse, neutral, and drive position is further defined as retaining the shift mechanism in the park position.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking device includes a solenoid and wherein the step of moving the locking device is further defined as energizing the solenoid.

14. A vehicle assembly having an engine and a transmission, said assembly comprising:

a transmission shift mechanism for moving the transmission between at least one of a park, reverse, neutral, and drive positions;

a locking device coupled to said shift mechanism and movable between an engaged position retaining the shift mechanism in at one of said park, reverse, neutral, and drive positions, and a disengaged position permitting movement of the shift mechanism from one of said park, reverse, neutral and drive positions;

an ignition system movable between off, accessory, run, and start positions for starting and stopping the engine; and

a controller connected to said locking device and said ignition system with said controller energizing said locking device in response to a predefined event to move said locking device into said locked position while said ignition system remains substantially in said off position.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said locking device includes a solenoid with said controller energizing said solenoid in response to said predefined event.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further including a key cylinder connected to said controller and further including a vehicle key with the vehicle key being insertable into the key cylinder to define said predefined event.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 further including an alarm device connected to said controller with said alarm device being operable when said vehicle key is within said key cylinder to further define said predefined event.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further including a wireless receiver connected to said controller and further including a vehicle key having a wireless ignition transmitter with the wireless receiver being activated when the vehicle key is in relative proximity to the wireless receiver to define said predefined event.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further including a wireless receiver connected to said controller and further including a wireless entry transmitter with the wireless receiver being activated upon actuation of the wireless entry transmitter to define said predefined event.