Transmission floor shifter control with a park/lock mechanism

• US 4,474,085 A
• Filed: 09/13/1982
• Issued: 10/02/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Simancik, Carl D., DeVogelaere, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krizmanich, George H.
• Application Number:
  US06/416,875
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 192/4 A, 192/3.63, 192/0.052, 74/878, 74/483 R, 74/483 PB, 74/475, 74/538, 70/248, 70/254, 70/195
• US Class Current: 477/99
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0282 Lever handles with lock mechanisms, e.g. for allowing selection of reverse gear or releasing lever from park position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/746 Engine running state, e.g. on-off of ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/10 comprising levers
• 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 70/5938 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20098 Separate actuator to disengage restrictor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20244 Push button
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20702 Slidable

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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.