Vehicle ignition lock and transmission shift lock control mechanism

• US 5,197,356 A
• Filed: 03/27/1992
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji KIKO Company Limited, Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.), Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nissan Shatai Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Fuji KIKO Company Limited, Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.), Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nissan Shatai Company Limited
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Satoshi, Yamazaki, Hiroshi, Asano, Yasushi, Maruta, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASSEY, RYAN
• Application Number:
  US07/859,029
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 70/245, 70/246, 70/247, 74/878, 74/475, 192/4 A
• US Class Current: 477/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02144 interlocked with gear box or gear lever
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/746 Engine running state, e.g. on-off of ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/223 Electrical gear shift lock, e.g. locking of lever in park or neutral position by electric means if brake is not applied; Key interlock, i.e. locking the key if lever is not in park position
• 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 70/5925 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20085 Restriction of shift, gear selection, or gear engagement

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for controlling vehicle ignition lock and transmission shift lock in an interlocked relation to each other. The mechanism comprises a lock member movable into a lock position for blocking up a passage to a Park position of a position plate. An operating member drives the lock member into the lock position in response to upward movement of a position pin in the Park position. A stopper of an ignition lock is movable between a lock position for preventing rotation of a key rotor into a lock position and an unlock position for allowing the same. A cable interconnects the lock member and the stopper to allow them to move in unison such that movement of the lock member into the lock position causes the stopper to move into the unlock position and movement of the stopper into the lock position causes the lock member to move into the unlock position. A spring is installed in the ignition lock for urging the stopper toward the lock position.

Claims

1. A vehicle ignition lock and transmission shift lock control mechanism comprising:

a shift lever movable into a plurality of gear positions including a Park position;

shift lock means connected to said shift lever for preventing shifting of said shift lever from the Park position;

said shift lock means having a position plate formed with a detent cam defining the gear positions, a position pin movably installed on said shift lever and engageable with the detent cam for positioning said shift lever in one of the gear positions, and a lock member for movement between a lock position for preventing shifting of said position pin from the Park position and an unlock position for permitting the same;

ignition lock means for locking vehicle ignition;

said ignition lock means having a key rotor rotatable into a lock position for locking vehicle ignition, and a stopper movable between a lock position for preventing rotation of said key rotor into the lock position and an unlock position for allowing the same;

an operating member pivotally installed on said position plate and having a first arm movable in unison with said position pin when said position pin moves upward and downward in the Park position and a second arm connected to said lock member for driving the same into the lock position when said position pin moves upward in the Park position;

cable means interconnecting said stopper and said operating member for allowing them to move in unison such that movement of said lock member into the lock position causes said stopper to move into the unlock position and movement of said stopper into the lock position causes said lock member to move into the unlock position; and

biasing means for urging said stopper into the lock position.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said detent cam of said position plate includes a detent cam slot defining the Park position and a passage to said detent cam slot, and said lock member is slidably installed on said position plate for blocking up said passage when in the lock position.

3. The mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising second biasing means installed on said shift lever for urging said position pin upward, a biasing force of said second biasing means being larger than that of said first mentioned biasing means.

4. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said lock member is in the form of a rectangular plate having a horizontally elongated opening which receives a pair of horizontal guide pins which are in turn secured to said position pin, said second arm of said operating member having a vertically elongated opening which receives therein a horizontal guide pin which is in turn secured to said lock member.

5. The mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said ignition lock includes a lock casing in which said stopper is installed for reciprocation between the lock position and the unlock position.

6. The mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said key rotor is installed in said lock casing and has an abutment portion for abutment upon said stopper when said key rotor is operated for rotation into the lock position under a condition in which said position pin is in one of the gear positions other than the Park position, said abutment portion of said key rotor being operable to prevent movement of said stopper into the lock position when said key rotor is in the lock position.

7. The mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said key rotor has another abutment portion for holding said stopper in the lock position under the bias of said first mentioned biasing means.

8. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said lock member has a T-like shape and has a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, said horizontal portion being formed with a horizontally elongated opening which receives therein a pair of horizontal guide pins which are in turn secured to said position plate, said vertical portion being formed with a vertical opening which receives therein a horizontal guide pin which is in turn secured to said second arm of said operating member.

9. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said lock member is in the form of a bushing rotatably installed on said shift lever and having a notch which is misaligned with said position pin when said lock member is in the lock position and aligned with said position pin when said lock member is i the unlock position.