Interrelated power delivery controls – including engine control – Transmission control – With brake control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-18
2004-01-13
Pang, Roger (Department: 3681)
Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control
Transmission control
With brake control
C335S257000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06676564
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus which prevents movement of a vehicle shift lever out of a park position prior to actuation of both a vehicle ignition switch and a vehicle brake switch.
In order to prevent inadvertent movement of a shift lever for an automatic transmission of a vehicle out of a park position into a reverse or drive position during starting of a vehicle, it is common to provide the vehicle shift lever with a manually actuatable interlock button. When the vehicle ignition switch has been actuated and the vehicle brake is depressed, manually depressing of the interlock button enables the vehicle shift lever to be moved out of park position. Brake-shift lever interlocks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,076,114; 5,176,231; 5,489,246; and 5,647,818 and Published European Patent Application No. EP 0 987 473 A2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus which prevents movement of a vehicle shift lever out of a park position prior to activation of both a vehicle ignition switch and a vehicle brake switch. The apparatus includes first and second coils which are connected with a base. The coils may, advantageously, define a passage which extends through the coils. A plunger may be movable along the passage through the coils.
When a vehicle ignition switch is in an actuated condition and a vehicle brake switch is in an unactuated condition, the plunger may be moved from an extended position to a partially retracted position under the influence of a magnetic field provided by the first coil. At this time, an end portion of the plunger may block movement of a force transmitting member connected with the vehicle shift lever to prevent movement of the vehicle shift lever out of a park position.
Upon depressing of a vehicle brake pedal, a brake switch is actuated. The plunger may then be released for movement from the partially retracted position to a fully retracted position. As this occurs, force applied against the plunger by the force transmitting member may move the plunger to a fully retracted position. The vehicle shift lever can then be moved from the park position.
In a particularly advantageous one of many possible embodiments of the invention, the plunger has a side portion which extends along the path of movement of the plunger between the extended and fully retracted positions. When the plunger of this particular embodiment of the invention is in the extended position, the side portion is engaged by and blocks movement of the force transmitting member. When the plunger is moved to a partially retracted position under the influence of the magnetic field from the first coil, a cam surface on an end portion of the plunger is engaged by the force transmitting member and blocks movement of the force transmitting member to prevent movement of the shift lever from the park position. When the vehicle brake switch is actuated, the plunger is released and force applied against the cam surface on the plunger by the force transmitting member is effective to move the plunger to a fully retracted position enabling the shift lever to be moved out of the park position.
A stop member may be provided, in the foregoing specific one of many possible embodiments of the inventions, to block movement of the plunger from the partially retracted position to the fully retracted position under the influence of force applied against the cam surface by the force transmitting member when the vehicle brake switch is in the unactuated condition. Upon operation of the vehicle brake switch to the actuated condition, the second coil is de-energized. De-energization of the second coil releases the stop member and enables the plunger to be moved from the partially retracted position to the fully retracted position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4812884 (1989-03-01), Mohler
patent: 4887702 (1989-12-01), Ratke et al.
patent: 5018610 (1991-05-01), Rolinski et al.
patent: 5027929 (1991-07-01), Ratke et al.
patent: 5076114 (1991-12-01), Moody
patent: 5176231 (1993-01-01), Moody et al.
patent: 5251723 (1993-10-01), Rolinski et al.
patent: 5379871 (1995-01-01), Asano et al.
patent: 5489246 (1996-02-01), Moody et al.
patent: 5562568 (1996-10-01), Smale
patent: 5647818 (1997-07-01), Moody
patent: 5718312 (1998-02-01), Osborn et al.
patent: 5862899 (1999-01-01), Dahlstrom
patent: 5902209 (1999-05-01), Moody
patent: 5918646 (1999-07-01), Covelli
patent: 5938562 (1999-08-01), Withey
patent: 625656 (1994-11-01), None
patent: 0987473 (2000-03-01), None
Pang Roger
SAIA-Burgess Inc.
Tarolli, Sundheim Covell & Tummino L.L.P.
LandOfFree
Brake-shift lever interlock unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Brake-shift lever interlock unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Brake-shift lever interlock unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3231254