Machine element or mechanism – Gearing – Directly cooperating gears
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-07
2001-02-20
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Gearing
Directly cooperating gears
C074S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189398
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to shift-lever devices for motor vehicles, and more particularly, to the shift-lever devices wherein when pressing a knob button arranged at the upper end of a shift lever, a compression rod arranged therethrough is moved to disengage a position pin arranged at the lower end from a detent groove of a detent or position plate, enabling shifting of the shift lever.
Conventionally, automatic transmission operating devices or shift-lever devices for motor vehicles include a shift lever comprising a pipe and longitudinally swingably supported to a housing fixed to a vehicle body, and a compression rod vertically movably arranged therethrough. When operating a knob button that is in slide contact with a taper surface formed at the upper end of the shift lever, the compression rod is moved against a biasing force to disengage a position pin arranged at the lower end from a detent groove of a detent or position plate arranged in the housing, making the shift lever swingable. Through a cable connected at the lower end of the shift lever, shifting of the shift lever is transmitted to operate an automatic transmission.
A known shift locking unit includes a lock lever for preventing movement of the shift lever by contacting it when the position pin is in the parking (P) range. The lock lever is rotated by a solenoid that operates when detecting actuation of a brake switch, etc., so that even when pressing the knob button, the position pin contacts the lock lever, obtaining no movement of the compression rod.
Regarding the known shift-lever devices, however, due to the fact that a pressing force applied to the knob button is input to the lock lever through the position pin, the lock lever needs to have a sufficient strength to resist this pressing force. This causes an increase not only in weight of the lock lever, but in size of the solenoid for actuating the lock lever, resulting in an increase in size and manufacturing cost of the shift locking unit.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide shift-lever devices for motor vehicles that contributes to a reduction in size and manufacturing cost of a shift locking unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention lies in providing a shift-lever device for a motor vehicle with a vehicle body, comprising:
a base plate mounted to the vehicle body;
a position plate integrated with said base plate, said position plate being formed with a detent groove;
a shift lever supported to said base plate to be swingable along said position plate, said shift lever including a base arranged adjacent to said position plate, a knob arranged at an upper end, and a knob button arranged with said knob;
a compression rod arranged through said shift lever to axially be movable by operation of said knob button of said shift lever, said compression rod including an arm at a lower end;
a detent protrusion arranged with said compression rod at a lower end to be engageable with said detent groove of said position plate; and
a guide integrated with said base of said shift lever, said guide holding part of said detent protrusion longitudinally with respect to the vehicle body.
Another aspect of the present invention lies in providing a shift-lever device for a motor vehicle with a vehicle body, comprising:
a base plate mounted to the vehicle body;
a position plate integrated with said base plate;
a shift lever swingably supported to said base plate to be swingable along said position plate, said shift lever including a knob arranged at an upper end and a knob button arranged with said knob;
a compression rod arranged through said shift lever to axially be movable by operation of said knob button of said shift lever, said compression rod including an arm at a lower end;
a pusher mounted to said compression rod at an upper end, said pusher being formed with a taper inclined with respect to said knob button;
an engaging member swingably mounted to said knob button, said engaging member including a first lever contacting said taper of said pusher from the side of said knob button to allow axial movement of said compression rod; and
a shift locking unit mounted to said position plate, wherein when said shift lever is moved to a P range, said shift locking unit is engaged with said arm of said compression rod to prevent axial movement of said compression rod.
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Fujiwara Ryoichi
Kataumi Yoshimasa
Foley & Lardner
Fuji Koko Co., Ltd.
Hannon Thomas R.
Hansen Colby
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