Rotary shifter assembly

A method of operating a rotary shifter assembly having a housing, a shaft, a shift knob mounted to one end of the shaft, a plurality of locking fingers mounted to another end of the shaft and at least partially extending axially from the shaft, an overload wheel at least partially disposed about the locking fingers with the locking fingers directly engaging the overload wheel, and a locking mechanism, said method comprising the steps of:

• rotating the shaft between a plurality of radial positions to indicate a desired gear change for changing gears in a vehicle transmission;
• concurrently rotating the overload wheel with the shaft as a unit during the step of rotating the shaft through the direct engagement of the locking fingers during a normal operational mode of the shifter assembly for performing the desired gear change;
• selectively engaging the locking mechanism with the overload wheel to selectively prevent and allow the concurrent rotation of the overload wheel and the shaft during the normal operational mode of the shifter assembly;
• and
• moving the locking fingers relative to the overload wheel to permit temporary rotation of the shaft relative to the overload wheel when a force applied to the shaft is beyond a maximum torque threshold, and automatically returning to the concurrent rotation once the force is below the maximum torque threshold.

A system for changing gears in a vehicle transmission of a vehicle comprising:

• a support;
• a housing mounted to said support;
• a shaft rotatably supported in said housing and selectively movable between a plurality of radial positions for indicating a desired gear change, with said shaft having a first end and a second end;
• a shift knob coupled to said first end of said shaft for actuation by a user to the desired gear change;
• a plurality of locking fingers at least partially extending axially from said second end of said shaft;
• an overload wheel at least partially disposed about said locking fingers with said locking fingers directly engaging said overload wheel to couple said overload wheel with said shaft for concurrent rotation as a unit during a normal operational mode of the shifter assembly for performing the desired gear change;
• and
• a locking mechanism engaging said overload wheel to selectively prevent and allow said concurrent rotation of said overload wheel and said shaft during said normal operational mode of the shifter assembly;
• and
• wherein said locking fingers are flexible and capable of moving relative to said overload wheel to permit temporary rotation of said shaft relative to said overload wheel when a force applied to said shaft is beyond a maximum torque threshold, and automatically returning to said concurrent rotation once the force is below the maximum torque threshold.