US 4,936,431 A · Shift lever apparatus for automatic transmission

Abstract

A shift lever apparatus for use with an automatic transmission of the type which is incorporated in a vehicle has a shaft member which is adapted to be rotated about its axis by the operation of a seat occupant and a shift lock mechanism arranged to engage with the shaft member to inhibit the rotation of the shaft member when the shift-lever position of "parking" or "neutral" is selected, as well as to disengage from the shaft member by the braking operation of a brake operating mechanism which is mechanically connected to the shift lock mechanism to thereby allow the shaft member to rotate about its axis. Accordingly, when the shift-lever position of "parking" or "neutral" is selected, the position of a shift lever can be changed to another shift-lever position if the shaft member is not in a braked state.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A shift lever apparatus for an automatic transmission in a vehicle, comprising:

a shaft member rotatable about its axis upon a shifting operation of a shift lever;
a push-pull cable disposed to allow a first end thereof to be operated by contact of a control device provided at said first end with a brake operating mechanism;
and
a shift lock mechanism for engaging with said shaft member to inhibit the rotation of said shaft member when a shift-lever position corresponding to one of "parking" and "neutral" is selected, and to disengage from said shaft member by a braking operation of said brake operating mechanism which is mechanically related to said shift lock mechanism by said push-pull cable, a second end of which is connected to said shift lock mechanism, to thereby allow said shaft member to rotate about its axis.

1 more element

A shift lever apparatus for an automatic transmission in a vehicle, comprising:

a shift lever operable y a seat occupant;
a shaft member rotatable about its axis upon an operation of rotating said shift lever to selectively engage with one of plurality of shift lever positions;
a push-pull cable disposed to allow a first end thereof to be operated by contact of a control device provided at said first end with a brake operating mechanism;
and
a shift lock mechanism for engaging with said shaft member to inhibit the rotation of said shaft member when the shift-lever position corresponding to one of "parking" and "neutral" is selected, and to disengage from said shaft member by a braking operation of a brake pedal of said brake operating mechanism which is mechanically related to said shift lock mechanism by a push-pull cable, a second end of which is connected to said shift lock mechanism, to thereby allow said shaft member to rotate about its axis.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shift lever apparatus for automatic transmission

Life of this patent

Shift lever apparatus for automatic transmission

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18