US 5,081,856 A · Lock incorporating gear shift lever

Abstract

A lockable gear shift lever comprising a lever member and a detachable handle section, the lever member having a rotatable key plug, a locking post, and a locking plate disposed adjacent to the lever member. The locking post is actuated by the rotatable key plug to engage and disengage from the locking plate to allow the lever member to be locked into a fixed position. The handle section is rotatably and detachably mounted to the top end of the lever member and includes a key extending downward which inserts into the key plug and is used to rotate the key plug relative to the lever member to lock and unlock the lever member relative to the locking plate. Thus, rotation of the handle locks and unlocks the gear shift lever. The handle also includes components to couple the handle and lever member together securely when used for normal driving operation, and includes a push button to facilitate movement of the lever between gear positions while shifting. When the lever is locked and the handle is removed, the gear shift lever cannot be operated thereby preventing unauthorized use.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A lock incorporating gear shift lever, comprising:

a rotatable key operable plug having an axial first keyway;
a lever member having an axial hollow space to receive said rotatable plug and a transverse first through bore formed below said axial hollow space;
a locking plate disposed adjacent to said lever member and having a first receiving hole aligned with said transverse first through bore;
a locking post received inside said transverse first through bore and having one end biased to engage said locking plate at said first receiving hole, said locking post being actuated by said plug to disengage from said locking plate when said plug is rotated;
a longitudinal handle section rotatably and detachably mounted on a top end of said lever member and having a key extending substantially downwardly into said axial first keyway, said handle section being rotated about the axis of said lever member so as to rotate said key plug and cause movement of said locking post towards or away from said locking plate;
and
means for releasably locking said handle section against said lever member when said handle section is attached to said lever member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lock incorporating gear shift lever

Life of this patent

Lock incorporating gear shift lever

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13