Automotive transmission shifter and method of assembly

A modular shifter comprising:

• a base adapted to attach to a vehicle including a first side member and a separate second side member, said first and second side members comprising molded polymeric material;
• interconnecting means extending between said first and second side members for interconnecting and supporting said first and second side members;
• a lever subassembly including pawl means and further including connector means for operably connecting an elongated shifting member to said lever subassembly;
• pivot means for pivotally mounting said lever subassembly between said first and second side members so that said lever subassembly is movable to at least one gear shift position, said pivot means extending between said first and second side members and pivotally supporting said lever subassembly about an axis of rotation, said first and second side members and said lever subassembly including surfaces configured to mateably engage said interconnecting means and said pivot means as said first and second side members and said lever subassembly are moved along said axis of rotation to their assembled positions wherein said lever subassembly is sandwiched between first and second side members;
• means insert molded into one of said first and second side members for securing said pivot means, lever subassembly and first and second side members together in their assembled position;
• and
• said lever subassembly including a chamber proximate said pawl means, said chamber being adapted to receive and position mechanical and electrical controls for controlling the movement of said pawl means from said notch means in said detent plate.

A shifter comprising:

• a lever subassembly defining opposing sides and including pawl means;
• a base including a first side member with a first pivot-receiving tab and a first vehicle-engaging attachment flange, and further including a separate second side member with a second pivot-receiving tab and a second vehicle-engaging attachment flange, said base further including detent means defining at least one gear position for operably receiving said pawl means;
• pivot-forming means engaging said pivot-receiving tabs for pivotally mounting said lever subassembly to said base between said pivot-receiving tabs of said first and second members, said pivot-forming means also interconnecting said first and second members in a spaced condition, said lever subassembly being movable to at least one gear shift position;
• fastener means for securing said first and second side members together, said fastener means cooperating with said pivot-forming means to stabilize said first and second side members and thus form said base into a rigid unit with said pivot-receiving tabs being positioned proximate said opposing sides of said lever subassembly, said first and second side members including surfaces facing said lever subassembly, said surfaces being shaped so that said first and second side members and said lever subassembly are movable along a common direction into engagement with each other to facilitate assembly;
• a bracket for securing an elongated shifting member thereto;
• said detent means including a detent plate positioned proximate said lever subassembly and operably engageable by said lever subassembly to define at least one of said gear shift positions;
• and
• said fastener means including cross support pins that extend through said first and second side members, said bracket, and said detent plate to interconnect same.

A modular shifter comprising:

• a base adapted for mounting to a vehicle including a modular first side member with a first upright tab and a separate modular second side member with a second upright tab, one of said first and second side members including means for securely interconnecting said first and second side members so that said first and second side members are securely interconnected to form a rigid unit but said tabs are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said first and second side members comprising molded polymeric material including at least one insert molded fastener for securing said first and second side members together;
• modular detent means for defining gear shift positions secured to said base;
• a modular lever subassembly including pawl means for engaging said detent means, said lever subassembly including a pivot-receiving structure adapted to be mateably positioned between said first and second upright flanges;
• pivot means extending between said upright flanges for pivotally mounting said lever subassembly to said base, said pivot means operably engaging said pivot-receiving structure and defining an axis of rotation for said lever subassembly;
• and
• said first and second side members being constructed so as to be open with respect to said pivot-receiving structure so that said first and second side members and said lever subassembly are assembleable along a common direction, thus facilitating assembly.

A shifter comprising:

• a first side member and a second side member, said first and second side members comprising molded polymeric material;
• cross support means for interconnecting said first and second side members to form a base adapted to be attached to a vehicle, said cross support means being insert molded into one of said first and second side members;
• spacer means for spacing said first and second side members a predetermined distance apart;
• a lever subassembly;
• pivot means for pivotally mounting said lever subassembly between said first and second side members, said lever subassembly being pivotally moveable to at least one gear shift position, said first side member, said second side member, said cross support means, said spacer means, and said pivot means being assembleable along a common axis to facilitate assembly;
• and
• a detent plate secured to said shifter by said cross support means, said lever subassembly including pawl means and said detent plate including notch means engageable by said pawl means for defining said at least one gear shift position.

A shifter comprising:

• a first side member and a second side member;
• cross support means for interconnecting said first and second side members to form a base adapted to be attached to a vehicle;
• spacer means for spacing said first and second side members a predetermined distance apart;
• a lever subassembly;
• pivot means for pivotally mounting said lever subassembly between said first and second side members, said lever subassembly being pivotally moveable to at least one gear shift position, said first side member, said second side member, said cross support means, said spacer means, and said pivot means being assembleable along a common axis to facilitate assembly;
• a detent plate secured to said shifter by said cross support means, said lever subassembly including pawl means and said detent plate including notch means engageable by said pawl means for defining said at least one gear shift position;
• and
• a shifting member support bracket for stabilizing said detent plate in an upright position, said bracket being secured to said shifter by said cross support means.