Shifter with cable adjustable mechanism

A shift lever subassembly for a shifting a vehicle transmission via a transmission shift cable, comprising:

• a shift lever including a pawl movable between a locked position where the shift lever cannot be moved and a released position where the shift lever can be moved;
• a cable-actuating arm movably attached to the shift lever and adapted for operative connection to the transmission shift cable;
• and
• an interlock mechanism constructed to secure the cable-actuating arm to the shift lever as the pawl is moved from the locked position to the released position.

A shift lever assembly comprising:

• a shift lever pivotally supported for movement between a park position and various gear positions, the shift lever including a pawl;
• an interlock device for holding the shift lever in the park position until predetermined vehicle conditions are met, the interlock device including a pin movable between a pawl-restrained first position and a pawl-released second position;
• and
• a restraining member releasably engaging the pin for holding the pin in the second position and rendering the interlock device inoperable until the restraining member is moved to release the pin, whereafter the interlock device is operable.

A method comprising steps of:

• providing a shift lever having a pawl and an automatic adjustment mechanism;
• providing a telescopeable cable attached to the adjustment mechanism;
• and
• setting an effective operating length of the telescopeable cable relative to the shift lever by moving the pawl from one position to another position, thus causing the adjustment mechanism to secure the telescopeable cable in an adjusted position relative to the shift lever.

A shifter assembly for shifting a vehicle transmission via a transmission shift cable, comprising:

• a shift lever constructed for pivotal mounting to a support;
• a cable-actuating arm movably attached to the shift lever and adapted for operative connection to the transmission shift cable;
• a coupler for securing the cable-actuating arm to the shift lever in an adjusted position, the coupler being movable between an adjustment-permitting position where the transmission shift cable can be adjusted, and an interlocked position where the cable-actuating arm is secured to the shift lever;
• and
• the cable-actuating arm and the coupler having mating teeth that are constructed to engage and hold the transmission shift cable in a desired position relative to the shift lever as the coupler is moved to the interlocked position.

An apparatus comprising:

• a transmission shift lever constructed for operative attachment to a vehicle;
• a transmission shift control mechanism constructed for attachment to a vehicle transmission;
• an elongated member operably connecting the transmission shift lever to the transmission shift control mechanism, the elongated member having a predetermined length;
• and
• an adjuster on one of the transmission shift lever, the transmission shift control mechanism, and the elongated member;
• the adjuster including a coupler for securing the elongated member to one of the transmission shift lever and the transmission shift control mechanism in a secured/non-adjustable position, and further including an actuator for causing the coupler to move from an adjustment-permitting position to the secured/non-adjustable position, whereby the apparatus can be set in a properly adjusted position by operation of the actuator after attachment of the elongated member to the transmission shift lever and after attachment of the elongated member to the transmission shift control mechanism.

A shifting system comprising:

• a shift lever;
• a transmission control device for attachment to a vehicle transmission;
• an elongated member operably connecting the shift lever and the transmission control device;
• and
• an adjuster on one of the shift lever, the transmission control device, and the elongated member;
• the adjuster being constructed to set an operating length of the elongated member after attachment of the shift lever to one end of the elongated member and after attachment of the transmission control device to another end of the elongated member, the adjuster including an actuator for moving the adjuster from an adjustment-permitting position to an interlocked/non-adjustable position from a location remote from the adjuster.

A method comprising:

• providing a shift lever, a transmission control device, and an elongated member connected to the shift lever and the transmission control device;
• providing an adjuster on one of the shift lever, the transmission control device, and the elongated member;
• and
• actuating the adjuster from a location remote from the adjuster to set the operating length of the elongated member after attaching the shift lever to one end of the elongated member and after attaching the transmission control device to another end of the elongated member.