US 8,024,990 B2 · Shift lever apparatus

Abstract

A shift lever apparatus includes a detent pin, and the distal end portion thereof is attached to a shift lever so as to be movable in the direction of coming into and out of contact with the shift lever. A lever guide is formed with a transition sliding surface on which the distal end of the detent pin slides along the operation of the shift lever on the back surface thereof. A gate portion is provided on the transition sliding surface, and limits the direction of movement of the detent pin in the direction practically matching the selecting direction by coming into contact with the distal end portion of the sliding detent pin. Accordingly, the direction of movement of the shift lever is limited only to the direction practically matching the selecting direction by a force transmitted from the gate portion via the detent pin when the shift lever passes through a transition guide groove.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

A shift lever apparatus comprising:

a shift lever movable along a first operating direction and a second operating direction substantially orthogonal to each other;
a lever guide having a first guide groove extending in a zigzag pattern along the first operating direction or the second operating direction, a second guide groove extending along the first operating direction, and a transition guide groove extending in the second operating direction and connecting the first guide groove and the second guide groove, the lever guide holding the shift lever within any one of the first guide groove, the second guide groove and the transition guide groove and guiding the shift lever along the first guide groove, the second guide groove and the transition guide groove;
a detent pin supported by the shift lever such that the distal end thereof is movable along the direction of coming into and out of contact with the shift lever and such that the detent pin is moved along the first operating direction and the second operating direction integrally with the shift lever;
an urging member for urging the detent pin away from the shift lever;
a first sliding surface for generating a holding force for holding the shift lever at a predetermined shift position in the first guide groove by coming into press contact with the distal end portion of the detent pin when the shift lever is held in the first guide groove;
a second sliding surface for generating a holding force for holding the shift lever at a predetermined shift waiting position in the second guide groove by coming into press contact with the distal end portion of the detent pin when the shift lever is held in the second guide groove;
a transition sliding surface having an apex for generating an urging force for providing a tactile feedback to the shift lever by coming into press contact with the distal end portion of the detent pin when the shift lever passes through the transition guide groove;
and
a pair of gate portions formed on the transition sliding surface and limiting the direction of movement of the detent pin to a direction substantially matching the second operating direction by coming into contact with the detent pin moving on the transition sliding surface
wherein the pair of gate portions come into contact with the detent pin of the shift lever together with the apex of the transition sliding surface when the detent pin is moved on the transition sliding surface.

7 more elements

A shift lever apparatus comprising:

a shift lever movable along a first operating direction and a second operating direction substantially orthogonal to each other;
a lever guide having a first guide groove extending along the first operating direction, a second guide groove extending along the first operating direction, and a transition guide groove extending along the second operating direction and connecting the first guide groove and the second guide groove, the lever guide holding the shift lever within any one of the first guide groove, the second guide groove or the transition guide groove and guiding the shift lever along the first guide groove, the second guide groove and the transition guide groove;
a detent pin including a distal end portion, the detent pin being mounted to the shift lever such that the distal end portion thereof is movable in the direction of coming into and out of contact with the shift lever and the detent pin being moved together with the shift lever;
a transition sliding surface having an apex for generating an urging force for providing a tactile feedback to the shift lever by coming into press contact with the distal end portion of the detent pin when the shift lever passes through the transition guide groove;
and
a pair of gate portions formed on the transition sliding surface and limiting the direction of movement of the detent pin to a direction substantially matching the second operating direction by coming into contact with the detent pin moving on the transition sliding surface
wherein the pair of gate portions come into contact with the detent pin of the shift lever together with the apex of the transition sliding surface when the detent pin is moved on the transition sliding surface.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,815 words

Summary1,601 words

#This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-259676, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a shift lever apparatus of a motor vehicle and, more specifically, to a shift lever apparatus for changing gear in a transmission.

Brief description of the drawings9 figures

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an entire configuration of a shift lever apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side view of a shift lever and a control lever shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the outside in the widthwise direction of a vehicle;

#FIG. 3 is a front view of the shift lever and the control lever shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the front side of the vehicle;

Detailed description5,972 words

#Referring now to the drawings, a shift lever apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention will be described. The terms indicating directions such as front, rear, top, bottom, front and rear, and width in this specification indicate the directions on the basis of the vehicle unless otherwise specifically noted.

#FIG. 1 shows an entire configuration of a shift lever apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a principal portion of the shift lever apparatus 10 when viewed from the widthwise outside, and FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the principal portion of the shift lever apparatus 10 when viewed from the rear. The shift lever apparatus 10 is configured as a gate-type shift lever apparatus in which so-called manual transmission is possible, and the transmission mode may be selected from a manual transmission mode and an automatic transmission mode.

#As shown in FIG. 1, the shift lever apparatus 10 includes a box-shaped housing case 12 to be secured with a bolt or the like to a vehicle body frame at the lower end thereof. A shift lever 14 is arranged at the center portion of the housing case 12. The shift lever 14 includes a round rod-shaped lever rod 16 and a supporting member 18 for covering the lower end portion of the lever rod 16 to support the same. A shift knob, not shown, is fixed to the upper end portion of the lever rod 16.

Facts

Application

11/858,021Filed 19 Sep 2007

Priority

JP 2006-25967625 Sep 2006

Published

US 2008/0072698 A127 Mar 2008

Granted

27 Sep 2011

Term ends

20 Apr 2030

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 944 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification9 codes

F16H 59/0204
Selector apparatus: for automatic transmissions with means for range selection and manual shifting, e.g. range selector with tiptronic
F16H 61/24
Control functions within control units of change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion ; Control of exclusively fluid…
Y10T 74/20067
Transmission control: control convertible between automatic and manual operation
Y10T 74/20085
Transmission control: restriction of shift, gear selection, or gear engagement

Timeline

25 Sep 2006Priority claimedJP 2006-259676
19 Sep 2007Application filedUS 11/858,021
19 Sep 2007Assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakushoassignment of assignor's interest
27 Mar 2008PublishedUS 2008/0072698 A1
27 Sep 2011GrantedUS 8,024,990 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
20 Apr 2030Term endsEstimated, includes 944 days of adjustment

Shift lever apparatus

Life of this patent

Shift lever apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims12

Description7,815 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,815 words