Patent Application
20080092608
These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of a locking mechanism for a shift lever as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes of the various components, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the shifter assembly illustrated in the drawings. In general, up or upward generally refers to an upward direction within the plane of the paper in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the improved locking mechanism for a shift lever disclosed herein. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with reference to a shift lever locking mechanism for a motor vehicle such as an automobile, sport utility vehicle (SUV), truck, or the like. Other embodiments suitable for other applications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure.
Referring now to the drawings,
The illustrated base 12 is adapted to be attached to the motor vehicle in a fixed position such as a floor or console. The base 12 is shaped to engage the motor vehicle in a desired manner and is typically provided with openings or holes for receiving mechanical fasteners such as bolts to secure the base to the motor vehicle.
The illustrated shift lever assembly 14 includes a pivot member 20, a shift lever or post 22 for manually moving the pivot member 20. The lower end of the pivot member 20 is sized and shaped to extend between pivot flanges of the base 12 and cooperate with the base 12 to provide a pivotable connection between the pivot member and the base 12. Pivotably connected in this manner, the pivot member 20 is pivotable about a horizontal and laterally extending pivot axis 24 so that shift lever assembly 14 moves over a generally straight shift path extending in the forward-rearward direction. It is noted, however, that the shift path can alternatively have any other suitable shape and/or direction such as, for example, the shift path could alternatively include laterally extending portions.
The illustrated shift lever 22 is generally an elongate tube having a hollow central passage. The lower end of the shift lever 22 is adapted to be secured to the pivot member 20. With the shift lever 22 secured to the pivot member 20, the pivot member 20 can be pivoted about the pivot axis 24 by manually applying a force to the shift lever 22. The upper end of the illustrated shift lever 22 is provided with handle or knob 26. The knob 26 is preferably provided with a shape to provide a suitable gripping surface for the hand of the operator.
The illustrated base 12 has a detent plate or gate 28 having a curvature about the pivot axis 24. The illustrated gate 28 has a lower contoured surface with a plurality of downward facing grooves or notches 30 formed therein. The notches 30 define the various gear positions along the shift path which the shift lever assembly 14 can be moved to provide a desired gear at the transmission of the motor vehicle. The illustrated notches 30 define the gear positions of park (P), reverse (R), neutral (N), drive (D), second low gear (2), and first low gear (1). It is noted, however, that the notches 30 can alternatively define any other suitable plurality of gear positions. The shift lever assembly 14 is operably connected to the transmission of the motor vehicle via mechanical and/or electrical linkages such that movement the shift lever assembly 14 to the various gear positions along the shift path causes the transmission to move to the corresponding gear. The notches 30 are sized and shaped to cooperate with the knob assembly 16 to limit movement of the shift lever assembly 14 as discussed in more detail hereinbelow. The illustrated notches 30 are each rectangular shaped and are sized differently in order to control movement of the shift lever assembly 14 in a desired manner. It is noted that the notches 30 can alternatively have other suitable shapes such as, for example, arcuate and/or can each be sized the same.
The illustrated knob assembly 16 includes the knob 26, a detent member or gate pin 32 movable into and out of engagement with the notches 30, and an actuator 34 for selectively moving the detent member 32. The illustrated knob assembly 16 is secured to the shift lever assembly 14 for movement therewith but alternatively the gate 28 and the gate pin 32 can be reversed. The pivot member 20 forms a guide opening or passage for the detent member 32 so that the detent member 32 is linearly moved by the actuator 34 along a linear path extending toward and away from the notches 30, that is, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the notches 30. The illustrated detent member 32 moves along the central axis of the shift lever assembly 14 and intersects the pivot axis 24. The detent member 32 is sized and shaped to closely cooperate with the guide opening so that the guide opening guides the detent member 32 to maintain movement of the detent member 32 along the linear path. The detent member 32 is also sized and shaped to cooperate with the notches 30 of the gate 28 so that the detent member 32 blocks and limits pivotal movement of the shift lever assembly 14 when the detent member 32 is in one of the notches 30 but permits pivotal movement of the shift lever assembly 14 when the detent member 32 is removed from the notch 30. The engagement portion of the illustrated detent member 32 is generally rectangular to cooperate with the rectangular-shaped notches 30 but any other suitable shape can alternatively be utilized.
The illustrated actuator 34 includes a manually operated button member 36 and a connecting member or rod 38 extending from the button member 36 to the detent member 32. The illustrated button member 36 is pivotably secured to the knob 26 and is provided with an engagement surface sized and shaped for interacting with the connecting rod 38. The illustrated connecting rod 38 extends within the interior passage of the shift lever 22 and is linearly movable along the central axis of the shift lever 22. The lower end of the connecting rod 38 is secured to the detent member 32. The upper end of the connecting rod 38 is sized and shaped to interact with the button member 36 so that manual actuation of the button member 36 in a direction into the knob 26 linearly and downwardly moves the connecting rod 38 and the detent member 32 connected thereto toward the pivot axis 24 and away from the notches 30. A spring member is preferably provided within the shift lever 22 to resiliently bias the connecting rod 38 in an upward direction so that the detent member 32 is resiliently biased toward the notches 30. It is noted that the actuator 34 can alternatively be of any other suitable type such as, for example, an electric linear actuator with a control switch.
The illustrated locking mechanism 18 is positioned at a forward end of the base 12 adjacent the notch 30 defining the park gear position so that the locking mechanism 18 prevents movement of the shift lever assembly 14 out of the park gear position unless a foot brake pedal is depressed and an ignition key is present or activated to reduce the likelihood of unattended or unintended movement or acceleration of the motor vehicle. It is noted that the locking mechanism 18 can alternatively be utilized to secure the shift lever assembly 14 in any other gear position. It is also noted that the locking mechanism 18 can be operated upon the presence of any other suitable predetermined conditions.
As best shown in
The illustrated stopper member 40 is movable along a horizontal linear path between a locking or blocking position wherein the stopper member 40 is within a portion of the linear path of the detent member 32 to block movement of the detent member out of the notch 30 defining the park gear position (best shown in
An illustrated first spring member 62 extends between the mounting bracket 58 and a forward end of the stopper member 40 to resiliently bias or urge the stopper member 40 in a rearward direction toward its locking position where a rearward facing abutment of the stopper member 40 engages a stop 64 having a forward facing abutment. The illustrated first spring member 62 is a compression spring that engages a rearward facing side of a forward wall or flange of the mounting bracket 58 and a forward end of the stopper member 40, that is, the end of the stopper member 40 opposite the detent member 32. The illustrated first spring member 62 is a helical coil compression spring but any other suitable type of resilient spring member can alternatively be utilized.
The illustrated cam member 42 is movable along a nonlinear path and applies a force to the stopper member 40 to move the stopper member 40 in a forward direction toward its unlocking position in response to movement of the detent member 32 when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 binds the cam member 42 to the stopper member 40 as described in more detail hereinafter. The illustrated cam member 42 is pivotally mounted to the stopper member 40 so that the cam member 42 is pivotable relative to the stopper member 40 when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is unenergized and held against movement relative to the stopper member 40 when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is energized. Mounted to the stopper member 40, the stopper member 40 carries the cam member 42 as the stopper member 40 moves between its blocking and unblocking positions. The illustrated cam member 42 has a pair of opposed laterally extending axles 66 that are received in upwardly extending lugs 68 of the stopper member 40 in a snap-fit manner to form a horizontal and laterally extending pivot axis 70. The illustrated pivot axis 70 is perpendicular to both the linear path of the detent member 32 and the linear path of the stopper member 32. The cam member 42 pivots between its camming position wherein the cam member 42 is located within the path of the detent member 32 and its uncamming position wherein the cam member 42 is not within the path of the detent member 32. The illustrated cam member 42 has a rear end provided with a pair of generally rectangularly-shaped and horizontally extending arms 72 that are laterally spaced apart. The arms 72 extend rearward in a cantilevered manner such that the upper surface at the free end of each arm 72 is engaged by the detent member 32 when the cam member 42 is in its camming position and the detent member 32 is moved downward. Each of the illustrated arms 72 are provided with an angled cam surface 74 sized and shaped to engage the lower end of the detent member 32 and move the cam member 42 from its camming position to its uncamming position in response to the downward movement of the detent member 32. The illustrated arms 72 are located at least partially laterally adjacent and outward of the arms 60 of the stopper member 40 when the cam member 42 is in its camming position. The illustrated cam member 42 also has a forwardly extending flange 76 that is sized and shaped to engage the fixed iron core 48 of electromagnetic solenoid 44 when the cam member 42 is in its camming position and to secure the cam member 42 to the iron core 48 and stopper member 40 for movement therewith when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is energized as described in more detail hereinafter. The flange 76 includes a magnetically attractable portion 78 that engages and cooperates with the fixed iron core 48 of the electromagnetic solenoid 44.
As best shown in
An illustrated second spring member 82 extends between the axles 66 and the flange 76 of the cam member 42 to resiliently bias or urge the cam member 42 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in
As best shown in
During operation, if the predetermined conditions are not met (for example, the foot brake pedal is not depressed and the key is not in or operating the ignition), the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is unenergized so that the cam member 42 and the plunger 86 are free to move relative to the coil 46 and the stopper member 40 against the bias of the second spring member 82. If the operator actuates the knob assembly 16 to move the shift lever assembly 14 while the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is unenergized, the detent member 32 engages the camming surface 74 of the cam member 42 and downwardly moves the cam member 42 out of its path against the bias of the second spring member 82 and engages the stopper member 40. The engagement with the stopper member 40 prevents further downward movement of the detent member 32 along its linear path so that the detent member 32 cannot be removed from the park gear notch 30. Thus, the operator cannot remove the shift lever assembly 14 from the park gear position. If the predetermined conditions are met (for example, the foot brake pedal is depressed and the key is in or operating the ignition), the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is energized so that the plunger 86 is driven or pushed in a downward direction by the coil 46 and the plunger 86 and the cam member 42 are fixed or bound to the coil 46 and the stopper member 40. If the operator actuates the knob assembly 16 to move the shift lever assembly 14 while the electromagnetic solenoid is energized, the detent member 32 engages the camming surface 74 of the cam member 42 and forwardly moves the cam member 42 and the stopper member 40 secured thereto (along the linear path of the stopper member 40) against the bias of the first spring member 62 to the unblocking position of the stopper member 40. With both the cam member 42 and the stopper member 40 out of its path, the detent member 32 can move along its linear path so that the detent member 32 is removed from the park gear notch 30. With the detent member 32 out of the park gear notch 30, the operator can move the shift lever assembly 14 from the park gear position to another desired gear position.
The second spring member 82 of the locking mechanism 84 according to the second embodiment can alternatively bias the cam member 42 in a direction toward its uncamming position and against stops 90 formed on the arms 60 of the stopper member 40. Thus, when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is unenergized and the detent member 32 moves downward, the detent member 32 engages the stopper member 40. When the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is energized, however, the plunger 86 is driven downward to move the cam member 42 to its camming position against the bias of the second spring member 82 and to secure the cam member 42 to the stopper member 40 so that downward movement of the detent member 32 moves the cam member 42 and the stopper member 40 out of its path.
Also, the second spring member 82 of the locking mechanism 84 according to the second embodiment can alternatively be eliminated. The cam member 42 thus freely floats between its camming and uncamming positions without the bias of a spring member. Limits on the range of motion are provided by the stops 90 and the full insertion of the plunger 86. Thus, when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is unenergized and the detent member 32 moves downward, the detent member 32 engages the stopper member 40 either directly or after moving the cam member 42 depending on the position of the cam member 42. When the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is energized, however, the plunger 86 is driven downward to move the cam member 42 to its camming position against the bias of the second spring member 82 and to secure the cam member 42 to the stopper member 40 so that downward movement of the detent member 32 moves the cam member 42 and the stopper member 40 out of its path.
It is noted that each of the features of the various disclosed embodiments can be utilized with any of the other disclosed embodiments. From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it is apparent that the present invention provides devices that reduce size, weight, and cost while retaining and/or obtaining the desirable characteristics of relatively low noise and a relatively small package size.
From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it is also apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
