The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 1992
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1990
Hidemi Aoki, Higashihiroshima, JP;
Kouki Makino, Aki, JP;
Shigefumi Hirabayashi, Hiroshima, JP;
Takashi Tsuchida, Hiroshima, JP;
Kunihiko Matumura, Hiroshima, JP;
Osamu Michihira, Hiroshima, JP;
Ushio Sakurai, Houfu, JP;
Hisaaki Katsuki, Hiroshima, JP;
Katsumi Shiraishi, Hiroshima, JP;
Yasushi Kameyama, Hiroshima, JP;
Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, JP;
Abstract
An operation apparatus for a vehicle automatic transmission mechanism includes an actuator for driving a hydraulic valve for switching a travel range of an automatic transmission mechanism, a control unit for controlling the actuator, and a transmission operation unit for outputting a range switching instruction to the control unit. In the preferred embodiment, the transmission operation unit includes a stroke contact type operation switch suitably mounted on a side surface of a steering column so that at least forward vehicle travel ranges can be switched by only a stretched finger of the hand of a vehicle driver who continues to maintain his grip on the steering wheel with the same hand. The operation switch can include either a rotary switch or slide switch mounted on the steering column. As an alternative embodiment, the operation switch can be an operation lever swingably arranged on the vehicle instrument panel opposing the steering wheel, but which can be operated so that at least the forward vehicle travel ranges can be switched by only a stretched finger of the vehicle driver's hand while the driver continues to maintain his grip on the wheel with the same hand.