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:
Jan. 14, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 15, 1995
George A Parsons, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
New Venture Gear, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A spring biased shifter assembly is disclosed for use with a manually operated multi-speed transmission. The shifter assembly includes a shift tower to which a shift lever of a shift mechanism is pivotally mounted. A pair of spaced apart single leaf flat springs continuously downwardly bias a portion of the shift mechanism, thereby biasing the shift lever to a neutral position. The springs are located within slots defined by the shift tower and are further held in place by a cover that is fastened to the shift tower. The particular configuration of the single leaf flat springs provides improved shifter feel, substantially eliminates play in the shifter assembly, and automatically self-centers the shift lever to a neutral position while maintaining a constant downward biasing force thereon. The single leaf flat springs are preferably constructed of a fiber reinforced composite material, thereby providing excellent noise attenuation properties.