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:
Jul. 07, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 29, 1996
Charles Osborn, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Robert M Medema, Muskegon, MI (US);
Andrew K Ruiter, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Grand Haven Stamped Products, Div. of JSJ Corp., Grand Haven, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle transmission shifter having a locking mechanism for controlling the shifting of a lever for an automatic transmission responsive to the condition of a vehicle. A locking member is provided to lock into a detent member movable with the shifting lever and which detent member controls the shifting of the gears in the transmission. The position of the locking member is controlled by an electrical module, the energization of which is controlled by a condition of the vehicle and the actuation of a switch in the handle of the shifting lever. Preferably the detent member which includes a plurality of gear position notches is an elongated member movable in a linear direction to provide a low profile shifter. In a preferred embodiment a novel module detent member sub-assembly is provided for use on various shifter mechanisms. Also in one embodiment the movement of the detent member is sensed so as to produce electrical signals for controlling an electronically operated transmission.