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:
Sep. 01, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1997
Robert Cary Haase, Southfield, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A shift control lever assembly for an automatic transmission is provided which includes an automatic shift mode and a manual shift mode. The lever assembly comprises a first shift lane having a plurality of positions for automatic operation of the transmission and a second shift lane adjacent the first lane for manual operation of the transmission. The second shift lane includes a first position at a first end of the second lane for selecting an upshift and a second position at a second end of the second lane for selecting a downshift. A shift lever is moveable in the first and second shift lanes. First and second switches are contacted by the shift lever concurrently upon moving of the shift lever from the first shift lane into the second shift lane to command a manual operating mode. The first switch is released by the lever when the lever is moved to the first position in the second shift lane while maintaining contact with the second switch. The second switch is released when the lever is moved to the second position in the second shift lane while maintaining contact with the first switch.