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. 23, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 22, 1999
Piet Visser, Walker, MI (US);
Stephen D. Wexall, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Grand Haven Stamped Products, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Abstract
A shifter construction for shifting a transmission includes a base, a shift lever pivotally supported on the base at a main pivot for movement between a plurality of gear positions including a particular gear position, and an ignition switch constructed to move between a key-released position and a key-retaining position. An interlock cam is pivotally supported on the base at an interlock pivot and operably connected to the shift lever and to the ignition switch. The interlock cam is movable between a locked position where the interlock cam prevents the shift lever from moving from the particular gear position but allows the ignition switch to be moved, and an unlocked position where the shift lever is allowed to move but the ignition switch is held in the key-retaining position. The interlock cam has an interlock stop spaced from the interlock pivot. The shift lever includes an interlock protrusion that fits into a notch in the interlock cam between the interlock pivot and the interlock stop when the shift lever is in the particular gear position and the interlock cam is in the locked position. The shift lever, when initially being moved out of the particular gear position, moves the interlock protrusion along a line generally connecting the interlock pivot and the interlock stop when the interlock cam is in the locked position. The interlock cam is configured to withstand significant force without deformation. An attempt to forcibly move the shift lever out of the particular gear position when the interlock cam is in the locked position causes the interlock cam to move into engagement with the interlock stop without causing a rotational force on the interlock cam that would move the interlock cam toward the unlocked position.