Abstract: An automatic shift lever locking device is capable of locking the shift lever of an automatic transmission in a specific non-driving shift position against movement from this position unless a predetermined condition is met. The device has a detent pin provided on the shift lever and movable in response to pressing of a push button on the shift lever, a movable member engageable with the detent pin, and a lock member engageable with the movable member so as to prevent the detent pin from moving out of a lock position thereby to maintain the shift lever locked in the non-driving position. Therefore, when the shift lever is not locked, the manual force exerted by the driver on the push button is not transmitted to the lock members and other parts mechanically connected to the lock member.

Abstract: A shift lever device is used when an assembly of a vehicle is performed while the vehicle is being moved in a state where a shift lever of an automatic transmission gear is in a neutral state, i.e., in a state where wheels can be freely turned. A movable body is driven by a detent pin moved in the acial direction of the shift lever in a state where the shift lever is at a park position. The movable body is coupled to a steering locking device. An operator moves the movable body to a position at which it can be driven by the detent pin of the shift lever in spite of the fact that the shift lever is not at the parking position, so as to enable an igition key to be removed from the steering locking device.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for a shift lever provided for operating an automatic transmission, where if the shift lever is not located in a non-driving position such as a "P" range, a key rotor cannot be rotated to a lock position and, if the key rotor is not rotated from the lock position to an operating position, the shift lever cannot be moved from the non-driving position. An extension is interlocked with a detent pin which serves to hold the shift lever in the non-driving position. The extension is arranged to move along the axis of the key rotor in interlocked relationship with the movement of the detent pin and to move into and away from the locus of movement of a lock portion which is rotated together with the key rotor. When the extension is moved into the locus, the extension inhibits both the movement of the key rotor to the lock position and the shifting of the shift lever from the non-driving position to another position.

Abstract: The synthetic resin rack guide to be housed in a gear box of a rack and pinion type steering device for a vehicle. The rack guide includes a generally semi-cylindrical head, an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The generally semi-cylindrical head includes a semi-cylindrical concave surface which slidably contacts a back surface of a rack bar. The outer cylinder is separated from the inner cylinder by a circumferentially extending space and is divided into a plurality of sections in the circumferential direction by a plurality of slits which extend in parallel with an axis of the rack guide. Due to the provision of the slits, the outer cylinder can shrink radially inward when it is inserted into a rack housing with no clearance between them and when an interference between them is increased in proportion to an increase in ambient temperature. Thus, a locking of the rack guide with the rack housing is prevented and a smooth sliding is obtained even with the increase in ambient temperature.

Abstract: A structure for supporting the main shaft of a steering column with its upper end being journalled in a first bearing structure and its lower end in a second bearing structure, wherein the second bearing structure is adapted to support the shaft in such a manner as to allow the shaft to rotate about its axis as well as to pivot about a point on the axis.