Slidable Patents (Class 74/538)
  • Patent number: 10378647
    Abstract: A shift lever device includes: a lever main-body; a hollow knob provided at a lever main-body distal end portion; a shift-button rotatably mounted to the knob; and a rod that is inserted-through interior of the lever main-body. The shift-button has a contact surface extending in direction of being away from a rotating-shaft of the shift-button, and that, when the shift-button rotates with respect to the knob, contacts an upper end portion of the rod and lowers the rod. Given that direction orthogonal to axial-direction of the rotating-shaft on plane orthogonal to axis of the rod is reference-direction, and that, among tangent-lines at contact points of the contact surface and the rod, tangent-line on plane orthogonal to the rotating-shaft is reference tangent-line, rotation range of the shift-button is set such that, partway through rotation, the reference tangent-line passes position at which the reference tangent-line becomes parallel to the reference-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Shori Kato, Etsuo Shimizu, Takayoshi Kitahara, Hironori Mizuno, Saburo Kato, Takaaki Fukushima, Hideaki Ito, Takayoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8839691
    Abstract: A parking brake for a motor vehicle is provided. The parking brake includes a brake actuation lever which is arranged pivotably on a lever holder, a coupling unit for coupling the brake actuation lever to a brake cable, a locking device which comprises a toothing arranged on the lever holder and a locking catch engaging in the toothing, a catch spring for prestressing the locking catch in the direction of the toothing, a release device which comprises a push rod which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a release position along the brake actuation lever, and a triggering element, wherein the push rod has an aperture, a guide element for guiding the push rod and a spring element for prestressing the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Edscha Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Krompass
  • Patent number: 7658126
    Abstract: A parking brake actuator for a vehicle includes a toothed stationary sector fixed to a mounting structure, a brake lever pivotably mounted to the sector, a pawl mounted to the brake lever for movement between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the teeth, an elongated, substantially rigid release member mounted to the brake lever for movement relative to the brake lever between normal and depressed positions, and a motion-absorbing member connecting the release member to the pawl. When the brake lever is operatively connected to the vehicle brake cable and in a braking position thereof with the pawl in the engaged position thereof, moving the release member to the depressed position thereof without also moving the brake lever in the brake applying direction compresses the motion-absorbing member without moving the pawl from the engaged position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ventra Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Revelis, Michael Sykes, Dusit Sukonthapanich
  • Publication number: 20080163713
    Abstract: A shifter assembly includes a cover having an opening, a base, and a shift lever extending from the base and through the opening and movable over a shift path. The shift lever is movable over a shift path and moves along the opening as the shift lever moves along the shift path. An absorbent member is located between the opening and the base. The absorbent member includes a material for absorbing liquid passing through the opening. The material for absorbing liquid is preferably sponge material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Carl James Hessler
  • Patent number: 7360469
    Abstract: A shift lever includes: a knob having a opening, which is mounted on the distal end of the lever main body; a moving body, movably arranged in the interior of the lever main body with one end protruding from the opening thereof and is placed in the interior of the knob; an operating unit, which is movably accommodated in the opening portion of the knob; and a link member that is provided in the knob turnably around an axis that is the center of a predetermined region of the base end side; an engaging pin provided at one of the operating unit and the link member; and guide grooves provided such that the engaging pin can be placed in the other of any one of the operating unit and the link member, where from one end in the longitudinal direction to the other end is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shigetoshi Tomida
  • Patent number: 7021174
    Abstract: A parking brake actuator for a vehicle includes a toothed stationary sector fixed to a mounting structure, a brake lever pivotably mounted to the sector, a pawl mounted to the brake lever for movement between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the teeth, an elongated, substantially rigid release member mounted to the brake lever for movement relative to the brake lever between normal and depressed positions, and a motion-absorbing spring connecting the release member to the pawl. When the brake lever is operatively connected to the vehicle brake cable and in a braking position thereof with the pawl in the engaged position thereof, moving the release member to the depressed position thereof without also moving the brake lever in the brake applying direction compresses the motion-absorbing spring without moving the pawl from the engaged position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Revelis, Michael Sykes, Dusit Sukonthapanich
  • Patent number: 6973851
    Abstract: Pull-handle arrangement for releasing a foot-operated parking brake of a motor vehicle. A pull-handle arrangement having a handle element which is held in a linearly movable manner in a handle mounting fixed on the vehicle and, with the aid of a cable, acts on the foot-operated parking brake, and also is in operative connection with a restoring spring of the foot-operated parking brake. Dampers which retard the return movement of the handle element are provided between the handle element and handle mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrylser AG
    Inventors: Falk Stadler, Jürgen Bronner, Ernst Franz
  • Patent number: 6931963
    Abstract: A stick shift handle assembly has a stick shift handle and an actuator for releasing the stick shift handle for movement between a plurality of gear positions. The actuator has a housing. A sleeve is disposed between the actuator and the housing. The sleeve and the housing are made of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tammer Jarjoura, Byron A. Spencer, Emily Curtin, Calum Beattie
  • Patent number: 6915718
    Abstract: A selector lever for automatic transmission for an automobile has an automatic selector handle in which the horizontal movement of the push button into the housing is transmitted to the rod by means of a deflecting lever which is swivelable around a cylindrical pin. A support lever is connected with the rod by a cylindrical pin. The support lever is supported at the housing and its movement is limited by a distance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: United Parts FHS Automobil Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Bohuslav Blascok, Axel Wack
  • Patent number: 6877396
    Abstract: A shift handle with a push button mechanism for shifting an automatic transmission in motor vehicles which includes the shaft handle, a push rod for the automatic transmission, the push button and elements for transmitting movement from the push button to the push rod. The push button is provided with a toothed rack engaging in the teeth of a toothed wheel which is mounted in the shift handle so as to be rotatable by a cylindrical pin. A tension spring is arranged in the push button. The push rod has a region with teeth engaging in the toothed wheel which is mounted so as to be rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: United Parts FHS Automobil Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Bohuslav Blascok, Axel Wack, Uwe Schlüsche
  • Patent number: 6868751
    Abstract: A parking brake including a lever (3) coupled to a brake wire (9) included in the brake system. The lever (3) is arranged to work in two steps to achieve the desired braking power. In the first step the lever is arranged to make a translational movement for taking up wire slack in the brake system, while in the second step the lever is arranged to execute a rotation whereby the force transmission to the wire (9) takes place at a higher ratio than in the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Sundqvist, Pär Marklund
  • Patent number: 6840134
    Abstract: A hand brake arrangement for a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, has a brake lever which is swivellably disposed on a vehicle-fixed stationary base and, with a locking device, can be locked in different swivelling positions. The brake lever has an unlocking device for releasing the locking. The unlocking device has two release press buttons which each drive a push rod, a rocker lever which is swivellably about a rocker axis disposed on the brake lever and on which, on two sides which are opposed with respect to the rocker axis, the two push rods are pivotally connected. A release cable control, on one end, is applied to at least one of the push rods or to at least one of the release press buttons or to the rocker lever and, on the other end, is coupled with the locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Falk Stadler
  • Patent number: 6837127
    Abstract: A parking brake for a vehicle includes a lever holder including a housing that has a first flat side and a second flat side and a brake actuation lever pivotably arranged on the lever holder. The brake actuation lever is articulated to the first flat side and to the second flat side. The parking brake also includes a locking arrangement for holding the brake actuation lever in a locking position, a brake cable, and a deflection lever pivotably articulated to the first flat side and to the second flat side of the housing. The deflection lever is pivotably linked with the brake actuation lever. In addition, the parking brake includes a coupling unit disposed on the deflection lever for tensioning the brake cable during a displacement of the brake actuation lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: EDSCHA AG
    Inventor: Bernd Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20040103744
    Abstract: A shift knob (1) for a gearshift lever (3) of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle comprises a locking bar (5) guided axially in the gearshift lever (3) and a release button (2) which can be actuated manually for actuating the locking bar (5) in relation to the said gearshift lever (3), wherein the release button (2) is arranged in the shift knob (1) at the top end of the gearshift lever (3). The release button (2) is connected to the shift knob (1) by means of at least one lever arm (16) via a mounting site (17), wherein the length of the lever arm (16) of the release button (2) is selected such in relation to the path traveled by the release button (2) during the actuation that the release button (2) performs an essentially linear movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Jorg Meyer, Klemens Meyer, Jan Szekeres-Kriselius
  • Publication number: 20040089094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a parking brake lever that is operated by a hand. The parking brake lever has a supporting member fixed to a vehicle frame and which is provided with ratchet portion, and an oscillating member, which oscillates with respect to the supporting member between braking position and releasing position. A push button is provided in one end of the oscillating member. A pawl and a connecting member are operatively interposed between the push button and ratchet portion. The connecting member includes a flexible cable. According to the present invention, even if the push button is inadvertently pressed, the parking brake does not release unless the oscillating member is pulled upwardly. Thus, accident probability caused from inadvertent release of a parking brake is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Kyung Hee Cho
  • Publication number: 20030233903
    Abstract: A selector lever for automatic transmission for an automobile has an automatic selector handle in which the horizontal movement of the push button (4) into the housing (11) is transmitted to the rod (6) by means of a deflecting lever (2) which is swivelable around a cylindrical pin (7). A support lever (1) is connected with the rod (6) by means of a cylindrical pin (3). The support lever (1) is supported at the housing (11) and its movement is limited by a distance element (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Bohuslav Blascok, Axel Wack
  • Publication number: 20030094066
    Abstract: A shift handle with a push button mechanism for shifting an automatic transmission in motor vehicles which includes the shaft handle, a push rod for the automatic transmission, the push button and elements for transmitting movement from the push button to the push rod. The push button is provided with a toothed rack engaging in the teeth of a toothed wheel which is mounted in the shift handle so as to be rotatable by a cylindrical pin. A tension spring is arranged in the push button. The push rod has a region with teeth engaging in the toothed wheel which is mounted so as to be rotatable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: United Parts FHS Automobil Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Bohuslav Blascok, Axel Wack, Uwe Schlusche
  • Publication number: 20020112558
    Abstract: An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided that can be in at least one secured state and one unsecured state has a pivotable selector lever for selecting different gears and/or gear selections and has a first blocking mechanism, which can block the pivoting movement of the selector lever. The first blocking mechanism has a displaceable blocking element and a stationary blocking contour for engaging the blocking element and can prevent the selector lever from being pivoted by the blocking element engaging the blocking contour. A second blocking mechanism has a toggle lever, which is in contact with a stop in a stretched-out blocking position and prevents the release of the first blocking mechanism and makes possible the unlocking of the first blocking mechanism in the release position. A release mechanism releases the toggle lever from the stretched-out blocking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Jorg Meyer
  • Patent number: 6382048
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-adjustable cable tensioning device for a parking brake of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Samlip Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sug-Jun Youn, Gil-Young Jung
  • Patent number: 6308589
    Abstract: A locking device for vehicle seats, in particular motor vehicle seats, includes two mutually displaceable parts. A rail, associated to one of the parts, extends in the direction of displacement and has at least one row of snap-in holes extending longitudinally along the rail. These holes are separated from each other by web-like material sections. Ratchets, associated to the other part, can move in relation to the rail between a disengaging position and a locking position. They move perpendicularly to the direction of extension of the rail, and are controlled via an operating mechanism. When the mutually displaceable parts are in locked position, at least one of the ratchets engages in a corresponding snap-in hole. At least one retaining element prevents involuntary disengaging of the ratchet from an effective locking position. As a result, reliable locking is achieved, in particular in the event of a crash, which entails high frequency vibrational fractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rolf Schuler, Joachim Flick, Wolfgang Henrich, Christoph Leibeling
  • Patent number: 6301994
    Abstract: Detent protrusions 66 disposed at a detent rod 60 of a shift lever 40 are molded so as to be integrated with the detent rod 60 in such a manner that the cross section of a portion of each of the detent protrusions 66 connected to the detent rod 60, taken along a direction substantially intersecting the direction in which each of the detent protrusions 66 protrudes, is larger, as compared to cross sections of other portions of the detent protrusion 66, than the portion of the detent protrusion 66 connected to the detent rod 60. As a result, even when the detent protrusions 66 and the detent rod 60 are molded from a synthetic resin so as to be integrated with each other, the detent protrusion 66 ensures the same strength as a conventional detent pin is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Noriyasu Syamoto
  • Patent number: 6240805
    Abstract: A counterbearing for a spring is used to support an actuating element for a latching device of a selector lever. To facilitate assembly, the counterbearing is made table-shaped and includes a plate with laterally formed spreading arms. The spreading arms are provided endwise with latching noses which are received by openings in a lower part of the selector lever with essentially parallel walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Edmund Sander, Sven Hartnigk
  • Patent number: 6223624
    Abstract: A parking brake device includes a base member and at least one cable connected to a braking system at one end. The other end of the cable is connected to a connecting member. The connecting member is slidably supported by the base member. A brake lever is rotatably attached to the base member so as to be erectable around a position in the vicinity of an extension extending in the sliding direction of the connecting member. A junction member is rotatably connected to the connecting member at one end. The other end of the connecting member is connected to at least one moving member to which the junction member is rotatably attached. The moving member is moveably attached to the brake lever. An adjustment mechanism is provided outside the brake lever. The adjusting mechanism adjusts the tension of the cable through the junction member and the connecting member by changing the position of the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho, Otsuka Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Iwanaga, Satoru Masuda
  • Patent number: 6189398
    Abstract: A shift-lever device includes a position plate integrated with a base plate and formed with a detent groove, a shift lever supported to the base plate to be swingable along the position plate and including a base arranged adjacent to the position plate, and a compression rod arranged through the shift lever to axially be movable by operation of a knob button. A detent protrusion is arranged with the compression rod at a lower end to be engageable with the detent groove. A guide integrated with the base of the shift lever holds part of the detent protrusion longitudinally with respect to a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Koko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kataumi, Ryoichi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6131483
    Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake for a motor vehicle and including a brake lever pivotally supported on a bridge girder, a locking pawl for securing the brake lever on the bridge girder in any arbitrary put-on position of the parking brake, a brake cable driving element likewise supported on the bridge girder and spring-biased in a rotational direction, and an automatically engageable, upon application of the parking brake, formlocking clutch for releasable connecting the brake lever with the brake cable driving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: ED. Scharachter GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Kuller, Sven Bode, Hans-Peter Kalckert, Ulf Braker
  • Patent number: 6122990
    Abstract: A hand brake for motor vehicles, and including a trestle provided with a toothing, a brake lever pivotally supported on the trestle, a locking pawl for retaining the brake lever on the trestle in an arbitrary selected pull position, at least one brake cable, a spring-biased tensioning element for the brake cable supported on the trestle, and a spring-biased arrangement for connecting the brake lever with the tensioning element, with the tensioning element being formed as a tooth segment or a tooth wheel which is constantly form-lockingly connected with the brake lever and a brake cable connector associated with the trestle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: ED. Scharwachter GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Bode, Wolfgang Kopittke
  • Patent number: 6082218
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a passenger compartment, a floor pan, a cable-actuated component (such as a transmission) located outside the passenger compartment, and a telescopeable cable assembly (such as a transmission cable) operably connected to the cable-actuated component. The telescopeable cable assembly includes an end (such as a sheath on a sleeve of the cable assembly) attached to the floor pan via a bracket and a telescopeable cable having a first connector on an end of the telescopeable cable. A control assembly (such as a transmission shifter assembly) is provided for connection to the cable-actuated component. The control assembly includes a base configured for attachment to the vehicle in the passenger compartment, a lever pivoted to the base, and a second connector operably attached to the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products
    Inventors: Charles Osborn, Andrew K. Ruiter
  • Patent number: 6073513
    Abstract: A parking brake control having an improved release rod assembly comprising a release rod and a pawl. The pawl can be retained by the release rod so that the release rod and pawl can be stored and transported as a subassembly. Compression force is transmitted coplanarly from the release rod to the pawl. The release rod can be molded as a single piece and can dampen any rattling noise caused by contact between the release rod, the pawl and other parts of the parking brake control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Huebner
  • Patent number: 6038939
    Abstract: A modular single lever control which shares common components consisting of plastic can be heat fused and or snapped together. A common base component (12) has opening (22) which receive male projections (20) from side components (14 and 16). In addition, cantilevered male projections (24) extend laterally from side components (14 and 16) and into overlapping portions with the snap-together connections (26) disposed in the overlapping portions for holding the side components (14 and 16) together. The detent side component (14) includes detents (44) to coact with a detent roller (58). Alternatively (144) are presented in a flange extending from the centrally disposed lever subassembly (18) to coact with a roller (158) supported from the second side component (16). A pair of opposing stub shafts (28) extend in a cantilevered fashion from lower bridge (36) of the side components for rotatably supporting the single lever subassembly (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas J. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6016718
    Abstract: A hand brake with a foldable operation lever comprises a ratchet fixed onto a car frame and an operating lever that can be moved up and down and coupled by a hinge onto the ratchet. It also comprises a push button, a rod coupled to the push button, and a slider coupled to the rod. The slider is located inside the operating lever and forcibly rotates a pawl. The pawl is coupled by a hinge to a rotational body, which allows the operating lever to be selectively locked and released from the ratchet. The operating lever also includes a lever limiter, which limits the rotation of the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Samlip Inc. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Chul Park, Kyong Ro Lee
  • Patent number: 5966994
    Abstract: A cable holding device for accelerator pedals, allowing a driver to easily and conveniently drive a vehicle at a constant speed without continuously putting his foot down on an accelerator pedal, is disclosed. In the device, an accelerator cable connects an accelerator pedal to an engine's injection pump. A rod is provided at an end of the cable for connecting the injection pump and has a plurality of grooves on the outer surface. A cable holding unit selectively holds the rod so as to hold the cable at a previous state, thus allowing the vehicle to run at a constant speed when a pressure force is removed from the pedal. The device also has an actuating unit, which selectively actuates the cable holding unit so as to hold the cable by the cable holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Nam-Gyu Woo
  • Patent number: 5950496
    Abstract: The hand brake lever 1 mounted rotatably at a stationary frame 4 engages with two lever arms 10 to a slide 11, which surrounds a tie rod 15 and is to displace same along its longitudinal axis via a silent ratchet. At least one cable line 6 is linked to the tie rod 15. The silent ratchet includes two clamping pieces 14 made of a plastic or other material, which are located between the side surfaces of the tie rod 15 and of the slide 11, which side surfaces face each other. The clamping pieces 14 are pressed via wedge surfaces 20, 21 against the tie rod 15, and opposite teeth 16, 19 lead to positive locking. The tie rod 15 is also subjected to the force of a tension spring 18 to bring about the absence of clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: AL-KO Kober AG
    Inventor: Armin Rampp
  • Patent number: 5887485
    Abstract: A vehicle console assembly adapted to be installed in a vehicle with a shifter assembled in the console and including a structure for adjusting the tension on the transmission cable to which the shifter assembly is connected. The shifter assembly includes a detent element movable initially when the console assembly is installed so that the tension in the transmission cable can be adjusted by moving the detent element after which adjustment the detent element is locked in place preferably by a trim plate mounted on the housing of the console. This invention includes the method of adjusting the tension on the transmission cable utilizing the above described structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kim L. VanOrder, Kenneth M. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 5884530
    Abstract: A shift knob structure having a press button 5 with an improved pressing operation. In order to prevent a looseness at the press button 5, a knob main body 1 of the shift knob structure is comprised of the press button 5 for use in operating a detent rod 7, and of a press button installing member 4 in which the press button 5 is movable toward or away from the detent rod 7. The press button 5 has a guide projection 5c at its circumferential part. The press button installing member 4 is formed with a guide groove 4g having a first width part 4g1 and a fourth width part 4g4 to which a guide projection 5c is engaged at the inner wall of the cylinder part 4d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sato, Tsuyoshi Sotome, Masayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 5865066
    Abstract: A cable connector for a vehicle shifter includes an anchor configured to mateably receive a sheath of a cable assembly, and further includes a connector rod configured to receive a telescopable cable rod extending from the cable assembly. The vehicle shifter includes a base having a bracket supporting the anchor, and a shift mechanism pivotally attached to the base and operably connected to the connector rod. The shifter is installed in the vehicle by manipulating the shifter so that the sheath is inserted into the anchor with the cable rod extending through the anchor into the connector rod. The shifter is secured to the vehicle by clips that snap attach to a vehicle mounting bracket. The anchor is secured to the sheath by a first spring clip, and the cable rod is secured to the connector rod by a second spring clip, which clips snap attach to the respective parts of the cable assembly as the shifter is snap attached to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products
    Inventors: Charles Osborn, Andrew K. Ruiter
  • Patent number: 5842379
    Abstract: To easily and inexpensively manufacture a shift lever by a forming mold of a simple structure for insert-molding without using another component such as a cap member or the like for preventing resin from penetrating into the hollow interior of the pipe member. The shift lever is formed such that a resin member is integrally formed onto a rod member by molding in a state in which an opening of a hollow pipe hole of the rod member is exposed outside of a forming mold for insert-molding or is closed with a forming mold for closing an end opening. Accordingly, when resin is injected into the forming mold for insert-molding, resin is prevented from penetrating into the hollow pipe hole of the rod member so that the shift lever in which the resin member is reliably formed onto the rod member can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Teiji Kanamori
  • Patent number: 5829308
    Abstract: A shift lever device which has a simple structure, and in which there is no need to provide a separate member such as a boot member, and for which assembly and manufacture are easy, and which can be manufactured at a low cost. The shift lever device is formed by a shift lever member, a base member, a shaft fixing portion, and a passage space. A retainer portion for shaft-supporting is provided at a base end portion of the shift lever member. A support portion for mounting the shift lever member such that the shift lever member is rotatable by a predetermined angle is provided at the base member. The shaft fixing portion is provided at a lower portion of the support portion, and shaft-supports the retainer portion within a box-shaped space whose upper portion is open. The passage space is formed in the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Teiji Kanamori
  • Patent number: 5816111
    Abstract: An actuator for a cable-controlled hand brake of a motor vehicle including a ratchet carrier attached to the vehicle body, a brake actuating lever hingedly supported on the ratchet carrier, a spring-biased drive pawl formed as a rocker and having a circumferential toothing, a cable-supporting drive disc coupleable with the brake actuating lever and cooperating with the drive pawl, and a locking device including a toothed segment formed on the stationary ratchet carrier, and a locking pawl supported on the actuating lever, with the locking pawl being formed as a two-part locking pawl with the two parts being hingedly supported on the brake actuating lever for pivotal movement about a common axis independently of each other, and the two parts being automatically mechanically connectable with each other upon pivoting in at least one of their pivotal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: ED Scharwachter GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolf-Dieter Borchers
  • Patent number: 5816614
    Abstract: A tiller assembly for steering a personal mobility vehicle. A knuckle joint for the tiller includes a base secured on the front wheel steering spindle and a knuckle element connected for limited pivotal movement on the base. A bolt connects the knuckle element to the base and also connects the tiller to the knuckle joint. A spring loaded pin on the tiller enters spaced apart openings in the knuckle element to lock the tiller to the knuckle element in any one of various positions, including an operating position and a collapsed position. Adjustment screws on the base are contacted by stop surfaces on the knuckle element to limit in both directions the pivoting of the knuckle element. This allows the tiller to float to a limited extent and also to act rigidly when the vehicle user needs to pull himself up by using the tiller. Spacer sleeves on the pivot bolt allow adjustment of the friction between the knuckle element and base without affecting the tiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Burke, Inc.
    Inventors: DuWayne E. Kramer, Jr., James Ernst, Jerry L. Traylor, James C. Hile
  • Patent number: 5809839
    Abstract: There is provided a shift lever device of which structure is simplified and assembling and manufacturing operation is facilitated and which can be manufactured at a low cost. A pivot-supporting retainer portion is provided at a base end portion of a shift lever and a detent pin is mounted at an intermediate portion of the shift lever. A retainer-portion insertion hole and a lever-shaft-portion through hole are formed in a base member and in a box-shaped pivot-supporting housing portion. The retainer portion is inserted into and supported at a bottom portion of the pivot-supporting housing portion. Further, a detent pin is provided to face a detent opening of a detent portion formed to project from peripheral edges of the retainer-portion insertion hole and the lever-shaft-portion through hole, and in this state, the shift lever provided with the retainer portion and the detent pin can be mounted in the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shigetoshi Tomida
  • Patent number: 5799538
    Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter includes a molded support and a shift lever pivotally mounted to the support by a pivot pin. The support includes a pair of spaced apart pivots forming an axis of rotation for the shift lever, and further includes a detent plate arching over the axis of rotation. The shift lever includes a post and an insert-molded pivot structure at the lower end of the post configured to fit between the spaced apart pivots on the support and to be pivotally mounted to the pivots by the pivot pin. The bottom of the support is open such that the shift lever can be extended through the bottom of the support during assembly to position the pivot structure between the spaced apart pivots with being operably adjacent the detent plate of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products Co. Div of JSJ Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. DeJonge, Richard G. Holtzclaw
  • Patent number: 5791196
    Abstract: Shifting arrangement for a gearbox, having a shifter lever, a shifter bracket in which the lever is pivotally attached for movement between a number of shifting positions, and a releasable shifter latch for releasable blocking of the lever against an unintentional movement to certain shifting positions, whereby the shifter latch presents a first latch portion belonging to the lever and a second latch portion belonging to the bracket. The bracket is formed as two separate bracket portions of which one portion supports said latch portion belonging to the bracket and further defines the pivot axis of the shifter lever and has at least one attachment means for attaching the bracket portion to a base in a determined position, and the other bracket has a pivot bracket through which the shifter lever is pivotally attached to the base in a determined position relative to the first bracket portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Scandmec AB
    Inventors: Kenneth Skogward, Klaus Timmann
  • Patent number: 5787761
    Abstract: A slack adjuster (1) for a cable operated system, such as a brake assembly operable by a brake lever (2), includes two drive parts (9) and (10) which are engageable to form a drive connection between the brake lever (2) and the cable (29) to enable the lever (2) to impart an actuating force to the cable 929) during movement of the lever (2) between a rest and a fully actuated position. The slack adjuster (1) further includes a pivotal lever (23) which is operable to disengage the drive parts (9) and (10) during a predetermined portion of one of either the applied or release strokes of the brake lever (2), but inoperative during other portions of the strokes, thereby enabling adjustment of slack in the cable (29) by movement of one drive (9, 10) relative to the other drive part (10, 9) to occur only during the one stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: PBR Automotive Pty., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nui Wang
  • Patent number: 5779316
    Abstract: A chair type massaging apparatus comprising: a seat; a footrest which is pivotally mounted on a front end portion of the seat; a pivotal member for pivoting the footrest between a projecting position at which the footrest is substantially horizontally projected forwardly of the seat and a retractive position at which the footrest is retracted below the seat substantially vertically; an operating lever for actuating the pivotal member and a locking portion for effecting or cancelling locking of the footrest at a predetermined pivotal angle between the projecting position and the retractive position, which is provided on the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihide Sugawa, Masamichi Miyaguchi, Makoto Fukutani, Fumihiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 5735178
    Abstract: An actuating device for a parking brake with a shell-shaped handbrake lever essentially comprises a locking device that includes a detent segment with a detent pawl. The device is operated by an actuating rod. The handbrake lever is composed of half-shells enclosed by a cover strip with bearing bushings for the locking device as well as for pivotable mounting in a pedestal bearing that is mounted on the body. The connected half-shells are each provided with molded tubular guide projections for the actuating rod. The latter is connected with a one-piece handle that slips over it, producing, together with the cover strip and the half-shells, a flat continuous outer surface for the handbrake lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Vasil Barbunopulos
  • Patent number: 5697254
    Abstract: A shift lever support structure for an automatic transmission includes a T-shaped shift lever having a transverse boss, and a U-sectioned lever mount having first and second bearing holes defined in opposite side walls thereof for rotatably supporting first and second opposite ends of the transverse boss. The first bearing hole is elongated so as to have opposite straight side edges and opposite round ends continued with each other through the straight side edges, said round ends being spaced a distance sufficient to facilitate mounting of the transverse boss on the lever mount. A first stopper is disposed in the lever mount for restricting a radial displacement of the first end of the transverse boss within the first bearing hole which would result from the first bearing hole oversized relative to the diameter of the transverse boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Kubosaki
  • Patent number: 5682789
    Abstract: In a selector lever system for manually shiftable automatic transmissions for motor vehicles, comprising a selector lever movable in a gear shifting gate in only one plane in a plurality of gear shift positions. The shift positions include a manual drive position from which the lever can be moved into a first direction to command an upshift and in a second direction to command a downshift. The lever is biased back to the manual drive position after the upshift or downshift command is given. The system also includes sensors for detecting movement in the first and second directions from the manual drive position. The system includes a cam and spring loaded pin which prevents the lever from being positioned in the manual drive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guido DeCrouppe, Graeme Turner
  • Patent number: 5680799
    Abstract: A shift lever device for an automatic transmission has a pivotally moveable shift lever. A case receives a lower portion of the shift lever. The case has an interior which is divided into first and second spaced portions. A shift lock mechanism has sensitive electric parts installed in only the second portion. A water stopper member is mounted to the lower portion of the shift lever. The water stopper member is so arranged and constructed as to positively guide liquid flowing down on and along the shift lever and reached thereto, toward only the first portion thereby to protect the sensitive electric parts from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignees: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Nukatsuka, Takao Murakami, Takehiro Kuroda, Koji Kuriki
  • Patent number: 5676023
    Abstract: A cane type emergency brake of an automobile having a handle which can turn freely over 180 degrees, and which is of durable function. The cane type emergency brake includes a stem (10) which can be held in a state of pulling a brake cable, a handle (20) combined free-rotatably to the stem (10), a return mechanism (30) for returning the handle (20) to an initial position, and a free turn stopper (40) for disabling the free turning of the handle (20). The return mechanism (30) includes a cam plate (31) and a cam (33). The cam plate (31) is pressed to the periphery of the cam (33). The cam (33) is formed monolithically on the enlarged top (15) of the stem (10) and slides the cam plate (31) against the force that presses the cam plate (31) to the periphery of the cam (33). When the handle (20) is in the initial position, the contact position where the cam (33) and the cam plate (31) are contacted with each other is shifted from the center line of the stem (10) to the direction of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Otsuka Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Masuda, Tadahiro Shoji, Kazuhito Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 5666855
    Abstract: A shifter for a vehicle includes a base for attachment to the vehicle, and a transmission shift lever having a slidably connectable pivot for pivoting shift lever to the base. The base includes configured sidewalls defining opposing sockets having a first diameter and inlets to the sockets having a first width less than the first diameter. The shift lever includes an integrally molded pivot member with protruding flat-sided rod sections. The rod sections define a second diameter about equal to the first diameter, and the flat sides of the rod sections define a second width about equal to the first width. By positioning the shift lever in an assembly-permitting angular position, the flat sides align with the inlet and the pivot member can be slid through the inlets into releasable pivotal engagement with the sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignees: Grand Haven Stamped Products, Honda Motors
    Inventors: Scott M. Ebenstein, Lee N. Bowers