Abstract: A pedal system includes a housing, a pedal lever pivoted to the housing for rotation, and a hysteresis mechanism located above the pivot axis when mounted in a vehicle so that it is positioned in a protected position from environmental dirt and debris, and further is positioned in a more open region less subject to conflicting special requirements within the vehicle. The housing defines a closed end and an open end. The pedal lever is adapted to fit into the housing with the hysteresis mechanism already mounted on a free end of the pedal lever. A pivot pin extends through side walls of the housing and also through the pedal lever to retain the pedal lever in the housing, and is accessible for attachment of an electrical sensor for sensing angular position of the pedal.

Abstract: A shifter for vehicles including a base structure and a shift lever that is movably mounted to the base structure. A shift gate controls movement of the shift lever between a plurality of control positions including at least PARK, NEUTRAL and DRIVE control positions. The shifter also includes a powered pawl having a pawl member configured to engage the shift gate. The pawl member defines a first position relative to the shift gate wherein the shift lever is locked in the NEUTRAL position. The pawl member also defines a second position relative to the shift gate wherein the shift lever is movable between the PARK, NEUTRAL and DRIVE positions. The pawl member further defines a third position relative to the shift gate wherein the pawl member locks the shift lever in the PARK position.

Abstract: A shifter for a manual transmission of a vehicle includes a shift stick configured to operably engage the transmission, and a base adapted for mounting to the vehicle and configured to pivotally support the shift stick for movement about first and second orthogonal axes. In particular, a trunnion is pivotally mounted to the base for movement about the first axis, and the shift stick is configured to pivotally engage the trunnion for movement about the second axis, the shift stick being configured to move with the trunnion as a unit when pivoted about the first axis. A plate spring is compressively mounted on the base and the trunnion is configured to operably engage the spring so that the spring biases the trunnion and shift stick to a neutral position about the first axis but so that the spring does not bias the shift stick when pivoted about the second axis.

Abstract: A shift lever assembly for a vehicle is provided. The shift lever assembly ncludes a vertically oriented detent plate having a Z-shaped slot defining a 2-wheel-drive (2H) position, a 4-wheel-drive (4H) position, a neutral (N) position, and a 4-wheel-drive low-speed (4L) position. An actuator pivotally mounts to the detent plate and transfer case, the actuator including a first arm including a connector adapted to connect to a shift mechanism on a vehicle transfer case, and a second arm. A lever subassembly pivotally mounts to the actuator second arm and includes a detent pin adapted for movement in the Z-shaped slot. The lever subassembly is biased so that the detent pin engages the Z-shaped slot. As the lever subassembly is moved along a first path, it drives the connector on the actuator along a corresponding second path to shift the shifting mechanism.

Abstract: A drop-in type shifter is provided for an automotive transmission, the shifter employing one or more washer-like flat springs for spring biasing a shift stick to a predetermined position on the shifter and actuatable for changing the drive ratio of the transmission when the shift stick is pivoted. A base is adapted for mounting the shifter on the transmission. A spherical socket is disposed on the base, and a spherical ball is disposed on the shift stick, the shift stick being received in the ball for pivotally mounting the shift stick on the base. One or more flat washer-like springs are provided having an aperture through which the upper end of the shift stick extends, the washer-like spring being normally planar in an unstressed condition but being compressible into a curvilinear predetermined cross-sectional shape as installed.

Abstract: A shifter mechanism is provided with an elongated handle having a bore extending along an axis longitudinally of the handle, a rod extending through the bore for actuating a pawl, and a pawl member, the rod and pawl member being provided with a novel connection arrangement for connecting the pawl member to the lower end of the rod. In particular, the connection arrangement includes the lower rod end having an opening at its extreme end extending into a recess within the rod, the recess being defined by a wall, and the pawl member having an upwardly extending upper end adapted to be inserted into the recess. More particularly, the opening and the recess in the lower rod end and the upper end of the pawl each have cross sections whereby the upper end of the pawl member is receivable axially along the bore axis through the opening and into the recess.

Abstract: A shift mechanism for a vehicle includes a detent plate having a notch defining a park gear position, a shift lever with a handle, the shift lever being pivotally movable with respect to the detent plate, and a solenoid driven slideable plate movably attached to the shift lever and having a pawl-like tooth for engaging the notch and holding the shift lever in the park gear position. A solenoid is mounted to the shift lever and directly connected to the slideable plate for controlling the movement of the slideable plate, and hence in turn controlling the movement of the shift lever out of the park gear position. The solenoid includes a solenoid coil which is operably connected to a manually actuatable switch located on the shift lever handle.

Abstract: A locking mechanism and system for a vehicle shifter in which the shifting lever is locked in a park lock position until the brakes of the automotive vehicle are applied and the steering lockout mechanism located in the steering column of the vehicle is released by the ignition key of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, two electrical modules are operatively connected to the brake mechanism, the steering mechanism and the ignition key switch which controls the steering lockout mechanism, one of the two modules being controlled by a solid state switch. In other embodiments, a logic control circuit controls a solenoid driving circuit to control the modules.

Abstract: A locking mechanism and system for a vehicle shifter in which the shifting lever is locked in a park lock position until the brakes of the automotive vehicle are applied and/or the steering lockout mechanism located in the steering column of the vehicle is released by the ignition key of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention the pawl of the shifting lever is restrained by a lockout arm through which the brake mechanism and the lockout cable extending to the steering column are connected. In another embodiment, the lockout cable is eliminated by providing two electrical control modules operatively connected to the brake mechanism and the ignition key switch which controls the steering lockout mechanism. These two modules are connected in a unique circuit so that the shifting lever cannot be shifted out of park to other gear positions until the brake is applied and the steering lockout mechanism is released by the ignition key switch.

Abstract: In a vehicle shift lever assembly for a vehicle in which the shift lever is offset to one side of the transmission actuator arm and in which the lockout mechanism is released by depressing the shift lever, a means is provided to minimize undesirable tipping or turning of the shift lever. Within the preferred form, a plunger and plunger housing combination is provided with sufficient bearing surfaces to minimize tipping and an anti-rotation pin is provided to minimize turning of the shift lever. A detent is also provided to minimize the lockout pin from jumping out of the notch in the lockout plate except when a depressing force is applied to the shift lever.

Abstract: A transmission shifter for vehicles, the shifter being of the type for transmitting gear shift movements to a transmission through a pair of flexible shielded cables. The shifter comprises a shift lever which is pivotable about mutually orthogonal axes. Pivotal movement of the shifter about one axis is translated into a linear displacement of one of the flexible shielded cables. Pivotal movement of the shifter about the other axis is translated into a linear displacement of the other flexible shielded cable. A push button actuated lockout means is provided for locking out the reverse position.