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: A shift lever supporting apparatus for a transmission, has an integral structure comprising a cylindrical shift lever mounting portion for receiving a ball portion of a shift lever, a pyramidal retainer portion contiguously provided below the shift lever mounting portion, a plate portion contiguously provided below the retainer portion, and a bearing portion for mounting a select bell-crank, the bearing portion being contiguously provided on the retainer portion and in close proximity to the shift lever mounting portion. The shift lever mounting portion is provided with a seat surface for supporting the ball portion of the shift lever, and a U-shaped notch which allows insertion of a select lever extending from the ball portion. The ball portion of the shift lever is inserted into the shift lever mounting portion from the upper side and this ball portion is pressed against and thereby retained on the seat surface by the use of a cap.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing air-pressure drop in an automobile tire which comprises an air chamber having an internal air pressure maintained substantially equal to that of a tire under normal conditions and a sensor displaceable in accordance with differences in pressure between the air chamber and the tire. The apparatus is mounted in the inner end of the air valve of the tire, and when the air pressure in the tire drops to a certain level below an initial air pressure setting, the sensor is displaced. Sensor displacement is detected and an appropriate signal is provided to the driver.

Abstract: A buffering air-bag means adapted to inflate a normally folded air-bag on the occasion of a collision by the generation of gas by a box-like gas generating means having gas ejecting openings formed in a substantially flat end, wherein a gas deflecting plate is provided to traverse the front of the gas ejecting openings in a manner to control the composite reaction force exerted by the gas jets ejected from the gas generating means so that the force properly balances by itself to relieve a steering column from compression.