Patent ID: 7749135
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: B60R,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An ignition and transmission shift lever interlock system for a vehicle, said system comprising: a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and rotatable about said longitudinal axis between at least a park position, a neutral position, and a drive position; a transmission shift lever pivotably coupled to said shaft and pivotably moveable between a restrained position and a release position with said shaft rotatably moveable between said park position, said neutral position, and said drive position when said transmission shift lever is in said release position and said shaft restrained in said park position when said transmission shift lever is in said restrained position; an ignition switch having at least an off position, an accessory position, and a mid position between said off position and said accessory position wherein said ignition switch is only moveable into said off position when said shaft is in said park position and wherein said accessory position draws an electrical current from an accessory circuit; an inhibitor pin coupled to said ignition switch and stationary relative to rotation of said shaft about said longitudinal axis and moveable along said longitudinal axis between a lock position engaging said transmission shift lever when said ignition switch is positioned in said off position and an unlock position disengaged from said transmission shift lever when said ignition switch is positioned in said accessory position and said mid position; said shaft defining a recess with said inhibitor pin moveable into said recess to an intermediate position between said lock position and said unlock position when said shaft is in one of said neutral position and said drive position to permit interruption of the electrical current in response to movement of said ignition switch into said mid position.