Patent ID: 6176809
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B60R,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A shifter construction for shifting a transmission comprising:a base;a shift lever pivotally supported on the base at a main pivot for movement between a plurality of gear positions including a particular gear position;an ignition switch constructed to move between a key-released position and a key-retaining position;an interlock cam pivotally supported on the base at an interlock pivot and operably connected to the shift lever and to the ignition switch for movement between a locked position where the interlock cam prevents the shift lever from moving from the particular gear position but allows the ignition switch to be moved, and an unlocked position where the shift lever is allowed to move but the ignition switch is held in the key-retaining position, the interlock cam having an interlock stop spaced from the interlock pivot, the shift lever including an interlock protrusion that fits into a notch in the interlock cam between the interlock pivot and the interlock stop when the shift lever is in the particular gear position and the interlock cam is in the locked position; andthe shift lever, when initially being moved out of the particular gear position, moving the interlock protrusion along a line generally connecting the interlock pivot and the interlock stop when the interlock cam is in the locked position, the interlock cam being configured to withstand significant force without deformation, whereby attempting to forcibly move the shift lever out of the particular gear position when the interlock cam is in the locked position causes the interlock protrusion to move into engagement with the interlock stop without causing a rotational force on the interlock cam that would move the interlock cam toward the unlocked position.