Patent ID: 7587958
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A gear shift assembly, comprising: a frame member configured to be secured to a vehicle and having a plurality of gate structures defining a range of gear positions; a yoke movably connected to said frame for movement through said range of gear positions; an actuation assembly mounted to said yoke, said actuation assembly comprising an actuation member movable between a holding position and a releasing position and a detent structure movable between a gear holding position and a gear releasing position, said actuation member being operatively coupled to said detent structure so that movement of said actuation member from the holding position thereof to the releasing position thereof moves said detent structure from the gear holding position thereof to the gear releasing position thereof and movement of the actuation member from the releasing position thereof to the locking position thereof allows movement of said detent structure from the gear releasing position thereof into the gear holding position thereof; said frame member, said yoke and said detent structure being arranged such that when said detent structure is in the gear releasing position thereof said yoke is movable through the range of gear positions and such that when said detent structure is in the gear holding position thereof, said detent structure is engaged with one of said gate structures and said yoke is releasably held in a gear position with respect to said frame member; and a dampening element constructed of a resilient material and having a dampening surface positioned such that as said detent structure moves toward the gear holding position thereof, engagement of said detent structure with said dampening surface decelerates movement of said detent structure to dampen sound associated with said movement.