Patent ID: 8197387
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A shift lever assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a housing; a shift lever coupled to said housing and rotatable about a first axis; and a switch mounted to said housing for producing a first signal and a second signal; said shift lever moveable into engagement with said switch in response to rotation of said shift lever about said first axis for actuating said switch; wherein said switch comprises: a casing; a plunger extending along a plunger axis and moveable along said plunger axis relative to said casing from a rest position when engaged by said shift lever; a first park indication contact mounted to and moveable with said plunger and a second park indication contact mounted to said casing to define a first circuit for producing a first signal indicating the transmission of the vehicle is in a park position; a first key removal contact mounted to and moveable with said plunger and a second key removal contact mounted to said casing to define a second circuit for producing a second signal authorizing removal of the key from the ignition; said first park indication contact engaging said second park indication contact to close said first circuit when said plunger is in said rest position and disengaging said second park indication contact to open said first circuit in response to said plunger moving a first distance along said plunger axis from said rest position and said first key removal contact disengaged from said second key removal contact to open said second circuit when said plunger is in said rest position and engaging said second key removal contact to close said second circuit in response to said plunger moving a second distance along said plunger axis from said rest position with said second distance being greater than said first distance.