Gear selection indicator for manual transmissions

A gear selection indicator for manual transmissions includes a shift lever knob with lights arranged thereon for indicating the usual gear selections of "1" to "5", and "R." The lights are independently controlled by separate switches, each of which are arranged to be engaged by the shift lever at a different gear position. Moving the lever to select a particular gear causes it to engage the corresponding switch, which activates the corresponding light to provide a positive visual indication of the currently selected gear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field Of The Invention 
This invention relates generally to motor vehicle instrumentation, 
specifically to a gear selection indicator for manual transmissions. 
2. Prior Art 
Motor vehicles with manual transmissions are generally not equipped with 
indicators for indicating the currently selected gear. As a result, 
drivers will sometimes forget the gear they are using. When they try to 
shift, they would either select the wrong gear, which may damage the 
engine, or stir the shift lever around in an effort to decide on which 
gear to use. 
Motor vehicles with automatic transmissions are usually equipped with gear 
selection indicators, which are typically arranged either on a face plate 
next to the shift lever, or on the instrument cluster behind the steering 
wheel. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,808 to Poskie (1991) shows a gear selection indicator 
device for being mounted on an instrument panel. It includes a stationary 
set of gear selection indicia, a stationary backlight, and a movable mask 
positioned therebetween. The mask has an aperture thereon, and is 
connected by a cable to a steering-column-mounted shift lever for 
movement. Moving the shift lever moves the mask to selectively illuminate 
different parts of the indicia. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,923 to Lambiris (1975) shows a device with a stationary 
set of gear selection indicia, a movable light attached to a 
steering-column-mounted shift lever for simultaneous movement, and a 
stationary bundle of optical fibers extending between the indicia and the 
light. 
Moving the shift lever moves the light to illuminate different parts of 
optical fiber bundle, which illuminates corresponding parts of the 
indicia. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,064 to Houk et al. (1980) shows a gear selection 
indicator device for a floor-mounted shift lever. It includes a stationary 
set of gear position indicia arranged on a face plate mounted around the 
base of the lever, and a movable light attached to the lever under the 
face plate. Moving the lever moves the light to selectively illuminate 
different parts of the indicia. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,622 to Cryer (1972) also shows a gear selection 
indicator device for a floor-mounted shift lever. It includes a display 
panel mounted at the base of the lever, a single stationary light 
positioned under the panel, and a movable mask positioned therebetween. 
The mask is connected to the shift lever, which moves the mask linearly 
under the panel. The mask is connected to a linear series of detents for 
locating the gear positions. The detents form part of the electrical 
circuit of the single light, which turns on and off when the mask is moved 
from one detent to another. 
All prior art automatic transmission shift levers select gears in a linear 
manner by moving in two directions: fore-and-aft for floor mounted units, 
and up-and-down for steering-column-mounted units. Accordingly the 
aforementioned gear selection indicators cannot be adapted for use with 
manual transmission shift levers, which usually move in six directions in 
a double "H" pattern. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,916 to Londt et al. (1991) shows a shift prompter 
device for manual transmissions. It includes a multi-function digital 
display for mounting on the dash board or instrument panel of a vehicle. 
The display includes up and down indicator arrows which are illuminated 
for indicating the best time to upshift or downshift, respectively. The 
last digit of the display is for indicating the target gear for each 
shift, not the currently selected gear. It is very complicated, and 
requires the installation of numerous unspecified sensors on the drive 
train. Therefore, it is not suitable for retrofitting to existing 
vehicles, especially by untrained end users. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly the primary object of the present invention is to provide a 
gear selection indicator for manual transmissions that provides a positive 
visual indication of the currently selected gear. 
Further objects of the present invention are to provide a gear selection 
indicator for manual transmissions that is simple in construction, and 
that can be easily retrofitted to existing vehicles, or installed as 
original equipment on new vehicles. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A gear selection indictor for manual transmissions includes lights and 
indicia arranged on the knob of a shift lever for indicating the currently 
selected gear. Switches are arranged on a frame positioned around the base 
of the shift lever, and are each connected to a different light. The 
switches are adapted to be engaged by the lever at its various gear 
positions for activating a corresponding light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION--FIG. 1 
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the 
side perspective view in FIG. 1, a gear selection indicator includes a 
knob 10 having internal threads (not shown) adapted for mounting to the 
threaded top end of a conventional shift lever 11. Knob 10 includes 
indicia 12 for indicating the usual gear positions, and includes the 
numbers "1", "2", "3", "4" and "5", and the letter "R", which are arranged 
to graphically represent the shift pattern of lever 11. A set of lights 
L1-L5, and LR are arranged on knob 10 next to indicia "1" to "5", and "R", 
respectively, in two rows of three lights each that correspond to the 
shift pattern of lever 11. 
An annular mounting frame 13 includes a lower portion 14 secured on a 
cylindrical portion 15 of a conventional manual transmission 16 with a 
hose clamp 17. Frame 13 includes a top portion 18 with a pair of 
horizontal slots 19 that adjustably receive normally-off, momentary 
switches S1-S5, and SR. 
Knob 10 is installed on lever 11 as a simple, screw-on replacement of the 
original knob (not shown). Wires (not shown) leading to the lights can be 
strapped around the outside of lever 11. Cylindrical portion 15 is a 
common part of many transmissions, so that frame 13 can be easily 
retrofitted to most existing vehicles by an end user, or it can be 
installed as original equipment in new vehicles. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION--FIG. 2 
As shown in the electrical schematic diagram in FIG. 2, lights L1-L5, and 
LR are connected in parallel to the electrical power source of the vehicle 
(not shown). Each light, which is normally-off, is independently 
controlled by a corresponding switch S1-S5, and SR. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION--FIG. 3 
As shown in the top view in FIG. 3, switches S1-S5, and SR are arranged in 
front of and behind shift lever 11 (FIG. 1) generally in two rows for 
being engaged by the lever at its various gear positions. The switches can 
be adjusted within slots 19 (FIG. 1) for matching the shift pattern of 
different vehicles. Moving the lever to select first gear causes it to 
engage a button 20 of switch S1, which energizes light L1 on knob 10 to 
provide a positive visual indication that first gear is selected. Light L1 
stays activated for as long as the lever remains in the same position. 
Moving the lever to select other gears will activate other corresponding 
lights to indicate which gear is selected. 
Conclusion, Ramifications, And Scope 
Accordingly the reader will see that I have provided a gear selection 
indicator for manual transmissions. It provides a positive visual 
indication of the currently selected gear, so that a driver can select the 
proper gear when shifting. It is very simple in construction, and it can 
be easily retrofitted to existing vehicles by most end users. 
Alternatively, it can be installed as original equipment in new vehicles. 
Although the above descriptions are specific, they should not be considered 
as limitations on the scope of the invention, but only as examples of the 
preferred embodiment. Many other ramifications and variations are possible 
within the teachings of the invention. For example, the mounting frame can 
be differently shaped for mounting on other types of transmissions, or on 
other parts of a vehicle around the shift lever, such as the center 
console. The switches can be mounted directly to the transmission, so that 
the frame can be eliminated. Instead of being visually separate from the 
indicia, the lights can be positioned under translucent indicia for 
backlighting them. The lights can be replaced with light emitting diodes. 
The indicia can be illuminated with optical fibers, each end of which 
would form a separate light. The switches can simply be individual 
contacts that ground the lights when they touch the normally grounded 
lever. A different number of switches and lights can be provided for 
vehicles with a different number of gear ratios. The indicia used can be 
different for indicating different shift patterns. If the shift lever is 
adapted to control a transmission through a cable or rod linkage, the 
switches can be positioned to be engaged by portions of the linkage. 
Therefore, the scope of the invention should not be determined by the 
examples given, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.