Manual transmission shifter with reverse lockout device

A shifter for shifting a vehicle transmission includes a base adapted for attachment to a vehicle including a pivot-defining mount, and a shift lever having an elongated bottom section pivoted to the mount, and a top section slidably engaging the bottom section for movement between a normal operating position for shifting between gears and a depressed-position for shifting into reverse gear. A reverse lockout device including a stationary locking member is attached to the base and a movable lockout member is slidably mounted on the shift lever. A linkage connects a bottom of the top section of the shift lever to the movable lockout member, the linkage being elongated and extending closely adjacent the elongated bottom section for compact operation next to the elongated bottom section when the top section is depressed. In one form, the linkage comprises a pair of parallel links on opposing sides of the elongated bottom section of the shift lever. In another form, the linkage comprises a plurality of links connected in series to form a snake-like chain that rides on the bottom section of the shift lever, some of the links having a ball on one end and others having a socket on the other end for engaging the ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns vehicle shifters for shifting manual 
transmissions, and more particularly concerns a shifter having a shift 
lever and a lockout device for controlling movement of the shift lever 
into a reverse gear position. 
Vehicle manufacturers have lockout mechanisms designed to prevent an 
operator from accidentally and unknowingly shifting a manual transmission 
into reverse while operating a vehicle. However, such mechanisms have 
typically included a linkage that is not fully integrated into the shift 
lever and that is not configured to function in a confined space limited 
to an area very close to the shift lever. Further, the components of such 
linkages often are usually designed for use only on a particular model of 
vehicle, and cannot be used on other vehicle models having different shift 
lever shapes without substantial modification or several new components. 
Therefore, a linkage is desired solving the aforementioned problems and 
that is compact, simple, easy to assemble, and adaptable for different 
models and styles of vehicles without the need for a substantial number of 
new parts and components for each different model or style. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In one aspect, the present invention includes a shifter for shifting a 
vehicle transmission including a base adapted for attachment to a vehicle, 
the base including a pivot-defining mount, and a shift lever adapted for 
shifting a manual transmission, the shift lever having a bottom section 
pivoted to the mount, and further having a top section telescopingly 
engaging the bottom section for movement between a normal height operating 
position for shifting between gear positions and a depressed position for 
shifting into a reverse gear position. A reverse lockout device includes a 
stationary locking member attached to the base and a movable lockout 
member slidably mounted on the bottom section of the shift lever. A 
linkage connects the top section of the shift lever to the movable lockout 
member, the linkage being elongated and extending closely adjacent the 
bottom section for compact operation next to the bottom section when the 
top section is depressed. 
In another aspect of the present invention, a shifter for shifting a 
vehicle transmission includes a base adapted for attachment to a vehicle, 
the base including a pivot-defining mount, and a shift lever having a 
bottom section pivoted to the mount, and further having a top section 
slidably engaging the bottom section for movement between a normal height 
operating position for shifting between gear positions and a depressed 
position for shifting into a reverse gear position. A reverse lockout 
device includes a stationary locking member on the base and a movable 
lockout member slidably mounted on the shift lever. A linkage including a 
series of interconnected segments connects the top section of the shift 
lever to the movable lockout member. In a narrower form, the segments have 
a longitudinally extending bore that receives and slidably engages the 
bottom section of the lever, so that the segments follow and slide along 
an elongated portion of the bottom section when the top section is 
depressed. 
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a shifter for shifting a 
vehicle transmission includes a base adapted for attachment to a vehicle, 
and a shift lever pivoted to the base for movement between a plurality of 
gear positions including a reverse gear position. The shift lever includes 
an elongated post and a handle. A reverse lockout device includes a 
movable lockout member slidably engaging the elongated post for movement 
between a first position preventing the shift lever from moving to the 
reverse gear position, and a second position permitting the shift lever to 
move to the reverse gear position. The reverse lockout device further 
includes a detent engaging an irregular surface on the elongated post to 
provide a predetermined force resisting initial movement of the movable 
lockout member from the first position, and a linkage connecting the 
handle to the movable lockout member. 
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be 
further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by 
reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A shifter 10 (FIG. 1) embodying the present invention is adapted to shift a 
manual transmission for a vehicle, such as for shifting from neutral into 
1.sup.st, 2.sup.nd, 3.sup.rd, 4.sup.th, 5.sup.th and reverse R gear 
positions. The shifter 10 includes a base 11 adapted for attachment to a 
vehicle including a pivot-defining mount 12, and a shift lever 13 having 
an elongated bottom section 14 pivoted to the mount 12 and a top section 
15 slidably engaging the bottom section 14 for movement between a normal 
operating position for shifting between gears and a downwardly depressed 
position for shifting into reverse gear. A reverse lockout device 16 
includes a stationary locking member 17 attached to the base 11, and a 
movable lockout member 18 slidably mounted on the bottom section 14 of the 
shift lever 13. A linkage 19 connects a bottom of the top section 15 of 
the shift lever 13 to the movable lockout member 18, the linkage 19 being 
elongated and extending closely adjacent the elongated bottom section 14 
for compact operation next to the elongated bottom section 14 when the top 
section 15 is depressed. In the form illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the 
linkage 19 comprises a pair of parallel rigid flat links 19A and 19B 
located on opposing sides of the elongated bottom section 14 of the shift 
lever 13, closely adjacent the bottom section 14. In the form illustrated 
in FIG. 8, the linkage 19C comprises a plurality of links or segments 65 
connected in series, some of the links 65 having a ball on one end and 
others having a socket on another end for engaging the ball, as described 
below. 
Mount 12 (FIG. 1) is a molded part including a body 20 defining a lower 
part of a spherically-shaped pivot socket 21. Attachment flanges 22 extend 
from body 20 and are configured for attachment to a vehicle. Upright side 
flanges 23 extend upwardly from body 20, and define a recess above the 
pivot socket 21. A bushing 24 fits mateably into the recess above pivot 
socket 21, and includes a downwardly facing surface 25 shaped to define an 
upper part of the spherically-shaped pivot socket 21. A stamped sheet 
metal retainer 26 is attached atop the upright side flanges 23 and is 
shaped to hold bushing 24 in position above pivot socket 21. One edge of 
the retainer 26 forms the stationary locking member 17, which comprises an 
edge tab bent upwardly to define a recess 27 and a stop 28. 
The bottom section 14 includes a rod 30 bent to include top and bottom 
straight sections connected by an arcuate bend. The illustrated rod 30 is 
bent about an axis that extends from side-to-side of the vehicle, but 
other bends are contemplated, as discussed below. The rod 30 includes a 
lower leg 31 with a ball-shaped end 32 for connection to a manual 
transmission shift linkage. An intermediate section of rod 30 includes a 
relatively short hex-shaped portion 34, an arcuate portion 35, and a 
reduced diameter neck portion 36. An upper leg of rod 30 includes an 
elongated hex-shaped guide portion 37 and a tapered lead-in portion 38. A 
ball 39 is supported on lower leg 31 at an upper end thereof, and the ball 
31 is secured to the lower leg 31 by a transverse guide pin 40. The guide 
pin 40 rides in vertical slots in the body 20, and prevents the bottom 
section 14 of shift lever 13 from rotating unacceptably. The ball 39 sets 
rotatably within pivot socket 21 for two-dimensional pivoting and is 
secured between body 20 and bushing 24 by retainer 26. One or more flat 
leaf springs or wave washers 26A are located under retainer 26 and against 
the ends of pin 40 in a manner known to control the pivoting of ball 39 
and to bias shift lever 13 toward a centered position. Holes in the body 
20, the bushing 24, and the retainer 26 receive the bottom section 14 and 
are large enough to permit the shift lever 13 to be rotated between the 
1.sup.st through 5.sup.th and reverse gears. 
Movable lockout member 18 (FIGS. 2 and 2A) includes a ring-shaped body 42 
and a laterally extending nose 43. A pair of opposing pivot-defining ears 
44 extends from body 42 and defines a pivot axis transverse to the nose 
43. Body 42 includes a hex-shaped internal hole that extends vertically 
therethrough for receiving and slidably engaging the short hex portion 34. 
The nose 43 is positioned to engage stop 28 when in a raised position and 
to fit under stop 28 into recess 27 when in a lowered position (for 
allowing the shift lever 13 to enter reverse). 
The top section 15 (FIG. 1) of shift lever 13 includes a hollow post 45, 
and a hex-shaped socket member 46 secured therein by molded-in dampener 
material 47. The optimal dampener material 47 comprises thermoplastic 
elastomer (TPE) supplied by Shell Corporation under the trade name 
Krayton, although it is contemplated that Santoprene TPE supplied by 
Advanced Elastomer Systems (Akron, Ohio) can also be used, and that other 
TPE or other resilient materials can also be used. Krayton is a preferred 
material since it can be molded into the space between the post 45 and the 
socket member 46 to form an integrally bonded dampener. Testing has shown 
that Krayton TPE will satisfactorily bond to, for example, glass-filled 
polypropylene. It is contemplated that the socket member 46 and/or the 
post 45 can be made of long glass fiber-filled polypropylene with TPE 
molded therein to form the dampener. The inner shape of the socket member 
46 slidably telescopingly receives the elongated hex-shaped portion 37 to 
form a stable and extendable joint. A coil spring 48 is positioned inside 
an end of socket member 46 and engages the tapered portion 38 to bias the 
top section 15 to an extended position on bottom section 14. The lower end 
of socket member 46 includes a washer-like flange 49 that snaps into the 
reduced diameter neck portion 36 to hold the top section 14 on the lower 
section 15. A cylindrical flange 50 extends below washer-like flange 49 
and includes opposing ears 51. Flat straight links 19A and 19B pivotally 
engage ears 44 and 51 to connect the top section 15 to the bottom section 
14 of shift lever 13. Advantageously, the links 19A and 19B are located 
closely adjacent the arcuate bent rod portion 35, such that the linkage is 
adapted to function in a confined space with limited useable room. 
To operate the device, the vehicle driver depresses the top section 14 of 
shift lever 13 causing the socket member 46 to telescopingly slide 
downwardly on hex-shaped guide portion 37 compressing spring 48. The links 
19A and 19B concurrently drive the movable lockout member 18 downwardly to 
a lowered position wherein it fits under stop 28 into recess 27 permitting 
the shift lever 13 to be moved into the reverse gear position. 
A flexible boot 52 (FIG. 1) includes a top lip 53 shaped to engage a mating 
recess near a bottom end of post 45. Boot 52 further includes a bottom lip 
54 shaped for secure attachment to a mating connector 55 on an upper wall 
56 of a console. 
Not all shift lever rods are bent straight rearwardly about a transverse 
horizontal axis. Instead, many shift levers are bent rearwardly and 
transversely in "two planes" such that, in plan view, they are misaligned 
with a fore-to-aft direction. When this occurs, the movable lockout member 
17 will bind as the shift lever is depressed to shift into a reverse gear 
position unless the movable lockout member 17 is designed for rotation on 
the shift lever 22. A modified movable lockout member 17A is shown in FIG. 
3 that overcomes this problem. The modified movable lockout member 17A is 
two pieces and includes a non-rotatable ring-shaped body part 58 (FIGS. 4 
and 5) having a nose 43 and a hex-shaped hole therein shaped to receive 
and slidably engage the short hex portion 34 of lower leg 31 of rod 30. A 
recess 59 is formed in an outer side surface of the body part 58. A 
rotatable ring clip 60 (FIG. 6) is shaped to snap into the recess 59. The 
top edge of the body part 58 may include a taper 61 and may be slotted 
with slots 62 to form fingers to facilitate the assembly of ring clip 60 
into recess 59. Ring clip 60 includes ears 44 configured to engage an end 
of the links 19A and 19B. Ring clip 60 is rotatable on body part 58, such 
that it can be rotated as shown by arrow "A" during assembly to a desired 
orientation relative to the bend in the rod 30. This allows the same parts 
(except for the rod 30) to be used on different shifters. An exemplary 
two-plane bent rod 30A is shown in FIG. 7. The term "two-plane" is used 
herein to mean that the rod 30A is bent in a direction that is neither 
fore-to-aft nor side-to-side. In other words, the rod 30A is bent in a 
direction that extends diagonally, which direction does not line up with 
the shift lever movement when the shift lever is moved along neutral from 
side-to-side, nor when the shift lever is moved from neutral into a gear 
(i.e., fore-to-aft). Two-plane bent rod 30A is bent diagonally rearwardly 
about a horizontal axis that is angled at about 30 degrees from a 
side-to-side direction (i.e., about 60 degrees from a fore-to-aft 
direction of the vehicle). 
The shifter 10A (FIG. 8) includes many components that are similar or 
identical to the components of shifter 10. These similar or identical 
components and features are identified by identical numbers to reduce 
redundant discussion herein. In shifter 10A, the linkage 19 of shifter 10 
is replaced with a series of interconnected segments 65. As many or as few 
segments 65 can be used as are desired. The segments 65 each have a 
peanut-shaped appearance and include a male end 66 having an outer 
spherically-shaped surface and a female end 67 having an inner 
spherically-shaped surface for receiving the male end 66. A bore 68 is 
formed through the length of the segment 65, the diameter being the size 
of the rod arcuate portion 35. The center inner surface 69 of the segments 
65 have enough surface area to stably engage the arcuate portion 35 of rod 
30. The bottom-most segment 65 engages the movable lockout member 18 and 
the top-most segment 65 engages the bottom of a modified cylindrical 
flange 50A. This chain-like arrangement telescopingly snakes along the 
arcuate portion 35 of rod 30 to operably move the movable lockout member 
18 as the shift lever top section 15 is depressed. 
MODIFICATION 
A shifter 110 (FIGS. 11 and 12) includes many components and features that 
are similar or identical to the components and features on the shifters 10 
and 10A. These similar or identical components and features are identified 
by the same numbers as were used on shifters 10 and 10A, but with the 
addition of "100" to the numbers. This is done only for the purpose of 
reducing redundant discussion. 
Shifter 110 (FIG. 11) includes a base 111 and a pivot-defining mount 112 
attached to the base 111. Base 111 (FIGS. 14 and 15) comprises a stamping 
including a relatively flat top wall 111A, perpendicular down flanges 
111B, and reinforcing down flanges 111C and 111D. Flange 111D includes an 
aperture 111E configured to receive and engage an end connecting sheath on 
a telescopeable Bowden cable. A shift lever 113 has an elongated bottom 
section 114 pivoted to the mount 112 on a ball-and-socket arrangement, and 
a top section 115 slidably engaging the bottom section 114 for movement 
between a normally raised operating position for shifting between 
1.sup.st, 2.sup.nd, 3.sup.rd, 4.sup.th, and 5.sup.th gears. The top 
section 115 can be moved to a downwardly depressed position for shifting 
into reverse gear R. A reverse lockout device 116 is attached to the 
shifter 110 to prevent accidentally shifting into reverse. The reverse 
lockout device 116 includes a stationary locking member 117 attached to 
the mount 112, and a movable lockout member 118 slidably mounted on the 
bottom section 114 of the shift lever 113. A sleeve-type, snake-like 
linkage 119 connects the top section 115 of the shift lever 113 to the 
movable lockout member 118. The linkage 119 comprises a series of link 
segments 165 connected in series, each having a ball on one end and a 
socket on another end for rotationally engaging the ball of an adjacent 
link segment. 
The mount 112 (FIG. 12) includes a body 120 defining a spherically-shaped 
pivot socket 121, attachment flanges 122, and upright side flanges 123. 
The upright side flanges 123 include vertical slots for engaging the ends 
of a transverse pin 140 described below, and are shaped to mateably 
receive plate springs 126A held downwardly against the ends of the 
transverse pin 140 by a retainer 126. 
The bottom section 114 of shift lever 113 (FIGS. 12 and 12A) includes a 
bent rod 130 having straight top and bottom sections connected by a bent 
section. Rod 130 includes a lower leg 131 adapted for connection to a 
manual transmission shift linkage or cable. An intermediate section 132 of 
rod 130 includes a bend 135, a reduced diameter neck portion 136, and a 
flat side surface 134 that extends along bend 135 up to neck portion 136. 
Rod 130 also includes an upper leg having a flat side surface 137 and a 
tapered end portion 138. A ball section 139 is supported on lower leg 131 
just below intermediate section 132, and a transverse pin 140 extends 
through the ball section 139. The plate springs 126A engage the transverse 
pin 140 and bias the shift lever downwardly, such that the ball section 
139 is biased against the pivot socket 121. Further, the plate springs 
126A engage opposing ends of the transverse pin 140 in a manner biasing 
the shift lever toward a centered position along the neutral portion of 
the shift path. It is noted that plate spring arrangements and other 
arrangements are known in the art for biasing shift levers to centered 
positions. For example, see Lampani U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,199 and Niskanen 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,931. 
The movable lockout member 118 (FIGS. 21-23) includes a ring-shaped body 
142 and a laterally extending nose 143. The body 118 includes an internal 
hole with a cross section having a cylindrical portion and a flat side 
portion for slidably but non-rotatably engaging the lower portion of 
intermediate section 132 of rod 130. The nose 143 is shaped to engage stop 
128 when in a raised position, and is further shaped to slip under stop 
128 into the recess or cavity 127 when in a lowered position for allowing 
the shift lever 113 to enter reverse. The nose 143 has an angled face or 
abutment surface 143A (when viewed from the top, see FIG. 16) and the stop 
128 has a correspondingly angled abutment surface 128A, which surfaces 
143A and 128A include sufficient surface area for long term wear. The 
surfaces 143A and 128A are angled with respect to the direction of 
movement of the stop 128 as they engage. By enlarging these surfaces, 
their larger surface area prevents excessive wear to the stop 128 so that, 
over time, the surfaces do not wear to a condition that allows the shift 
lever 113 to be shifted into reverse even when the shift lever 113 is not 
depressed. In FIG. 24, the lockout nose 143 in solid lines shows the shift 
lever 113 in a centered neutral position, and nose 143' in dashed lines 
shows the shift lever 143 in a lateral neutral position (i.e., ready to be 
moved into reverse), and nose 143' in phantom lines shows the shift lever 
113 in a reverse gear position. The stop 128 (FIGS. 17-20) includes a pair 
of flanges 128B adapted to receive screws for attaching the stop 128 to a 
top of the mount 112, and further includes an arching, concave flange 128C 
defining the recess 127 for receiving the nose 143. The flange 128C 
includes the angled abutment surface 128A, which is located generally over 
the recess 127. 
The movable lockout member 118 (FIG. 22) includes a boss 171. A detent 172 
includes a hollow shaft 173 threaded into the boss 171, and a ball 174 
operably positioned in the shaft and biased outwardly by an internal 
spring 175. A depression 176 (FIG. 12A) is located on the flat surface 134 
in a location that corresponds to the ball 174 when the movable lockout 
member 118 is in the raised position. The ball 174 releasably engages the 
depression 176 in a manner that requires an initial downward force of 
about 30N on the top section 115 of the shift lever 113 to slide the 
movable lockout member 118 downwardly out of the depressed position. A 
boot 177 (FIG. 12) is attached to the mount 112 for covering the area 
around movable lockout member 118 up to the bottom of the linkage 119. The 
top section of movable lockout member 118 includes a spherically-shaped 
inner surface 178 shaped to mateably engage the male end 166 of the 
bottom-most segment 165. The segments 165 are operably interconnected in 
series and are slidably supported on the intermediate section 132 of rod 
130 for vertical telescoping movement. 
The top section 115 of shift lever 113 includes a hollow molded post 145 
(FIGS. 25-28) that defines a downwardly facing cavity 179 having a 
shoulder 180. A washer 181 is positioned against the shoulder 180, and a 
socket member 146 is secured in the cavity 179 by a molded-in dampener 
material 147, such as TPE. The inner shape of the socket member 146 
defines a cavity for telescopingly engaging a top of the rod 130 to form a 
stable and extendable joint. A coil spring 148 (FIG. 12A) is positioned 
inside an end of socket member 146 and engages an end portion 138 of rod 
130 to bias the top section 115 to an extended position on bottom section 
114. The lower end of the socket member 146 (FIG. 28) includes 
longitudinally extending flexible fingers 182 having an outer ball-shaped 
contour adapted to rotatably securely engage the top spherically-shaped 
female end 167 of the top segment 165. An inner ridge 183 on the fingers 
182 engages the recess 136 on the rod 130 (FIG. 12A) to prevent the handle 
post 145 from simply telescoping vertically off of the rod 130. The inner 
ridge 183 also limits the overall travel of the handle post 183 on the rod 
130. An annular flange 185 closes an end of the cavity 179 to help contain 
the TPE dampening material 147 as it is molded into the cavity 179. 
Secondary annular flanges 186 (FIG. 25) on the exterior and bottom of the 
molded post 145 define a recess for engaging a top of the outer boot 187 
(FIG. 12). 
In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those 
skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without 
departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be 
considered as covered by the following claims, unless the claims by their 
language expressly state otherwise.