Abstract:
Some embodiments are directed to a vehicular transmission actuator. A release shaft is operatively coupled to a gear, and is actuable between a first position in which the gear is engaged, and a second position in which the gear is disengaged. The release shaft extends through an opening of a transmission case so as to define an exterior portion that projects beyond the exterior surface of the transmission case. A protuberance is disposed at the exterior surface of the transmission case adjacent the opening. A bracket is operatively connectable to the exterior portion of the release shaft to enable manual actuation of the release shaft from the first position to the second position. The bracket is configured to cooperate with the protuberance to automatically hold the release shaft in the second position subsequent to manual actuation of the release shaft from the first position to the second position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The disclosed subject matter relates to vehicle transmissions that include multiple gears or gear missions, and methods of use and manufacture thereof. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to methods and apparatus that place and hold a vehicle transmission in a certain gear. 
     Related art vehicles include manual and automatic transmissions that provide various gears or gear selection conditions, such as Drive, Reverse, Park, and Neutral. Many of these related art manual and automatic transmissions include a manually operated gear shifter that enables a vehicle operator to select a certain gear selection condition, such as Neutral where the transmission output shaft can be decoupled from the transmission input shaft so that the vehicle can be moved independently of the operating state of the power source driving the transmission. This gear shifter is typically a mechanical device that is disposed for actuation by an individual operating the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     The related art mechanical gear shifters may be manually operated to shift the vehicle transmission into a certain gear regardless of certain other vehicle conditions. For example, an operator can use some of these mechanical gear shifters to change the vehicle transmission gear even if the vehicle is not able to be operated or driven, electrical energy is unavailable (such as due to a dead or inoperable battery), etc. The ability to shift gears independent of other vehicle conditions, such as drivability, electric power supply, etc., can be beneficial under certain circumstances, such as in situations where it is helpful to shift the vehicle transmission into Neutral so that the vehicle can be manually manipulated or moved, serviced, etc. 
     However, operation of certain other types of transmissions, such as shift-by-wire transmissions, are dependent on the supply of electricity. For example, some of these transmissions activate the desired gear selection condition via electrical or electro-mechanical actuators in response to a signal device such as electronic buttons, that are at least partially dependent on the supply of electricity. This dependency on electricity thereby can impede the activation of the desired gear selection condition, such as Neutral to enable manual movement, service, etc., under certain of the above circumstances, e.g., dead or inoperable battery, etc. 
     It may therefore be beneficial to provide methods and apparatus for enabling the shifting of gear selection conditions under any one or multiple of the above circumstances. This shifting of gear selection conditions can include or otherwise cover the ability to shift among or to all gear selection conditions; only among or to certain gear selection conditions; and/or among or to only a single gear selection condition, such as Neutral. Some of the disclosed methods and apparatus enable both shifting among or to gears, as well as holding, locking or maintaining the transmission in the selected gear for a certain period. 
     These methods and apparatus may be especially beneficial for transmissions that are at least partially dependent on the supply of electricity, because they provide the ability to switch gear selection condition under circumstances where such switching could otherwise be difficult or not possible. However, some or all of these methods and apparatus may also be applicable or beneficial to transmissions with gear shifters that operate independently of electric power supply, drivability, etc., because they can provide an alternative to, and in some cases override, the gear shifting mechanism. This alternative or override gear shifting mechanism may be beneficial in situations where the primary gear shifter is stuck, broken, inoperable, or otherwise inconvenient to use. 
     Some embodiments are therefore directed to a transmission actuator for use with a vehicle transmission that includes at least one gear disposed within a transmission case. The transmission case can include an exterior surface and an opening defined therein. The transmission actuator can include a release shaft operatively coupled to the at least one gear, and actuable between a first position in which the at least one gear is in an engaged state, and a second position in which the at least one gear is in a disengaged state, the release shaft extending through the opening of the transmission case so as to define an exterior portion that projects beyond the exterior surface of the transmission case. A protuberance can be disposed at the exterior surface of the transmission case adjacent the opening. A bracket can be operatively connectable to the exterior portion of the release shaft to enable manual actuation of the release shaft from the first position to the second position. The bracket can be configured to cooperate with the protuberance to automatically hold the release shaft in the second position subsequent to manual actuation of the release shaft from the first position to the second position. 
     Some other embodiments are directed to a vehicular transmission system including a transmission case having an exterior surface and an opening defined therein. At least one gear can be disposed within the transmission case, the at least one gear corresponding to a Park gear of the transmission. A transmission actuator can include a release shaft operatively coupled to the at least one gear, and actuable between a first position in which the at least one gear is in an engaged state, and a second position in which the at least one gear is in a disengaged state that corresponds to a Neutral state of the transmission, the release shaft extending through the opening of the transmission case so as to define an exterior portion that projects beyond the exterior surface of the transmission case. A protuberance can be disposed at the exterior surface of the transmission case adjacent the opening. A bracket can be operatively connectable to the exterior portion of the release shaft to enable manual actuation of the release shaft from the first position to the second position. The bracket can be configured to cooperate with the protuberance to automatically hold the release shaft in the second position subsequent to manual actuation of the release shaft from the first position to the second position. 
     Still other embodiments are directed to a method of disengaging at least one gear of a vehicular transmission. The at least one gear can be disposed within a transmission case, and the transmission case can include an exterior surface and an opening defined therein. The method can include manually positioning a bracket over a protuberance defined at an exterior surface of the transmission case, such that a keyed portion of a release shaft, which projects beyond the exterior surface of the transmission case, extends within a slot defined in a top surface of the bracket. The method can also include rotating the bracket with the keyed portion disposed within the slot so as to correspondingly rotate the release shaft, the release being shaft operatively coupled to the at least one gear, such that rotation of the bracket actuates the release shaft from a first position in which the at least one gear is in an engaged state, and a second position in which the at least one gear is in a disengaged state. The method can further include lowering the bracket over the protuberance such that the protuberance is disposed within an interior space of the bracket, the bracket and protuberance being configured to cooperate to automatically hold the release shaft in the second position subsequent to actuation of the release shaft from the first position to the second position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosed subject matter of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and method, given by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of a vehicle including an exemplary transmission system for use with or including a gear shifting and holding apparatus in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of a portion of an exemplary transmission, and in particular an exemplary park release mechanism of the transmission that is in an park engaged state. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of a portion of an exemplary transmission, and in particular an exemplary park release mechanism of the transmission that is in a neutral state. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary bracket, protuberance, and portions of the transmission of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the bracket spaced from the protuberance. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary bracket, protuberance, and portions of the transmission of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the bracket disposed on top of the protuberance, such that the release shaft is in the first (park engaged) position. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary bracket, protuberance, and portions of the transmission of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the protuberance disposed within the bracket, such that the release shaft is in the second (neutral) position. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view showing the bracket disposed over the protuberance, prior to any rotation, such that the release shaft is in the first (park engaged) position. 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view showing two positions of the bracket, including the bracket on top of the protuberance (first (park engaged) position), and the bracket rotated such that the protuberance fits inside of the bracket (second (neutral) position. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an exemplary bracket in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view that shows internal structures of the exemplary bracket of  FIG. 9  in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the exemplary bracket of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the exemplary bracket of  FIGS. 9-11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of the exemplary bracket of  FIGS. 9-11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of shifting gears in accordance with the disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A few inventive aspects of the disclosed embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows. 
     I. Overall Transmission System 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic of a vehicle including an exemplary transmission system for use with or including a gear shifting and holding apparatus in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. This exemplary transmission system can be configured for use in a vehicle, such as but not limited to, a passenger car, truck, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), semi-tractor, off-highway vehicle, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  34  can include a power source  36 , transmission  38 , pair of front wheels  40 L,  40 R, pair of rear wheels  42 L,  42 R, and gear selector  48 . The power source  36  can be configured to output torque to the transmission  38 . The transmission  38  can include a plurality of gears that can be selectively engaged and disengaged in various combinations to provide a plurality of drive ratios for transmitting torque output by the power source  36  to at least one of the wheels  40 L,  40 R,  42 L,  42 R. 
     Some of the embodiments are disclosed below in the context of a vehicle with a drive-by-wire transmission  38 . However, other embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of transmission other than the disclosed drive-by-wire system. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of a portion of an exemplary transmission, and in particular an exemplary park release mechanism of the transmission that is in an park engaged state. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the transmission  38  can include a parking gear  46  that can lock rotation of a transmission output shaft so that the driven wheel(s)  40 L,  40 R,  42 L,  42 R is/are locked from rotation if the parking gear  46  is in an engaged state. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of a portion of an exemplary transmission, and in particular an exemplary park release mechanism of the transmission that is in a neutral state. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the transmission  38  can be configured into a neutral state in which the parking gear  46 , and the plurality of other gears, can be disengaged from the output shaft of the transmission  38 , thereby enabling each driven wheel  40 L,  40 R,  42 L,  42 R to be freely rotatable. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the manually actuable gear selector  48  can be provided to enable a vehicle operator to change a transmission gear selection condition. Embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of gear selector to enable performance of this manual operation, including known, related art or later developed technologies. In some embodiments, the gear selector  48  can be in communication, such as in electrical communication, with the transmission  38  to permit the vehicle operator to instruct the transmission  38  to engage any of the plurality of gear ratios, parking gear  46 , neutral state, etc., of the transmission  38 . In some embodiments, the electrical communication can operate in accordance with a drive-by-wire system. 
     The gear selector  48  can include an actuation mechanism to enable manual selection of the appropriate gear ratio, parking gear  46 , neutral state, etc. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of actuation mechanisms, such as switches  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 , are provided to enable this manual selection, wherein a separate switch is provided for each gear. For example, actuation of: 1) the park switch  50  can instruct the transmission  38  to engage the parking gear  46 ; 2) the reverse switch  52  can instruct the transmission  38  to engage the reverse drive ratio; 3) the neutral switch  54  can instruct the transmission  38  to be in the neutral state; and 4) the drive switch  56  can instruct the transmission  38  to engage one the forward drive ratios. 
     However, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover other actuation mechanisms. For example, as an alternative to multiple switches, a single switch with multiple settings can be manually actuated to instruct the transmission to adopt the appropriate gear ratio, parking gear  46 , neutral state, etc. 
     Some of the above actuation mechanisms, such as those where the gear selector  48  is in electrical communication with the transmission  38 , can be dependent on the supply of electricity. This dependency on electricity thereby can impede the shifting of gear selection conditions, such as into Neutral to enable manual movement, service, etc., without a source of electricity, such as in the case of a dead or inoperable battery, etc. For example, if the vehicle&#39;s electrical system is inoperative and the parking gear  46  is engaged, the vehicle  34  cannot be easily moved to a location suitable for diagnosing the inoperative electrical system, if necessary, and repairing or replacing one or more components of the electrical system. 
     It may therefore be beneficial to provide methods and apparatus for enabling the shifting of gear selection conditions under any one or multiple of the above circumstances. This shifting of gear selection conditions can include or otherwise cover the ability to shift among or to all gear selection conditions; only among or to certain gear selection conditions; and/or among or to only a single gear selection condition, such as the Neutral selection condition. Some of the disclosed methods and apparatus enable both shifting among or to gear selection conditions, as well as holding, locking or maintaining the transmission in the selected gear for a certain period. 
     The transmission  38  of some embodiments therefore includes a release mechanism for performing any of the above operations. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the release mechanism can include a release shaft  58  that extends within, and protrudes beyond, an exterior of a transmission case  60 . In the embodiments disclosed below, the release shaft  58  is coupled to an engagement mechanism of the parking gear  46  to enable either engagement or disengagement of the parking gear  46 . However, the release shaft  58  can be directly or indirectly coupled to an engagement mechanism of any of the gears in addition, or as an alternative, to the parking gear  46 . As discussed in more detail below, a bracket  10  or other tool can be configured to directly or indirectly engage and rotate the release shaft  58 , and thereby actuate engagement or disengagement of the parking gear  46 , by virtue of the fact that release shaft  58  is coupled to the engagement mechanism of the parking gear  46 . 
     II. Release Mechanism 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the release shaft  58  inside transmission case  60 . In some embodiments, a plate member  62  can be fixably secured to the release shaft  58  inside transmission case  60 , such that rotation of release shaft  58  can cause rotation of plate member  62 . Plate member  62  can be arranged such that a vertical axis of release shaft  58 , which is defined by a longitudinal or axial extent of release shaft  58 , is orthogonally oriented relative to a plane in which the plate member  62  is oriented. Plate member  62  can include an arm portion  64  to which a proximal end  66  of release rod  68  can be connected. 
     A distal end  70  of release rod  68  can normally urge and/or maintain a pawl  72  in an engaged position against the biasing of a pawl spring  74 , wherein a tooth  76  of pawl  72  meshes with gear teeth  78  of the parking gear  46 . This position can correspond to transmission  38  being in a park engaged state, and/or correspond to a power source  36  of a vehicle  34  being turned off, thereby preventing vehicle movement. 
     In some embodiments, distal end  70  of release rod  68  can include an engaging member  80  that can be slidably disposed on release rod  68  for engaging parking pawl  72 , which as discussed above can cause tooth  76  to engage or otherwise mesh with the parking gear teeth  78 . Engaging member  80  can be urged away from the proximal end  66  of release rod  68  by a coil spring  84 , which is disposed between engaging member  80  and a washer element  82 . The washer element  82  is disposed at or on release rod  68 , between the proximal and distal ends  66 ,  70 , respectively. The sliding arrangement of engaging member  80  at or on release rod  68  can allow for smoother cooperation between the release rod  68  and pawl  72 , particularly in situations where tooth  76  of parking pawl  72  is not precisely aligned between two adjacent gear teeth  78  of the parking gear  46 . 
     If release shaft  58  is rotated in a first rotatable direction  124  (counter-clockwise direction in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), then plate member  62  can rotate in that direction and cause release rod  68  to move away from pawl  72 . This movement can disengage parking gear  46  by causing engaging member  80  to move away from pawl  72 , thereby allowing pawl spring  74  to rotate pawl  72  out of meshing engagement with parking gear  46 . Parking gear  46  is then free to rotate, and the transmission  38  can be placed in a neutral state. 
     A spring  86  can be connected to a flange  44  of plate member  62  for biasing the plate member  62 , and thereby the release shaft  58  and release rod  68 , in a second rotatable direction, i.e., a rotatable direction opposite the first rotatable direction (clockwise direction in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The release shaft  58  is thereby biased to the first (engaged) position and away from the second (neutral) position by the spring  86 . The release rod  68  is also biased into engagement with pawl  72 , which engages parking gear  46  by causing engaging member  80  to move into contact with pawl  72 , thereby overcoming the force of pawl spring  74  to rotate pawl  72  into meshing engagement with parking gear  46 . Parking gear  46  is then not free to rotate, and the transmission  38  is placed in a parked state. 
     As will be discussed in further detail below, the bracket  10  can be configured to maintain the release shaft  58  in the second position against the biasing force of the spring  86 , if the tool  10  is used to rotate the park release shaft  58  in the first rotatable direction  124 . 
     III. Bracket  10   
     A. Interaction Between Bracket  10  and Protuberance  88   
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary bracket  10 , protuberance  88 , and portions of the transmission of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the bracket  10  spaced from the protuberance  88 . As will be described more fully below, the bracket  10  is configured to rotate release shaft  58 , which rotates release rod  68  and selectively causes disengagement and engagement of the parking gear  46 . 
     Exemplary bracket  10  can be oriented to receive and engage keyed portion  96 , which constitutes a portion of the release shaft  58  that is disposed exterior to the transmission case  60 . As discussed above, release shaft  58  can be operably coupled to various elements of the transmission  38 , such that rotation of the park release shaft  58  transitions or actuates the transmission  38  from a parked state to a neutral state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the transmission case  60  can include a shaft aperture  90  that is formed as a cylindrical opening through protuberance  88  at or on the exterior of transmission case  60 . Release shaft  58  can be located adjacent to, or extend through, aperture  90 , such that release shaft  58  is accessible outside of the transmission case  60 . 
     The bracket  10  and protuberance  88  can be formed in any shape that enables the operations disclosed herein to be performed. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , protuberance  88  is in the form of a polygonal-shaped block member that is positioned on or at, and extends outwardly from, transmission case  60 . Aperture  90  can formed in in the protuberance  88  in any shape that enables the guiding of release shaft  58  therethrough, such that an open end  92  of aperture  90  is defined in a protuberance top surface  95 . 
     As discussed above in the context of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , release shaft  58  can be operatively connected to various elements of the transmission  38 , such that rotating release shaft  58  rotates release rod  68  and thereby places transmission  38  into the neutral state. In one embodiment, release shaft  58  can be manually rotated in the first direction  124  (counter-clockwise direction in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), which moves release rod  68  out of engagement with pawl  72 , which allows pawl spring  74  to disengage pawl tooth  76  from parking gear teeth  78 . 
     Bracket  10  can be configured to be positioned over a guide defined by protuberance  88 , and engage keyed portion  96  of release shaft  58  that is exterior to the transmission case  60 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , protuberance  88  includes four side walls  94 . The lengths of the protuberance side walls  94  is less than lengths of corresponding side walls  12  of bracket  10 , such that protuberance  88  can be removably received by, and positioned within, bracket  10 . In other words, when properly aligned and fully engaged, bracket  10  is seated over and surrounds protuberance  88 . 
     A height of protuberance side walls  94  may be equal to or greater than a height of side walls  12  of bracket  10 , such that a top end section  14  of bracket  10  abuts a top surface of protuberance  88 . Keyed portion  96  can extend to a height (away from protuberance  88 ) that is a greater than a height of perpendicular side walls  12  of bracket tool  10 , such that the keyed portion  96  extends within elongated slot  16 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary bracket  10 , protuberance  88 , and portions of the transmission of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the bracket  10  disposed on top of the protuberance  88 , such that the release shaft  58  is in the first (park engaged) position. 
     As discussed above with regard to  FIG. 4  and shown in  FIG. 5 , release shaft  58  can be disposed such that an upper end of the shaft  58  is spaced apart from an upper end of the transmission case  60 , and can have a keyed configuration that for cooperative engagement with bracket  10 . For example, the keyed portion  96  of the release shaft  58  can be oriented for partial or full receipt within elongated slot  16  of top end section  14  of bracket  10 . In other words, keyed portion  96  of release shaft  58  can cooperatively fit within elongated slot  16  defined in the top end section  14  of bracket  10 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , elongated slot  16  is shown in a centrally-oriented position within top end section  14  of bracket tool  10 . Likewise, keyed portion  96  is shown as a centrally-oriented member fixed to or extending from release shaft  58 . However, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover other orientations and arrangements that can be employed for cooperative engagement between mechanisms. For example, some alternative embodiments include keyed portion  96  and elongated slot  16  that are eccentrically located. In fact, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any structures and dispositions of these elements that enables the bracket  10  to engage the release shaft, such that rotation of the bracket  10  causes the release shaft  58  to rotate. 
     In some embodiments, release shaft  58  can be configured to rotate between a first, or park engaged, position and second, or neutral, position. When transmission  38  is in a state where parking gear  46  is engaged, park release shaft  58  is disposed in the first (park engaged) position. In fact,  FIG. 5  shows bracket tool  10  and release shaft  58  disposed in the first (park engaged) position. 
     Release shaft  58  is in the first (park engaged) position corresponding to a park engaged state of the transmission  38  in its default position, i.e., prior to the bracket  10  engaging and rotating the release shaft  58 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , bracket  10  can be manually oriented such that elongated slot  16  is aligned above the keyed portion  96 , with the keyed portion  96  and park release shaft  58  in the first position. Bracket  10  can be lowered to a position where keyed portion  96  is at least partially received through elongated slot  16 , with bracket  10  remaining elevated above protuberance top surface  95 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , elongated slot  16  extends in a direction of elongation that intersects planes of the side walls  12 , which causes the bracket  10  to be oriented at an offset angle relative to the protuberance  88  when the release shaft  58  is in the first (park engaged) position. Thus, the bracket interior space  18  is misaligned with the protuberance side walls  94 , causing the bracket  10  to rest above the protuberance  88 . However, as disclosed below, rotation of the bracket  10  can cause the bracket  10  and protuberance  88  to be aligned, such that the protuberance  88  fits inside of the bracket  10 , i.e., protuberance side walls  94  and top surface  95  are disposed in the bracket interior space  18 . 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary bracket, protuberance, and portions of the transmission of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , with the protuberance disposed within the bracket, such that the release shaft  58  is in the second (neutral) position. If bracket tool  10  is lowered and orientated such that keyed portion  96  is at least partially received through elongated slot  16 , then tool  10  can be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. 
     Rotating bracket  10  in the counter-clockwise direction allows the side walls  12  of the bracket  10  to be aligned with the side walls  94  of the protuberance  88 , thereby enabling the bracket  10  to be lowered such that protuberance  88  fits within the bracket  10 . The bracket  10  is then held in place over the protuberance  88 , against the bias of the spring  86 , based on the contact between the side walls and edges of both of these elements. Maintaining the bracket  10  in this orientation also fixes the release shaft  58  in this orientation. 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view showing the bracket  10  disposed over the protuberance, prior to any rotation, such that the release shaft  58  is in the first (park engaged) position. Rotation of tool  10  in the counter-clockwise direction then causes the keyed portion  96  and release shaft  58  to similarly rotate, from the first (park engaged) position to the second (neutral) position, which places transmission  38  in a neutral state.  FIG. 8  is a top plan view showing two positions of the bracket  10 , including the bracket  10  on top of the protuberance  88  (first (park engaged) position), and the bracket  10  rotated such that the protuberance fits inside of the bracket  10  (second (neutral) position. 
     Rotation of the release shaft  58  causes the plate member  62  to rotate, which moves the release rod  68  away from and out of engagement with the pawl  72 . This disengagement with the pawl  72  causes the pawl spring  74  to move pawl  72  away from the parking gear  46 , such that pawl tooth  76  is moved out of engagement with the gear teeth  78  of the parking gear  46 , thereby placing the transmission on the neutral state. Thus, bracket  10  can be used to place and maintain the transmission  38  in the neutral state independently of the vehicle&#39;s electrical system. 
     In other words, keyed portion  96  and thus release shaft  58  can rotate within a predetermined angle of rotation that can be sufficient to cause the tooth  76  of the parking pawl  72  to disengage from the gear teeth  78  of the parking gear  46  in order to place transmission  38  in a neutral state. In the embodiments shown in the figures discussed above, release shaft  58  can rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, such as for approximately twenty degrees, away from an engaged position to a neutral position. However, the various embodiments are not limited to any specific direction of rotation and angle of rotation, and in fact embodiments are intended to cover various directions of rotations, angles, and distances of rotations. For example, in some embodiments, release shaft  58  can rotate in a clockwise direction away from the engaged position to the neutral position. 
     B. Bracket Structure 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an exemplary bracket  10  in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. As discussed above, bracket  10  can be formed in a polygonal-shaped geometry that includes a plurality of side walls  12  and a top end section  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , each of four side walls  12  of bracket  10  define a rectangular exterior surface, and the top end section  14  defines a square exterior surface. 
     However, embodiments are not limited to these shapes and geometries. For example, various aspects of the bracket  10 , including the side walls  12  and top end section  14 , can each be formed of any size and shape that is able to perform the above operations. Thus, these features of the bracket  10  can be formed of any size and shape (including triangular, polygonal, irregular, etc.) that enables the appropriate communications with the protuberance  88  and keyed portion  96  of the release shaft  58 . In fact, the bracket  10  does not even need to include four side walls  12 , and instead can include three side walls that define a triangular configuration, assuming that this triangular configuration would then communicate with the configuration of the protuberance  88 . 
     As another example, the exterior of the top end section  14  of bracket  10  is shown in the figures as being substantially planar and/or flat. However, this exterior surface can be provided in any shape or contour, such as convex and concave shapes. In fact, some of these embodiments tailor the exterior surface shape to enhance functionality, such as by enhancing grip ability of the bracket  10  to facilitate a user manually grasping and rotating the bracket  10 . 
     The elongated slot  16  defined in the top end section  14  of the bracket  10  can also be formed into any size, shape and orientation that enables performance of the relevant operation(s) discussed above, i.e., communication with the keyed portion  96  of the release shaft  58 . For example, elongated slot  16  can be oriented differently than shown in the figures, and/or can be provided in different size and shapes that enable the keyed portion  96  to be secured to the bracket  10 , such that rotation of the bracket  10  causes the keyed portion (and thus the release shaft  58 ) to rotate. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view that shows internal structures of the exemplary bracket  10  of  FIG. 9  in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the bracket is a hollow cap or cover that includes four side walls  12  and top end section  14  that define an interior space  18 , which is accessible for a bottom of the bracket  10 . Interior space  18  can be defined volumetrically by the dimensions of walls  12  and top end section  14 . Elongated slot  16  can be defined by rectangular walls  20  formed in top end section  14  that provide an opening to interior space  18  through which an object or element can pass. 
     As discussed above with regard to  FIG. 9 , the various features of the bracket  10  can be formed of other shapes and sizes that perform the above operations. For example, the side walls  12  and top end section  14  can be formed of any thickness to define an interior space  18  of any size and shape that communicates with the protuberance  88  and keyed portion  96 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the exemplary bracket  10  of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The side walls  12  and top end section  14  of bracket  10  are shown in  FIG. 11  as each defining a constant thickness  22  and  24 . However, other embodiments can include other configurations, such as any of the side walls  12  and top end section  14  having a thickness that varies. Side walls  12  and top end section  14  can form interior space  18  that is exposed in cross-sectional view  26 , or shielded from view in side view  28 . 
     All of the above elements can be formed of any material that enables performance of the above operations. For example, the bracket  10  can be made of any known, related art or later developed material, including metal or metal alloy, such as steel, aluminum, etc., thermoplastic material, and/or resin having sufficient strength and resiliency to perform the disclosed operations. 
       FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the bracket  10  of  FIGS. 9-11 , and  FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of this bracket  10 . The slot is shown in these figures as extending through the top end section  14 , from an exterior upper surface to an underside surface  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the elongated slot  16  extends in a direction of elongation that intersects planes defined by two of the side walls  12  at an angle  30 . In the embodiment shown in the figures, the elongated slot  16  is oriented such that this angle  30  is acute and equal to between approximately 20 degrees to approximately 30 degrees. 
     This angle  30  is based on the amount of rotation required for: 1) the bracket  10  to fit over and cover protuberance  88  such that protuberance  88  is disposed in the interior space  18  of bracket  10 , and 2) sufficient rotation of the keyed portion  96  and release shaft  58  to enable movement of the plate member  62  and release rod  68  to cause disengagement between the tooth  76  of pawl  72  and gear teeth  78  of the parking gear  46 . However, embodiments are intended to include various other slot offsets that enable performance of the above operations. 
     IV. Methods of Operation 
     Embodiments are also intended to include or otherwise cover methods of manufacturing and/or using the features disclosed above, including the exemplary bracket  10 .  FIG. 14  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of shifting gears in accordance with the disclosure. 
     The method begins at Step  100  with providing the bracket  10  disclosed above, such as including the elongated slot  16  formed at an offset. Thus, the exemplary method is disclosed in association with the exemplary bracket  10  disclosed above, however embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover methods of using other different types of brackets. 
     Step  102  includes positioning neutral bracket tool  10  over a release mechanism, i.e., positioning bracket tool  10  such that elongated slot  16  is disposed over keyed portion  96  of release shaft  58  for alignment and reception into elongated slot  16 . The keyed portion  96  can then be received in and engaged by elongated slot  16  of bracket  10  at Step  104 . Then, at Steps  106  and  108 , bracket  10  is rotated to align the side walls  94  of protuberance  88  with the side walls  12  of bracket  10 , so that lowering bracket  10  causes protuberance  88  to fit within the interior space  18  of bracket  10 . This rotation also causes sufficient rotation of the keyed portion  96  and release shaft  58  to enable movement of the plate member  62  and release rod  68  to cause disengagement between the tooth  76  of pawl  72  and gear teeth  78  of the parking gear  46 . 
     In other words, keyed portion  96  and release shaft  58  can rotate within a limited angle of movement in order to place transmission  38  in a neutral position. The angle and direction of movement can be any appropriate value and direction that can facilitate engagement and disengagement of the parking gear  46 . In one embodiment, release shaft  58  can rotate in a counter-clockwise direction for approximately twenty degrees away from a park engaged position to a neutral position. However, specific directions and distances of movement of release shaft  58  are exemplary, and embodiments are intended to cover various directions of movements and distances of movement. In the first park engaged position, a manual or automatic torque force can be applied to bracket  10  that rotates bracket  10  in a horizontal plane above protuberance  88  without moving vertically. In such an orientation, side walls  12  of bracket  10  are unconstricted from encountering top surface  95  or side walls  94  of protuberance  88  when rotating. 
     After rotating release shaft  58 , transmission  38  can be set to a neutral state. Thus, bracket  10  can be configured to seat over protuberance  88  to axially align elongated slot  16  with park release shaft  58  via interconnection with keyed portion  96 . After securing bracket  10  onto protuberance  88 , release shaft  58  can be held in place at a correct angle, and transmission  38  can be maintained in a neutral state until the tool  10  is removed from the protuberance  88 . 
     However, if bracket tool is removed, the reverse torque on release shaft  58  can cause the tooth  76  of the pawl  72  to engage the parking gear  46 , thus placing the transmission  38  in a park engaged state. 
     V. Basic Vehicle Components 
     The power source  36  for vehicle  34  can be an internal combustion engine, an electric motor or a hybrid of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The power source  36  configured as an internal combustion engine or a hybrid power source can have the engine output axis oriented in the longitudinal direction L or in the traverse direction T of the vehicle  34 . The engine can be mounted forward of the front axles, rearward of the rear axles, or intermediate the front and rear axles. In an exemplary embodiment, the power source  36  is configured as a front transverse-mounted internal combustion engine. 
     The transmission  38  can be an automatic transmission or a semi-automatic transmission. Transmission  38  can include an input shaft, an output shaft, and a speed ratio assembly. A coupling can connect the engine output shaft to the transmission input shaft. The coupling can permit selective engagement/disengagement of the input shaft with the engine output shaft, or at least relative rotation of the engine output shaft with respect to the input shaft in any manner known in the art. Exemplary couplings can include, but are not limited to, a friction disc clutch and a torque converter. The control assembly can include a controller, a speed sensor, and a gear selector. 
     The speed ratio assembly can connect the input shaft to the transmission output shaft such that the transmission output shaft can rotate at variable speeds relative to the input shaft. The speed ratio assembly can be a stepped speed ratio assembly or a continuously variable speed ratio assembly, as is known in the art. The transmission input shaft can be referred to as a mainshaft. 
     Electrical communication lines within vehicle  34  can connect a controller to the power source  36 , the transmission  38 , the gear selector  48  and a sensor in any appropriate manner. Electrical communication can be either one-way communication or two-way communication and can be networked or not networked. The controller also can be referred to as an electronic control unit (ECU) or as a central processing unit. The sensor can be configured with hardware, with or without software, to perform the assigned task(s). The sensor can be configured as a smart sensor such that the sensor can process the raw data collected by the sensor prior to transmission to the ECU or the sensor can be configured as a simple sensor that passes the raw data directly to the ECU  26  without any manipulation of the raw data. The sensor can be configured to send data to the ECU, with or without a prompt from the ECU. 
     VI. Alternative Embodiments 
     While certain embodiments of the invention are described above, and  FIGS. 1-14  disclose the best mode for practicing the various inventive aspects, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied and configured in many different ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     For example, embodiments are disclosed above in the context of bracket  10  shown in the figures. However, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of bracket that performs the various operations disclosed above. 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. The alternative bracket  110  can be formed as a walled structure that includes side walls  112  connected or joined at respective ends to form a square polygon that is capped by top end section  114 . Side walls  112  can be constructed with a smaller height than side walls  12  of bracket  10 . While side walls  112  are joined to top end section  114  to define a covered structure, bracket  110  does not include a corresponding connected bottom end section, thereby defining an interior space  116  that is accessed from a bottom end of bracket  110 . Interior space  116  can be defined volumetrically by the dimensions of walls  112  and top end section  114 . Top end section  114  can further include an exemplary aperture, or elongated slot,  118 , which can be formed through top end section  114  at an offset angle similar to elongated slot  16 . 
     However, elongated slot  118  can be completely covered with a hollow domed portion  120  that is only accessed from an underside of top end section  114 . Domed portion  120  can be formed with a wall or walls extending around aperture  118  and away from top end section  114  up to dome top end  122 . Domed portion  120  can be formed with sufficient dimensions and height to receive keyed portion  96  of release shaft  58 . 
     While domed portion  120  is illustrated and described as an elongated extension, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention. Exemplary embodiments are intended to include any type of structure to cover aperture  118 . Keyed portion  96  can be received into domed portion  120  and rotated according to the system and methods of the embodiments. Once release shaft  58  is turned via keyed portion  96 , bracket  110  can seat onto protuberance  88 , thereby locking the transmission  38  in neutral. 
     Embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of gear selector  48 , such as a gear shift lever, which can be movable into one of a plurality of positions, such that manual actuation of the gear shift lever can effect a shift from one gear ratio to another gear ratio, shift to the neutral state of the transmission, or engagement of the parking gear  46 . The gear shift lever can be mounted in any one of a plurality of different locations within the vehicle, including but not limited to, on the center console, on the steering column, on the steering wheel, and on the instrument panel. 
     Embodiments are also intended to include or otherwise cover methods of using and methods of manufacturing the bracket and other elements disclosed above. The methods of manufacturing include or otherwise cover processors and computer programs implemented by processors used to design various of the disclosed elements and systems. For example, embodiments are intended to cover processors and computer programs used for design or testing. 
     Further, exemplary embodiments are intended to cover all software or computer programs capable of enabling processors to implement the above operations, designs and determinations. Exemplary embodiments are also intended to cover any and all currently known, related art or later developed non-transitory recording or storage mediums (such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard drive, RAM, ROM, floppy disc, magnetic tape cassette, etc.) that record or store such software or computer programs. Exemplary embodiments are further intended to cover such software, computer programs, systems and/or processes provided through any other currently known, related art, or later developed medium (such as transitory mediums, carrier waves, etc.), usable for implementing the exemplary operations disclosed above. 
     These computer programs can be executed in many exemplary ways, such as an application that is resident in the memory of a device or as a hosted application that is being executed on a server and communicating with the device application or browser via a number of standard protocols, such as TCP/IP, HTTP, XML, SOAP, REST, JSON and other sufficient protocols. The disclosed computer programs can be written in exemplary programming languages that execute from memory on the device or from a hosted server, such as BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, Java, Pascal, or scripting languages such as JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Perl or other sufficient programming languages. 
     Some of the disclosed embodiments include or otherwise involve data transfer over a network, such as communicating various inputs over the network. The network may include, for example, one or more of the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs), analog or digital wired and wireless telephone networks (e.g., a PSTN, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a cellular network, and Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)), radio, television, cable, satellite, and/or any other delivery or tunneling mechanism for carrying data. Network may include multiple networks or subnetworks, each of which may include, for example, a wired or wireless data pathway. The network may include a circuit-switched voice network, a packet-switched data network, or any other network able to carry electronic communications. For example, the network may include networks based on the Internet protocol (IP) or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and may support voice using, for example, VoIP, Voice-over-ATM, or other comparable protocols used for voice data communications. In one implementation, the network includes a cellular telephone network configured to enable exchange of text or SMS messages. 
     Examples of a network include, but are not limited to, a personal area network (PAN), a storage area network (SAN), a home area network (HAN), a campus area network (CAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a virtual private network (VPN), an enterprise private network (EPN), Internet, a global area network (GAN), and so forth. 
     While the subject matter has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention. All related art references discussed in the above Description of the Related Art section are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.