Patent Publication Number: US-6904827-B2

Title: Automatic transmission operating lever with switch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a divisional application of Application Ser. No. 10/114,442 filed Apr. 2, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,180. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an automatic transmission operating lever of an automobile or the like, particularly to an automatic transmission operating lever equipped with a knob having a switch. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In recent years, a four-speed automatic transmission has been becoming wide spread in place of the conventional three-speed automatic transmission as an automatic transmission for an automobile or the like. An overdrive gear (fourth-speed gear) is provided in the four-speed automatic transmission, to improve fuel consumption of an automobile cruising at high speed or with a light load. A shift to the overdrive gear is performed by pushing an overdrive switch (O/D switch) provided on an operating knob of the automatic transmission operating lever. 
   In a conventional automatic transmission operating lever, the O/D switch is connected to a lead wire (conducting wire), which extends from the lower end of the operating knob and is soldered to a wire harness at the exposed end thereof, and the wire harness is connected to the control device of the automatic transmission. 
   Since soldering the wire harness to the lead wire has been necessary, the number of assembly steps has increased, resulting in high costs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic transmission operating lever with a reduced number of assembly steps, thus contributing to lower costs. 
   A first aspect of the present invention is an automatic transmission operating lever comprising: a knob with a switch; a lever member including a rod inserted into the knob and a lever base coupled to the rod; and a conducting wire for sending a signal from the switch, the conducting wire being wired in the knob, wherein the lever base is configured with an end face to which the rod is connected, an insertion hole is provided on the end face and into which the conducting wire is inserted, and a guide path communicates with the insertion hole, the guide path leading the conducting wire in a direction crossing an axial direction of the rod. 
   According to the first aspect constituted as described above, since the guide path guides the conducting wire in a direction crossing the axial direction of the rod, the conducting wire can be guided out to a suitable position upon completion of engagement of the knob with the lever member, thus eliminating the task of extracting the conducting wire and facilitating a connection of the conducting wire to a wire harness connected to the control unit of the automatic transmission. The switch may be an overdrive switch with the conducting wire sending an ON/OFF signal thereof. 
   A second aspect of the present invention is the automatic transmission operating lever according to the first aspect, in which the knob is configured with a sleeve having a hole into which the rod is inserted, and the conducting wire is wired in the sleeve and extends from an end of the sleeve parallel to an axial direction of the hole of the sleeve. 
   According to the second aspect constituted as described above, since the conducting wire is wired in the sleeve and extends from the end of the sleeve parallel to the axial direction of the hole of the sleeve, the conducting wire of an appropriate stiffness can be readily inserted into the insertion hole when the rod is inserted into the knob with the sleeve sliding along the rod. 
   A third aspect of the present invention is the automatic transmission operating lever according to the first aspect, in which the guide path bends the conducting wire with a constant curvature and guides the conducting wire out of a side face of the lever base. 
   According to the third aspect constituted as described above, since the guide path guides the conducting wire out of a side face of the lever base, a connection of the conducting wire to a wire harness connected to the control unit of the automatic transmission is further facilitated. 
   A fourth aspect of the present invention is the automatic transmission operating lever according to the first aspect, further comprising: a connector provided in the lever base; and a wire coupling member connected to the connector and provided beside the guide path, wherein the conducting wire extends from the guide path and is located close to the wire coupling member by inserting the rod into the knob, so that the conducting wire can be pressed against the wire coupling member to couple the conducting wire therewith. 
   According to the fourth aspect constituted as described above, since the conducting wire extends from the guide path and is located close to the wire coupling member simply by inserting the rod into the knob, so that the conducting wire can be pressed against the wire coupling member to couple the conducting wire therewith, soldering work for the connection is eliminated and the number of assembly steps is decreased. 
   A fifth aspect of the present invention is the automatic transmission operating lever according to the first aspect, further comprising: a connector coupling hole provided on the side face of the lever base; and a connector coupled into the connector coupling hole, the connector having a guide protrusion at a tip of the connector, the guide protrusion facing the guide path with a predetermined space therebetween, wherein, when the rod is inserted into the knob, the guide path guides the conducting wire in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rod, a tip of the conducting wire extends into the connector coupling hole, and the conducting wire is connected to the connector coupled into the connector coupling hole. 
   According to the fifth aspect constituted as described above, since the conducting wire extending into the connector coupling hole is automatically coupled to the connector upon completion of the engagement of the knob with the lever member in a state where the connector has been coupled into the connector coupling hole, the coupling work of the conducting wire and the connector is simplified and the number of assembly steps is decreased. 
   For the first to the fifth aspects of the present invention, a tubular section parallel to the rod or a tapered section tapering toward the guide path can be provided in the insertion hole. The presence of the tubular section parallel to the rod in the insertion hole smoothens the insertion of the conducting wire thereto. The tapered section tapering toward the guide path further facilitates the insertion of the conducting wire. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an entire constitution of an automatic transmission operating lever of a first embodiment of the present invention, including a knob, a lever member, and conducting wires; 
       FIG. 2A  is a plan view showing insertion holes for the conducting wires, provided on an end face of the lever member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 2B and 2C  are cross-sectional views taken along a line IIB—IIB and a line IIC—IIC of  FIG. 2A  respectively; 
       FIG. 2D  is a perspective view showing an end shape of a wire coupling member to be coupled to the conducting wire extending from the knob of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is an explanatory view, partially cross-sectioned, showing a state where a rod of the lever member is being inserted into the knob of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3B  is an explanatory view, partially cross-sectioned, showing a state where the rod of the lever member has been inserted into the knob of  FIG. 1 , the conducting wire is located close to the wire coupling member; 
       FIG. 3C  is an explanatory view, partially cross-sectioned, showing a state where the conducting wire has been coupled to the wire coupling member of the lever member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an entire constitution of an automatic transmission operating lever of a second embodiment of the present invention, including a knob, a lever member, a connecter, and conducting wires; 
       FIG. 5A  is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state before the knob is engaged with the lever member and the connector is coupled to the lever member of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 5B  is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state where the knob is being engaged with the lever member, with the connector coupled to the lever member of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VIA—VIA of  FIG. 6B , showing a state where the knob has been engaged with the lever member, the connector has been coupled to the lever member, and the conducting wire has been coupled to the connector of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6B  is a front view showing a state where the knob has been engaged with the lever member and the connector has been coupled to the lever member of FIG.  4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings, wherein like members are designated by like reference characters. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , an automatic transmission operating lever  1  of this embodiment includes a lever member  4  and an operating knob  5  to be engaged with the lever member  4 . 
   The lever member  4  includes a lever base  3  made by molding and a rod  2  connected to the lever base  3 . At a tip of the rod  2 , a rod  2   a  to be linked to a knob button  9  is provided. The lever base  3  swings around a pivot  31  provided at a bottom thereof. In the middle of the lever base  3 , a detent  32  for fixing a shift position of the operating lever  1  is provided. A connector  13  connected to a control unit (not shown) of the automatic transmission is attached to the lever base  3  between the pivot  31  and the detent  32 . 
   The operating knob  5  includes a sleeve  6  to be engaged with the rod  2  connected to the lever base  3  and a grip  8  provided with a knob button  9 . And at a lower portion of the grip  8 , an O/D (overdrive) switch  7  is provided. Two conducting wires  10  connected to the O/D switch  7  are wired through the inside of the sleeve  6  and extend from a lower end of the sleeve  6  downward of the operating knob  5 . In this embodiment, copper wires with an appropriate diameter to be stiff though flexible enough to be bent readily when external force is applied thereto, are used as the conducting wires  10 . 
   Then, two insertion holes  11  respectively receiving the two conducting wires  10  extending from the lower end of the operating knob  5  are provided in the vicinity of the rod  2  connected on an upper end face  3   a  of the lever base  3 . As described above, the two conducting wires  10  are composed of single core copper wires of an appropriate diameter. Therefore, at the beginning of engagement of the operating knob  5  with the rod  2 , the two conducting wires  10  extending downward from the operating knob  5  keep a shape thereof. Accordingly, as the operating knob  5  is being engaged with the rod  2 , the two conducting wires  10  are readily inserted into the two insertion holes  11  as shown by reference numerals  10   a  and  10   b , respectively. 
   In the insertion holes  11  of the lever base  3 , guide paths  12  are provided, which bend and lead the two conducting wires  10  respectively inserted into the two insertion holes  11  to connection hooks  14   a . The connection hooks  14   a  are provided at an end of a wire coupling member  14  connected to the connector  13 . Description will be made later of the shape of the guide paths  12  and the connection hooks  14   a.    
     FIG. 2A  shows an arrangement of the insertion holes  11  for conducting wires  10 , which are provided at the upper end of the lever base  3 . The insertion holes  11  are provided side by side in the vicinity of where the rod  2  is connected. Inlets of the insertion holes  11  for the conducting wires  10  have a large diameter so that the conducting wires  10  can be readily inserted thereto. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2B , the inlet of each insertion hole  11  has a large diameter so that the conducting wire  10  can be readily inserted thereto, and the insertion hole  11  is tapered and has a smaller diameter toward the inside thereof. The guide path  12  is provided in the lever base  3 , communicating with the insertion hole  11 , which guides the conducting wire  10 , once inserted to the insertion hole  11  along a curve of a constant curvature to the position where the conducting wire  10  is readily accessible. Moreover, the connection hook  14   a  of the wire coupling member  14  is provided adjacent to the guide path  12  in the lever base  3 . As shown in  FIG. 2D , the connection hook  14   a  is provided at the end of the wire coupling member  14 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2C , the insertion hole  11  is tapered so that the conducting wire  10  can be readily inserted thereto. The guide path  12  is provided in the lever base  3 , communicating with the insertion hole  11 , which guides the conducting wire  10  inserted to the insertion hole  11  along a curve of a constant curvature to the position where the conducting wire  10  is readily accessible. Moreover, the connection hook  14   a  of the wire coupling member  14  is provided adjacent to the guide path  12  in the lever base  3 . 
   Here, with reference to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, description will be made of an operation of the first embodiment of the automatic transmission operating lever  1  of the present invention, constituted as described above. 
     FIG. 3A  shows a state where the operating knob  5  of the automatic transmission operating lever  1  is being engaged with the lever member  4  sliding along the rod  2 . When the conducting wires  10  reach the upper end face  3   a  of the lever base  3 , the tips of the conducting wires  10  are inserted into the insertion holes  11 . If the operating knob  5  continues to be inserted in this state, when the operating knob  5  completely engages with the rod  2 , each conducting wire  10  will be bent by the guide path  12  as shown in  FIG. 3B , and the tip of the conducting wire  10  will be positioned above the connection hook  14   a  of the wire coupling member  14  disposed in the lever base  3 . Therefore, if the conducting wire  10  is pressed in the leftward direction from the right in the drawing by means of a jig and the like in this state, the conducting wire  10  will be connected to the connection hook  14   a  of the wire coupling member  14  as shown in FIG.  3 C. As described above, the conducting wire  10  can be simply connected to the wire coupling member  14  in the first embodiment 
   Here, with reference to  FIG. 4 , description will be made of an operation of the second embodiment of the automatic transmission operating lever  1  of the present invention, with the same constituent components as those in the first embodiment denoted by the same reference numerals. The operating lever  1  of the automatic transmission of the second embodiment is also constituted of a lever member  4  and an operating knob  5  engaged with the lever member  4 . 
   The lever member  4  includes a lever base  3  made by molding and a rod  2  connected to the lever base  3 . The lever base  3  swings around a pivot  31  provided to an upper portion thereof. In the middle of the lever base  3 , a detent  32  for fixing a shift position of the operating lever  1  is provided. A connector coupling hole  15  is provided on a side face  15   a  parallel to a plane including an axis of the pivot  31  and an axis of the rod  2 , which is for coupling a connector  17  to be connected to the other connector of a wire harness connected to the control unit (not shown) of the automatic transmission. 
   Meanwhile, the operating knob  5  includes a sleeve  6  to be engaged with the rod  2  connected to the lever base  3  and a grip  8  provided with a knob button  9 , and at a lower portion of the grip  8 , an O/D switch  7  is provided. Two conducting wires  10  connected to the O/D switch  7  are wired through the inside of the sleeve  6  and extend from a lower end of the sleeve  6  downward of the operating knob  5 . Also in this embodiment, copper wires with an appropriate diameter to be stiff though flexible enough to be bent readily when external force is applied thereto, are used as the conducting wires  10 . 
   Then, two insertion holes  11  respectively receiving the two conducting wires  10  extending from the lower end of the operating knob  5  are provided in the vicinity of the rod  2  connected on an upper end face  3   a  of the lever base  3 . As described above, since the two conducting wires  10  are stiff with an appropriate diameter, the two conducting wires  10  extending downward from the operating knob  5  keep a shape thereof at the beginning of engagement of the operating knob  5  with the rod  2 . Accordingly, when the operating knob  5  is being engaged with the rod  2 , to two conducting wires  10  can be readily inserted into the two insertion holes  11 , respectively. 
     FIG. 5A  shows a portion communicating with the two insertion holes  11  provided in the lever base  3  in the second embodiment. Also in the second embodiment, an inlet of each insertion hole  11  is tapered so that the conducting wire  10  can be readily inserted thereto. The guide path  16  is provided in the lever base  3 , communicating with the insertion hole  11 , which bends the conducting wire  10  inserted into the insertion hole  11  in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the rod  2  and guides the tip of the conducting wire  10  to the inside of the connector coupling hole  15  upon completion of the engagement of the sleeve  6  with the rod  2 . 
   The guide path  16  is located at a bottom of the connector coupling hole  15  provided on the side face  15   a  of the lever base  3 . A guide protrusion  26  is provided at a tip of the connector  17  coupled to the connector coupling hole  15 , which serves as a guiding wall facing the guide path  16  with a predetermined space therebetween. In a state where the connector  17  is coupled to the connector coupling hole  15 , a space  10   c  is formed between the guide path  16  and the guide protrusion  26 . When the rod  2  is inserted to the sleeve  6 , the conducting wire  10  extending from the lower end of the sleeve  6  is guided by the guide path  15  and by the guide protrusion  26  and bent along the space  10   c , and the conducting wire  10  is directed perpendicular to the side face  15   a  of the lever base  3 . 
   Here, with reference to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6 A and  6 B, description will be made for an operation of the second embodiment of the automatic transmission operating lever  1  of the present invention, constituted as described above. 
     FIG. 5A  shows a state where the operating knob  5  of the automatic transmission operating lever  1  is being engaged with the lever member  4 . The connector  17  should be coupled to the connector coupling hole  15  before the operating knob  5  begins engagement with the rod  2  of the lever member  4  by sliding along the rod  2 . Then, when the conducting wires  10  reach the upper end face  3   a  of the lever base  3 , the tips of the conducting wires  10  are inserted into the insertion holes  11 ; respectively. If the operating knob  5  continues to be inserted in this state, each conducting wire  10  will be bent in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rod  2  along the space  10   c  between the guide path  16  and the guide protrusion  26  shown in FIG.  5 B. Then, in a state where the operating knob  5  is completely engaged with the rod  2 , the tip of the conducting wire  10  is guided into the connector  17  coupled to the connector coupling hole  15  and connected to a terminal of the connector  17 . The conducting wire  10  extending into the connector coupling hole  15  is smoothly guided to the connector  17  by adopting a shape appropriate for the guide path  16  and the guide protrusion  26 . 
   As described above, in the second embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the tip of the conducting wire  10  can be connected to the connector  17  simply by engaging the sleeve  6  of the operating knob  5  with the rod  2  in a state where the connector  17  is coupled to the connector coupling hole  15 . 
   Although only two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described, it is apparent that the other embodiments and modification of the invention are possible.