Manual shifter with reverse lock mechanism

• Main Authors: MEDEMA; ROBERT M, BEATTIE; DALE A, MEISCH; RICHARD L, LEE; DANA M, OSBORN; CHARLES, DEJONGE; ROBERT A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.07.1997
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GEARING; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; WEAPONS

A manual transmission shifter includes a base, and a shift lever pivoted to the base by a ball and socket arrangement. An ignition-key-interlock mechanism includes a bell crank pivoted to the base for movement between a key-interlocked position and a key-released position. The bell crank includes a slot configured to be engaged by a protrusion on the shift lever when the shift lever is moved from neutral to a reverse gear position. The ignition-key-interlock mechanism further includes a key-interlock cable assembly operably connected between the bell crank and the key-receiving ignition device of the vehicle. When the shift lever is moved out of the reverse position, the ignition-key-interlock mechanism is moved to the key-locked position such that the ignition key cannot be removed from the ignition of the vehicle. Alternatively, when the ignition-key-interlock mechanism is moved to the key-released position and the ignition key is removed, the shift lever cannot be removed from reverse until the ignition key is again operably positioned in the ignition.