Granted Patent B2

US 7,574,938 · App. 11/733,426 · Granted Aug 18, 2009

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. A gear selector assembly comprising:

a selector shaft;

an internal mode switch mounted on the selector shaft;

a detent lever mounted on the selector shaft and rotatable with the selector shaft, wherein the detent lever is indexed relative to the internal mode switch;

a spring assembly in engagement with the detent lever, the spring assembly having a first member that engages the internal mode switch to prevent the internal mode switch from rotating and having a second member that engages the internal mode switch to prevent the internal mode switch from rotating if the first member does not engage the internal mode switch.

2. The gear selector of claim 1 wherein the first member engages a first slot formed on the internal mode switch.

3. The gear selector of claim 2 wherein the second member engages a second slot formed on the internal mode switch.

4. The gear selector of claim 3 wherein the second slot has a width greater than a width of the first slot.

5. The gear selector of claim 3 wherein the first slot and the second slot are formed on a flange extending out from the internal mode switch.

6. The gear selector of claim 5 wherein the first slot and second slot extend from an edge of the flange toward the internal mode switch.

7. The gear selector of claim 3 wherein the second member is a rectangular tab.

8. The gear selector of claim 7 wherein the first member is a pin.

9. The gear selector of claim 3 wherein the spring assembly includes a pair of arms and the first member and second member extend out from a side of one of the pair of arms.

10. A gear selector assembly comprising:

a selector shaft;

an internal mode switch mounted on the selector shaft;

a flange disposed on a side of the internal mode switch, the flange having a first slot and a second slot, wherein the first slot and the second slot extend from an edge of the flange toward the internal mode switch;

a detent lever mounted on the selector shaft and rotatable with the selector shaft, wherein the detent lever is indexed relative to the internal mode switch; and

a spring assembly in engagement with the detent lever, the spring assembly having a first member and a second member, wherein the first member engages the first slot of the flange to prevent the internal mode switch from rotating and the second member engages the second slot of the flange to prevent the internal mode switch from rotating if the first member does not engage the internal mode switch.

11. The gear selector of claim 10 wherein the first member is a pin.

12. The gear selector of claim 10 wherein the spring assembly includes a pair of arms and the first member and second member extend out from a side of one of the pair of arms.

Assignments (14)