US 7,523,683 B2
Shift lever mechanism
Graeme Andrew Jackson, Worsley (United Kingdom)
Assigned to Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio (US)
Appl. No. 10/519,026
PCT Filed Jul. 03, 2003, PCT No. PCT/GB03/02850
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Dec. 22, 2004,
PCT Pub. No. WO2004/005764, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 15, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 0215472.2 (GB), filed on Jul. 04, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2005/0172748 A1, Aug. 11, 2005
Int. Cl. B60K 20/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 74—473.34  [74/473.33; 74/473.1] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shift lever mechanism comprising:
a housing including a retaining cup;
a lever having a longitudinal axis, said lever being at least partially disposed within said housing;
a pivoting member in operational communication with said lever being adapted to facilitate pivoting of said lever into a plurality positions; and
a lever position indication member indicating a disposal of said lever in at least one said positions, said lever position indication member being actuated by said pivoting member,
wherein the pivoting member includes a generally spherical outer surface portion, the retaining cup includes a generally spherical inner surface portion, the inner surface portion guides along at least a portion of the outer surface portion as the lever pivots generally about a pivot center relative to the housing, wherein the lever position indication member selectively contacts a portion of the pivoting member that extends radially outward from the pivot center, and wherein the lever position indication member selectively intersects an axis of rotation of the lever.