Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. An shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) for a vehicle, said shift lever neutral dent assembly (1), comprising of:
a) two shift levers (3a, 3b) having top portion and base portion, Characterized in that the base portion of each of said shift lever (3a, 3b) pivotally supported on a housing (2), with a rod (4a, 4b), and an arm (5a, 5b) formed with a retention member (6a, 6b);
b) two detent pins (7a, 7b), wherein one end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is connected with the housing (2) through respective elastic members (8a, 8b), other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is positioned to contact the retention member (6a, 6b) in the arm (5a, 5b) of the respective shift lever (3a, 3b) for restricting the movement of said shift lever (3a, 3b) to maintain the true shift position.

2. The shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top portion of the shift lever (3a, 3b) is connected to respective knob for user operation.

3. The shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portion of the shift lever (3a, 3b) is connected to respective gear transmission system through the rod (4a, 4b).

4. The shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the operation to rotate either of the shift lever (3a, 3b) to corresponding to a neutral shift range is performed, other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) mates with the retention member (6a, 6b) to lock the shift lever (3a, 3b) position indirectly by the action of the elastic member (8a, 8b) for maintaining the neutral position of shift lever (3a, 3b).

5. The shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shift levers (3a, 3b) are main shift lever (3a) and range shift lever (3b).

6. The shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member (8a, 8b) is a spring.

7. The shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes farm vehicle, construction vehicle, and transportation vehicle.

Dated this 3rd day of August 2020
, Description:SHIFT LEVER NEUTRAL DETENT ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of transmission system in automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shift lever neutral detent assembly for a vehicle, which maintains the true position of a shift lever in neutral condition irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Typically, in vehicles such as tractor or farm vehicle or construction machinery or earth-moving equipment, a transmission is utilized to couple the output of a vehicle engine to the drive mechanism. The transmission has a gear shift lever through which the vehicle operator can manually shift the transmission into the gear desired.
Generally, there are plurality of gear positions into which the transmission can be shifted, i.e., forward, reverse or neutral, in order to effect vehicle operation. The gear shift lever, which is freely movable through the plurality of gear positions, is utilized to shift the transmission among these gear positions.
When the vehicle is not in use, or not being driven, the shift lever should be placed in the gear position corresponding to neutral so that the transmission is not engaged. However, due to the movability of the shift lever, there can be no adequate assurances that the gear shift lever will remain in the neutral position once it is positioned there. For example, if the vehicle operator puts the shift lever of the vehicle in the neutral position and leaves the vehicle engine running, the vibrations of the vehicle could cause the shift lever to accidentally be jarred into a driving gear position. Such accidental shifting into forward or reverse would cause the vehicle to move of its own accord, potentially causing considerable property damage or bodily injury to those in close proximity.
In order to prevent damage to the vehicle, property damage or bodily injury that could result from the shift lever being accidentally or unintentionally jarred into a drive position, it is desirable to provide a safety device that will securely hold the gear shift lever in a neutral position. Such a device must function so that when the gear shift lever is positioned in neutral by the vehicle operator, it will remain in that position until the vehicle operator desires to engage one of the drive gear positions in order to move the vehicle.
Some of the prior arts are:
JP Patent document 2019026075 discloses a shift lever device comprises a shift lever and a detent mechanism having a detent rod which holds the shift lever in a P range and releases the shift lever from being held in response to operating a shift button. A shift lock device comprises a solenoid. A plunger moved forward with the shift lever in the P range restricts the detent rod from performing the releasing operation. However, said shift lever device requires the solenoid to move the plunger forward reverse.
US Patent document 8,677,851 discloses a shift lever assembly for operating a transmission of a vehicle includes a mounting shaft an extension shaft coupled thereto. The extension shaft is pivotable between an operating position and a collapse position relative to the mounting shaft. A latching mechanism is disposed within a bore defined by one of the mounting shaft and the extenstion shaft. The latching mechanism includes a compression spring biasing against a plunger. One of the mounting shaft and the extension shaft defines a seat. The plunger engages the seat in the interlocking engagement when the extension shaft is in the operating position. The plunger holds the extension shaft in the operating position until a force greater than a pre-determined value is applied to the extension shaft to compress the plunger and permit the extension shaft to pivot into the collapse position.
US Patent document 4,977,789 discloses a vehicle shift lever assembly for a vehicle in which the shift lever is offset to one side of the transmission actuator arm and in which the lockout mechanism is released by depressing the shift lever, a means is provided to minimize undesirable tipping or turning of the shift lever. Within the preferred form, a plunger and plunger housing combination is provided with sufficient bearing surfaces to minimize tipping and an anti-rotation pin is provided to minimize turning of the shift lever. A detent is also provided to minimize the lockout pin from jumping out of the notch in the lockout plate except when a depressing force is applied to the shift lever.
US patent document 4,550,627 discloses a shifting mechanism includes a plurality of axially shiftable shift rails each of which carry shift forks for axial movement therewith. Each of the shift rails is provided with a shift notch and a interlock notch all of which will align when the shift rails are in the axially centered neutral positions thereof. A shift shaft-shift finger assembly extends generally transversely to the shift rails and is mounted in the shift mechanism housing for axial movement along and rotational movement about its axis. The shift shaft is axially movable in the space partially defined by the peripheral surfaces of the interlock notches. A single detent shaft cooperates with neutral detents and in-gear detents provided in the shift rails and an adjustable resilient detent mechanism and/or collars provide verification of proper alignment of the shift finger with the middle shift rails.
All of the above cited prior-art deals with a shifting mechanism, which requires solenoid to move the plunger forward reverse with complex constructions. Accordingly, there exists a need for a shift lever neutral detent assembly for a vehicle, which maintains the neutral position of shift lever irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.
The information disclosed in this background of disclosure section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to person skilled in the art.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
One or more problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiment of the present invention.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a shift lever neutral detent assembly for a vehicle, which maintains the true position of a shift lever in neutral condition irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.
Yet another object of the present invention to provide a shift lever neutral detent assembly for a vehicle, which is simple in construction.
These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One or more drawbacks of the conventional shift lever detent assembly and the additional advantages provided though the present invention relates to a shift lever neutral detent assembly for a vehicle, which maintains the true position of a shift lever in neutral condition irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.
In an embodiment of the present subject matter relates to a shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) for a vehicle, said shift lever neutral dent assembly (1), comprising of: at least two shift levers (3a, 3b) having top portion and base portion, wherein the base portion of each of said shift lever (3a, 3b) is pivotally supported on a housing (2), with a rod (4a, 4b), and an arm (5a, 5b) formed with a retention member (6a, 6b); at least two detent pins (7a, 7b), wherein one end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is connected with the housing (2) through respective elastic members (8a, 8b), other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is positioned to contact the retention member (6a, 6b) in the arm (5a, 5b) of the respective shift lever (3a, 3b) for restricting the movement of said shift lever (3a, 3b) to maintain the true shift position.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the operation to rotate either of the shift lever (3a, 3b) to corresponding to a neutral shift range is performed, other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) mates with the retention member (6a, 6b) to lock the shift lever (3a, 3b) position indirectly by the action of the elastic member (8a, 8b) for maintaining the neutral position of shift lever (3a, 3b) irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.
To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates the shift lever neutral detent assembly according to the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates the bottom view of the shift lever neutral detent assembly according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention as embodied by a "Shift lever neutral dent assembly for a Vehicle" succinctly fulfills the above-mentioned need[s] in the art. The present invention has objective[s] arising as a result of the above-mentioned need[s], said objective[s] being enumerated below. In as much as the objective[s] of the present invention are enumerated, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, the enumerated objective[s] are not exhaustive of the present invention in its entirety, and are enclosed solely for the purpose of illustration. Further, the present invention encloses within its scope and purview, any structural alternative[s] and/or any functional equivalent[s] even though, such structural alternative[s] and/or any functional equivalent[s] are not mentioned explicitly herein or elsewhere, in the present disclosure. The present invention therefore encompasses also, any improvisation[s]/modification[s] applied to the structural alternative[s]/functional alternative[s] within its scope and purview. The present invention may be embodied in other specific form[s] without departing from the essential attributes thereof.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising" may imply the inclusion of an element or elements not specifically recited.
The present invention is thus directed to a shift lever neutral detent assembly for a vehicle, which maintains the neutral position of shift lever irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.

Referring to Figures 1 to 2, in an embodiment of the present invention, the shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) for a vehicle, said shift lever neutral dent assembly (1), comprising of: at least two shift levers (3a, 3b) having top portion and base portion, wherein the base portion of each of said shift lever (3a, 3b) is pivotally supported on a housing (2), with a rod (4a, 4b), and an arm (5a, 5b) formed with a retention member (6a, 6b); at least two detent pins (7a, 7b), wherein one end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is connected with the housing (2) through respective elastic members (8a, 8b), other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is positioned to contact the retention member (6a, 6b) in the arm (5a, 5b) of the respective shift lever (3a, 3b) for restricting the movement of said shift lever (3a, 3b) to maintain the true shift position.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top portion of the shift lever (3a, 3b) is connected to respective knob for user operation.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base portion of the shift lever (3a, 3b) is connected to respective gear transmission system through the rod (4a, 4b).
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the operation to rotate either of the shift lever (3a, 3b) to corresponding to a neutral shift range is performed, other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) mates with the retention member (6a, 6b) to lock the shift lever (3a, 3b) position indirectly by the action of the elastic member (8a, 8b) for maintaining the neutral position of shift lever (3a, 3b) irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shift levers (3a, 3b) are main shift lever (3a) and range shift lever (3b).
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main shift lever (3a) is used to control speed of the vehicle.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the range shift lever (3b) is used to control rotational speed of range section (hi-low-medium) of the vehicle.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member (8a, 8b) is a spring.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle includes farm vehicle, construction vehicle, and transportation vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Referring to Figures 1 to 2, the shift lever neutral dent assembly (1) for a vehicle, said shift lever neutral dent assembly (1), comprising of: at least two shift levers (3a, 3b) having top portion and base portion, wherein the base portion of each of said shift lever (3a, 3b) is pivotally supported on a housing (2), with a rod (4a, 4b), and an arm (5a, 5b) formed with a retention member (6a, 6b); at least two detent pins (7a, 7b), wherein one end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is connected with the housing (2) through respective elastic members (8a, 8b), other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) is positioned to contact the retention member (6a, 6b) in the arm (5a, 5b) of the respective shift lever (3a, 3b) for restricting the movement of said shift lever (3a, 3b) to maintain the true shift position.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the operation to rotate either of the shift lever (3a, 3b) to corresponding to a neutral shift range is performed, other end of the detent pin (7a, 7b) mates with the retention member (6a, 6b) to lock the shift lever (3a, 3b) position indirectly by the action of the elastic member (8a, 8b) for maintaining the neutral position of shift lever (3a, 3b) irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member (8a, 8b) is a spring.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle includes farm vehicle, construction vehicle, and transportation vehicle.

Thus, the shift lever neutral detent assembly for a vehicle according to the present invention maintains the neutral position of shift lever irrespective of vibrations of the vehicle with the simple construction.

It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements without deviating from the scope of the invention may be made by a person skilled in the art.