Patent ID: 6240802
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B60K,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A gear lever apparatus for use in a motor vehicle having a longitudinal axis corresponding to its direction of forward motion, said gear lever apparatus comprising:an upper lever element and a lower lever element defining a two-part gear lever, wherein the apparatus is operable for manually altering the relative position setting, in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle, of said upper lever element relative to said lower lever element of said two-part gear lever; said gear lever being mounted articulately in a vehicle, said upper lever element having a lower end, said lower lever element having an upper end.said apparatus further including a link articulately connecting said upper and lower lever elements, said link comprisinga first articulating device fixed to said lower end of said upper lever element, said first articulating device comprising a guide sleeve having a cylindrical bore therethrough,a second articulating device fixed to said upper end of said lower lever element, said second articulating device comprising a bearing bushing unit which is rotatably mounted in said bore of said guide sleeve and a supporting spindle mounted to said second articulating device, said supporting spindle extending through said bearing bushing unit mounted thereon, said bearing bushing unit and said guide sleeve having the same central axis,said supporting spindle having a central axis which defines an acute angle with the central axis of said bearing bushing unit and said guide sleeve, and a lock operative between said upper and lower lever elements which releasably locks said upper lever element from pivoting relative to said lower lever element, means for releasing said lock and rotating said bearing bushing unit relative to said supporting spindle, said lock comprising threaded means engaging said supporting spindle and said second articulating device, and tightening said threaded means prevents rotation of said supporting spindle and said bearing bushing unit coupled thereto relative to said second articulating device,whereby rotation of said bearing bushing unit about said central axis of said supporting spindle causes the central axis of said bearing bushing unit and said guide sleeve to change, thereby causing the same angular change in said upper lever element fixed to said first articulating device relative to said lower lever element.