Patent ID: 7568404
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A shifter for controlling a transmission of a vehicle, the shifter comprising: a support structure; a shift lever movably mounted to the support structure for movement between a plurality of control positions, wherein at least one of the control positions comprises a NEUTRAL position; a shift gate having a plurality of notches corresponding to the control positions, the shift gate positioned on a selected one of the support structure and the shift lever; a movable pawl member selectively engaging the notches of the shift gate to restrict movement of the shift lever relative to the support structure, the pawl member being biased into engagement with the shift gate; a movable retaining member selectively interconnecting the shift lever and the support structure when in an engaged position to retain the shift lever in the NEUTRAL position, wherein the retaining member is biased to a disengaged position wherein the retaining member does not retain the shift lever in the NEUTRAL position; a powered actuator operably interconnected to the pawl member and the retaining member; and wherein: the powered actuator operably engages the movable pawl member and shifts the movable pawl member out of engagement with the shift gate when actuated in a first manner, the powered actuator operably engaging the movable retaining member and shifting the retaining member to the engaged position to retain the shift lever in the NEUTRAL position when the powered actuator is actuated in a second manner.