Patent ID: 6240803
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B60K,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
A gear change mechanism for a vehicle having a gear box for vehicle operation, the gear change mechanism comprising:a gear lever supported in the vehicle to move therein, the gear lever having a pivot hinge along its length, a gear lever element at one side of the pivot hinge, the gear lever element being pivotable around the hinge to raise and lower the gear lever;the gear lever having a part at the other side of the pivot hinge, a movement transmitting device connected to the part of the gear lever, the movement transmitting device being operable for transmitting gear change movements from movement of the gear lever to the gear box;the gear lever also being raisable in the vehicle relative to the movement transmitting device so as not to move the transmitting device as the gear lever is raised, and the gear lever being lowerable relative to the movement transmitting device so as not to move the movement transmitting device as the gear lever is lowered;a locking mechanism for engaging and locking the gear lever element to the movement transmitting device when the gear lever is raised;a disengaging device connected with the locking mechanism and operable for releasing the locking mechanism for disconnecting the gear lever from the movement transmitting device permitting lowering of the gear lever relative to the movement transmitting device; anda stop device positioned to be engaged by the gear lever element when the gear lever element is raised for stopping raising movement of the gear lever element;wherein the stop device includes a first stop surface positioned for being abutted by the gear lever element as the gear lever element is raised, the stop device includes a second stop surface which is abutted against by the locking mechanism, and with the locking mechanism against the second stop surface and the gear lever element against the first stop surface, the gear lever element is locked in the raised position.