Patent ID: 7363836
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A shift lever apparatus comprising: a base member; a shift lever; and at least one planar four-bar linkage mechanism supporting said shift lever so as to be movable relative to said base member, said planar four-bar linkage mechanism being defined by a quadrilateral including four connecting portions which are positioned at respective four corners of a parallelogram, and said four connecting portions being positioned in an operational plane which is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to said operational plane, wherein said planar four-bar linkage mechanism includes four link elements including a base-side link element, a lever-side link element opposing said base-side link element, and a pair of connecting link elements connecting said base-side link element and said lever-side link element, said shift lever being supported by said lever-side link element and being fixed to said lever-side link element, preventing relative movement therbetween and said base member supporting said base-side link element wherein said base-side link and said lever-side link are straight link elements, said base-side link and said lever-side link being parallel to each other, and at least one of said pair of connecting link elements is a curved link element which is curved so as not to interfere with a member other than said pair of connecting link elements located in the base member.