Patent ID: 7137313

Claim:
A shifting device for transmitting shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, the shifting device comprising: a support structure; a gearshift lever that is pivotable around a selector axis in selector directions and a shift axis in shift directions, wherein the selector axis and the shift axis are arranged substantially at right angles in relation to one another, the gearshift lever being shifted at least into one first shift gate and a second shift gate, wherein the first shift gate shifts shifting programs (P, N, R and D) of an automatic transmission and the second shift gate implements manual tapping commands; a shifting carriage mounted such that said shifting carriage can be moved linearly in a plane and is designed such that the movement of the gearshift lever in the first shift gate brings about a linear displacement of the shifting carriage due to a force coupling, and uncoupling of the movement of the gearshift lever from the shifting carriage is brought about by a movement of the gearshift lever in the second shift gate; and a locking element for fixing the shifting carriage, said locking element being actuated by the movement of the gearshift lever in one of said selector directions for fixing said shifting carriage as soon as said gearshift lever is in said second shift gate.