Patent ID: 8205588

Claim:
In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head, the improvement comprising a variable valve-actuating mechanism comprising: a first camshaft and a second camshaft rotatably disposed in the cylinder head; a rocker arm disposed between an engine valve and a corresponding cam on one of said camshafts on an intake-side or an exhaust-side of the internal combustion engine; a rocker arm shaft pivotally supporting the rocker arm so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof, wherein the rocker arm may axially slide along the rocker arm shaft to selectively engage either a first cam or a second cam to change operation of the engine valve: a stopper member for engaging the rocker arm to restrict an axial movement thereof; a release member for releasing engagement of the stopper member so as to permit the axial movement of the rocker arm at a predetermined time; and a retention member having an insertion aperture formed therein for receiving the release member and slidably supporting the release member in the inserting direction; wherein the release member includes a movement-restricting device disposed on both sides thereof in the inserting direction, the movement-restricting device operable to prevent a sliding motion of the release member from exceeding a predetermined range relative to the retention member; and wherein the movement-restricting device allows the release member to be integrally assembled in the retention member so as to be restrained therein.