Patent ID: 6925903

Claim:
A shift device for an electronically controllable control unit of a motor vehicle comprising: a selector lever support housing ( 23 ) supported by a shift spindle ( 6 ) having a pivot axis so as to be pivotable in a shift plane, a selector-lever support structure ( 20 ) including a selector lever ( 1 ) pivotally supported with said support structure ( 20 ) on said support housing ( 23 ) by a transverse spindle ( 7 ) so as to be pivotable in a control plane normal to said shift plane, said selector lever support housing ( 23 ) including an opening ( 27 ) receiving a spring ( 10 ), and said support housing ( 23 ) including a guide slot ( 25 ) and a guide pin ( 9 ) supported in said guide slot ( 25 ) and being engaged by said spring ( 10 ) and guide openings ( 8 ) with guide surface areas ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ) formed in said selector lever support structure ( 20 ), said spring ( 10 ) biasing said guide pin ( 9 ) into engagement with said guide surface areas ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ) during sideward movement of the selector lever in the control plane normal to the shift plane, said guide surface areas of each guide opening ( 8 ) having a first indentation ( 14 ) for engagement of said pin ( 9 ) in a center position of said lever, a second indentation ( 16 ) arranged next to the first indentation at one side of the first indentation ( 14 ) and, at the side opposite the second indentation ( 16 ), an inclined sliding surface ( 13 ) against which the guide pin ( 9 ) is biased when the selector lever ( 1 ) is shifted out of its center position away from the second indentation ( 16 ) so as to generate a force biasing the lever back toward its center position depending on the inclination of the inclined sliding surface ( 13 ).