Patent ID: 8024990

Claim:
A shift lever apparatus comprising: a shift lever movable along a first operating direction and a second operating direction substantially orthogonal to each other; a lever guide having a first guide groove extending in a zigzag pattern along the first operating direction or the second operating direction, a second guide groove extending along the first operating direction, and a transition guide groove extending in the second operating direction and connecting the first guide groove and the second guide groove, the lever guide holding the shift lever within any one of the first guide groove, the second guide groove and the transition guide groove and guiding the shift lever along the first guide groove, the second guide groove and the transition guide groove; a detent pin supported by the shift lever such that the distal end thereof is movable along the direction of coming into and out of contact with the shift lever and such that the detent pin is moved along the first operating direction and the second operating direction integrally with the shift lever; an urging member for urging the detent pin away from the shift lever; a first sliding surface for generating a holding force for holding the shift lever at a predetermined shift position in the first guide groove by coming into press contact with the distal end portion of the detent pin when the shift lever is held in the first guide groove; a second sliding surface for generating a holding force for holding the shift lever at a predetermined shift waiting position in the second guide groove by coming into press contact with the distal end portion of the detent pin when the shift lever is held in the second guide groove; a transition sliding surface having an apex for generating an urging force for providing a tactile feedback to the shift lever by coming into press contact with the distal end portion of the detent pin when the shift lever passes through the transition guide groove; and a pair of gate portions formed on the transition sliding surface and limiting the direction of movement of the detent pin to a direction substantially matching the second operating direction by coming into contact with the detent pin moving on the transition sliding surface wherein the pair of gate portions come into contact with the detent pin of the shift lever together with the apex of the transition sliding surface when the detent pin is moved on the transition sliding surface.