Patent ID: 7322457

Claim:
A shifting device for a mechanical coupling-free transmission of shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle to provide shift-by-wire shifting, the shifting device comprising: a frame; a selector lever for manually selecting shift commands for the transmission of the motor vehicle in at least one shift gate, wherein said selector lever can be moved manually into at least four positions (P, R, N, D), pivotable about at least one shift axis, said selector lever having a slot, said slot defining a shifting gate contour; a transmission device for transmitting the shift commands without mechanical coupling to the automatic transmission of the motor vehicle; and a mechanical coupling located between said selector lever and the transmission of the vehicle, said mechanical coupling activating the transmission parking state exclusively and automatically when said selector lever is engaged in a parked (P) position, said mechanical coupling being automatically uncoupled from the selector lever when the selector lever is pivoted out beyond a position adjacent to the P position, said mechanical coupling including a multiple hinge connection, said multiple hinge connection including a hinge piece having a first mount and a second mount, said multiple hinge connection being mounted to said frame via said first mount, said second mount engaging said shifting gate contour such that said second mount moves along said shifting gate contour of said selector lever, whereby said multiple hinge connection is connected to said selector lever.