Gear selector control for manual transmission

A transmission gear selector for controlling the movement of a gear shift mechanism comprising:

• a selector pin secured to the gear shift mechanism for movement therewith;
• a guide plate having a system of interconnected slots, into which system the selector pin is fitted and by which its movement is restricted, including a first slot extending between a first position of the selector pin that corresonds to a forward drive ratio position of the gear shift mechanism and a second position of the selector pin that corresponds to a reverse drive ratio position of the gear shift mechanism, a third slot parallel to and adjacent the first slot and extending between third and fourth positions of the selector pin, which corresond to forward drive positions of the gear shift mechanism, and a second slot that intersects the first slot between the first position and the second position and intersects the third slot between the third position and the fourth position;
• a pivot pin fixed to the guide plate;
• a torsion spring supported on the pin and fixed to the guide plate;
• and
• a pawl mounted on the pin, connected to the torsion spring for resilient movement with respect to the guide plate, adapted for contact with the selector pin including a slotted hole through which the pivot pin pivotably mounts the pawl to the guide plate, and stop means for limiting pivotal movement of the pawl, for preventing movement of the selector pin from the first position to the second position, for blocking movement of the selector pin from the first position to the second position and for guiding movement of the selector pin from the first position toward the third slot.