Vehicle transfer case shifter system

A transfer case shifter mechanism comprising a shift lever and a detent means having a detent groove located therein, said detent groove having a plurality of notches including at least a first notch and a second notch, each notch representing a different shifter position, said notches adapted for separately receiving a detent pin;

• said shift lever including a first lever plate having a handle extending from its upper end;
• a detent pin connected to the lower end of said first lever plate and extending transversely thereof into said detent groove;
• a shift lever plate pivotable at its upper end about a pivot member located on an axis fixed with respect to said detent groove and having connecting means for connection to means for transmitting the pivotal movement of said shift lever plate to the gears of a transfer case;
• said first lever plate being mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to said shift lever plate by means of a slot at its upper end for receiving said pivot member;
• a spring directly connected to said first lever plate and biasing said first lever plate upwardly relative to said shift lever plate;
• and
• coupling means at the lower ends of said first lever plate and shift lever plate for providing simultaneous pivotal movement of said handle, said first lever plate with said detent pin and said shift lever plate about said axis whereby said detent pin can be moved from said first notch representing one of said shifter positions to said second notch representing another of said shifter positions upon applying a downward force on said handle against the bias of said spring to move said detent pin out of said first notch, applying a pivoting force to said handle to align said detent pin with said second notch, and releasing said downward force permitting said detent pin to enter said second notch.