Shift control mechanism to manually shift an automatic transmission

A shift control mechanism for an automatic transmission comprising:

• a housing including a shift control pattern having a longitudinal portion defining a plurality of automatic transmission operating settings and a transverse portion at one end of said longitudinal portion defining a plurality of manual transmission operating settings;
• a shift lever being manually moved along said shift control pattern for selecting said automatic transmission operating settings and for selecting said manual transmission operating settings;
• means extending longitudinally for receiving said shift lever when said shift lever is disposed in said transverse portion and for centering said shift lever in said transverse portion;
• connecting means for connecting said shift lever to said housing to allow longitudinal pivotal movement of said shift lever and to allow transverse pivotal movement of said shift lever;
• and
• switch means actuated by moving said shift lever in a first direction in said transverse portion to send a signal to manually upshift the automatic transmission and in a second direction in said transverse portion opposite said first direction to send a signal to manually downshift the automatic transmission.

A shift control mechanism for an automatic transmission comprising:

• a housing including a shift control pattern having a longitudinal portion defining a plurality of automatic transmission operating settings and a transverse portion at one end of said longitudinal portion defining a plurality of manual transmission operating settings;
• a shift lever being manually moved along said shift control pattern for selecting said automatic transmission operating settings and for selecting said manual transmission operating settings;
• guide means for guiding transverse movement of said shift lever;
• connecting means for connecting said shift lever to said housing to allow longitudinal pivotal movement of said shift lever and to allow transverse pivotal movement of said shift lever;
• switch means actuated by moving said shift lever in a first direction in said transverse portion to send a signal to manually upshift the automatic transmission and in a second direction in said transverse portion opposite said first direction to send a signal to manually downshift the automatic transmission;
• said shift control pattern comprising a guide slot extending through an upper portion of said housing and said shift lever extending through said guide slot;
• said connecting means comprising a connecting member, a pivot pin for pivotally connecting said connecting member to said housing for longitudinal pivotal movement of said connecting member, and a cross-over pin pivotally connecting said shift lever to said connecting member for transverse pivotal movement of said shift lever;
• said switch means comprising a first switch connected to said housing at one end of said transverse portion and a second switch connected to said housing at the other end of said transverse portion;
• said first and second switch each have a contact to cooperate with and contact said shift lever;
• return spring means for urging said shift lever to a position between and spaced from said contacts;
• and
• said return spring means comprising a spring secured to said housing having a pair of fingers extending outwardly for receiving the shift lever between said fingers.