Operating apparatus for use in connection with a dual-mode transmission

An operating apparatus suitable for controlling the switching operation between modes of a transmission of a vehicle having a steering column, the apparatus comprising:

• a shift lever disposed near the steering column of a vehicle, said shift lever including a tip and a base portion and further including a knob provided at the tip thereof that is operated to switch the running range of the transmission and a first shaft formed at the base thereof that is rotatable, journaled in an inner case, wherein said shift lever generally pivots upward and downward about said first shaft, and wherein said inner case includes a second shaft that is rotatably supported on a case provided to the steering column, said inner case being rotatable together with said shift lever about said second shaft in a generally forward and rearward direction;
• and
• wherein said shift lever has a shaft hollow cylinder through which a shaft is rotatably inserted, said shaft having one end over which said knob is fitted and the other end to which a movable body is fixed, said movable body having a first operation rod that engages an A/T mode switch when said shift lever is at an automatic mode position and a second operating rod that engages a mode selector switch to detect the mode position, wherein said inner case includes a third operating rod that operates a manual mode switch when said shift lever is in the manual mode position.