Self presenting electronic shifter
A shifter assembly includes an electronic shifter mechanism having a shift lever movable between a plurality of gear positions and an electrically powered drive system operatively connected to the shifter mechanism to selectively move the shifter mechanism between a first location wherein the shifter lever is located substantially within a housing and a second location wherein the shifter lever is located substantially outside the housing. The drive system moves the shifter mechanism along a vertical, linear path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shift lever such that the shift lever moves through an opening in the housing.
1 . A shifter assembly comprising, in combination:
a shifter mechanism having a shift lever movable between a plurality of gear positions; and
a drive system operatively connected to the shifter mechanism to selectively move the shifter mechanism between a first location wherein the shift lever is inoperative and a second location wherein the shift lever is operative.
2 . The shifter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shifter mechanism is an electronic shifter mechanism.
3 . The shifter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein drive system is electrically powered.
4 . The shifter assembly according to claim 4 , wherein drive system include an electric motor.
5 . The shifter assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the drive system automatically moves the shifter mechanism according to predetermined conditions.
6 . The shifter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shifter mechanism moves along a linear path between the first and second locations.
7 . The shifter assembly according to claim 5 , wherein shifter mechanism moves vertically between the first and second locations.
8 . The shifter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shifter lever is located substantially within a housing when in the first location and the shifter lever is located substantially outside the housing when in the second location.
9 . The shifter assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the shift lever moves through an opening in the housing when moving between the first and second location.
10 . The shifter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shifter lever moves parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shift lever.
11 . A shifter assembly comprising, in combination:
an electronic shifter mechanism having a shift lever movable between a plurality of gear positions; and
a drive system operatively connected to the shifter mechanism to selectively move the shifter mechanism between a first location wherein the shifter lever is located substantially within a housing and a second location wherein the shifter lever is located substantially outside the housing.
12 . The shifter assembly according to claim 11 , wherein drive system is electrically powered.
13 . The shifter assembly according to claim 12 , wherein drive system include an electric motor.
14 . The shifter assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the drive system automatically moves the shifter mechanism according to predetermined conditions.
15 . The shifter assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the shifter mechanism moves along a linear path between the first and second locations.
16 . The shifter assembly according to claim 15 , wherein shifter mechanism moves vertically between the first and second locations.
17 . The shifter assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the shift lever moves through an opening in the housing when moving between the first and second locations.
18 . The shifter assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the shifter lever moves parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shift lever.
19 . The shifter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein shifter mechanism is inoperative in the first location and is operative in the second location.
20 . A shifter assembly comprising, in combination:
an electronic shifter mechanism having a shift lever movable between a plurality of gear positions;
an electrically powered drive system operatively connected to the shifter mechanism to selectively move the shifter mechanism between a first location wherein the shifter lever is located substantially within a housing and a second location wherein the shifter lever is located substantially outside the housing; and
wherein the drive system moves the shifter mechanism along a vertical, linear path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shift lever such that the shift lever moves through an opening in the housing.