Cantilever spring type detent assembly

1. A detent assembly for selectively engaging a gear in a transmission of a motor vehicle, the detent assembly comprising:

a lever having a first end, a second end, a circular opening, a first groove and a second groove, and wherein the first end of the lever being configured to selectively engage a gear, the opening is disposed proximate the second end, and the first and second grooves are disposed on an inner periphery of the opening;

a ball configured to selectively seat in the first groove, the ball being further configured to selectively seat in the second groove; and

a plate configured to selectively bias the ball into the first groove, the plate being further configured to selectively bias the ball into the second groove.

2. The detent assembly of claim 1 , the lever being moveable with respect to the ball to seat the ball in the first and second grooves.

3. The detent assembly of claim 2 , the lever having portions forming an opening in the lever, the lever having a raised portion protruding into the opening, the first and second grooves being separated by the raised portion.

4. The detent assembly of claim 3 , the lever being rotatable about a pivot point, the first groove being formed a first distance from the pivot point and the second groove being formed a second distance from the pivot point.

5. The detent assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a detent housing, the detent housing being fixedly connected to the plate.

6. The detent assembly of claim 5 , wherein the lever is configured to rotate with respect to the detent housing.

7. The detent assembly of claim 6 , wherein the detent housing has a pair of retainer walls formed therein, the pair of retainer walls being disposed adjacent to the ball.

8. The detent assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a retainer ring, the detent housing having an outer wall, the outer wall forming an indentation therein, the retainer ring being disposed around the outer wall of the detent housing in the indentation.

9. The detent assembly of claim 8 , the retainer ring and the retainer walls cooperating with the plate to hold the ball at least partially within the detent housing.

10. The detent assembly of claim 9 , wherein the detent housing has a generally cylindrical shape.

11. The detent assembly of claim 10 , wherein opening of the lever is formed through the pivot point, the portions forming the opening being disposed around the outer wall of the detent housing.

12. The detent assembly of claim 11 , the lever having portions forming an L-shaped aperture in the lever for engaging a pin.

13. A detent assembly for selectively engaging a gear in a transmission of a motor vehicle, the detent assembly comprising:

a lever having portions forming an opening in the lever, the lever forming a first groove and a second groove therein and a raised portion separating the first and second grooves, the raised portion protruding into the opening, the lever being rotatable about a pivot point, the opening being formed through the pivot point, the lever being configured to selectively engage a gear;

a ball configured to selectively seat in the first groove, the ball being further configured to selectively seat in the second groove;

a plate configured to selectively bias the ball into the first groove, the plate being further configured to selectively bias the ball into the second groove;

a cylindrical detent housing fixedly connected to the plate, the detent housing having a pair of retainer walls formed therein, the pair of retainer walls being disposed adjacent to the ball, the detent housing having an outer wall and portions forming an indentation in the outer wall, the lever being configured to rotate with respect to the detent housing, the portions forming the opening in the lever being disposed around the outer wall of the detent housing; and

a retainer ring disposed around the outer wall of the detent housing in the indentation, wherein the retainer ring, the retainer walls, and the plate cooperate to hold the ball at least partially within the detent housing,

wherein the lever is moveable with respect to the ball to selectively seat the ball in the first and second grooves.

14. A shifting assembly for a transmission of a motor vehicle, the shifting assembly comprising:

a plurality of shift rails for shifting the transmission into a plurality of gear ratios;

a shifting yoke coupled to a first shift rail of the plurality of shift rails;

a lever disposed on a cylindrical housing, the lever having portions forming a circular opening including a first groove and a second groove therein, the shifting yoke being configured to engage the lever;

a ball configured to selectively seat in the first groove, the ball being further configured to selectively seat in the second groove;

a plate configured to selectively bias the ball into the first groove, the plate being further configured to selectively bias the ball into the second groove; and

a shaft having a gear disposed thereon, the lever configured to selectively engage the gear.

15. The shifting assembly of claim 14 , the lever having portions forming an opening in the lever, the lever having a raised portion protruding into the opening, the first and second grooves being separated by the raised portion.

16. The shifting assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a detent housing, the detent housing being fixedly connected to the plate, the lever being configured to rotate with respect to the detent housing.

17. The shifting assembly of claim 16 , wherein the detent housing has a pair of retainer walls formed therein, the pair of retainer walls being disposed adjacent to the ball.

18. The shifting assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a retainer ring, the detent housing having an outer wall forming an indentation therein, the retainer ring being disposed around the outer wall of the detent housing in the indentation.

19. The shifting assembly of claim 18 , the retainer ring and the retainer walls cooperating with the plate to hold the ball at least partially within the detent housing.

20. The shifting assembly of claim 19 , the lever having portions forming an L-shaped aperture in the lever, the lever being engaged by the yoke through the L-shaped aperture.