Release mechanism

Abstract

A release mechanism generates a force on a cable to operate an adjustment mechanism or the like in a seat or other device. The release mechanism includes a rotor, a housing, a spring, and a cover that attaches to the housing. The spring generates a torque, and the spring also axially biases the rotor into engagement with the cover to prevent rattling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A release mechanism of the type that shifts an elongated connector to selectively release an adjustment mechanism, the release mechanism comprising:
 a housing defining a pivot element;   a rotor pivotably engaging the pivot element for rotation about an axis, wherein the rotor is adapted to be manually rotated by a user; and wherein the rotor includes a connecting feature that provides for connecting an end of an elongated flexible cable to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor shifts the elongated flexible cable; and   a helical coil spring having a first end connected to the housing, and a second end connected to the rotor, the coil spring being simultaneously compressed and rotationally deformed and simultaneously axially biasing the rotor axially away from the housing along the axis and rotationally biasing the rotor for rotation in a first direction about the axis.   
     
     
         2 . The release mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rotor includes a cavity;   the pivot element comprises a boss that is received in the cavity to rotatably interconnect the rotor and the housing; and   the helical coil spring is disposed inside the cavity of the rotor.   
     
     
         3 . The release mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the housing includes a first spring-connecting structure, and the rotor includes a second spring-connecting structure; and   the coil spring comprises a helical wire coil having a plurality of coils that are disposed around the boss, and includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end engaging the rotor and generating a rotational bias.   
     
     
         4 . The release mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the rotor includes a central portion having a cylindrical inner surface defining the cavity;   the boss includes a cylindrical outer surface that is spaced apart from the cylindrical inner surface to define an annular gap therebetween; and   the coil spring is disposed in the annular gap.   
     
     
         5 . The release mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes first and second portions that are spaced apart to define a gap, and wherein the rotor defines a central portion disposed in the gap, and wherein the spring biases the central portion of the rotor away from the first portion of the housing towards the second portion of the housing, and wherein the rotor slidably engages the second portion of the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The release mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a first sidewall and an outer sidewall extending transversely from the first sidewall to define a cavity having an open side, and wherein the second portion of the housing comprises a cover closing off at least a portion of the cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The release mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the cover includes an opening therethrough, and wherein the rotor includes an internal portion disposed in the cavity and an elongated extension extend from the internal portion outwardly through the opening to define an external portion.   
     
     
         8 . The release mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the external portion includes a handle extending in a direction that is transverse to the axis.   
     
     
         9 . The release mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the external portion comprises a plurality of outwardly facing teeth, and wherein the handle comprises a separate component having a plurality of inwardly extending teeth engaging the outwardly facing teeth.   
     
     
         10 . The release mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the housing includes a generally annular groove extending around the boss, and the rotor includes an end portion movably disposed in the groove.   
     
     
         11 . The release mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes a first retaining feature;   the rotor includes a second retaining feature; and   the first retaining feature engages the second retaining feature such that the rotor does not shift axially out of engagement with the housing due to the bias of the coil spring unless an external force is applied to the rotor to axially shift the rotor to disengage the first and second retaining features.   
     
     
         12 . The release mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the rotor is axially movable relative to the housing between first and second axial positions, and wherein axial movement of the rotor relative to the housing from the first position to the second position disengages the first and second retaining features such that the first and second retaining features do not restrict rotation of the rotor relative to the housing when the rotor is in the second position relative to the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The release mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the rotational bias of the coil spring causes the second stop surface to be biased into contact with the first stop surface.   
     
     
         14 . The release mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first stop surface comprises an end surface of an arcuate slot of the housing; and   the second stop surface comprises an extension of the rotor that is disposed in the arcuate slot when the rotor is in the first axial position, and wherein the extension is disposed outside of the arcuate slot when the rotor is in the second axial position.   
     
     
         15 . A release mechanism of the type that shifts an elongated connector to selectively release an adjustment mechanism, the release mechanism comprising:
 a housing;   a rotor pivotably engaging the housing for rotation about an axis, the rotor having a generally hollow central portion defining a cavity, and wherein the rotor includes a connecting feature that provides for connecting an end of an elongated flexible cable to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor shifts the elongated flexible cable; and   a coil spring having a first end connected to the housing, and a second end connected to the rotor, wherein a plurality of coils of the coil spring are disposed within the cavity of the rotor, and wherein the spring is rotationally deformed to rotationally bias the rotor for rotation in a first direction about the axis.   
     
     
         16 . The release mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the housing includes a boss that is received in the cavity to rotatably interconnect the rotor and the housing.   
     
     
         17 . The release mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the hollow central portion includes a generally cylindrical inner surface defining the cavity.   
     
     
         18 . The release mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the boss comprises a generally cylindrical outer surface that is spaced apart from the cylindrical inner surface of the rotor to define an annular space therebetween, and wherein the spring comprises a helical coil spring that is disposed in the annular space.   
     
     
         19 . The release mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the housing defines first and second side portions and a space between the first and second side portions, and wherein at least a portion of the rotor is disposed in the space;   the coil spring is compressed and generates an axial force biasing the rotor away from the first side portion of the housing towards the second side portion of the housing.   
     
     
         20 . A release mechanism, comprising:
 a housing having first and second portions;   a rotor pivotably engaging the housing for rotation about an axis; and   a spring defining a first length when the spring is in a free state wherein the spring is not compressed or stretched, and wherein the spring is in a compressed state when assembled in the release mechanism to define a second length that is substantially shorter than the first length, the spring biasing the rotor axially along the axis away from the first portion of the housing towards the second portion of the housing.   
     
     
         21 . The release mechanism of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the spring comprises a coil spring that torsionally biases the rotor in addition to axially biasing the rotor.