Release mechanism

A release mechanism comprising:

• a housing defining a pivot element, wherein the housing includes a sidewall and an annular wall protruding from an inner side surface of the sidewall, the annular wall having an inner surface;
• a rotor at least partially disposed within the housing and pivotably engaging the pivot element of the housing for rotation about an axis, the rotor including a first bearing surface and a cavity, and wherein the rotor includes an end portion having an outer surface and the outer surface of the rotor slidably engages the inner surface of the annular wall of the housing;
• a cable connected to the rotor whereby rotation of the rotor shifts the cable;
• a helical coil spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the coil spring engages the housing, and the second end of the coil spring is positioned in the cavity of the rotor and engages the rotor;
• wherein the coil spring is deformed such that the helical coil spring rotationally biases the rotor for rotation in a first direction about the axis;
• and wherein the coil spring is compressed such that the coil spring biases the rotor axially away from the housing along the axis and simultaneously rotationally biases the rotor for rotation in the first direction about the axis;
• a component having a second bearing surface connected to the housing;
• and wherein the first bearing surface of the rotor movably engages the second bearing surface of the component and prevents axial shifting of the rotor away from the housing beyond a predefined position relative to the housing.

A release mechanism comprising:

• a housing defining a pivot element;
• a rotor at least partially disposed within the housing and pivotably engaging the pivot element for rotation about an axis, wherein the rotor includes a first bearing surface;
• a cable connected to the rotor whereby rotation of the rotor shifts the cable;
• a helical coil spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the coil spring engages the housing, and a second end of the coil spring engages the rotor;
• wherein the helical coil spring rotationally biases the rotor for rotation in a first direction about the axis;
• and wherein the coil spring is compressed such that the coil spring biases the rotor axially away from the housing along the axis;
• a cover connected to the housing, the cover including a second bearing surface;
• wherein the first bearing surface of the rotor movably engages the second bearing surface and prevents axial shifting of the rotor away from the housing beyond a predefined position relative to the housing.

A release mechanism comprising:

• a housing defining a pivot element comprising a boss and an annular wall extending around the boss to define a ring-shaped annular space therebetween;
• a rotor having a first bearing surface and an end portion pivotably received within the ring-shaped annular space for rotation about an axis;
• a cover having a second bearing surface;
• a cable connected to the rotor whereby rotation of the rotor shifts the cable;
• a helical coil spring having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the coil spring engages the housing, and a second end of the coil spring engages the rotor;
• wherein the coil spring is rotationally deformed such that the helical coil spring rotationally biases the rotor for rotation in a first direction about the axis;
• and wherein the coil spring is compressed such that the coil spring biases the rotor axially away from the housing along the axis;
• and wherein the first bearing surface of the rotor movably engages the second bearing surface of the cover to prevent axial shifting of the rotor away from the housing beyond a predefined position relative to the housing.