Clutch unit

A clutch unit for use in a vehicle seat, the clutch unit comprising:

• an operation lever that is rotatable about a rotation axis;
• an output shaft member that is rotatable about the rotation axis and outputs, to a vehicle seat, an operation force applied to the operation lever;
• an operation member that rotates together with rotation of the operation lever;
• an input-side clutch that is driven by the operation member;
• an output-side clutch that transmits a rotational torque of the input-side clutch to the output shaft member and limits transmission of a rotational torque from the output shaft member to the input-side clutch;
• and
• a bottomed cylindrical housing that accommodates at least the input-side clutch,
• wherein the input-side clutch includes:
• an input-side inner ring member that rotates about the rotation axis;
• an input-side outer ring member that rotates about the rotation axis;
• an input-side intermediate transmission member that is rotatably provided between the input-side inner ring member and the input-side outer ring member, and transmits a rotational torque between the input-side outer ring member and the input-side inner ring member;
• and
• an operation bracket that is fastened to the operation member and rotates about the rotation axis together with the operation member,
• wherein the operation bracket includes:
• an engagement portion that engages with the input-side inner ring member or the input-side outer ring member;
• a facing portion that faces a bottom surface of the housing with a gap therebetween;
• a fastened portion that extends from the facing portion toward the operation member, penetrates a through hole formed in the bottom surface of the housing, and is fastened to the operation member;
• and
• a sliding-contact portion that extends from the facing portion toward the bottom surface of the housing and comes into sliding-contact with the bottom surface of the housing,
• wherein the sliding-contact portion includes a sliding-contact surface extending outward in a radial direction of the rotation axis, and
• wherein a part of the sliding-contact surface overlaps the through hole formed in the bottom surface of the housing when the operation lever is rotated to a maximum movable range.