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US 2018/0229630 A9Published application
Release mechanism
AssigneeGrand Rapids Controls Company, LLC
InventorMark G. Tomandl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims6
A method of assembling a release mechanism comprising:
- providing a housing having a first portion and a cover, the first portion having an open side and a first surface;
- providing a rotor having a second surface, the rotor adapted to rotatably engage the first portion of the housing for rotation about an axis;
- providing a helical coil spring having first and second ends;
- engaging the first end of the coil spring with the first portion of the housing;
- engaging a second end of the coil spring with the rotor;
- positioning the rotor adjacent the housing;
- rotating the rotor relative to the first portion of the housing to rotate the second end of the helical coil spring relative to the first end of the helical coil spring and deform the helical coil spring such that the helical coil spring rotationally biases the rotor for rotation in a first direction relative to the first portion of the housing about the axis;
- followed by shifting the rotor towards the first portion of the housing to axially compress the helical coil spring such that the helical coil spring biases the rotor away from the first portion of the housing along the axis while simultaneously biasing the rotor for rotation in a first direction relative to the first portion of the housing about the axis;
- causing the second surface of the rotor to contact the first surface of the first portion of the housing, wherein the rotational bias of the helical torsion spring biases the first and second surfaces into contact with eachother, and wherein contact between the first and second surfaces prevents rotation of the rotor relative to the first portion of the housing in the first direction, and wherein frictional engagement of the first and second surfaces retains the rotor in a stationary position relative to the first portion of the housing despite the bias of the helical coil spring biasing the rotor away from the first portion of the housing, whereby the first portion of the housing, the rotor, and the helical coil spring form a temporary subassembly that remains assembled solely as a result of forces generated by the coil spring;
- followed by attaching the cover to the first portion of the housing to cover the open side thereof.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.