Patent ID: 8523142

Claim:
An actuator comprising: a first carrier and a second carrier which are each moveable in a common direction; a detent engageable to couple the carriers to move in unison including a pivoted arm disposed on the first carrier and positioned to engage a part of the second carrier; a toggle linkage extensible to operate the detent and collapsible to release the detent, to allow movement of the second carrier relative to the first carrier, the toggle linkage including a pair of relatively pivoted links connected between a pivot on the first carrier and a pivot on said arm; an electrically operated actuating device for causing extension of the toggle linkage when energized and effecting collapse of the toggle linkage when de-energized; an operating member carried by the second carrier; a prime mover for the first carrier; and a return mover for causing return movement of the second carrier on the release of the detent, wherein the electrically-operated actuating device comprises a solenoid having an armature which is coupled to a pivot between the links and has a restoring bias.