Patent ID: 6877597

Claim:
A clutch mechanism for as eating unit of the type having a seat and seat frame and an adjustable support member spaced from the seat, comprising: a housing mounted with respect to said seat frame and having first and second opposite ends and a generally cylindrical inner sidewall; a clamp member movably interconnected with said housing, said clamp member adapted to secure said housing to a frame member of said seating unit; a rotor rotatably mounted within said housing, said rotor having a generally cylindrical outer surface, said rotor defining an axis of rotation and having a channel having opposed sidewalls in said cylindrical outer surface extending generally parallel to said axis; a handle extending from said rotor; a pulley rotatably interconnected with said rotor, said pulley having an extension disposed in said channel of said rotor, said pulley being operably coupled to said adjustable support member of said seating unit to provide adjustment of said adjustable support member by said handle; a flexible line having an end secured to said pulley, said housing having an opening therethrough, said line extending through said opening to said adjustable support member spaced from said seat for interconnection of said clutch mechanism with said adjustable support member; and a coil spring disposed around said rotor and having opposite ends disposed in said channel adjacent said opposed sidewalls with said extension of said pulley positioned between said opposite ends, said coil spring frictionally engaging said cylindrical inner sidewall and preventing rotation of said pulley relative to said housing when one rotational force is applied to said pulley by said flexible line attached at one end to said adjustable support member, said sidewalls of said channel of said rotor engaging said opposite ends of said coil spring and generating tension on said coil spring in a manner tending to reduce friction between said coil spring and said housing to permit rotation of said rotor and said pulley relative to said housing when another rotational force is applied to said rotor by said handle.