Patent ID: 8292363

Claim:
A clutch mechanism for selectively transmitting a force applied thereto, comprising: an operation bracket that is rotatably connected to the vehicle seat via a first pivot shaft and is connected to a force output cable, the operation bracket including a curved slot formed therein; a rotatable arm that is rotatably connected to the operation bracket via the first pivot shaft and is connected to a force input cable, the rotatable arm including an elongated slot that has a toothed portion; and a swing arm that is rotatably connected to the operation bracket via a second pivot shaft, the swing arm including an engagement portion that movably engages both of the curved slot of the operation bracket and the elongated slot of the rotatable arm, wherein when the force is applied quickly to the force input cable, the rotatable arm is rotated quickly about the first pivot shaft relative to the operation bracket whereas the swing arm is rotated slowly by a gravitational force about the second pivot shaft along with rotation of the rotatable arm, and as a result, the engagement portion of the swing arm engages the toothed portion of the elongated slot of the rotatable arm, wherein upon engagement of the engagement portion of the swing arm and the toothed portion of the rotatable arm, the rotatable arm can be rotationally locked with respect to the operation bracket, so that the operation bracket is rotated with the rotatable arm about the first pivot shaft, thereby allowing transmission of the force to the force output cable, wherein when the force is applied slowly to the force input cable, the rotatable arm is rotated slowly about the first pivot shaft relative to the operation bracket while the swing arm is rotated slowly by the gravitational force about the second pivot shaft along with rotation of the rotatable arm, and as a result, the rotatable arm is continuously rotated relative to the operation bracket while moving the engagement portion of the swing arm along the elongated slot of the rotatable arm and the curved slot of the operation bracket, and wherein upon continuous rotation of the rotatable arm relative to the operation bracket, the operation bracket can be prevented from being rotated about the first pivot shaft, thereby inhibiting the transmission of the force to the force output cable.