Patent ID: 8172297

Claim:
A multi-position rotary detent assembly operable to selectively retain a first component and a second component in a first position, a second position, and at least one intermediate position relative to one another, the multi-position rotary detent assembly comprising: a first biasing assembly for biasing the first component and the second component between the first and second positions; a cam plate disposed on the first component, the cam plate having a cam path rib defining a cam path, the cam path rib having a first detent feature and at least one intermediate detent feature; a guide pin assembly including a guide pin configured to engage the cam plate so as to be movable along the cam path, and a guide pin biasing assembly for urging the guide pin from either a first pin position to a neutral position; the first biasing assembly and the guide pin assembly operable to move the guide pin in one direction along the cam path so as to sequentially engage the first detent feature, and each of the at least one intermediate detent feature, when the guide pin engages the first detent feature, the guide pin is in the first pin position, the first biasing assembly urges the guide pin against the first detent feature so as to place the first and second component in the first position, and when the guide pin is moved from the first pin position towards the neutral position, the first biasing assembly urges the guide pin against the at least one intermediate detent feature so as to place the first and second component in one of the at least one intermediate position, and first biasing assembly further operable to urge the guide pin to disengage from the cam path so as to move the guide pin to the neutral position and place the first and second component in the second position.