Pawl and ratchet assembly

摘要

An improved latching mechanism for a rocking-type chair selectively permits or inhibits rocking motion of the chair frame relative to the base upon actuation. The improved latching mechanism includes a pawl and ratchet assembly having a spring-biased pawl member coupled to the chair base which is operable to lockingly engage a tooth ratchet sector disposed on the chair frame for positioning the chair frame in rearwardly tilted positions and a release assembly including a rigid release link that pulls the spring-biased pawl member towards a released position by an actuation member. The actuation member includes a swing link and a trip link operably coupled to a drive rod assembly for positioning the rigid release link while preventing the release member from exerting any axial loading on the pawl member when the pawl member is in locked engagement with the ratchet teeth.