EP2489389A1 — Detent mechanism

USPTO Abstract

The invention relates to a detent mechanism (18) for controlling translation between two components (2,7) in a longitudinal direction (P,D), the detent mechanism (18) comprising a resilient beam (2.1) and a rhomboid ramp member (7.1), the resilient beam (2.1) having a first beam head (2.2) and arranged to interact in a ramped engagement with respectively one of two ramps (7.2,7.3), each ramp on one longitudinal side of the rhomboid ramp member (7.1) in such a manner that application of a translative force between the components (2,7) in one longitudinal direction (P,D) with the first beam head (2.2) engaged to one of the ramps (7.2,7.3) in a first state (A,C) deflects the resilient beam (2.1) in one transversal direction (O,I) when a predetermined value of the translative force, wherein the resilient beam (2.1) is allowed to relax when the first beam head (2.2) has reached the other one of the ramps (7.3,7.2) in a second state (C, A), wherein application of a translative force between the components (2,7) in the other longitudinal direction (D,P) with the first beam head (2.2) engaged to the other one of the ramps (7.3,7.2) deflects the resilient beam (2.1) in the other transversal direction (I,O) when a predetermined value of the translative force.