US Patent 10071695 Sliding pawl on a ratchet bar

A ratchet mechanism with a pawl slidably mounted on a ratchet bar. Two fingers in the pawl on opposite sides of ratchet bar pinch the bar between them when the pawl is pivoted to a pinch angle relative to the bar. A lever on the pawl pivots the pawl to release the fingers from the ratchet bar. An over-rotation stop on the pawl contacts the ratchet bar in the release position, and prevents the pawl from pivoting past the release position to a position that drags a finger against the ratchet bar. The over-rotation stop may extend from the pawl lever, contact and slide along the ratchet bar in the release position, and maintain an ideal release position of the pawl relative to the ratchet bar during sliding of the pawl on the ratchet bar. The ratchet bar may be toothless, providing smooth selection of stopping points on the bar.