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A seating unit includes a mechanism for adjustably positioning a component of the seating unit. The mechanism includes first and second members, each having a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface. The load bearing surfaces are i

A seating unit includes a mechanism for adjustably positioning a component of the seating unit. The mechanism includes first and second members, each having a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface. The load bearing surfaces are in contact to transfer load, and the teeth of the first and second members are in engagement to provide non-slip rotation.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A mechanism comprising: a base; first and second members having a range of movement relative to one another, each member having a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface, wherein the load bearing surfa

The invention claimed is: 1. A mechanism comprising: a base; first and second members having a range of movement relative to one another, each member having a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface, wherein the load bearing surfaces are in contact to transfer loads, and wherein the teeth of the first and second members are in engagement, at least one of the first and second members having teeth arranged in an arc that extends less than three hundred and sixty degrees about an axis defined by the arc, and wherein the first member is rotatably mounted to the base; a stop limiting an allowable range of movement of a selected one of the first and second members relative to the other one of the first and second members; an adjustment member movably engaging the base, the adjustment member engaging the first member such that movement of the adjustment member rotates the first member; a resilient member engaging the base and the second member and rotatably biasing the second member relative to the first member. 2. The mechanism of claim 1, including: an output bracket that is movable relative to the base and connected to the second member for biasing an associated adjustable component of a seat; and wherein: the stop comprises a cam member having a plurality of stop surfaces configured to engage the output bracket to limit movement of the output bracket relative to the base. 3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein: the resilient member comprises a spring. 4. A mechanism comprising: a base; first and second members having a range of movement relative to one another, each member having a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface, wherein the load bearing surfaces are in contact to transfer loads, and wherein the teeth of the first and second members are in engagement, at least one of the first and second members having teeth arranged in an arc that extends less than three hundred and sixty degrees about an axis defined by the arc, and wherein the first member is rotatably mounted to the base; a stop limiting an allowable range of movement of a selected one of the first and second members relative to the other one of the first and second members; an adjustment member movably engaging the base, the adjustment member engaging the first member such that movement of the adjustment member rotates the first member; a handle; and a clutch frictionally interconnecting the handle to the adjustment member limiting the amount of torque that can be transmitted from the handle to the adjustment member. 5. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein: the adjustment member comprises a threaded rod. 6. A mechanism comprising: first and second members having a range of movement relative to one another, each member having a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface, wherein the load bearing surfaces are in contact to transfer loads, and wherein the teeth of the first and second members are in engagement, at least one of the first and second members having teeth arranged in an arc that extends less than three hundred and sixty degrees about an axis defined by the arc; a stop limiting an allowable range of movement of a selected one of the first and second members relative to the other one of the first and second members; and wherein the stop is adjustable and selectively varies an allowable range of movement of the second member relative to the first member. 7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein: the load bearing surfaces have an arcuate shape that is parallel to the arc of the teeth. 8. The mechanism of claim 6, including: a housing; an adjustment member; and wherein: the first member is pivotably mounted to the housing, and wherein movement of the adjustment member rotates the first member. 9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein: the contact between the load bearing surfaces define a fulcrum point; and including: a spring rotatably biasing the second member about the fulcrum point, and wherein rotation of the first member adjusts the amount of bias of the spring. 10. A mechanism comprising: first and second members having a range of movement relative to one another, each member having a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface, wherein the load bearing surfaces are in contact to transfer loads, and wherein the teeth of the first and second members are in engagement, at least one of the first and second members having teeth arranged in an arc that extends less than three hundred and sixty degrees about an axis defined by the arc; a stop limiting an allowable range of movement of a selected one of the first and second members relative to the other one of the first and second members; and a housing adapted to mount the mechanism to a seating unit, wherein the first and second members are substantially enclosed by the housing. 11. The mechanism of claim 10, wherein: the load bearing surfaces have an arcuate shape that is parallel to the arc of the teeth. 12. The mechanism of claim 10, including: an adjustment member; and wherein: the first member is pivotably mounted to the housing, and wherein movement of the adjustment member rotates the first member. 13. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein: the contact between the load bearing surfaces define a fulcrum point; and including: a spring rotatably biasing the second member about the fulcrum point, and wherein rotation of the first member adjusts the amount of bias of the spring. 14. A control mechanism for seating units, comprising: a housing adapted to mount to a seating unit; a compressible resilient member disposed in the housing; a torque member defining an effective torque arm operably connected with the resilient member such that movement of the torque member varies the amount of compression of the resilient member, the torque member having a first curvilinear rolling bearing surface and a plurality of first teeth adjacent the rolling bearing surface; an adjustment member movably associated with the housing and including a second curvilinear rolling bearing surface engaging the first curvilinear load bearing surface to transfer loads, the adjustment member including a plurality of second teeth rotationally engaging the first plurality of teeth and defining a fulcrum point at which the torque member rotates relative to the adjustment member, the adjustment member being movable relative to the housing to thereby shift the fulcrum point and adjust a length of the effective torque arm. 15. The control mechanism of claim 14, wherein: the torque member includes first and second portions that together form an L-shape, with the first teeth and first curvilinear rolling bearing surface extending along the first portion. 16. The control mechanism of claim 15, wherein: the resilient member comprises a spring; the first portion includes an end engaging the spring. 17. The control mechanism of claim 16, wherein: the adjustment member is pivotably mounted to the housing; and including: an adjustment rod operably coupled with the adjustment member such that rotation of the adjustment rod pivots the adjustment member and shifts the fulcrum point. 18. An energy mechanism for seating units, comprising: a housing configured to be mounted to a seating unit; a compressible resilient member; a torque member having an engagement portion engaging the resilient member to provide an output force for control of the seating unit; an adjustment member engaging the torque member at a fulcrum point about which the torque member pivots; the torque member defining an effective lever arm between the fulcrum point and the engagement portion; and wherein: the fulcrum point shifts upon movement of the adjustment member to adjust a length of the effective lever arm without substantially changing the compression of the resilient member. 19. The energy mechanism of claim 18, wherein: the torque member and the adjustment member each have a generally smooth curvilinear load bearing surface and a plurality of teeth adjacent the load bearing surface, wherein the load bearing surfaces are in contact to transfer loads, and wherein the teeth of the first and second members are in engagement to provide non-slip rotation. 20. The energy mechanism of claim 19, wherein: the load bearing surfaces of the torque and adjustment members define an arc of constant radius. 21. The energy mechanism of claim 20, wherein: the arcs each define an axis, and the load bearing surfaces extend less than three hundred sixty degrees about each axis.