Friction engaging devices having a lever spring

Claim 1

IN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A SUPPORT, A FORCE APPLYING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT ALONG THE AXIS OF THE SUPPORT, A FORCE RECEIVING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR AXIAL RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT, AN ANNULAR LEVER SPRING MEMBER HAVING THREE SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR FULCRUMS AND BEING SUPPORTED AND FULCRUMED AT ONE FULCRUM ON SAID SUPPORT AND HAVING ANOTHER FULCRUM CONTACTING SAID FORCE RECEIVING MEMBER AND A THIRD FULCRUM ENGAGING SAID FORCE APPLYING MEMBER, SAID ANNULAR LEVER SPRING MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF RADIAL SLOTS THEREIN EXTENDING FROM ONE PERIMETER TOWARD THE OTHER PERIMETER AND A PLURALITY OF RECESSES IN SAID OTHER PERIMETER OPPOSITE EACH RADIAL SLOT POSITIONED TO INTERRUPT ONE OF SAID FULCRUMS TO PROVIDE ALTERNATE AND INTERMEDIATE REGIONS, SAID ALTERNATE REGIONS BEING ADJACENT SAID SLOTS SUBJECT ONLY TO THE BENDING STRESS INVOLVED IN CHANGING THE CONE ANGLE OF THE ANNULAR LEVER SPRING MEMBER AND SAID INTERMEDIATE REGIONS ACTING ONLY AS A LEVER TO TRANSMIT FORCE FROM THE FORCE APPLY MEMBER TO THE FORCE RECEIVING MEMBER AND SUBJECT TO LEVER BEAM STRESSES.