Self energizing friction clutch

Claim 1

A FRICTION CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A DRIVING MEMBER ROTATABLE ON A FIXED AXIS OF ROTATION, A DRIVEN MEMBER JOURNALED FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID DRIVING MEMBER, MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID DRIVEN MEMBER OUT OF DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVING MEMBER, ACTIVATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID DRIVEN MEMBER FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT ALONG THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID DRIVING MEMBER AND SUBJECT TO A PREDETERMINED CONDITION FOR OVERCOMING SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANS FOR PERMITTING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID DRIVING AND DRIVEN MEMBERS AND CAUSING SIMULTANEOUS ROTATION THEREOF ABOUT SAID AXIS OF ROTATION, SAID DRIVING MEMBER INCLUDING A FRICTION DISC AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE ALONG SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID DRIVING MEMBER, SAID DRIVEN MEMBER COMPRISING A HOUSING ENCLOSING SAID FRICTION DISC AND INCLUDING A CONFRONTING SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FRICTION DISC, SAID DRIVEN MEMBER INCLUDING AN AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE FIRST PRESSURE PLATE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID MEANS MAINTAINING SAID DRIVEN MEMBER OUT OF DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVING MEMBER COMPRISING SPRING MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND TERMINALLY SECURED BETWEEN SAID PRESSURE PLATE AND SAID HOUSING MEMBER OPPOSITE SAID CONFRONTING SURFACE, AND LOST MOTION MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID ACTIVATING MEANS AND SAID HOUSING MEMBER FOR COMPENSATING FOR OVER-TRAVEL OF SAID ACTIVATING MEANS, SAID LOST MOTION MEANS COMPRISING A SLEEVE CIRCUMPOSED ABOUT SAID ACTIVATING MEANS AND RECIPROCABLY SUPPORTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT ON SAID HOUSING ALONG THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID DRIVING MEMBER AND AXIALLY SPACED THEREFORM, AND A SPRING ELEMENT INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID HOUSING AND NORMALLY URGING SAID SLEEVE TOWARD AN ACTIVATING POSTION IN OPPOSITION TO SAID SPRING MEANS MAINTAINING THE DRIVEN MEMBER OUT OF DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVING MEMBER.