Operating linkage for a selectively engageable friction clutch

Claim 1

IN A FRICTION CLUTCH ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO DELIVER DRIVING TORQUE FROM A DRIVING MEMBER TO A DRIVEN MEMBER, A FIRST CLUTCH ELEMENT HAVING A FIRST FRICTION SURFACE CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVING MEMBER, A PRESSURE PLATE CARRIED BY SAID FIRST FRICTION ELEMENT AND HAVING FORMED THEREON A SECOND FRICTION SURFACE, A FRICTION DISC SITUATED BETWEEN SAID FRICTION SURFACES, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID FRICTION DISC TO SAID DRIVEN MEMBER, A CLUTCH OPERATING MEMBER EXTENDING IN A RADIAL DIRECTION WITH ITS OUTERMOST PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PRESSURE PLATE AND ITS INNERMOST PORTION SITUATED AT A LOCATION PROXIMATE TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO SAID FIRST CLUTCH MEMBER AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE THE INNER AND OUTER ENDS THEREOF, A RELATIVELY STATIONARY SLEEVE SHAFT SURROUNDING SAID DRIVEN MEMBER, A CLUTCH THROW-OUT BEARING MOUNTED UPON SAID SLEEVE SHAFT FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION, SAID THROW-OUT BEARING HAVING PORTIONS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE RADIALLY INWARD PORTION OF SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING MEMBER, A CLUTCH OPERATING LEVER EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF SAID DRIVEN MEMBER, ONE END OF SAID OPERATING LEVER BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID THROW-OUT BEARING, MEANS FOR MOVING THE OTHER END OF SAID OPERATING LEVER BETWEEN THE CLUTCH DISENGAGING POSITION AND THE CLUTCH ENGAGING POSITION, A PIVOT STRUT ENGAGEABLE AT ONE END THEREOF WITH SAID OPERATING LEVER AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, SAID STRUT BEING ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATE SHIFTING MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING LEVER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID AXIS OF ROTATION, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID STRUT AT ITS OTHER END FOR UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO A STATIONARY PORTION OF SAID ASSEMBLY, SAID LAST RECITED MEANS INCLUDING A PIVOT MEMBER ON SAID