Patent ID: 7819766

Claim:
A coupling device comprising: a support member comprising an annular body having a middle hub portion with a support face circumferentially surrounding said middle hub portion and at least one spoke radially extending along said support face from said middle hub portion and comprising a locking mechanism disposed on a circumferential edge of said at least one spoke; a gear wheel comprising a center opening and gear teeth spaced around an outer periphery of said gear wheel; a locking member having an open ring shape with two free ends and a mechanism to bring said two free ends together in a locked position and comprising a locking structure disposed on an inner annular edge of said locking member; said support member including a plurality of projections disposed around and axially extending from said support face in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of said gear wheel; said gear wheel including a plurality of openings disposed around and axially extending through said gear wheel, said gear wheel being mounted on said support face of said support member such that each said at least one spoke longitudinally extends through the center opening in said gear wheel to engage said locking member and each of said plurality of projections is disposed in a respective one of said plurality of openings; and said locking member being disposed around said circumferential edge of each said at least one spoke such that said locking structure of said locking member interlockably engages said locking mechanism of said at least one spoke so that said locking member is attached to said support member with a portion of said gear wheel being clamped between said locking member and said support face of said support member in the locked position.