Patent ID: 7258216

Claim:
A one-way clutch for transmitting only a one-way rotation about an axial direction of an input member to an output member, wherein either one of said input and output members is mounted on a shaft extending in said axial direction through a rotation-preventive system so that said either one is slidable in the axial direction and is prevented from being rotated relative to said shaft; and wherein at least a portion of a stress generated inside the clutch by said one-way rotation is converted into a stress in said axial direction thereof and the stress in said axial direction is allowed to resist elasticity, wherein: one of said input and output members has a first engagement face formed with a plurality of teeth and the other of said input and output members has a second engagement face formed with a plurality of pieces; said first engagement face and said second engagement face are disposed facing each other generally perpendicularly to said axial direction; each of said teeth comprises a sharply sloping face and a gently sloping face with respect to said first engagement face; each of said pieces is made from a rigid member and disposed so that the lengthwise direction thereof elastically pivots about a given angle with respect to said second engagement face; each of said pieces is engaged with the sharply sloping faces of the teeth to perform the engagement with said teeth and thus the angle of said piece with respect to said second engagement face increases, when said input member is rotated in a direction of said one-way rotation; and each of said piece comes into abutment with the gently sloping face of said tooth to release the engagement of said pieces with said teeth when said input member is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of said one-way rotation.