Patent ID: 8684872

Claim:
A tensioner for tensioning a flexible drive, the tensioner comprising: a base plate; a shaft having a first end mounted to the base plate and including at least one anti-rotation feature; a pivot bushing slidably received on the shaft and engaging the at least one anti-rotation feature to prevent rotation of the pivot bushing on the shaft, the pivot bushing having an outer surface which is generally frustoconical; a damping spring biasing the pivot bushing along the shaft away from the base plate; a tensioner arm including a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion, the first portion including a pivot surface having a frustoconical shape complimentary to and engaging the pivot bushing to pivot thereon; a torsion spring having a first end engaging the base plate and a second end biasing the tensioner arm to bias the tensioner arm in a predetermined direction relative to the base plate; and a pulley coupled to the second portion of the tensioner arm; wherein the pivot bushing includes a unitarily formed, annular and unbroken wall with at least one deformable portion, each deformable portion being formed by a narrowing of the wall, the at least one deformable portion being configured to permit the frustoconical outer surface of the pivot bushing to expand radially outward, contract radially inward or both.