Patent ID: 7275628

Claim:
An overrunning coupling assembly having improved shift feel and/or noise reduction, the assembly comprising: a planar first member rotatable about a first axis and having an inside first surface extending generally normal to the first axis, the first member having at least one recess formed in the first surface; a planar second member rotatable about the first axis and having an inside second surface extending generally normal to the first axis and disposed closely adjacent to the first surface, the second surface having at least one notch formed therein; at least one key received and retained in the at least one recess, the at least one key being movable between a notch-engaging, locked position in which torque transfer is permitted between the first and second members in a first direction about the first axis and a disengaged position in which the first and second members are permitted to free-wheel relative to each other in a second direction opposite the first direction; a compliant retaining device to retain the members together and absorb axial impact loads, the retaining device being less compliant in the locked position than in the disengaged position to decrease axial force at time of axial impact and improve shift feel and/or noise reduction; and an annular groove formed in one of the members wherein the retaining device includes a deflectable annular ring received and retained in the annular groove and wherein the annular ring includes a wave spring for biasing one of the members in the disengaged position to provide proper free-wheeling axial clearance between the inside surfaces.