Patent ID: 8607955

Claim:
A release mechanism for a pull-type clutch assembly, comprising: a throw-out bearing including an inner cylindrical portion extending in a direction axially inwardly of the clutch assembly; a retaining basket having a flat annular ring portion surrounding an opening receiving said cylindrical portion of said bearing therethrough, said basket having a ring connected to said ring portion with an inner and outer surface spaced from said annular portion, said ring being comprised of a segmented torus comprised of a plurality of spaced toroidal segments similar in length integrally interconnected to said annular portion by spaced connecting segments integral with said segmented torus and said annular portions, said spaced connecting segments extending perpendicular to said segmented torus and away from said bearing, said spaced connecting segments being separated from one another by cut-out portions; a pressure plate having a central opening receiving said basket therein, said pressure plate having a plurality of radially extending resilient fingers extending outwardly from said central opening; a clutch disk disposed adjacent said pressure plate being adapted to be mounted to a clutch disk coupled to the flywheel of a vehicle; and said bearing having an outwardly extending annular groove into which the inner surface of said segmented torus of said basket snap fits, and said pressure plate having an inwardly extending annular groove into which the outer surface of said segmented torus snap-fits.