Patent ID: 7581463

Claim:
A gear assembly, comprising: a first gear mounted for rotation about a first shaft having a first central rotational axis, the first gear having an outer circumference having at least one first tooth, the at least one first tooth having a curved top land with a center of radius of curvature that is offset from the first central rotational axis; and a second gear mounted for rotation about a second shaft having a second central rotational axis, the second gear having an outer circumference having at least one second tooth, the at least one second tooth having a curved top land with a center of radius of curvature that is offset from the second central rotational axis, wherein the second gear is mounted for linear movement in a direction toward the first gear to cause the respective curved top lands to engage each other, a resultant tangential contact force due to the offset center of radius of curvature of the curved top lands of the first and second gears forcing rotation of the first and second gears relative to each other to ensure engagement and meshing of the first tooth of the first gear and the second tooth of the second gear, and a contact force between the meshing first tooth of the first gear and the meshing second tooth of the second gear having an angle of between 90° and 95.2° as measured relative to an axis connecting the first shaft and the second shaft to minimize forces acting opposite to the linear movement direction to avoid disengagement of the meshed first and second teeth during rotation of the first and second gears.