Patent ID: 7090061

Claim:
A retaining ring system, comprising: a coast clutch cylinder defining a cylinder axis and having a plurality of retention tabs circumferentially disposed therein, the retention tabs defining a tab diameter; and a retaining ring including a one-piece radially elastic ring body having a first annular surface defining an inside body diameter and a second annular surface defining an outside body diameter, the ring body having a circumferential discontinuity therethrough, the discontinuity being defined by a first ring end disposed at a positive predetermined distance from a second ring end when the ring body is in free form, the predetermined distance being set such that the outside body diameter exceeds the tab diameter when the ring body is loaded such that the first ring end contacts the second ring end, the predetermined distance being further set such that the first and second ring ends remain separated by at least some of the predetermined distance when the retaining ring is initially installed in the cylinder.