Patent ID: 7360634

Claim:
A frictional engagement device for frictional inter-engagement between two mutually movable parts ( 13 , 14 ), comprising: a lever mechanism operable by a first ( 13 ) of the two parts so as to exert counter-directed pressing forces towards portions of both of the two parts, the lever mechanism including a lever ( 25 ) having a free lever end ( 27 ) and opposite thereto a part-cylindrical convex surface ( 31 ) journalled in a corresponding part-cylindrical concave bearing surface ( 33 ) of a block-shaped pressure member ( 32 ) slidable along a surface ( 36 b ) of a second ( 14 ) of the two parts, the lever ( 25 ) being reciprocatingly rotatable about an axis (C 2 ) common to the part-cylindrical surfaces ( 31 , 33 ) and having a contact portion ( 37 ) eccentric in relation to said axis (C 2 ), the contact portion ( 37 ) contacting a portion ( 30 ′) of the second part ( 14 ) upon actuation of the lever, the part-cylindrical convex surface ( 31 ) journalled in the corresponding part-cylindrical concave bearing surface ( 33 ) by means of rolling bodies ( 34 ); and an escape arrangement preventing an escape of the rolling bodies ( 34 ), comprising i) a lip ( 42 a ) provided on said pressure member ( 32 ), said lip preventing escape of the rolling bodies ( 34 ) in one direction, and ii) flanges ( 28 ) provided with other lips ( 28 a ) preventing escape of the rolling bodies ( 34 ) in another direction, wherein, the rolling bodies ( 34 ) maintain the convex surface ( 31 ) and the concave bearing surface ( 33 ) at a distance from each other preventing a metallic contact being established between the convex surface ( 31 ) and the concave bearing surface ( 33 ).