Patent ID: 7658176

Claim:
A starter device for an internal combustion engine, the starter device comprising: a drive element and an output element, wherein the drive element comprises a device for rotatingly driving the starter device and wherein the output element is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and comprises coupling means for releasably coupling the starter device to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a coil spring arranged in operative connection between the drive element and the output element, wherein the coil spring is arranged in an axial direction between a first abutment at the drive element and a second abutment at the output element and wherein the coil spring has a first end resting against the first abutment and a second end resting against the second abutment; wherein the first and second abutments have a first spacing relative to one another at least at one circumferential location in a first area of the first and second abutments and have a second spacing relative to one another in a second area of the first and second abutments, wherein the first and second spacings are measured parallel to the axis of rotation, respectively, wherein the first spacing is smaller than the second spacing, and wherein the first area is located radially outside of the second areas; wherein the coil spring has a relaxed state and a tensioned state, wherein the coil spring in the tensioned state has a smaller diameter than in the relaxed state; and wherein the first and second ends of the coil spring in the relaxed state rest in said first area of the first and second abutments and in the tensioned state rest in said second area of the first and second abutments.