Patent ID: 8419589

Claim:
A continuously-variable transmission comprising: a driven member configured to receive a force to cause rotary motion of the driven member; and a driver roller configured to impart the force to cause rotary motion of the driven member, the drive roller movable relative to the driven member to continuously vary the speed of the rotary motion of the driven member, the driver roller including: a plurality of movable contact members each having an inner end configured to contact the driver roller, an outer end configured to contact the driven member; a plurality of rigid force delivery members extending laterally outward from opposing sides of each of the plurality of movable contact members, the force delivery members configured to transfer force from the driver roller to the plurality of movable contact members, and to operate the plurality of movable contact members to: position the outer ends of the movable contact members in contact with the driven member while the inner ends of the movable contact members are in contact with the driver roller; orient the contact members into self-locking positions such that the contact members lock the driver roller and driven members together; and an indexing ring movably coupled to the driver roller and in contact with the inner ends of the movable contact members to adjust the angle at which the plurality of movable contact members approach the driven member.