Patent ID: 8776972

Claim:
A torque converter comprising: a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine; a stator located between the impeller and the turbine; a drive plate: directly non-rotatably connected to the cover at a first portion of the drive plate; and, arranged to receive the torque from the cover; a lock-up clutch including a piston, the piston axially displaceable to open and close the lock-up clutch and having a portion located radially outward of the drive plate; a leaf spring arranged for transferring torque between said drive plate and piston while enabling relative axial movement between said piston and said drive plate; a connection member: consisting of a single piece of material; connected to the drive plate at a second portion of the drive plate radially outward of the first portion; and, fixedly connecting said leaf spring to said piston, wherein: the drive plate is axially located between the cover and the piston; said connection member extends axially through a first hole in said drive plate; a gap is formed between said connection member and an edge of said first hole; and, said connection member is operatively arranged to close said gap and engage with the drive plate for both preventing said leaf spring from buckling and at least partially transferring said torque directly between said drive plate and said piston.