Patent ID: 7124658

Claim:
A steplessly variable transmission comprising: an input body rotatable about an input-element axis; an output body rotatable about an output-body axis and movable between a position with the axes coaxial and a position with the axes substantially parallel and offset from each other; an annular formation on one of the input body and the output body and centered on the axis of the one body; a plurality of guides rotationally coupled to the other of the input body and the output body and angularly equispaced about the axis of the other body; respective control elements displaceable in the guides, angularly coupled to the other body, and each displaceable relative to the other body between a torque-transmitting position engaging the annular formation and rotationally coupling the bodies and a no-load position disengaged from and out of contact with the formation; and a controller selectively engageable with the control elements for displacing same between the engaged and disengaged positions.