Patent ID: 7806247

Claim:
A coupling element for use in a motor vehicle gearbox, which coupling element has coupling teeth that are distributed circumferentially and that extend longitudinally in a direction corresponding at least substantially to the axial direction of the gearbox, the coupling teeth being configured and arranged such that, upon engagement with coupling teeth on an interacting coupling element, they rotationally lock an element that is otherwise rotatable within the gearbox, wherein a tip portion of each of said coupling teeth tapers longitudinally over at least a part of the longitudinal extent of the tooth such that the cross-sectional area of the tooth, taken in a cutting plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tooth, gradually shrinks or diminishes, and wherein, over said at least a part of the longitudinal extent of the tooth, the opposite flanks of each of the coupling teeth have 1) non-tapering first portions nearest the tooth root having a first pressure angle and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tooth, and 2) longitudinally tapering second portions extending from said non-tapering first portions to the tooth tip and having a greater pressure angle than the first portions, the longitudinally tapering second portions being angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the tooth such that said tip portion tapers longitudinally over said at least a part of the longitudinal extent of the tooth.