Clutch device with claw member for selectively locking rings

A clutch device comprising:

• an inner ring formed around a central axis;
• an outer ring formed around the inner ring,
• wherein a first ring among the inner ring and the outer ring has a toothed surface extending in a circumferential direction around the central axis, that faces a second ring among the inner ring and the outer ring,
• wherein the toothed surface of the first ring includes a plurality of teeth arranged in the circumferential direction that protrude toward the second ring, and recesses arranged between the plurality of teeth,
• wherein a given tooth among the plurality of teeth is located between a first recess and a second recess among the plurality of recesses,
• wherein the given tooth includes:
• a first surface extending substantially radially adjacent to the first recess;
• a second surface extending substantially radially adjacent to the second recess;
• and a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface to face the second ring, and
• wherein the given tooth has a first height at a first end of the third surface adjacent to the first surface, taken in a radial direction of the first ring relative to the first recess, and a second height at a second end of the third surface adjacent to the second surface, taken in the radial direction relative to the second recess, and wherein the first height is greater than the second height;
• and
• a pair of claw members that are moveably coupled to the second ring, to selectively lock the first ring relative to the second ring by engaging the toothed surface of the first ring.

A clutch device comprising:

• an inner ring formed around a central axis;
• an outer ring formed around the inner ring,
• wherein a first ring among the inner ring and the outer ring has a toothed surface extending in a circumferential direction around the central axis, that faces a second ring among the inner ring and the outer ring,
• wherein the toothed surface of the first ring includes a plurality of teeth arranged in the circumferential direction to protrude toward the second ring, and
• wherein a given tooth among the plurality of teeth has an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape and forms an abutment surface that extends substantially radially relative to the central axis;
• and
• a claw member that is coupled to the second ring to move between a retracted position wherein the claw member is spaced away from the first ring and a contact position wherein the claw member is biased toward the first ring to cause the claw member to abut against the abutment surface of the given tooth, so as to selectively lock the first ring relative to the second ring in a given rotational direction.