Lost motion drive assembly

A lost-motion drive assembly, comprising:

• a base;
• first and second driven members mounted on the base for independent movement between at least beginning and ending positions;
• an actuator disposed between the first and second driven members where the actuator is selectively positionable by a user between at least first, second and third selections, the first selection defined by both driven members being in their beginning positions, the second selection defined by the first driven member being in its ending position while the second driven member is in its beginning position, the third selection defined by both driven members being in their ending positions;
• clutch means releasably engageable between the actuator and driven members for actively driving the first driven member from its beginning to its ending position when the actuator is moved from the first to the second selection, the clutch means releasing the first driven member when the actuator is moved between the second and third selections, and for actively driving the second driven member from its ending to its beginning position when the actuator is moved from the third to the second selection, the clutch means releasing the second driven member when the actuator is moved between the first and second selections;
• a first drive lug formed on the actuator and positively engageable with the first driven member for driving the first driven member from its ending position to its beginning position when the actuator is moved from the second to the first selection;
• and
• a second drive lug formed on the actuator and positively engageable with the second driven member for driving the second driven member from its beginning to its ending position when the actuator is moved from the second to the third selection.

A lost-motion drive assembly, comprising:

• a base having a base pocket formed therein;
• upper and lower driven members mounted for movement on the base, the driven members each having a socket formed therein;
• a stationary cover having a top surface mounted adjacent the upper driven member, the top surface having a cover pocket formed therein;
• an actuator disposed between the upper and lower driven members, the actuator having upper and lower surfaces adjacent said driven members with an upper and a lower actuator pocket formed in the upper and lower surfaces respectively, the actuator being selectively positionable by a user, with the upper actuator pocket being moveable into and out of alignment with the cover pocket and upper socket and the lower actuator pocket being moveable into and out of alignment with the base pocket and lower socket;
• upper and lower drive lugs formed on the actuator and engageable with the upper and lower driven members respectively;
• and
• a lower ball disposed in the lower socket and engageable with the base or lower actuator pockets when aligned therewith and an upper ball disposed in the upper socket and engageable with the cover or upper actuator pockets when aligned therewith.

A lost-motion drive assembly, comprising:

• a base having first and second driven members mounted thereon for independent movement in forward or reverse directions;
• a user-positionable actuator mounted on the base for movement in forward or reverse directions;
• clutch means responsive to movement of said actuator in one direction for engaging and moving only a leading one of said driven members from a first position to a second position, the clutch means comprising first and second balls carried in sockets formed in the first and second driven members, and first and second pockets formed in the actuator, said balls being engageable with the pockets to releasably connect the driven members for movement with the actuator;
• drive means responsive to continued movement of said actuator in said one direction for engaging and moving only a trailing other of said driven members from a first position to a second position.