Power strut assembly

A power strut assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a first strut member having a joined outer wall defining an interior cavity, the first strut member extending from a first end to a second end, the first end including a base wall joined to the outer wall;
• a second strut member having a joined outer wall defining an interior cavity, the second strut member extending from a first end to a second end, the second strut member telescopically disposed within the interior cavity of the first strut member;
• a lead screw extending from a first end to a second end, the lead screw rotatively retained at the first end of the first strut member and extending into the interior cavities of the first and second strut members;
• a clutch retained by the second strut member, the lead screw positioned to interact with the clutch;
• wherein the clutch is movable between a disengaged position relative to the lead screw where the clutch is free to travel longitudinally along a length of the lead screw and an engaged position where rotation of the lead screw translates to longitudinal motion of the second strut member relative to the first strut member.

A clutch assembly moveable between disengaged and engaged positions, the clutch assembly comprising:

• a housing having top and bottom members having a central aperture receiving a lead screw, the top member and bottom member having guide elements formed therein;
• at least two thread members disposed within the housing, the thread members including an inner contact surface, and top and bottom surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces having corresponding guide elements formed thereon;
• a pair of friction members disposed on the top and bottom members of the housing and about the lead screw, the friction members associated with the thread members, the friction members contacting the lead screw;
• wherein the clutch assembly is free to travel up and down the lead screw in the disengaged position and wherein rotation of the lead screw causes rotation of the thread members wherein the corresponding guide elements of the thread members interact with the guide elements of the top and bottom members of the housing causing the inner contact surface of the thread members to engage and disengage the lead screw.

A drive assembly comprising:

• a first drive member having a joined outer wall defining an interior cavity, the first drive member extending from a first end to a second end, the first end including a base wall joined to the outer wall;
• a second drive member having a joined outer wall defining an interior cavity, the second drive member extending from a first end to a second end, the second drive member telescopically disposed within the interior cavity of the first drive member;
• a lead screw extending from a first end to a second end, the lead screw rotatively retained at the first end of the first drive member and extending into the interior cavities of the first and second drive members;
• a clutch retained by the second drive member, the lead screw positioned to interact with the clutch;
• wherein the clutch is movable between a disengaged position relative to the lead screw where the clutch is free to travel longitudinally along a length of relative to the lead screw and an engaged position where rotation of the lead screw translates to longitudinal motion of the second drive member relative to the first drive member.