End fittings for flexible drive cables

Claim 2

A flexible drive cable assembly comprising: a flexible elongate sheath; an end fitting comprising a hollow body having wall means defining a passageway that extends longitudinally of said body from one end thereof to the other end thereof and attached by said one end to an end of said flexible elongate sheath; and a flexible elongate drive shaft disposed within said sheath; the end fitting being characterized in that the wall means at said other end of the hollow body define therein a continuous closed contour for the passageway comprising a plurality of arcuate surfaces that are separated by surfaces which project slightly inwardly of the arcuate surfaces, and in that the wall means at a portion of the hollow body intermediate its ends define therein, with a continuous closed contour, an aperture extending through said wall means; said end fitting being further characterized by the provision of latching means comprising a resilient arm having at one end thereof a projection that normally extends through the aperture inwardly of the hollow body so as to terminate within said passageway; said end fitting having means holding positively fast with said hollow body an opposite end of the resilient arm, said holding means encompassing said passageway and positioning said arm longitudinally of the hollow body with said projection directed toward said passageway; said end fitting also comprising a manually operable release lever having one end free and disposed exteriorly of said passageway beyond said resilient arm, and having its other end joined to said resilient arm at a location spaced from said opposite end of the resilient arm.

Claim 3

A flexible drive cable assembly comprising: a flexible elongate sheath; an end fitting comprising a hollow body having wall means defining a passageway that extends longitudinally of said body from one end thereof to the other end thereof and attached by said one end to an end of said flexible elongate sheath; and a flexible elongate drive shaft disposed within said sheath; the end fitting being characterized in that the wall means at said other end of the hollow body define therein a continuous closed contour for the passageway and in that the wall means at a portion of the hollow body intermediate its ends define therein, with a continuous closed contour, an aperture extending through said walls means; a resilient seal disposed within the intermediate portion of the hollow body, said seal having the general form of a cylinder and being integral at one end with said intermediate portion, the opposite end being directed toward said other end of the hollow body; said end fitting being further characterized by the provision of latching means comprising a resilient arm having at one end thereof a projection that normally extends through the aperture inwardly of the hollow body so as to terminate within said passageway; said end fitting having means holding positively fast with said hollow body an opposite end of the resilient arm, said holding means encompassing said passageway and positioning said arm longitudinally of the hollow boDy with said projection directed toward said passageway; said end fitting also comprising a manually operable release lever having one end free and disposed exteriorly of said passageway beyond said resilient arm, and having its other end joined to said resilient arm at a location spaced from said opposite end of the resilient arm.

Claim 4

A flexible drive cable assembly comprising: a flexible elongate sheath; an end fitting comprising a hollow body having wall means defining a passageway that extends longitudinally of said body from one end thereof to the other end thereof and attached by said one end to an end of said flexible elongate sheath; and a flexible elongate drive shaft disposed within said sheath; the end fitting being characterized in that the wall means at said other end of the hollow body define therein a continuous closed contour for the passageway and in that the wall means at a portion of the hollow body intermediate its ends define therein, with a continuous closed contour, an aperture extending through said walls means; a resilient seal disposed within the intermediate portion of the hollow body, said seal having the general form of a cylinder and being integral at one end with said intermediate portion, the opposite end being directed toward said other end of the hollow body; said end fitting being further characterized by the provision of latching means comprising a resilient arm having at one end thereof a projection that normally extends through the aperture inwardly of the hollow body so as to terminate within said passageway; said end fitting having means holding positively fast with said hollow body an opposite end of the resilient arm, said holding means encompassing said passageway and positioning said arm longitudinally of the hollow boDy with said projection directed toward said passageway; said end fitting also comprising a manually operable release lever having one end free and disposed exteriorly of said passageway beyond said resilient arm, and having its other end joined to said resilient arm at a location spaced from said opposite end of the resilient arm.

Claim 5

An end fitting for attachment to a flexible drive cable''s outer sheath, comprising a hollow body of plastic material having: a. a first end portion for said attachment, b. a second end portion opposite said first end portion and terminating in a wall defining a continuous closed internal contour for the hollow body, c. an intermediate portion integral with and between said first and second portions to provide a generally cylindrically wall, d. a resilient cylindrical seal disposed within said intermediate portion in annularly spaced relation with respect to said generally cylindrical wall, said cylindrical seal having one annular edge integrally connected to said generally cylindrical wall and having its opposite annular edge free, e. a longitudinally directed slot having closed ends in said generally cylindrical wall, f. an elongate arm directed longitudinally of said hollow body and moulded by one end integrally with said hollow body to have at least part thereof longitudinally disposed in said slot, g. a projection moulded integrally with the other end of said arm, said projection being directed substantially radially inwardly of said generally cylindrical wall and being resiliently urged by said arm so as normally to extend through said slot and project internally of said generally cylindrical wall, h. a manually operable release lever integral at one end with said arm at a location spaced from said one end of the arm and at least adjacent said other end of the arm, and having its opposite end free and directed longitudinally of the body.

Claim 6

An end fitting for attachment to a flexible drive cable''s outer sheath, comprising a hollow body of plastic material having: a. a first end portion for said attachment, b. a second end portion opposite said first end portion and terminating in a wall defining a continuous closed internal contour for the hollow body, c. an intermediate portion integral with and between said first and second portions to provide a generally cylindrically wall, d. a resilient cylindrical seal disposed within said intermediate portion in annularly spaced relation with respect to said generally cylindrical wall, said cylindrical seal having one annular edge integrally connected to said generally cylindrical wall and having its opposite annular edge free, e. a longitudinally directed slot having closed ends in said generally cylindrical wall, f. an elongate arm directed longitudinally of said hollow body and moulded by one end integrally with said hollow body to have at least part thereof longitudinally disposed in said slot, g. a projection moulded integrally with the other end of said arm, said projection being directed substantially radially inwardly of said generally cylindrical wall and being resiliently urged by said arm so as normally to extend through said slot and project internally of said generally cylindrical wall, h. a manually operable release lever integral at one end with said arm at a location spaced from said one end of the arm and at least adjacent said other end of the arm, and having its opposite end free and directed longitudinally of the body.