Flex Technologies, Inc.

Christopher H Corbett

Bruce H Moore

Scott E Frye

James T Quinlan

Thomas L Welsh

Brent A Balika

James I Seeley

Thomas A Marcincavage

A push-pull control cable assembly having a casing of a predetermined length with a core slidably received therein. A push-through-to-lock anchor fitting is provided at each end of the casing. A fixedly positioned terminal end fitting is secured to the core through an end rod. The fixedly positioned terminal end fitting employs a receiver with a blind bore. A slot in the receiver transversely intersects the blind bore, and a locking tab is received in the slot to be selectively slidable between first and second positions. The locking tab has an aperture. The aperture permits a connecting spur to be inserted therein and withdrawn therefrom when the locking tab is in its first position. The aperture engages the connecting spur to preclude withdrawal thereof when the locking tab is in its second position. A selectively positionable terminal end fitting is secured to the core through another end rod. The selectively positionable terminal end fitting has a housing. A concave race extends circumferentially within the housing, and ports open transversely through the concave race. An annular connecting ring is received within the concave race for limited circumferential and transverse rotation relative to the concave race. The connecting ring receives a grooved end rod extending through the ports. An adjusting member having a plurality of dogs is removably secured within the connecting ring. The dogs selectively engage the grooved end rod to preclude removal of the end rod from the connecting ring.

Push-pull control cable assembly with quick-release terminal fittings

A connector assembly includes a connector having an inner member with first and second open ends and a bore extending therebetween. The inner member is formed of a material which is impervious to a particular fluid to flow through the connector assembly. An outer member encapsulates the inner member and is formed of a material dissimilar from the material of the inner member, which material resists abrasions and other deleterious elements to which the connector is exposed. Flexible retaining latches are formed integrally on the outer member of the connector and snap over an annular projection formed on a tubular conduit upon insertion of the conduit through the first open end and into the bore of the inner member. An elastomeric seal disposed in the bore of the inner member provides a fluid tight seal between the conduit and inner member. Another elastomeric seal is located within the bore of the inner member adjacent the second open end, and provides a fluid tight seal with a tubular member inserted therein. The tubular member may be a multi-wall conduit of dissimilar materials to provide both physical protection and prevent effusion. The connector is formed by a method of premolding the inner member of a first plastic material and then inserting the elastomeric seals and metal washer therein. Next, the inner member is placed in a mold cavity and the outer member is molded about and encapsulates the inner member and secures the seals and metal washer within the inner member. A rigid one-piece plastic retaining clip may be slidably mounted within aligned apertures in one end of the connector to removably secure an end of the tubular conduct therein with the metal washer securing the tubular member within the other end of the connector.

Connector assembly and method of manufacture

A clip for retaining a conduit trapped in an end of a connector has a pair of resilient legs extending from an arcuate-shaped end member which occupies a relatively small amount of space around the periphery of the connector when the clip is connected thereto. Each of the legs includes an end finger which forms an acute angle with an outside edge of the leg and which locks around the outside of the connector housing when the clip is inserted in one of a pair of opposed slots or apertures formed in the housing. A guide tab extends from the end member and slides into a channel formed in the connector housing to insure that the clip faces the correct direction when inserted into the connector. The legs have chamfered inner front surfaces which slidably engage a front end of the conduit to allow the conduit to deflect the legs apart and slidably move between the legs. A flat back surface of the clip legs cooperates with an enlarged annular collar of the conduit to retain the conduit within the connector. The conduit is released by applying an inward pressure to the end member of the clip whereby a pair of nubs which extend from outer ends of the end member produce a camming action with the connector and deflect the legs outwardly a sufficient distance to allow the retaining collar of the conduit to pass between the legs with the clip remaining installed in the connector.

Retainer clip for a connector

A rotary controlled motion transmission assembly is mounted behind the dashboard of a vehicle and has a knob that extends through the dashboard for rotary actuation by an occupant of the vehicle to move a bulkhead door for controlling the environment within the vehicle. The knob is connected to a cam plate having first and second ramps which rotate upon rotation of the knob. A pair of spring biased plungers, each having a camming surface, operatively engage respective ramps. A pair of cables are connected to the plungers and extend along a circuitous path within flexible conduits to a receiver assembly, such that axial translation of the plungers upon rotation of the control knob, results in axial translation of the cables. The cables are connected to a pulley mounted on a shaft which is connected to the bulkhead door for opening and closing of the door. When the knob is turned, the ramp surfaces move the plungers in opposing directions whereby the cables are moved in opposing directions thereby rotating the pulley within the receiver assembly, to move the bulkhead door.

Rotary controlled motion transmission assembly

An improved assembly and method for the adjustment of a casing of the type having a cable slideably mounted therein to remove excess slack from the casing. The cable and casing circuitously extend between a lever of a vehicle temperature control module and a temperature control door movably mounted on a forward bulkhead of the vehicle. A first mounting member is attached adjacent to the control module lever and contains a first tang ring for slideably receiving a movable end of the casing. A second mounting member immovably mounts the other end of the casing adjacent to the bulkhead door. The first tang ring permits movement of the movable end of the casing therethrough in a first direction for removing slack from the casing, upon a predetermined amount of force being exerted on the casing by manual adjustment of the control module lever in a predetermined direction. The first tang ring maintains the casing in an adjusted position by restraining movement thereof in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A movable locking member contains a second tang ring and is slideably mounted on the casing adjacent to and spaced from the first mounting member. After movement of the casing in the first direction to its adjusted position, the locking member is manually moved into abutment with the first mounting member so that the casing subsequently is restrained from additional movement in the first direction by the tang ring of the locking member.

Assembly and method for the adjustment of a cable casing

A process for making an article having an irregular internal passage utilizes a hollow polymer preform. The preform is filled with a relatively incompressible filler material such as a powder or a fluid, which supports the preform when it is placed in a mold, e.g. an injection mold. The filler enables the preform to withstand high molding pressures and prevents deflection and movement of the internal passage within the preform. The shell, a layer of a polymer material is then molded about the preform. After the final article has been formed, consisting of the preform and shell, the filler is removed for possible reuse.

Growing community of inventors

New Philadelphia, OH, United States of America

Christopher H Corbett