Teleflex, Inc.

Larry W Kelley

Grant A Webb

Joseph M Laperriere

Edward C Simon

Randy Watkins

A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) includes a flexible tubular conduit (12) and a flexible core element (14) slidably disposed in the conduit (12). An end fitting (18) is molded about one end of the conduit (12) and includes an expander tip (20) with a tip rib (22). An expandable retainer (28) having a collar (34) and cantilever legs (36) extending from the collar (34), is disposed about the end fitting (18). Wedge surfaces (42) internally of the legs (36) react against the expander tip (20) and the tip rib (22) of the end fitting (18) to blossom outwardly into gripping engagement with the edges of a hole (30) in a support bracket (32). The fully-blossomed and expanded legs (36) seat behind the tip rib (22) to lock the retainer (28) in place on the end fitting (18). A retainer rib (50) is disposed within the collar (34) and attaches the retainer (28) to the end fitting (18) in an unspread, preoperative position ready for subsequent expansion and attachment to the hole (30) in the support bracket (32).

Expandable retainer for conduit end fitting

A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) includes a core terminal (20) composed of a slider (26) and a sleeve (46). Flexible cantilever fingers (48) extend from the sleeve (46) and are inserted into an aperture (22) in the top of an accelerator pedal (16). A compression spring (64) is disposed between the sleeve (46) and the slider (26) for providing over travel protection. Splines (42) are positioned along the slider (26) to support the sleeve (46) as it slides thereover during operation. The improvement of this invention resides in distal tips (50) of the fingers (48) which angle into a protective position seated behind the end stop flange (34) of the slider (26). This arrangement allows the end stop flange (34) to center the terminal (20) as it is pushed through the aperture (22) in the accelerator pedal (16), instead of using the fingers (48) to center the terminal (20), thereby reducing the potential for misalignment or incomplete connection. The fingers (48) readily expand over the end stop flange (34) during the initial assembly phase when the slider (26) is first coupled to the sleeve (46). The compression spring (64) forces the distal tips (50) of the fingers (48) into abutting contact with the end stop flange (34) and holds them in this position during subsequent connection to the accelerator pedal (16).

Cable assembly with telescoping core terminal

A motion transmitting remote control assembly for park brake applications includes a conduit slidably supporting a core element and having an end fitting disposed on each end of the conduit. The end fitting includes a seal body formed of a relatively resilient organic polymeric material and a frame disposed about the seal body and formed of a different and relatively more rigid organic polymeric material and having a plurality of snap-in locking fingers to engage behind a surface of a support structure upon advancing the locking fingers through an aperture of the support structure. A connector member is molded from an organic polymeric material in place simultaneously about each of the seal body and frame and about the end of the conduit to provide an interconnection therebetween and to provide a transverse abutment surface spaced longitudinally from bearing surfaces of the snap-in locking fingers for engaging an opposite surface of the support structure.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Larry W Kelley