Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-02-20
Lorence, Richard M. (Department: 3681)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C074S502400, C074S502600, C403S011000, C029S434000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189406
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally pertains to motor vehicles and more particularly to an apparatus having an improved Bowden cable coupling device and a method for assembling Bowden cables to same.
2. Discussion
Flexible cables are presently used throughout motor vehicles and other consumer goods to as a means for remotely actuating a devices which are placed in areas which are inconvenient or dangerous to access. Examples of such devices include door unlatching mechanisms, throttle controls, fuel tank or vehicle hood access latches, etc. The use of flexible cables is highly desirable due to the fact that they can be integrated into a device at typically low costs and due to their flexible nature, readily adapt to variances in the product being produced which would otherwise cause binding and inconsistent operation of the device were a rigid linkage to be employed.
One significant drawback to the use of such flexible cables, however, has been in situations where several cables are employed in a relatively small area. Under such circumstances, the relative inability of assemblers and technicians to distinguish between the different cables often results in assembly errors in which two or more cables are incorrectly coupled to the device.
Consequently, there remains a need in the art for an improved apparatus for retaining flexible wire cables and a method for assembling flexible wire cables to same which substantially reduces the opportunity for assembly errors where several of such flexible wire cables are used in a relatively small area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for retaining Bowden cables which reduces the opportunity for assembly errors where several of such cables are utilized.
It is another general object of the present invention to provide a method for coupling a plurality of Bowden cables to a device in a manner which substantially reduces the opportunity for assembly errors where several of such cables are utilized.
The apparatus and method of the present invention employ a first Bowden cable retention member to retain the first cable member of a first Bowden cable and a second Bowden cable retention member to retain the second cable member of a second Bowden cable. The first Bowden cable retention member is sized to receive the first cable member, but not the second cable member. The manner in which the first cable member is sized may relate to a particular dimension, such as diameter or length or its overall shape in relation to the corresponding particular dimension or overall shape of the second cable member.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 3570324 (1971-03-01), Conrad
patent: 4838110 (1989-06-01), Koukal et al.
patent: 4961354 (1990-10-01), Yoshigai
patent: 5203068 (1993-04-01), Siring
patent: 5802928 (1998-09-01), Tame
patent: 5816109 (1998-10-01), Dege
patent: 6079767 (2000-06-01), Faubert et al.
Brock Waine T.
Faubert Robert J.
Kapes Richard C.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Fuller III Roland A.
Lorence Richard M.
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