Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-25
2001-10-02
Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C403S325000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295889
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to means for anchoring an elongate member to another member. The invention is made with particular reference to the anchoring of Bowden-type cables to fixed parts of the chassis or bodywork of an automobile, and the invention will be described in that context in this specification. It will, however, be appreciated that such an anchoring member can be used for anchoring many other elongate members, and many other circumstances.
As is well known, a Bowden-type cable is a device for translating a push/pull movement at one location to a push/pull movement (in the same or any different direction) at a different location, often for control purposes, and such a cable comprises a flexible conduit in which a control wire is slidable to perform the desired function. In order for the relative movement of the control wire and the conduit to take place in a controlled manner for the reliable operation of, for example, a clutch or gearbox mechanism or throttle of a motor vehicle, it is necessary that each end of the conduit should be anchored, for example to the body of the vehicle.
In particular, the practice has developed of anchoring an end of the conduit to an opening in a bracket or bulkhead across which the control cable passes.
In a particular arrangement which is known for this purpose, this arrangement being that with which the present invention is particularly concerned, the bracket or bulkhead is provided with a generally circular hole near one edge, the hole being connected to that edge by a slot whose width is the diameter of the circular hole. That edge of a bulkhead may be a peripheral edge, or it may be an edge of another, larger hole formed within the bulkhead.
An anchoring sleeve or end fitting for the Bowden-type cable may comprise a neck of a diameter which will pass into the slot, in a direction which is parallel to the plane of the bracket or bulkhead and perpendicular to the axis of the cable, and a collar which may be slid or screwed axially of the anchor fitting to abut the bulkhead adjacent the slot and thus resist withdrawal of the anchor from the slot and also axial movement of the anchor relative to that slot.
In industry in general, and in particular in the automotive industry, there is a never ending search for the simplification or speeding up of the assembly process, and as one step in this search, there has arisen the proposal as set forth in EP-A-0 703 395 (Acco La Teledynamique SA) to provide a helically tensioned spring for the automatic screwing of such a collar. Such construction is, however, somewhat complicated, and it requires accurate centering within the slot before reliable anchoring can take place.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an anchoring device in which a proper and reliable anchoring can be achieved easily and quickly.
According to the present invention, there is provided an anchoring device which is suitable for anchoring an elongate member to a flat member having a slot leading to an edge thereof, which anchoring device comprises a sleeve which is fixable coaxially around said elongate member and which is formed with a peripheral groove whose axial length is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of such flat member at said slot, such groove defining a neck which is a close fit into said slot, and at least one ring member carried by the sleeve which is axially movable along said sleeve from a position in which it is spaced from and clear of said groove into a position in which it is adjacent said groove, in which position said ring forms an interlock with a projection on said flat member such as to prevent and resist withdrawal of the anchoring sleeve from the slot in the flat member.
Such an anchoring sleeve can be secured to a said flat member constituted by a portion of a bracket or bulkhead extremely easily and quickly to form a reliable anchorage for an elongate member surrounded by the sleeve.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3631738 (1972-01-01), Harper
patent: 4339213 (1982-07-01), Gilmore
patent: 5461938 (1995-10-01), Froling et al.
patent: 5579662 (1996-12-01), Reasoner
patent: 6019014 (2000-02-01), Jenkins
patent: 40 24 062 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 0 703 395 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 1 509 287 (1978-05-01), None
patent: 1 579 840 (1980-11-01), None
patent: 98/25036 (1998-06-01), None
European Search Report dated Mar. 28, 2000.
UK Search Report dated May 22, 2000.
Adwest Bowden TSK Limited
Green Mary Ann
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
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