NOISE REDUCING CABLE SPLITTER

• US 20200132108A1
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leggett & Platt Canada Co. (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Leggett & Platt Canada Co. (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ficyk, Eugene John
• Granted Patent: US 10,920,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/36 Noise prevention; Anti-rattling means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/12 Inner door handles
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/101 Intermediate connectors for joining portions of split flexible shafts and/or sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/106 Plurality of transmitting means, e.g. two or more parallel "Bowden cables"
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/108 Reducing or controlling of vibrations, e.g. by resilient damping of noise
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/12 Arrangements for transmitting movement to or from the flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/262 End fittings; Attachment thereof to the sheathing or tube

Abstract

A latching system includes a first lever connected to a first cable having a first cable end, a second lever connected to a second cable having a second cable end, a latch connected to a third cable having a third cable end, and a cable splitter assembly. The cable splitter assembly has a housing with a first end and a second end and a body with an interior surface defining an interior chamber. A carriage is configured to translate within the interior chamber. The carriage includes a carriage body with a plurality of cavities arranged to seat the respective first, second, and third cable ends and a plurality of resilient arms integrally formed as one piece with the carriage body.

Claims

1. A latching system comprising:

a first lever connected to a first cable having a first cable end;

a second lever connected to a second cable having a second cable end;

a latch connected to a third cable having a third cable end; and

a cable splitter assembly, the assembly including

a housing having a first end and a second end and a body with an interior surface defining an interior chamber;

a carriage configured to translate within the interior chamber, the carriage having a carriage body with a plurality of cavities arranged to seat the respective first, second, and third cable ends and a plurality of resilient arms integrally formed as one piece with the carriage body.

2. The latching system of claim 1, wherein the carriage body includes a first side and an opposing second side, and wherein the plurality of resilient arms are integrally formed as part of the first side.

3. The latching system of claim 2, wherein each resilient arm of the plurality of resilient arms includes a contact surface disposed between the respective resilient arm and the interior surface.

4. The latching system of claim 2, wherein each resilient arm of the plurality of resilient arms includes a contact member extending away from the first side.

5. The latching system of claim 1, wherein the carriage further includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the carriage body further includes a plurality of channels, each channel in communication with one cavity of the plurality of cavities.

6. The latching system of claim 5, wherein each cavity is formed at one of the first end or the second end, and wherein an associated channel extends from the other of the first end or second end to the cavity.

7. The latching system of claim 1, further including

a first terminal at the first cable end;

a second terminal at the second cable end; and

a third terminal at the third cable end,

wherein each of the first, second, and third terminals is configured to sit within a respective cavity of the plurality of cavities and includes a vibration-reducing component.

8. The latching system of claim 7, wherein each vibration-reducing component is in the form of a ring positioned at least partially around a portion of each respective terminal.

9. The latching system of claim 8, wherein each ring is formed of an elastomeric material.

10. A carriage for a cable splitter assembly, the assembly including a housing containing an interior chamber, the carriage configured to translate within the interior chamber and comprising a carriage body with a plurality of recesses, each recess arranged to seat a cable terminal end and forming, in conjunction with the carriage body, a resilient arm.

11. The carriage of claim 10, wherein the carriage further includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the carriage body further includes a plurality of channels, each channel in communication with one recess of the plurality of recesses.

12. The carriage of claim 11, wherein each recess is formed at one of the first end or the second end, and wherein an associated channel extends from the other of the first end or second end to the recess.

13. The carriage of claim 10, wherein each arm is biased away from the one side.

14. The carriage of claim 10, wherein each arm is formed to at least partially extend away from the carriage body.

15. A cable splitter subassembly comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end and a body with an interior surface defining a bounded interior chamber; and

a carriage configured to translate within the bounded interior chamber, the carriage having a carriage body with a plurality of cavities, each cavity arranged to seat a cable terminal end, and a plurality of resilient arms extending from the carriage body, each arm including a contact surface configured to contact a portion of the interior chamber during translation of the carriage within the housing.

16. The cable splitter subassembly of claim 15, wherein the second end includes an opening, the subassembly further including a cap configured to cover the opening, wherein the cap includes a plurality of cap channels extending therethrough such that in an assembled state of the cap with the housing the bounded interior chamber is in communication with an environment external to the housing.

17. The cable splitter subassembly of claim 16, wherein the carriage further includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the carriage body further includes a plurality of channels, each channel in communication with a cavity of the plurality of cavities.

18. The cable splitter subassembly of claim 15, wherein each contact surface is a portion of a contact member formed at the end of each arm.