Patent ID: 6802398
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
A cable release apparatus for a locking mechanism having a shaft rotatable about an axis of the shaft between a first angular position where the locking mechanism is disengaged and a second position where the locking mechanism is engaged, the cable release apparatus comprising:a lever having one end thereof fixedly attached to the shaft and extending outward from the shaft for applying a force to the lever for rotating the shaft back and forth through an angular displacement between the first and second angular positions; the lever including an edge having a point of contact traveling in an arcuate path as the lever rotates the shaft back and forth through the angular displacement between the first and second angular positions; cable means including a cable operatively connected to the lever for allowing the shaft to rotate freely back and forth through the angular displacement of the shaft between the first and second angular positions without movement of the cable from a non-engaged position of the cable, and for engaging and applying a tensile force from the cable to the lever for rotating the shaft to the first position from any point in the angular displacement between the first and second angular positions of the shaft; spring means for urging the cable toward the non-engaged position of the cable; means for operatively applying tension from the cable to the point of contact on the lever for moving the shaft in a direction toward the second angular position; a cam attached to the cable for engaging the point of contact on the lever; guide means for guiding the cam along an arcuate path corresponding to the arcuate path of the point of contact of the lever; and a housing attached to the locking mechanism, and having a surface adjacent the lever defining the guide means; the guide means including a groove in the surface of the housing having an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate shaped path of the point of contact on the lever; the cam having a first section thereof configured for engaging the point of contact on the lever, and a second section thereof slidingly supported in the groove in the housing.