Patent ID: 8516921
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A shift cable assembly, comprising: a conduit, a core received within the conduit, a rod coupled to an end of the core, a slide tube in which the rod is received; a multi-directional connector having a housing coupled to the rod, the housing having a first surface with a first opening and a second surface with a second opening, a cavity communicated between the first and second openings so that the cavity is adapted to receive a component through either one of the first and second openings, and a fastener extending into the cavity between the first and second openings to engage a component received in the cavity and retain the component relative to the housing, the housing being connectable to the component in the same manner whether the component is received in the first opening or second opening, wherein the fastener is a wire clip that is evenly spaced between the first opening and the second opening, the wire clip including a pair of opposed legs having first and second ends, and wherein the first and second ends of the wire clip extend outwardly from an aperture whereby the first and second ends are movable relative to each other to spread apart the opposed legs from each other and facilitate removal of the component from the housing, wherein the housing has a barb for holding the wire clip in the housing, and the housing has a pocket communicated with the cavity opposite the aperture, so that the fastener is received through the aperture, the cavity, into the pocket and behind the barb; and wherein the barb has a ramped surface extending from the cavity toward the pocket, and a catch spaced apart from the cavity, so that the fastener during assembly slides over the ramped surface and engages the catch.