Noise reducing cable splitter

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.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a multi-cable splitter assembly, such as those used in connection with interior automotive cables.

Many automotive systems such as door and seat latches use cable splitters to efficiently function. Multi-cable splitter assemblies, however, tend to have components that slide or are otherwise loose within the assembly casing, and in current assemblies this produces objectionable noise like buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR).

SUMMARY

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.

A carriage for a cable splitter assembly, in which the assembly includes a housing containing an interior chamber and the carriage is configured to translate within the interior chamber, includes a carriage body with a plurality of recesses. Each recess is arranged to seat a cable terminal end and forms, in conjunction with the carriage body, a resilient arm.

A cable splitter subassembly includes a housing having a first end and a second end and a body with an interior surface defining a bounded interior chamber. A carriage is configured to translate within the bounded interior chamber and has a carriage body with a plurality of cavities. Each cavity is arranged to seat a cable terminal end and a plurality of resilient arms extend from the carriage body. Each arm includes a contact surface configured to contact a portion of the interior chamber during translation of the carriage within the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1depicts a lever/latch cable system10comprising a plurality (three illustrated) of tensioning devices50A-50C connected by a cable splitter assembly100. The devices can be a combination of levers, latches, or other tension driven devices as the application demands. Referring also toFIGS. 2-4, the cable splitter assembly100includes a housing110, a cap140, a carriage or carrier170, and three cable assemblies200A-200C.

The housing110includes a housing body112generally elongated in shape from a first open end114to a second open end118. In particular, the body112“necks” down near the second open end118such that the second open end118is a generally cylindrical portion of the body112having a lesser width than the remainder of the body112in at least one direction. The body112has an interior surface122, which defines an interior chamber126therein and includes a stop surface130(FIG. 5) adjacent the second open end118. A pair of apertures134A,134B adjacent the first open end114extend through the body112to the interior chamber126.

With continued reference toFIGS. 2-4, the cap140includes a first end144, a second end148, an exterior surface152, and a pair of channels156A,156B therethrough from the first end144to the second end148. The first end144is sized to cover the opening of the first open end114. The exterior surface152presents an opposing pair of protrusions168A,168B.

The carriage170, further illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B, includes a body174, a first side178, a second side180, a first end182, and a second end184. Integrally formed as one piece with the body174and with the first side178are resilient or flexible tabs or arms186A-186C, each with a knob or contact member190A-190C, respectively, projecting away from the first side178and with a contact surface192A-192C. Alternatively, the body174can be described as including resilient or flexible arms186A-186C extending therefrom and having contact members190A-190C. Yet alternatively, the body174includes cavities or recesses194A-194C that thereby form resilient arms186A-186C of the body174. In some embodiments, each arm186A,186B,186C is biased directionally away from the body174. In some embodiments, each arm186A,186B,186C is formed to at least partially extend away from the body174.

The carriage170further includes a first channel198A extending from the first cavity194A to the second end184, a second channel198B extending from the second cavity194B to the second end184, and a third channel198C extending from the third cavity194C to the first end182. In other words, channels198A-198C in combination with associated cavities194A-194C extend effectively through the body174from the first end182to the second end184.

FIG. 8shows the three cable assemblies200A-200C. Each cable assembly includes a terminal end or terminal214, a vibration or noise reducing component or bumper or ring218, and a cable222. The terminal includes a groove or channel230near or adjacent a terminal end234of each terminal214. The bumper218is an annular member or toroidal member made of elastomeric or other relatively soft or resilient material and configured to at least partially fit within an associated groove230of a terminal214. In other embodiments, the bumper218may be a rubber or elastomeric cap, an over molded cap, or a collar-like structure about a portion of the terminal214. The terminal ends234are sized such that they cannot slide within a channel198.

In assembly, the cable222of assembly200C passes through open end118of the housing110, through the housing110, and through channel198C of the carriage170, at which point it is joined or coupled to the associated terminal214in a conventional manner. The cables222of assemblies200A and200B likewise pass through channels156A,156B, respectively, of the cap140and thereafter through channels198A,198B, respectively, of the carriage170, at which point they are joined to respective terminals214. Bumpers218can be assemble onto terminals214beforehand or afterward. The assemblies200A-200C and carriage170are positioned within the chamber126and the cap140inserted into the first open end114. Specifically, the cap140is configured to cover the opening of the first open end114. The exterior surface152of the cap140contacts the interior surface122of the housing110, and the cap140is aligned so that each protrusion168A,168B on the exterior surface152is received by an aperture134A,134B of the housing110, securing the cap140in place. In this embodiment, the cap140is removably coupled to the housing110via a snapping mechanism. In other embodiments, the cap140may be press fit to the housing110, or hinged, or clasped, or otherwise removably coupled to the housing110.

Once assembled, the carriage170is confined between the stop surface130and the second end148of the cap140. The cables222may be previously connected to the respective tensioning devices50A-50C or may be connected at any time during or after assembly of the splitter assembly100.

In operation, the carriage170is configured to slide within the interior chamber126between the stop surface130and the second end148of the cap140dependent on forces applied to the cables222.

Specifically, referring toFIG. 9A, tensioning device50C is a lever and tensioning devices50A and50B are latches. In this arrangement, pulling lever50C results in cable assembly200C pulling splitter assembly100leftward (in this reference frame), thereby pulling both of latches50A,50B. As carriage170translates within interior chamber126, the contact surfaces192A-192C of flexible tabs or arms186A-186C, which are each disposed between a respective arm and the interior surface122, lightly contact a portion of interior surface122to limit or impede non-translatory movement of the carriage170within the housing110, i.e., hindering any non-linear or non-translatory movement (movement not aligned with the direction of tension of cable assembly200C) or impact between surfaces of the carriage170and the interior surface122. The flexible arms186A-186C therefore operate to minimize or eliminate clearance between the carriage170and the interior surface122.

Referring toFIGS. 9B-9C, tensioning devices50A and50B are levers and tensioning device50C is a latch. As shown inFIG. 9B, pulling lever50A rightward causes cable assembly200A to pull carriage170rightward, which brings with it cable assembly200C and latch50C. The flexible tabs or arms186A-186C cooperate with the interior surface122as previously described. Moreover, cable assembly200B, and more precisely associated terminal214, releases or slides from its seated position within the carriage170(essentially remaining in place) and may thereby be loose within the interior chamber126. Bumper218, which protrudes from the normal contour of the terminal214, reduces the noise or vibration associated with any contact between the terminal214and the interior surface122. Pulling lever50B (FIG. 9C) results in the same effect between the terminal214of cable assembly200A and the interior surface122.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cable splitter assembly100contains a total of three cable assemblies200A-200C arranged in a two to one conversion structure. In other embodiments, however, the cable splitter assembly100may contain just two cables with a one to one structure, or any other number of cables in a similar conversion structure (for example, six cables, with two on one side and four on the other, three on one side and three on the other, one on one side and five on the other, etc. with all other parts scaled and adapted accordingly, i.e., a carriage with a sufficient number of cavities and resilient arms as previously described.