A bicycle cable connecting apparatus

Abstract: A connecting member includes an outer casing support portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a casing support opening for supporting the outer casing of the control cable. A wire guiding projection extends from the second end of the outer casing support portion along a first connecting member axis. The wire guiding projection includes a first side wall extending in the direction of the first connecting member axis, a second side wall extending in the direction of the first connecting member axis and opposite the first side wall, a third side wall extending in a direction of the first connecting member axis, a fourth side wall extending in a direction of the first connecting member axis and opposite the third side wall, and an inner wire passage for receiving the inner wire therethrough. A distance between the first side wall and the second side wall is less than a distance between the third side wall and the fourth side wall. A first abutment is formed at a junction of the second end of the outer casing support portion and wire guiding projection and faces at least in part in a direction of the first connecting member axis away from the first end, and a retaining structure different from the first side wall and the second side wall is immovably disposed at the first abutment. The retaining structure rotates with the first connecting member and forms a second abutment facing at least in part in a circumferential direction.

Description: The present invention is directed to cable connecting devices and, more particularly, to a bicycle cable connecting apparatus. In their simplest forms, connectors are used to connect one cable to another. In more complicated cable assemblies such as Bowden cable assemblies where an inner wire slides within an outer casing, it is sometimes necessary to connect the entire cable assembly to another cable assembly or to connect the outer casing to another tubular member while the inner wire is connected to some other structure. An example of the latter is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,833,937. That patent discloses a connector having a first portion for terminating the outer casing of a Bowden cable and a threaded second portion that screws into another structure. While such a connector reliably connects the outer casing to the other structure, the connector must be unscrewed several turns before the cable assembly can be disconnected from the other structure. The same is true when the outer casing is to be connected to the other structure. The patent publication BE 1 010 904 discloses a cable connecting apparatus including first and second connecting members. The first connecting member is adapted for receipt of the casing of a Bowden cable, while the second connecting member is adapted to receive the wire of the Bowden cable. The first and second connecting members have abutments for connection therebetween. One of the first or second connecting members has an outer threading for screw connection to the bicycle frame. Thus, there is a need for a cable connector that allows the outer casing of a Bowden cable assembly to be quickly connected to and disconnected from another structure. According to the present invention, a cable connecting apparatus is provided as defined in claim 1. The cable connecting apparatus allows the outer casing of a Bowden cable assembly to be quickly connected to and disconnected from another structure. According to the present invention, a first connecting member includes an outer casing support portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a casing support opening for supporting the outer casing of the control cable. A wire guiding projection extends from the second end of the outer casing support portion along a first connecting member axis. The wire guiding projection includes a first side wall extending in the direction of the first connecting member axis, a second side wall extending in the direction of the first connecting member axis and opposite the first side wall, a third side wall extending in a direction of the first connecting member axis, a fourth side wall extending in a direction of the first connecting member axis and opposite the third side wall, and an inner wire passage for receiving the inner wire therethrough. A distance between the first side wall and the second side wall is less than a distance between the third side wall and the fourth side wall. At least one of the outer casing support portion and the wire guiding projection is continuous in a circumferential direction. A first abutment is formed at a junction of the second end of the outer casing support portion and wire guiding projection and faces at least in part in a direction of the first connecting member axis away from the first end, and a retaining structure different from the first side wall and the second side wall is immovably disposed at the first abutment. The retaining structure rotates with the first connecting member and forms a second abutment facing at least in part in a circumferential direction. In an embodiment of the present invention, the wire guiding projection includes a radially extending locking member outside the inner wire passage, wherein the locking member forms a first abutment facing at least in part in a direction of the first connecting member axis toward the first end. A second abutment is formed at a junction of the second end of the outer casing support and wire guiding projection and faces at least in part in a direction of the first connecting member axis away from the first end. The retaining structure is immovably disposed on one of the second end of the outer casing support and the wire guiding projection. The retaining structure rotates with the first connecting member, forms a third abutment facing at least in part in a circumferential direction, and is spaced apart in the direction of the first connecting member axis from one of the first abutment and the second abutment. In another embodiment of the present invention, the wire guiding projection includes an unthreaded outer peripheral surface along its entire length in the direction of the first connecting member axis and an inner wire passage for receiving the inner wire therethrough. In this embodiment at least one of the outer casing support portion and the wire guiding projection is continuous in a circumferential direction. A first abutment is formed at a junction of the second end of the outer casing support and wire guiding projection and faces at least in part in a direction of the first connecting member axis away from the first end. A retaining structure is immovably disposed at the first abutment, wherein the retaining structure rotates with the first connecting member and forms a second abutment facing at least in part in a circumferential direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view of a rear portion of a bicycle that incorporates a particular embodiment of a locking bicycle cable connecting apparatus; Fig. 2 is a more detailed view of the locking bicycle cable connecting apparatus; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the cable connecting apparatus showing the first and second cable connecting members in more detail; Fig. 4 is a front view of the first cable connecting member; Fig. 5 is a view taken along line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a front view of the second cable connecting member; Fig. 7 is a view of the cable connecting apparatus in a locked state; Fig. 8 is a view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view of the cable connecting apparatus when the first cable connecting member is being turned to disassemble the apparatus; Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view illustrating the decoupling of the first cable connecting member from the second cable connecting member; Fig. 11 is a view showing the first cable connecting member decoupled from the second cable connecting member; Fig. 12 is an oblique view of an alternative embodiment of the first cable connecting member; Fig. 13 is an oblique view of another alternative embodiment of the first cable connecting member; Fig. 14 is an oblique view of another alternative embodiment of the first cable connecting member; Fig. 15 is an oblique view of another alternative embodiment of the first cable connecting member; Fig. 16 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a cable connecting apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 17 is a cross sectional view of the cable connecting apparatus showing the first cable connector being inserted into the second cable connector; Fig. 18 is a side view of the cable connecting apparatus showing the first cable connector being rotated toward a locking position; Fig. 19 is a side view of the cable connecting apparatus in a locked state; Fig. 20 is a partially transparent view of the cable connecting apparatus in the locked state; Fig. 21 is a view taken along line XXI-XXI in Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a partially transparent view of the cable connecting apparatus showing the first cable connector being rotated toward the unlocked position; Fig. 23 is a cross sectional view of the cable connecting apparatus showing the first cable connector being decoupled from the second cable connector; and Fig. 24 is an oblique view of the cable connecting apparatus in the decoupled state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 is a side view of a rear portion of a bicycle 10 that incorporates a particular embodiment of a locking bicycle cable connecting apparatus 14 according to the present invention. The rear portion of bicycle 10 includes a frame 18 with a seat tube 22 supporting a saddle 24, a pair of conventional chain stays 26, and a pair of conventional seat stays 30. A wheel 34 is rotatably supported by frame 18 around an axle 36 at the intersection of chain stays 26 and seat stays 30, and a crank assembly 38 having pedals 42 and a chain ring 46 is rotatably supported at the intersection of seat tube 22 and chain stays 26. A chain 50 engages chain ring 46 and wraps around a sprocket 54 that rotatably drives a conventional internal hub transmission 58 around axle 36. A Bowden-type control cable 62 is used to change speed stages of internal hub transmission 58 in a known manner. Fig. 2 is a more detailed view of cable connecting apparatus 14. As is well known, Bowden cable 62 includes an inner wire 70 that slides within an outer casing 74. Inner wire 70 connects directly to a conventional hub transmission clutch actuating ring 78, whereas outer casing 74 is terminated at an outer casing terminating member 82 (which functions as a first cable connecting member) which, in turn, is connected to a cable support 86 (which functions as a second cable connecting member) that also rotatably supports actuating ring 78. As shown in Figs. 2-5, outer casing terminating member 82 includes an outer casing support portion 90 and a wire guiding projection 94 that is unthreaded along its entire length. Outer casing support portion 90 has the form of a generally convex casing support tube with a first end 96 and a second end 100. First end 96 has a casing support opening 104 (Fig. 5) for supporting outer casing 74 of Bowden cable 62. Casing support opening 104 also functions as a wire receiving passage that allows inner wire 70 to pass completely through outer casing support portion 90. As shown in Fig. 5, in this embodiment casing support opening 104 extends into wire guiding projection. A finger operating member in the form of a finger operating tab 108 extends radially outwardly from outer casing support portion 90. Second end 100 of outer casing support portion 90 forms an abutment 112, and wire guiding projection 94 extends as one piece from abutment 112 along a first connecting member axis X which is coaxial with inner wire 70. Abutment 112 faces at least in part in a direction of first connecting member axis X away from first end 96. Wire guiding projection 94 is a generally tubular member that includes an inner wire passage 116 for receiving inner wire 70 therethrough, and a radially outwardly extending locking member 120 forming an abutment 124 facing at least in part in a direction of first connecting member axis X toward first end 96 of outer casing support portion 90. A stopper member 128 extends from locking member 120 in a circumferential direction for reasons discussed below. As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, wire guiding projection 94 includes a straight first side wall 130 extending in the direction of first connecting member axis X, a straight second side wall 134 extending in the direction of first connecting member axis X parallel to first side wall 130, a third side wall 136 extending in a direction of first connecting member axis X, and a fourth side wall 138 extending in a direction of first connecting member axis X and opposite third side wall 136. A distance dl between first side wall 130 and second side wall 134 is less than a distance d2 between third side wall 136 and fourth side wall 138 for reasons discussed below. A retaining projection 150 immovably extends as one piece from abutment 112 of outer casing support portion 90 in a direction of first connecting member axis X, wherein retaining projection 150 is disposed radially outwardly from wire guiding projection 94 and terminates before wire guiding projection 94 in the direction of first connecting member axis X. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, retaining projection 150 forms an abutment 154 facing in a circumferential direction, an end wall 155 facing in the direction of first connecting member axis X, and a cam wall 156 facing in the circumferential direction and inclined relative to abutments 112 and 154. Preferably, retaining projection 150 is spaced apart in the direction of first connecting member axis X from one of abutment 112 and abutment 124, in this case abutment 124. If desired, retaining projection 150 also may be radially spaced apart from wire guiding projection 94. As shown in Fig. 4, a slot 155 extends through outer casing support portion 90 and wire guiding projection 94. Thus, outer casing terminating member 82 may be attached to cable 62 by placing inner wire 70 through slot 155 and then fitting outer casing 74 into casing support opening 104. As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, cable support 86 includes a tubular portion 164 on one end defining a first connecting member opening 168 for receiving wire guiding projection 94 therethrough. Tubular portion 164 has a first tubular portion side wall 172 extending along a second connecting member axis Y, a second tubular portion side wall 178 substantially perpendicular to second connecting member axis Y, and a third tubular portion side wall 184 substantially perpendicular to second connecting member axis Y and opposite second tubular portion side wall 178. In this embodiment, first connecting member axis X is coaxial with second connecting member axis Y when outer casing terminating member 82 is coupled to cable support 86 as shown in Fig. 2. First tubular portion side wall 172 defines a first passage 176 having a width W (Fig. 8) for passing locking member 120 in the direction of second connecting member axis Y away from first connecting member opening 168. Width W is greater than or equal to diameter dl but less than diameter d2 of wire guiding projection 94 for reasons discussed below. Second tubular portion side wall 178 forms a second passage 180 extending from first passage 176 in a circumferential direction. Third tubular portion side wall 184 includes a retaining recess 190 that has a shape complementary to retaining projection 150. More specifically, retaining recess 190 forms an abutment 194 facing in a circumferential direction, a bottom wall 195 facing in the direction of second connecting member axis Y, and a cam wall 196 facing in the circumferential direction and inclined relative to abutment 194. A plate-shaped intermediate portion 160 extends from tubular portion 164 and terminates at an annular frame coupling member 159. Annular frame coupling member 159 has a central axis Z oriented substantially perpendicular to second connecting member axis Y. Annular frame coupling member 159 surrounds axle 36 of hub transmission 58 and rotatably supports actuating ring 78 in a known manner. Figs. 2 and 7 show cable connecting apparatus 14 in a locked state. In this state, abutment 112 abuts against third tubular portion side wall 184, retaining projection 150 engages retaining recess 190 to inhibit rotation of outer casing terminating member 82 relative to cable support 86, abutment 124 of locking member 120 abuts against second tubular portion side wall 178 to prevent outer casing terminating member 82 from moving away from cable support 86, and stopper member 128 abuts against a side wall 161 of intermediate portion 160 to further prevent rotation of outer casing terminating member 82 relative to cable support 86. Since the width W of passage 176 in tubular portion 164 of cable support 86 is less than the diameter d2 of wire guiding projection 94, wire guiding projection 94 cannot come out of passage 176 when outer casing terminating member 82 is in the position shown in Figs 7 and 8. Thus, outer casing terminating member 82 is locked to cable support 86. To decouple outer casing terminating member 82 from cable support 86, outer casing terminating member 82 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 9 with the help of finger operating tab 108. The force of such manual rotation is sufficient to cause cam wall 156 of retaining projection 150 to slide against cam wall 196 of retaining recess 190 until first side wall 130 and second side wall 134 of wire guiding projection 94 align with passage 176. Since the distance dl between first side wall 130 and second side wall 134 is less than or equal to the width W of passage 176, wire guiding projection 94 may be moved out of passage 176 to decouple outer casing terminating member 82 from cable support 86 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Outer casing terminating member 82 may be coupled to cable support 86 by reversing the procedure. Figs. 12-15 are oblique views of alternative embodiments of outer casing terminating member 82, represented by the reference numbers 82A-82D, respectively. In each of these embodiments, locking member 120 is omitted. Such an omission is satisfactory when outer casing 74 of Bowden cable 62 exerts a sufficient biasing force against outer casing terminating members 82A-82D to prevent outer casing terminating members 82A-82D from moving away from cable support 86. Also, finger operating tab 108 and slot 155 have been omitted in each embodiment. Omission of slot 155 allows the outer casing support portion and wire guiding projection in each embodiment to be circumferentially continuous. Thus, outer casing terminating member 82A in Fig. 12 is identical to outer casing terminating member 82 in the first embodiment except for the omission of finger operating tab 108, locking member 120 and slot 155. Outer casing terminating member 82B shown in Fig. 13 is substantially the same as outer casing terminating member 82A shown in Fig. 12 except that retaining projection 150 has been replaced by a retaining groove 200. Retaining groove 200 cooperates with a retaining projection 201 that replaces retaining groove 190 on a cable support 86'. Otherwise, this embodiment operates in the same manner as described for the first embodiment. Outer casing terminating member 82C shown in Fig. 14 is substantially the same as outer casing terminating member 82A in Fig. 12 except that an outer casing support portion 90C has a square shape. Similarly, outer casing terminating member 82D shown in Fig. 15 is substantially the same as outer casing terminating member 82C in Fig. 14 except that a wire guiding projection 94D has a square shape. Figs. 16-24 are views of an alternative embodiment of a cable connecting apparatus 14' according to the present invention, where structures that are the same as the structures in the first embodiment are numbered the same. Thus, it can be assumed that cable connecting apparatus 14' has the same structure as cable connecting apparatus 14 except where noted. In this embodiment, an outer casing terminating member 82' includes a large diameter portion 250 for terminating outer casing 74 of Bowden cable 62 and a small diameter portion 254 that contains retaining projection 150. Large diameter portion 250 has a knurled outer peripheral surface 252 to facilitate gripping and rotation of outer casing terminating member 82'. A locking member 120' in the form of a locking pin extends radially outwardly from an intermediate portion of wire guiding projection 94'. Locking member 120' functions substantially the same as locking member 120 in the first embodiment. Tubular portion 164' of cable support 86'' differs from tubular portion 164 in the first embodiment in that passage 180 of the first embodiment is formed as a slot 180'. The assembly procedure for cable connecting apparatus 14' is the same as the assembly procedure of cable connecting apparatus 14. Thus, wire guiding projection 94' initially is inserted through passage 176 as shown in Fig. 17, and then outer casing terminating member 82' is rotated as shown in Fig. 18 until retaining projection 150 engages retaining recess 190 and locking member 120' is disposed in slot 180' as shown in Figs. 19-21. To decouple outer casing terminating member 82' from cable support 86'', outer casing terminating member 82' is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 22 with the help of the knurled surface 252. The force of such manual rotation is sufficient to cause cam wall 156 of retaining projection 150 to slide against cam wall 196 of retaining recess 190 until first side wall 130 and second side wall 134 of wire guiding projection 94' align with passage 176. Wire guiding projection 94' then may be moved out of passage 176 to decouple outer casing terminating member 82' from cable support 86'' as shown in Figs. 23 and 24. While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components may be changed as desired.

Claims: A bicycle cable connecting apparatus for a control cable having an inner wire (70) disposed in an outer casing (74) comprising: a first connecting member (82) including: an outer casing support portion (90) having a first end (96) and a second end (100), wherein the first end has a casing support opening (104) for receiving the outer casing (74) of the control cable; a wire guiding projection (94) extending from the second end (100) of the outer casing support portion (90) along a first connecting member axis and having an inner wire passage (116) for receiving the inner wire (70) therethrough; wherein at least one of the outer casing support portion (90) and the wire guiding projection (94) is continuous in a circumferential direction; a first abutment (112) formed at a junction of the second end (100) of the outer casing support portion (90) and the wire guiding projection (94) and facing at least in part in the direction of the first connecting member axis away from the first end (96); and a retaining structure (150) immovably disposed at the first abutment (112) and different from the first side wall (130) and the second side wall (134), wherein the retaining structure (150) rotates with the first connecting member (82), wherein the retaining structure (150) forms a second abutment (154) facing at least in part in a circumferential direction, characterized in that said wire guiding projection (94) includes: a first side wall (130) extending substantially in a direction of the first connecting member axis; a second side wall (134) extending substantially in the direction of the first connecting member axis and opposite the first side wall; a third side wall (136) extending substantially in the direction of the first connecting member axis; and a fourth side wall (138) extending substantially in the direction of the first connecting member axis and opposite the third side wall; wherein a distance (d1) between the first side wall (130) and the second side wall (134) is less than a distance (d2) between the third side wall (136) and the fourth side wall (138). The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wire guiding projection (94) comprises a wire guiding tube (116). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer casing support portion (90), the wire guiding projection (94) and the retaining structure (150) are formed as one piece. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining structure comprises a retaining projection (150) extending substantially from the first abutment (112). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining structure comprises a retaining recess (200) formed in the first abutment (112). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining structure includes: a first retaining structure surface (156) inclined relative to the first abutment (112); and a second retaining structure surface (155) extending substantially from the first retaining structure surface (156) in the circumferential direction. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second abutment (154) extends substantially from the second retaining structure surface (155) to the first abutment (112). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second abutment (154) is substantially perpendicular to the first abutment (112). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer casing support portion (90) comprises an outer casing support tube (104) having a wire receiving passage (116). The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the outer casing support tube (90) has a convex shape. The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising a finger operating member (108) extending radially outwardly from the outer casing support tube (90). The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the finger operating member (108) comprises at least one finger operating tab. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the outer casing support tube (90) has a knurled outer peripheral surface (252). The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the outer casing support tube (90) includes a large diameter portion (250) and a small diameter portion (254), and wherein the knurled outer peripheral surface (252) is preferably disposed on the large diameter portion (250). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first side wall (130) is substantially parallel to the second side wall (134). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing support opening (104) extends into the wire guiding projection (94). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the wire guiding projection (94) includes a radially outwardly extending locking member (120). The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the locking member (120) is disposed at a free end of the wire guiding projection (94). The apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the locking member (120) is disposed at an intermediate portion of the wire guiding projection (94). The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a second connecting member (86) including: a tubular portion (164) defining a first connecting member opening (168) for receiving the wire guiding projection (94) therein and having: a first tubular portion side wall (172) extending along a second connecting member axis and defining a first passage (176) for passing the wire guiding projection (94) in a direction of the second connecting member axis away from the first connecting member opening (168); and a second tubular portion side wall (178) defining a second passage (180) extending substantially from the first passage (176) in a circumferential direction. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the tubular portion (164) includes a retaining structure engaging structure (190) for engaging the retaining structure (150) of the first connecting member (82). The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the retaining structure engaging structure comprises a retaining structure engaging recess (190). The apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the retaining structure engaging structure comprises a retaining structure engaging projection (201). The apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the tubular portion (164) includes a third tubular portion side wall (184) substantially perpendicular to the second connecting member axis, wherein the retaining structure engaging structure (190) is disposed on the third tubular portion side wall (184). The apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the second connecting member (86) further includes an annular frame coupling member (159) having a central axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the second connecting member axis. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the second connecting member (86) further includes an annular transmission actuating member (78) substantially concentric with and rotatably supported relative to the frame coupling member (59). The apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 26, wherein the wire guiding projection (94) includes a radially extending locking member (120) outside the inner wire passage (116) and forms a third abutment (124) facing at least in part in a direction of the first connecting member axis toward the first end (96); and wherein the retaining structure (150) is spaced apart in the direction of the first connecting member axis from one of the first abutment (112) and the third abutment (124). The apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 27, wherein the wire guiding projection (94) includes an unthreaded outer peripheral surface along its entire length in a direction of the first connecting member axis. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 28, wherein the wire guiding projection (94) includes a slot (55) for passing the inner wire (70) radially into the inner wire passage (116).

Inventors: OKOUCHI HIROYUKI, OKOUCHI, HIROYUKI
Applicants: SHIMANO KK, SHIMANO INC.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B62M25
IPC codes: F16C1, B62M25