Abstract:
An end fitting for a cable provides for the axial transmission of an input movement or an output movement to or from a moveable body relative to a fixed body. The end fitting has a pivot portion spaced from a clip portion. The pivot portion is engageable with a pivot region of the fixed body to allow the end fitting to rotate about the pivot portion to rotatably engage the clip portion with a clip region of the fixed body, securing the cable to the fixed body.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to European Patent Application EP 04255441.0 filed on Sep. 8, 2004.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an end fitting for a cable, particularly, but not exclusively for, an end fitting of a Bowden cable used in relation to the control of vehicle door latches.  
         [0003]     Cable linkages for vehicles can be used in light commercial vehicles, such as panel vans (i.e., vans in which the load space is enclosed). These typically include a relatively large rear opening that is closeable by two rear doors hinged to a rear most edge of each side of the van. A latch is typically provided part way up the shut-face of one of the rear doors. The latch is arranged to latch with a complementary striker provided on the shut face of the other of the rear doors when the doors are closed. Typically, the latch may also operate supplementary latches which are fitted to the upper and lower edges of the door to which the latch is fitted via Bowden cable connections.  
         [0004]     Often, the cables have to be connected to a latch mechanism in the interior of the latch “blind,” i.e., with the latch mechanism enclosed within a housing except for a small opening through which the cable is inserted. This can make the assembly process difficult, time consuming and therefore costly and prone to error. In addition, it is often also difficult, if not impossible, to disassemble the connection for maintenance without damaging the cable, fitting or latch.  
         [0005]     The present invention seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate, the problems of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides an end fitting for a cable for the axial transmission of an input movement or an output movement to or from a moveable body relative to a fixed body. The end fitting has a pivot portion spaced from a clip portion. The pivot portion is engageable with a pivot region of the fixed body to allow the end fitting to rotate about the pivot portion to rotatably engage the clip portion with a clip region of the fixed body, thereby securing the cable to the fixed body.  
         [0007]     A further aspect of the present invention provides an end fitting assembly including an end fitting for a cable for the axial transmission of an input movement or an output movement to or from a moveable body relative to a fixed body. The end fitting has a pivot portion spaced from a clip portion. The pivot portion is engageable with a pivot region of the fixed body to allow the end fitting to rotate about the pivot portion to rotatably engage the clip portion with a clip region of the fixed body, thereby securing the cable to the fixed body. The fixed body is sheet-like and includes an elongate aperture to receive the fitting.  
         [0008]     Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of mounting a cable end fitting to a fixed body. The end fitting includes a pivot portion spaced from a clip portion. The method includes the steps of engaging the pivot portion of the fitting with a complementary pivot region of the fixed body, pivoting the end fitting about the pivot portion and engaging the clip portion with the clip region of the fixed body. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a view of rear doors of a van or light commercial vehicle illustrating an arrangement of a handle, latches, and connecting cables;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of a prior art cable end fitting and the components to which it is secured;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2B  is an assembled view of the prior art cable end fitting and the components to which it is secured;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an end fitting of the present invention secured to a latch viewed from a latch interior;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the end fitting of the present invention secured to the latch viewed from the latch interior;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the fitting of  FIG. 3  viewed from the latch exterior;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross-section through the latch of FIGS.  3  to  5  during assembly of the end fitting thereto;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another portion of the latch showing levers to which the cable is to be secured; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the latch illustrating two end fittings of the present invention in place. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a light commercial vehicle, such as a van  10 . Only the rear of the van  10  is visible and includes a first rear door  12  and a second rear door  14  pivotally mounted to a door surround  15  by hinges  16 . In use, the first rear door  12  is opened first, followed by the second rear door  14 , in order to gain full access to the vehicle load area. A primary latch  18  is mounted proximate a shut-face of the first rear door  12  to engage and releaseably retain a complementary striker (not shown) provided on an opposed shut-face of the second rear door  14 . The primary latch  18  is lockable to provide some protection from unauthorized access to the load space of the van  10 .  
         [0020]     Linkages  19  in the form of Bowden cables extend from the top and the bottom of the primary latch  18  to connect the primary latch  18  with secondary latches  20  mounted near the top and the bottom of the first rear door  12 . The secondary latches  20  are positioned to engage complementary strikers (not shown) mounted to the door surround  15  of the van  10 . Thus, when the first rear door  12  is closed, it is latched to both the second rear door  14  and to the door surround  15 , thereby securely retaining both the first rear door  12  and the second rear door  14  in a closed position relative to the door surround  15 . When the primary latch  18  is unlocked, pulling on an outside release handle  13  simultaneously releases both the primary latch  18  and the secondary latches  20  by virtue of the linkages  19 .  
         [0021]     Turning to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a Bowden cable  158  with a prior art end fitting including an enlarged end  161  of an outer sheath  163  and an ‘L’ shaped end  159  of an inner cable. In order for a lever  152  to be actuated via the Bowden cable  158 , the Bowden cable  158  must be clipped in a first direction to a recess  125  of a fixed support  124  and also simultaneously clipped in a second direction to a ‘C’ shaped holder  157  at the end of the lever  152  and inserted in a third direction into a hole  156  in the lever  152 . A significant degree of dexterity is required to successfully assemble a Bowden cable connection in this way, and assembly in “blind” conditions would be near impossible.  
         [0022]     With reference to FIGS.  3  to  6 , an end fitting  90  according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in conjunction with a cooperating housing portion  24   a  of a latch housing  24  of the primary latch  18 . The end fitting  90  includes a generally elongate substantially rigid body  75  formed from injection moulded plastics or the like.  
         [0023]     From the free end of the body  75  inwards along a longitudinal axis of the body  75 , the end fitting  90  includes a pivot portion in the form of an axially extending offset rib  76  provided to engage an edge of an interior face  39  of the housing portion  24   a.  A widened cover portion  74  is configured to contact an exterior face  37  of the housing portion  24   a  along a majority of the length of the end fitting  90 . A stop  86  projects from the cover portion  74 . A cable guide portion  78  including an axial bore  55  and a trough  57  is arranged to project into the interior of the housing  24  and has a pair of retaining ribs  80  on its surface configured to maintain the end fitting  90  in place in an axial direction. A clip portion in the form of a clip  82  is arranged for an engagement with a tooth  35  of the housing portion  24   a  (described in more detail below), and an unclip tab  84  projects away from the clip  82  and is in substantially axial alignment therewith.  
         [0024]     A Bowden cable  58  enters the guide portion  24  through an opening in the clip  82  and includes an outer sheath  63  that terminates within the cable guide portion  78  and an inner cable  53  that extends through the axial bore  55  of the cable guide portion  78  and terminates in an enlarged end  59 . The outer sheath  63  is secured axially relative to the cable guide portion  78  by gluing, welding or crimping, for example. The inner cable  53  can slide axially relative to the end fitting  90 .  
         [0025]     In addition, the housing portion  24   a  is configured so that the end fitting  90  can be secured thereto. In the same direction, this includes a guide  29  projecting from the exterior face  37  of the housing portion  24   a  with an enlarged mouth portion  31  to aid in the end fitting  90  of the offset rib  76 . The interior face  39  of the housing portion  24   a  proximate the guide  29  forms a pivot region engageable by the offset rib  76 . An elongate aperture  23  extends from the mouth to the edge of the housing portion  24   a,  through which the body  75  of the end fitting  90  is able to fit. A ‘U’ shaped retainer  27  extends transversely across the aperture  23  and projects into the interior of the housing  24  to maintain the end fitting  90  in place axially due to cooperation with the retaining rib  80 . A clip region including the tooth  35  is mounted proximate an end opening  33  in the housing portion  24   a  and is positioned to cooperate with the clip  82  and thus prevent the end fitting  90  pivoting away from the housing portion  24   a  when assembled.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates a second housing portion  24   b  of the latch housing  24  that mates along its free edge with the housing portion  24   a  and that additionally incorporates a latch mechanism  72 . The latch mechanism  72  includes a pawl (not shown) configured to releaseably retain a claw-type latch bolt (not shown) and thus engage a striker (not shown) to hold the door closed, as is well known. The latch mechanism  72  further includes first and second auxiliary latch release arms  54  and  36  including gear teeth  60  and  50 , respectively, so that motion of one arm results in simultaneous motion of the other arm in an opposite direction. The first and second auxiliary latch release arms  54  and  36  are moveable in response to an action that also releases the striker from engagement with the latch bolt, be it either a manual input from a door handle or a power input from an electric motor or other actuator.  
         [0027]     The first and second auxiliary latch release arms  54  and  36  each include a cup-shaped recess  56  proximate their free ends dimensioned so that the enlarged end  59  of the inner cable  53  may engage therein. In the case of first auxiliary latch release arm  54 , counter-clockwise motion thereof when viewed in  FIG. 7  results in axial motion of the inner cable  53  in a left to right direction when viewed in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0028]     With particular reference to  FIG. 6 , the end fitting  90  is assembled to the primary latch  18  as follows. The end fitting  90  is first moved in direction X such that the offset rib  76  engages the interior face  39  of the housing portion  24   a.  The stop  86  contacts the edge of the mouth portion  31  of the guide  29 , so that the end fitting  90  is positioned relative to the housing portion  24   a,  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The guide  29  on the housing portion  24   a  assists in the correct location of the offset rib  76 . The stop  86  ensures the correct axial alignment of the end fitting  90  relative to the housing portion  24   a  is achieved. Furthermore, the offset rib  76  acts, in effect, as a pivot point for the subsequent step of pivoting the end fitting  90  in a counter-clockwise direction Y so that the clip  82  is brought into engagement with tooth  35 , the retaining rib  80  is brought into the proximity of ‘U’ shaped retainer  27 , and the enlarged end  59  of the inner cable  53  is positioned in the cup-shape recess  56  of the first auxiliary latch release arm  54 . Additionally, the cover portion  74  of the body  75  is brought into contact with exterior face  37  of the housing portion  24   a  along the majority of the length of the aperture  23  to provide a seal against the ingress of dust, moisture, etc. to the interior of the latch housing  24 .  
         [0029]     The end fitting  90  is shown in this installed position relative to the housing portion  24   a  in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 , and furthermore relative to the second housing portion  24   b  and the first auxiliary latch release arm  54  in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  additionally illustrates a second Bowden cable  48  connected to a secondary auxiliary latch  20  in the same manner.  
         [0030]     If removal of the end fitting  90  from the housing portion  24   a  is needed, for example for maintenance reasons, an unclip tab  84  may be pushed in a clockwise direction when viewed in  FIG. 6 , disengaging the clip  82  from the tooth  35 , thereby permitting the pivoting and axial withdrawal of the end fitting  90  from the housing  24  and the first auxiliary latch release arm  54  in essentially the reverse of the assembly procedure.  
         [0031]     The end fitting  90  described above enables cables to be connected to latches rapidly and with the minimum amount of skill and dexterity. Disassembly of the end fitting  90  may also be easily achieved. Furthermore, the configuration of the end fitting  90  enables a good seal with the latch housing  24  to be achieved and ensures that the end fitting  90  is securely mounted to the housing  24  so the two do not become separated in use.  
         [0032]     Numerous changes may be made within the scope of the present invention and that a fitting of the present invention may be used in other applications when a cable, in particular a Bowden cable, needs to be fitted to an input or output element such as a lever. For example, a suitable alternative form of securement may be used in place of the tooth and clip arrangement, and the clip may be adapted so that the non-destructive disassembly of the fitting from a corresponding input or output is prevented. The shape of the enlarged end portion of the inner cable may be adapted according to particular user requirements. The stop rib may be dispensed with and the shape of the offset rib relied upon to prevent axial movement. The unclip tab may be dispensed with if provision for removal of the fitting is not required.  
         [0033]     The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than using the example embodiments which have been specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.