Abstract:
A device for lubricating cables having a container in which a cable and oil are placed. Pressurized air is then introduced into the container to lubricate the cable.

Description:
Applicant claims priority of Provisional Ser. No. 60/387,908, filed Jun. 13, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates, in general, to cables, and, in particular, to a device for lubricating control cables. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     In the prior art various types of devices have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,961 to Schott et al discloses a fixture for oiling a cable which has a container through which the cable is passed and an oil fitting on the side of the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,064 to Oliemuller discloses a fixture for oiling a cable which has a container through which the cable is passed and an oil fitting on the side of the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,894 to Black discloses a fixture for oiling a cable which has a container with a lubricated sponge through which the cable is passed and an oil fitting on the side of the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,128 to Waldchen discloses a fixture for oiling elevator cable which has a pair of spray pipes on opposite sides of the cable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a device for lubricating cables having a container in which a cable and oil are placed. Pressurized air is then introduced into the container to force the oil along the cable and lubricate the cable. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for lubricating cables. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for lubricating cables in which pressurized air is used to distribute the oil. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for lubricating cables which is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the seals that can be used with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of another of the seals that can be used with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows the present invention  1 , which comprises a hollow housing  2 . The housing  2  has a sleeve  3  which has extensions  8 ,  9  (see FIG. 2) and extension  9  threads into the housing  2 . A nut  4  is threaded onto extension  8 . 
     The sleeve  3  and the nut  4  receive the cable  5 ,  14  and allow it to be passed into the inside of the container  2 . Cable  5 ,  14  is a conventional control cable which comprises a cable housing  5  which receives the cable  14 . The cable  14  moves longitudinally within the cable housing  5  to control various items such as, but not limited to, a throttle on a vehicle. It should be noted that the cable  5 ,  14  is shown merely for illustrational purposes, and is not the only type of cable that could be used with the present invention. The present invention could be used with a variety of cables such as, but not limited to, dirt and street bike cables, lawn equipment, bicycles, jet skies, snow mobiles, boats, car and truck cables. 
     Secured to one end of the housing  2  is an air tank valve  7 . The valve  7  can be any conventional valve which will allow connection to a source of air such as, but not limited to, an air compressor or hand air pump. Also, removable plug  6  is threaded into the housing  2  on a side of the housing. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the extension  9  has external threads that engage internal threads in the end of housing  2 . The sleeve  3  has a projection  10  which has a tapered surface on an internal portion of the sleeve. Locking device  11 , which surrounds the outer surface of cable housing  5 , has a complimentary tapered surface that engages and holds the outer surface of the cable housing when the nut  4  is tightened, which compresses  11  to retain the cable in the housing  2 . A pressure member  13  engages the nut  4 . The seal  12  is disposed between locking device  11  and pressure member  13 . The seal  12  is compressed by pressure from nut  4  through pressure member  13 . Extension  8  has external threads which cooperate with internal threads on nut  4 . 
     In order to use the present invention, a user would pass the cable  5 ,  14  through the nut  4 , pressure member  13 , seal  12  and locking device  11 . Next, the nut  4  would be tightened and pressure member  13  would compress seal  12  and, at the same time, force the slanted surface on locking device  11  against the slanted surface on projection  10 . This would seal the outer surface of cable housing  5  so oil cannot leak from inside the housing  2  along the outer surface of cable housing  5 , and at the same time, compress locking element  11  against  5  to hold the cable in housing  2 . Next, the plug  6  would be removed from the housing  2  and oil would be placed into the container or housing  2 , using any conventional means, and the plug  6  would be replaced. Then, a source of air would be attached to valve  7  and air would be introduced into the container  2  under pressure. The air,pressure would force the oil between the outer surface of cable  14  and the inner surface of the cable housing  5 . When the user sees oil exiting from the end of the cable housing  5 , which is outside the housing or container  2 , the cable is completely oiled and can be removed from the container  2 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show two different seal rings  12 ,  12 ′. The only difference between these two seals is the diameter of the aperture  15 ,  15 ′. Aperture  15 ′ is larger than aperture  15  to accommodated larger diameter cable housings  5 . 
     Using the present invention  1 , the entire cable will be lubricated helping to remove dirt and grime that may have built up on the cable. With regular oiling new cables will last for years. By using the present invention on old cables, the cables will be freed from dirt and grime, and rust can be easily removed once the cables are oiled. This is especially important if the old cable is no longer being produced. 
     Although the Cable Snake and the method of using the same according to the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.