Patent ID: 8113576

Claim:
A cable connecting device for connecting a first mechanism and a second mechanism to each other, the first mechanism being disposed within a seatback of a vehicle seat, and the second mechanism being disposed within a headrest positioned on an upper side of the seatback, the connecting device comprising; a first cable coupled to the first mechanism; a second cable coupled to the second mechanism; wherein the first cable includes a linear inner member and a tubular outer member, the inner member being inserted into the outer member and capable of moving relative to the outer member in an axial direction; a tubular support disposed on an upper side of the seatback; wherein the second cable includes a linear inner member housed within a tubular stay, the inner member being inserted into the tubular stay and capable of moving relative to the tubular stay in an axial direction; the tubular stay extending downward from the headrest and capable of being inserted into the support; wherein the inner member of the first cable has a connecting end with an engaging projection extending radially outward; wherein the support includes an insertion slot permitting the engaging projection to extend radially outward through the insertion slot and to move in an axial direction along the insertion slot; wherein the stay has a connecting end including a receiving slot capable of receiving the engaging projection in the axial direction; wherein the inner member of the first cable can be connected to the stay by (a) inserting the first cable into the support from the lower side, engaging the engaging projection of the inner member with the insertion slot of the support, and positioning the engaging projection at a terminal end of the insertion slot, so that the first cable is held by the support in a suspended manner within the support; and (b) inserting the stay into the support from the upper side for receiving the outer member of the first cable within the stay, so that (i) the engaging projection positioned at the terminal end of the insertion slot of the support is transferred to move into the receiving slot formed in the stay, (ii) the inner member of the first cable is connected to the stay via the engaging projection so as to be capable of moving relative to the stay within a predetermined distance in the axial direction, and (iii) an upper end of the outer member of the first cable is positioned to be proximal to a lower end of the inner member of the second cable; wherein when the first cable is held by the support in a suspended manner within the support, the upper end of the outer member of the first cable extends upward from an upper surface of the support; and a view window formed in a circumferential wall of the stay and positioned to be opposed to the lower end of the inner member of the second cable, so that the inside of the stay can be viewed through the view window.