Patent ID: 8215202

Claim:
A cable adjustment mechanism for cables of the type having an elongated inner member and a sheath extending along an axis, the cable adjustment mechanism comprising: a jacket member having a base portion and a plurality of flexible fingers extending from the base portion in a first direction in a cantilevered manner to define end portions that are movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the axis upon flexing of the fingers, each finger including at least one tooth at the end portion, wherein the tooth of each finger forms a distal end of the finger extending inwardly towards the axis; and wherein each finger includes a first locking surface that extends at an angle relative to the axis and faces outwardly away from the axis; and wherein the first locking surfaces are formed by openings through the fingers adjacent the distal ends; a slide member movably engaging the jacket member such that the jacket member and the slide member can be moved relative to another to define extended and retracted configurations of the cable adjustment mechanism, the slide member including rows of teeth and second locking surfaces that face inwardly towards the axis; a resilient member biasing the jacket member and the slide member towards the extended position; and wherein: the first and second locking surfaces engage one another when the jacket member and the slide member are in the retracted position and the end portions of the flexible fingers are in a first position relative to the slide member and substantially prevent movement of the jacket member and the slide member to the extended configuration; the teeth of the flexible fingers engaging the rows of teeth when the jacket member and the slide member are in intermediate configurations between the extended and retracted configurations and forming a ratchet that permits relative movement of the jacket member and the slide member towards the extended configuration, yet substantially preventing movement of the jacket member and the slide member towards the retracted configuration; the first locking surface extends at an angle relative to the axis and faces outwardly away from the axis.