ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

[0001] The present invention generally relates to an anchoring assembly and a remotecontrol assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0001] Conventional remote-control assemblies for transmitting motion along a path include a conduit defining a conduit interior and extending along an axis, a core element disposable within the conduit interior and moveable along the axis for transmitting motion along the path, and an anchoring assembly. Typical anchoring assembly assemblies a support body defining a support opening along the axis for supporting the conduit. Typical anchoring assemblies also include a retainer disposable in the support opening and supportable by the support body. The retainer further supports the conduit. Typical anchoring assembly further includes a retainer clip coupled to the support body and the retainer for securing the retainer to the support body and, therefore, securing the conduit to the support body. However, typical anchoring assemblies are often difficult to assemble and disassemble for a variety of reasons. For example, various components of typical anchoring assemblies, such as retainer clips, are typically required to have a specific alignment and clamping force to adequately secure the retainer to the support body. As another example, current anchoring assemblies require a specific orientation of the support body, retainer, and retainer clip, which can often lead to increased assembly time. As a final example, current anchoring assemblies can be difficult to disassemble based on current designs of the support body, retainer, and/or retainer clip.

[0002] Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved remote-control assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

[0003] A remote-control assembly for transmitting motion along a path includes a conduit defining a conduit interior and extending along an axis, a core element disposable within the conduit interior and moveable along the axis for transmitting motion along the path, and an anchoring assembly. The anchoring assembly includes a support body defining a support opening along the axis. The anchoring assembly also includes a retainer disposable in the support opening and supportable by the support body. The retainer defines a retainer opening. The conduit interior extends through the retainer opening. The retainer defines a retainer groove about the axis. The support body is receivable within the retainer groove. The anchoring assembly further includes a retainer clip disposable between the support body and the retainer in the retainer groove. The retainer clip has a pivot portion and a first clip arm extending from the pivot portion and a second clip arm extending from the pivot portion. The first and second clip arms define a clip opening and are moveable between an extended position to receive the retainer in the clip opening, and a contracted position to secure the retainer within the clip opening. One of the retainer clip and the support body has a wedge that is sandwiched between the support body and the retainer with respect to the axis when the retainer clip is in the contracted position. The retainer clip is configured to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer with respect to the support body when the retainer clip is in the contracted position. [0004] Accordingly, having the wedge sandwiched between the support body and the retainer with respect to the axis when the retainer clip is in the contracted position and having the retainer clip configured to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer with respect to the support body when the retainer clip is in the contracted position reduces assembly and disassembly time of the anchoring assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Other advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a remote-control assembly including a conduit, a core element, and anchoring assembly, with the anchoring assembly including a support body, a retainer, and a retainer clip.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support body.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retainer clip.

[0009] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the retainer clip.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retainer.

[0011] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the retainer.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a front view of the remote-control assembly.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

[0014] FIG. 9 is a front view of the remote-control assembly, with the retainer being disposed outside of a support opening defined by the support body and outside of a clip opening defined by the clip. [0015] FIG. 10 is a front view of the remote- control assembly, with the retainer being partially disposed in the support opening and the clip opening, and with the retainer clip being in an extended position for receiving the retainer.

[0016] FIG. 11 is a front view of the remote- control assembly, with the retainer being disposed in the support opening and the clip opening, and with the retainer clip being in the contracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a remote-control assembly 20 is generally shown in FIG. 1. The remote-control assembly 20 includes a conduit 22 defining a conduit interior 24 and extending along an axis A, a core element 26 disposable within the conduit interior 24 and moveable along the axis A for transmitting motion along the path, and an anchoring assembly 28. It is to be appreciated that the anchoring assembly 28 described below may be used in the remote-control assembly 20 or in other suitable applications, such as using the anchoring assembly 28 in hose connections or other coupling systems in a vehicle, such as brake systems, throttle systems, gear boxes, locking positions of a pipe, such as in aeronautical and other applications, cable applications, locking devices and in particular locking devices having a circular shape, and the like.

[0018] The anchoring assembly 28 includes a support body 30 defining a support opening 32 along the axis A. The anchoring assembly 28 also includes a retainer 34 disposable in the support opening 32 and supportable by the support body 30. The retainer 34 defines a retainer opening 36. The conduit interior 24 extends through the retainer opening 36. The retainer 34 defines a retainer groove 38 about the axis A. The support body 30 is receivable within the retainer groove 38. The retainer groove 38 may be defined 360 degrees about the axis A. Having the retainer groove defined 360 degrees about the axis A removes the need to orient the retainer with respect to the support body 30. Alternatively, the retainer groove 38 may be indexed and/or have a plurality of indentations about the axis A.

[0019] The anchoring assembly 28 further includes a retainer clip 40 disposable between the support body 30 and the retainer 34 in the retainer groove 38. With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the retainer clip 40 has a pivot portion 42 and a first clip arm 44 extending from the pivot portion 42 and a second clip arm 46 extending from the pivot portion 42. The first and second clip arms 44, 46 define a clip opening 48 and are moveable between an extended position, as shown in FIG. 10, for receiving the retainer 34 in the clip opening, and a contracted position, as shown in FIG. 11, for securing the retainer 34 within the clip opening 48. One of the retainer clip 40 and the support body 30 has a wedge 52 that is sandwiched between the support body 30 and the retainer 34 with respect to the axis A when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. The retainer clip 40 is configured to prevent axial (i.e., axial movement of the retainer 34 along with axis A) and radial movement (i.e., transverse movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the axis A) of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position.

[0020] Having the wedge 52 sandwiched between the support body 30 and the retainer 34 with respect to the axis A when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position and having the retainer clip 40 configured to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position reduces assembly and disassembly time of the anchoring assembly 28. Additionally, the configuration of the support body 30, the retainer 34, and the retainer clip 40 does not require a specific alignment before installation, which decreases installation time. Additionally, when the retainer 34 has a circular configuration, the installation of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 and the retainer clip 40 may occur at any orientation of the retainer 34, which reduces assembly time and the need to align the retainer 34 with various components of the anchoring assembly 28.

[0021] With reference to FIGS. 2-4 and 8, the other of the retainer clip 40 and the support body 30 defines an opposing notch 56 with the wedge 52 being disposable in the opposing notch 56 to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. In one embodiment, the retainer clip 40 has the wedge 52 and the support body 30 defines the opposing notch 56.

[0022] The retainer clip 40 may have a second wedge 53 and the support body 30 may define a second opposing notch 57 with the second wedge 53 being disposable in the second opposing notch 57 to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. Typically, when both the wedge 52 and second wedge 53 are present, the first clip arm 44 has the wedge 52 and the second clip arm 46 has the second wedge 53. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the retainer 34 defines a retainer chamfer 51 with the wedge 52 of the retainer clip 40 being engageable with the retainer chamfer 51 to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. Typically, when present, the second opposing wedge 53 is engageable with the retainer chamfer 51 to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. It is to be appreciated that the chamfer 51 may be flat or curved.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 8, the support body 30 typically has a first support surface

50 facing a first direction FD with respect to the axis A and defining the opposing notch 56, a second support surface 54 facing a second direction SD opposite the first direction FD with respect to the axis A, and a third support surface 58 extending between the first and second support surfaces 50, 54. When present, the second opposing notch 57 is defined by the first support surface 50. The third support surface 58 defines the support opening 32. The support body 30 may include a support shelf 60 extending from the first support surface 50. The support shelf 60 may define a support slot 62 to help couple the retainer clip 40 to the support body 30, as described in further detail below.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the retainer 34 may have a first retainer surface 64 defining the retainer chamfer 51 and facing the first direction FD with respect to the axis A, and a second retainer surface 66 facing the second direction SD opposite the first direction FD with respect to the axis A, and a third retainer surface 68 extending between the first and second retainer surfaces 64, 66. When present, the first, second, and third retainer surfaces 64, 66, 68 define the retainer groove 38. The third support surface 58 and the third retainer surface 68 are engageable with one another when the retainer groove 38 receives the support body 30, as shown in FIG. 8. In such embodiments, the wedge 52 of the retainer clip 40 is disposable between the first support surface 50 and the second retainer surface 66 with respect to the axis A in the retainer groove 38.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, the wedge 52 of the retainer clip 40 may have a first wedge surface 70 facing the first direction FD with respect to the axis A, a second wedge surface 72 facing the second direction SD with respect to the axis A, and a third wedge surface 74 extending between the first and second wedge surfaces 70, 72. The third wedge surface 74 may be engageable with the third retainer surface 68 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. The first wedge surface 70 is engageable with the second retainer surface 66 and the second wedge surface 72 is engageable with the first support surface 50 to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position.

[0026] The retainer clip 40 may include a first clip protrusion 76 extending perpendicularly from the first clip arm 44 and the retainer clip 40 may include a second clip protrusion 78 extending perpendicularly from the second clip arm 46. The first and second clip protrusions 76, 78 assist in moving the retainer clip 40 from the contracted position to the extended position by pivoting the first and second clip arms 44, 46 outward about the pivot portion 42 of the retainer clip 40. The first clip arm 44 may include a first and second clip flexible portion 80, 82 to allow further pivoting of the first clip arm 44 about the pivot portion 42, and the second clip arm 46 may include a third and fourth clip flexible portion 84, 86 to allow further pivoting of the second clip arm 46 about the pivot portion 42. Depending on the desired spring force from the retainer clip 40 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position, the first and second clip arms 44, 46, such as the clip flexible portions, may be adjusted to achieve the desired spring force. The retainer clip 40 may further have a securing protrusion 88 extending from said pivot portion 42. The securing protrusion 88 is configured to be disposed in the support slot 62 for coupling the retainer clip 40 to the support body 30. The securing protrusion 88 may have a harpoon shape, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the securing protrusion 88 having a first and second tab 90, 92 that are bendable from the securing protrusion 88 to allow the securing protrusion 88 to snap into the support slot 62.

[0027] In one embodiment, the first and second wedge surfaces 70, 72 are obliquely oriented with respect to the axis A, the first support surface 50 is obliquely oriented with respect to the axis A, and the second retainer surface 66 is obliquely oriented with respect to the axis A, as shown in FIG. 8. In such embodiments, the first wedge surface 70 is engaged with the second retainer surface 66 and the second wedge surface 72 is engaged with the first support surface 50 to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position.

[0028] The first and second wedge surfaces 70, 72 may each be configured as a chamfer, the second retainer surface 66 may also be configured as a chamfer, and the first support surface 50 may be configured as a chamfer. In such embodiments, the wedge 52 of the retainer clip 40 is wedged between the second retainer surface 66 and the first support surface 50 for preventing axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. The wedging of the wedge 52 of the retainer clip 40 between the second retainer surface 66 and the first support surface 50 causes a jamming effect of the wedge 52 of the retainer clip 40, which then prevents axial and radial movement of the retainer 40 and, therefore, the conduit 22, with respect to the support body 30. Restricting radial and axial movement reduces undesired noise, vibration, and harshness of the anchoring assembly 28 and the remote-control assembly 20. It is to be appreciated that the above and below description of the wedge 52, the second retaining surface 66, the first support surface 50, and the first and second wedge surfaces 70, 72 may equally apply to the second wedge 53.

[0029] With particular reference to FIG. 8, the first and second wedge surfaces 70, 72 may define a clip angle al between one another of between 1 and 9 degrees, between 2 and 8 degrees, between 3 and 7 degrees, between 4 and 6 degrees, or 5 degrees with respect to the axis A.

[0030] With continued reference to FIG. 8, a support plane SP extends along the second support surface 54 perpendicular to the axis A. The first support surface 50 and the support plane SP define a support angle a2 between one another of between 25 and 35 degrees, between 27 and

33 degrees, between 29 and 31 degrees, or 30 degrees with respect to the axis A. [0031] With continued reference to FIG. 8, the retainer 34 has a fourth retainer surface 94 facing the first direction FD opposite the retainer groove 38. A retainer plane RP may extend along the fourth retainer surface 94 and perpendicular to the axis A. The fourth retainer surface 94 and the second retainer surface 66 may define a retainer angle a3 between one another of between 30 and 40 degrees, between 32 and 38 degrees, between 34 and 36 degrees, or 35 degrees with respect to the axis A.

[0032] Having the clip angle al, support angle a2, and retainer angle a3 allows quick assembly and disassembly of the anchoring assembly 28. Additionally, having the clip angle al, support angle a2, and retainer angle a3 defined above allows the wedge 52 and, when present, the second wedge 53 of the retainer clip 40 to be sandwiched and wedged between the support body 30 and the retainer 34, which prevents radial and axial movement of the retainer 34 and, therefore the conduit 22.

[0033] During assembly of the anchoring assembly 28, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, the retainer 34 engages the retainer clip 40 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position, as shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 10, as the retainer 34 is partially disposed in the clip opening 48, the first and second clip arms 44, 46 pivot outward such that the retainer 34 can be disposed in the clip opening 48. As shown in FIG. 11, the retainer 34 is disposed in the clip opening 48 such that the first wedge surface 70 is engaged the second retainer surface 66 and the second wedge surface 72 is engaged with the first support surface 50 to prevent axial and radial movement of the retainer 34 with respect to the support body 30 when the retainer clip 40 is in the contracted position. As the retainer 40 is moving from the position shown in FIG. 10 to the position shown in FIG. 11, the first wedge surface 70 may slide against the second retainer surface 66 and the second wedge surface 72 may slide against the first support surface 50. io [0034] To remove the retainer 34 from the clip opening 48, the first and second clip arms 44, 46 are pivoted outward about the pivot portion 42, for example by pulling the first and second clip protrusions 76, 78 away from one another. As the first and second clip arms 44, 46 are pivoted outward about the pivot portion 42 away from one another, the retainer 34 may be moved away from the pivot portion 42 of the retainer clip 40 such that the retainer 34 is disposed outside of the clip opening 48.