Claims:We claim:
1. A shifter cable abutment locking assembly, the assembly (100) comprising:
a. an abutment housing (101) for enabling a secure connection between one or more cables and a gearbox of a vehicle, wherein the abutment housing (101) comprises a vertical snap bracket (102) provided with a pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) on either side of the vertical snap bracket (102);
b. a cable receiving bracket (104) provided with a pair of slots (105a, 105b) on either side of the cable receiving bracket (104) which is present in the gearbox of a vehicle, wherein the cable receiving bracket (104) comprises an opening to accommodate the abutment housing (101) for engaging the abutment housing (101) with the cable receiving bracket (104).
2. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment housing (101) is engaged with the cable receiving bracket (104) by applying a pre-defined downward force thereby resulting in the fitment of the abutment housing (101) into the opening provided in the cable receiving bracket (104).
3. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) deflects away from the cable receiving bracket (104) when the abutment housing (101) is pushed into the opening provided in the cable receiving bracket (104).
4. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) provided on either side of the vertical snap bracket (102) are accommodated into the corresponding pair of slots (105a, 105b) provided on either side of the cable receiving bracket (104) to obtain a locked condition of the assembly (100).
5. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) is manually deflected away from the cable receiving bracket (104) for separating the pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) from the corresponding pair of slots (105a, 105b) thereby unlocking the assembly (100).
6. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) is further deflected towards the cable receiving bracket (104) when a user attempts to forcibly disengage the abutment housing (101) the cable receiving bracket (104).
7. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment housing (101) is disengaged from the cable receiving bracket (104) by applying a pre-defined upward force on the abutment housing (101) thereby extracting the abutment housing (101) from the opening provided in the cable receiving bracket (104).
, Description:PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
[0001] The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical field of the invention
[0002] The present invention discloses a shifter cable abutment locking assembly. The present assembly particularly relates to a locking and unlocking mechanism to ensure a secure connection between an abutment housing and a cable receiving bracket provided in the gearbox of a vehicle.
Background of the invention
[0003] An abutment is a mechanical component which secures a plurality of cables to the transmission system of a vehicle. The instances of improper fitment between the abutment assembly and a cable receiving bracket provided in the gearbox side of a vehicle results in ineffective communication to the transmission system of the vehicle. Currently, mechanisms which are available are inadequate to firmly secure the abutment assembly with a bracket in order to establish a continuous connection for an optimum performance of the vehicle.
[0004] The U.S. Patent Publication No. US9004442B2 titled “Fixing element for a cable system” discloses an improved abutment. This invention provides a fixing element for securing a conduit for carrying a cable there through a vehicle body. This fixing element reduces NVH (Noise, vibration, and harshness) transferred down the conduit between a first conduit portion that may guide the cable from the gearbox and the second conduit portion that may guide the cable to the gear shifter. The fixing element disclosed in this invention includes a spring and an outer cover that attributes to additional weight and cost of the abutment. This design causes rotation or slipping of abutment from the bracket which causes vibration and noise during gear shifting apart from undesirable wear and tear to the outer cover.
[0005] The U.S. Patent Publication No. US8245379B2 titled “Snap-together, two-piece guide tube for a push-pull cable assembly” discloses a motion transmitting cable assembly comprising, a cable having a conduit and a core longitudinally movable within the conduit, a core attachment secured to an end of the core, a conduit abutment fitting secured to an end of the conduit and a guide tube extending from the conduit abutment fitting and slidably receiving the core attachment therein. This invention does not prevent axial movement of the abutment fitting which causes rotation or slipping of abutment from the bracket.
[0006] Hence, there exists a need for a simple mechanism to ensure a secure connection between an abutment housing and a cable receiving bracket in the gearbox of a vehicle.
Summary of the invention:
[0007] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a shifter cable abutment locking assembly, wherein the assembly comprises an abutment housing which further comprises a vertical snap bracket provided with a pair of protrusions on either side. Further, the assembly comprises a cable receiving bracket with an opening to accommodate the abutment housing for engaging the abutment housing with the cable receiving bracket. Furthermore, the cable receiving bracket comprises a pair of slots on either side, wherein the pair of protrusions provided on either side of the vertical snap bracket are accommodated into the corresponding pair of slots provided on either side of the cable receiving bracket to obtain a locked condition of the assembly. Further, the vertical snap bracket is manually deflected away from the cable receiving bracket for separating the pair of protrusions from the corresponding pair of slots thereby unlocking the assembly.
[0008] The present invention provides a quick, secure and safe locking and unlocking mechanism due to the mathematical design of the vertical snap bracket. The assembly facilitates an easy locking mechanism by applying a low downward force such as 50N on the abutment housing thereby enabling quick assembly. Further, the interaction between the pair of protrusions and the corresponding pair of slots ensures a secure engagement between the abutment housing and cable receiving bracket thereby overcoming the possibilities of lose or unsecure connection over prolonged vehicle usage.
Brief description of the drawings:
[0009] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
[0010] FIG 1a illustrates a cut section frontal view of an abutment housing and a cable receiving bracket in a disengaged condition.
[0011] FIG 1b illustrates a side view of an abutment housing and a cable receiving bracket in locked condition.
[0012] FIG 1c illustrates a side view of an abutment housing and a cable receiving bracket in an unlocked condition.
[0013] FIG 1d illustrates a side view of an abutment housing and a cable receiving bracket in a locked condition when a user attempts to forcibly unlock the abutment housing from the cable receiving bracket.
[0014] FIG 1e illustrates a perspective view of an abutment housing and a cable receiving bracket in a disengaged condition.
Detailed description of the invention:
[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention.
[0016] The present invention discloses a shifter cable abutment locking assembly, wherein the assembly comprises an abutment housing which further comprises a vertical snap bracket provided with a pair of protrusions on either side. Further, the assembly comprises a cable receiving bracket provided with a pair of slots on either side such that the pair of protrusions are accommodated into the corresponding pair of slots provided on either side of the cable receiving bracket to obtain a locked condition of the assembly. Conversely, the vertical snap bracket is manually deflected away from the cable receiving bracket for separating the pair of protrusions from the corresponding pair of slots thereby unlocking the assembly.
[0017] FIG 1a illustrates a cut section frontal view of a shifter cable abutment locking assembly, wherein the assembly (100) comprises an abutment housing (101) for enabling a secure connection between one or more cables and a gearbox of a vehicle. The abutment housing (101) comprises an in-built vertical snap bracket (102) provided with a pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) on either side of the vertical snap bracket (102). Further, the assembly (100) comprises a cable receiving bracket (104) which is present in the gearbox of a vehicle, wherein the cable receiving bracket (104) comprises a pair of slots (105a, 105b) provided on either side. Further, the cable receiving bracket (104) comprises an opening of a pre-defined diameter such as 20.8mm to accommodate the abutment housing (101), wherein the abutment housing (101) is engaged with the cable receiving bracket (104) by applying a pre-defined downward force such as 50N, thereby resulting in the fitment of the abutment housing (101) into the opening provided in the cable receiving bracket (104).
[0018] FIG 1b illustrates a side view of the abutment housing (101) and the cable receiving bracket (104) in a locked condition. When the abutment housing (101) is engaged with the cable receiving bracket (104) by applying a pre-defined downward force, the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) deflects away from cable receiving bracket (104) to allow the abutment housing (101) to engage with the cable receiving bracket (104). Subsequent to the engagement of the abutment housing (101) with the cable receiving bracket (104), the pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) present on either side of the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) are accommodated into the corresponding pair of slots (105a, 105b) which are provided on either side of the cable receiving bracket (104) thereby resulting in a locked condition of the assembly (100). Further, the pair of slots (105a, 105b) prevent the abutment housing (101) from rotating about its axis.
[0019] FIG 1c illustrates a side view of the abutment housing (101) and the cable receiving bracket (104) in an unlocked condition. In order to unlock the abutment housing (101) from the cable receiving bracket (104), the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) is manually deflected away from the cable receiving bracket (104) for separating the pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) from the corresponding pair of slots (105a, 105b) thereby unlocking the assembly (100).
[0020] FIG 1d illustrates a side view of the abutment housing (101) and the cable receiving bracket (104) in a locked condition when a user attempts to forcibly unlock the abutment housing from the cable receiving bracket. In case a user attempts to disengage the abutment housing (101) from the cable receiving bracket (104) without manually deflecting the vertical snap bracket (102) away from the cable receiving bracket (104), the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) deflects further towards the cable receiving bracket (104) and ensures that the pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) provided on the vertical snap bracket (102) are securely locked within the corresponding pair of slots (105a, 105b) provided in the cable receiving bracket (104), thereby ensuring that the abutment housing (101) is not capable of being unintentionally or forcibly unlocked from the cable receiving bracket (104).
[0021] FIG 1e illustrates a perspective view of the abutment housing (101) and the cable receiving bracket (104) in a disengaged condition. In order to intentionally disengage the abutment housing (101) from the cable receiving bracket (104), the vertical snap bracket (102) in the abutment housing (101) is manually deflected away from the cable receiving bracket (104). Subsequently, the abutment housing (101) is disengaged or separated from the opening in the cable receiving bracket (104) by applying a pre-defined upward force with a minimum magnitude such as 350N on the abutment housing (101), thereby extracting the abutment housing (101) from the opening provided in the cable receiving bracket (104).
[0022] The present invention provides a simple mechanism to lock and unlock the abutment housing (101) with the cable receiving bracket (104) using a vertical snap bracket (102). The assembly (100) facilitates an easy locking mechanism by applying a low downward force such as 50N on the abutment housing (101) thereby enabling quick assembly. Further, the interaction between the pair of protrusions (103a, 103b) and the corresponding pair of slots (105a, 105b) ensures a secure engagement between the abutment housing (101) and cable receiving bracket (104) thereby overcoming the possibilities of lose or unsecure connection over prolonged vehicle usage. Further, the pair of slots (105a, 105b) prevent the abutment housing (101) from rotating about its axis.
[0023] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist.
Reference numbers:
Components Reference Numbers
Assembly 100
Abutment housing 101
Vertical snap bracket 102
Pair of protrusions 103a, 103b
Cable receiving bracket 104
Pair of slots 105a, 105b