Abstract: A quick connect assembly having a female fitting attached to an end of a first fluid coupling and exhibiting an interior passage defined by a plurality of linearly extending and circumferentially spaced fingers. Undersides of said fingers collectively define a concentric concave profile an inwardly recessed distance from a connecting end. A male fitting attaches to an end of a second fluid coupling and includes an annular projection at an intermediate location generally matching the concave profile. Upon inserting the male fitting, the female fingers outwardly deflect, following which they inwardly retract concurrent with the projection seating within the interior concave profile. A covering cap is supported upon the male fitting and, upon displacing over projecting ends of the fingers, prevents inadvertent disengagement of the fittings.

Abstract: A quick connect assembly having a female fitting attached to an end of a first fluid coupling and exhibiting an interior passage defined by a plurality of linearly extending and circumferentially spaced fingers. Undersides of said fingers collectively define a concentric concave profile an inwardly recessed distance from a connecting end. A male fitting attaches to an end of a second fluid coupling and includes an annular projection at an intermediate location generally matching the concave profile. Upon inserting the male fitting, the female fingers outwardly deflect, following which they inwardly retract concurrent with the projection seating within the interior concave profile. A covering cap is supported upon the male fitting and, upon displacing over projecting ends of the fingers, prevents inadvertent disengagement of the fittings.

Abstract: A quick connect assembly having a female terminal exhibiting an interior passage communicating with a connecting end. The passage is defined by inwardly facing surfaces associated with a plurality of linearly extending and peripherally arrayed beams, the passage exhibiting an enlarged profile an inwardly recessed distance from the connecting end. A male terminal includes a projecting portion generally matching the enlarged profile. The male terminal is inserted into the female terminal, causing the beams to outwardly deflect, following which the beams inwardly retract concurrent with the projecting portion seating within the inner profile. A linearly displaceable and sleeve shaped covering cap is spring supported upon the male terminal and displaceable between a first anti-biased position permitting outward deflection of the beams and a second biased position seating over projecting ends of the beams to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the terminals.

Abstract: A quick connect assembly having a female terminal exhibiting an interior passage communicating with a connecting end. The passage is defined by inwardly facing surfaces associated with a plurality of linearly extending and peripherally arrayed beams, the passage exhibiting an enlarged profile an inwardly recessed distance from the connecting end. A male terminal includes a projecting portion generally matching the enlarged profile. The male terminal is inserted into the female terminal, causing the beams to outwardly deflect, following which the beams inwardly retract concurrent with the projecting portion seating within the inner profile. A linearly displaceable and sleeve shaped covering cap is spring supported upon the male terminal and displaceable between a first anti-biased position permitting outward deflection of the beams and a second biased position seating over projecting ends of the beams to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the terminals.

Abstract: A product design process automatically identifies potential component or component assembly failure areas during the early design stages to significantly reduce costs and design time. The process accomplishes this by automatically linking these potential failure areas to specific design tolerance ranges to optimize dimensional management. An initial dimensional designation for a component or component assembly includes a plurality of initial dimensional tolerances that are defined as inputs. Each input is associated with a significant and critical characteristic definition. A plurality of outputs are defined in relation to the inputs and a statistical evaluation is generated for inputs associated with each output. Each input is identified as a significant characteristic, a critical characteristic, or neither a significant nor critical characteristic based on the statistical evaluation the associated definitions.

Abstract: A product design process automatically identifies potential component or component assembly failure areas during the early design stages to significantly reduce costs and design time. The subject invention automatically optimizes a dimensional scheme and mathematically identifies all significant and/or critical characteristics for the component assembly. Output equations base on the optimized dimensional scheme are generated and ranges are automatically and mathematically established for each optimized output equation. The ranges represent the upper and lower worst case limits for the output equation. The equations and ranges can then be used to re-write the output equations to solve for inputs. This reformatted data can be automatically exported into a user interface to allow a user to selectively vary inputs, outputs, or dimensions to determine the potential effects on the component assembly.

Abstract: A park-lock follower (50) for a shifter assembly (10) is provided which coacts with a shifter (34) pawl to lock and unlock a key in an ignition switch (112). The pawl (34) is disposed within a gate (18) having a plurality of stepped regions (22, 24, 26, 28) that is supported by a base (16). The follower (50) is attached to one end (62) of a cable assembly (52) and is supported by the base (16) adjacent to a park stepped region (22) for rectilinear movement along an axis (A). The follower (50) is moved linearly to an unlocked position (X) in response to the pawl (34) being moved to the park stepped region (22) for unlocking the key in the ignition switch (112). The follower (50) is moved linearly to a locked position (Y) in response to the pawl (34) being moved to one of the non-park stepped regions (24, 26, 28) for locking the key in the ignition switch (112).

Abstract: A shifter assembly (10) for automatic transmissions is disclosed having a base (12) and a detent member (14) supported by the base (12). The detent member (14) defines an automatic (18) and manual (20) shift path and a plurality of gear positions (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) within the shift paths (18, 20). A transmission control arm (60) is pivotally connected to the base (12) for movement about an axis (A) and is adapted for connection to a linkage for operating an automatic transmission. The shifter assembly (10) also has a shift lever (42) movable through the gear positions (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34). The assembly (10) is characterized by including a pivotal connection (80) interconnecting the control arm (60) and the shift lever (42) for supporting the shift lever (42) on the control arm (60) and pivoting the shift lever (42) relative to the control arm (60) for changing between the shift paths (18, 20).

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) transmits motion in a curved path by a flexible core element (12). A flexible tubular conduit (14) slidably supports the core element (12) and includes an inner end fitting (26) comprising an annular flange (28) disposed at one end (18) thereof. An elastomeric vibration dampening isolator (34) includes a right half section (36) and a left half section (38) disposed on opposite sides of the flange (28). A casing (44) also includes right (46) and left (48) half sections which engage the exterior of the respective right (36) and left (38) half sections of the isolator (34). The right (46) and left (48) half sections of the casing (44) include coacting force-fit snap locks (50) for retaining the right (36) and left (38) half sections of the isolator (34) in operative engagement with the flange (28).

Abstract: A remote control cable assembly (10) for transmitting motion in a curved path comprises a motion transmitting core element (12) and a conduit (14) slidably supporting the core element. There is also a terminal (16) disposed on one end of the core element (12) for transmitting axial reciprocating motion from the core element to an element to be controlled. The terminal (16) telescopes within a housing (44) disposed on the end of the conduit (14). The housing (44) includes a flexible tang or hook (28) for biasing from a non-limiting position in which the terminal (16) can be telescopingly inserted into the housing (44), to a limiting position after the terminal has been inserted into the housing so that the tang retains the terminal within the housing during shipping of the assembly (10).

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) includes a flexible core element (14) slideably disposed within a conduit (12). A slider member (18) is molded to an end of the conduit (12) and extends slideably into a housing (20) for moving longitudinally relative thereto to adjust the overall effective length of the conduit (12). A locking member (86) is carried on the housing (20) and movable laterally relative to the slider member (18) for selectively engaging the slider member (18) to lock the assembly (10) in an adjusted condition. An anchor leg (112) extends from the side of the housing (20) for engaging an underside surface (116) of a support plate (110) when the housing (20) is slide longitudinally therealong. A locking projection (126) extends from the locking member (86) for engaging a slot (138) in the support plate (119) when the locking member (86) is engaged to prevent disconnection of the assembly from the support plate (110).

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) of the type for transmitting motion along a curved path by a flexible motion transmitting core element (14) movably supported within a tubular conduit (12) includes a first (18) and second (20) conduit section axially moveably disposed with respect to one another. A release pin (106) is disposed between the first (18) and second (20) conduit sections for maintaining the first (18) and second (20) conduit sections in a minimum length position while the assembly is shipped and installed. A compression spring (82) reacts between the first (18) and second (20) conduit sections for automatically urging the first (18) and second (20) conduit sections to a maximum length position upon removal of the release pin (106). A locking clip (86) maintains the assembly in the adjusted position.

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control cable assembly (10) includes a single piece junction box body (26) and a lid (30) having self-locking tangs, for automatically locking into engagement with the body upon the application of a compressive coupling force to the lid (30) and the body (26) for retaining the enlarged end (16) of a first core element (12) and the enlarged ends (16) of at least two other core elements (18,20). This junction box assembly (10) allows push-pull forces to be transmitted between the first core element (12) and the other core elements (18,20) in a confined environment.

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) transmits motion in a curved path by a flexible core element (12). A flexible tubular conduit (14) slidably supports the core element (12) and includes an inner end fitting (26) comprising an annular flange (28) disposed at one end (18) thereof. An elastomeric vibration dampening isolator (34) includes a right half section (36) and a left half section (38) disposed on opposite sides of the flange (28). A casing (44) also includes right (46) and left (48) half sections which engage the exterior of the respective right (36) and left (38) half sections of the isolator (34). The right (46) and left (48) half sections of the casing (44) include coacting force-fit snap locks (50) for retaining the right (36) and left (38) half sections of the isolator (34) in operative engagement with the flange (28).