Cable end fitting and cable abutment and method of securement

Abstract

A cable conduit end for securing a cable to a cable abutment of a latch is provided. The cable conduit end having: a housing; an alignment feature incorporated into a surface of the housing; a flexible retention feature integrally formed with the conduit end, wherein the flexible retention feature is spring biased away from the housing to a first position; and a radial retention feature extending outwardly away from the housing, wherein the flexible retention feature is located proximate to a first end of the housing and the radial retention feature is located proximate to a second end of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In combination, a cable conduit end of a cable and a cable abutment of a latch housing, the cable conduit end comprising:
 a housing configured to be located in an opening of the cable abutment of the latch housing;   an alignment feature incorporated into a surface of the housing of the cable conduit end, the alignment feature configured to be located between a pair of features located in the opening of the cable abutment;   a pair of flexible retention features integrally formed with the cable conduit end, the pair of flexible retention features each having a distal end configured to engage a respective one of a pair of retention features of the cable abutment when the cable conduit end is inserted into the cable abutment, wherein the pair of flexible retention features are spring biased away from the housing of the cable conduit end;   a pair of radial retention features extending outwardly away from the housing of the cable conduit end, wherein the pair of radial retention features are configured to engage a pair of features of the cable abutment when the cable conduit end is inserted into the cable abutment; and   wherein the pair of flexible retention features are located between the pair of radial retention features and the alignment feature.   
     
     
         2 . The combination in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of flexible retention features are formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         3 . The combination as in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of flexible retention features are formed from plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The combination as in  claim 1 , wherein a cable extends through an opening in the cable conduit end. 
     
     
         5 . The combination as in  claim 4 , wherein a cable sheath extends over a portion of the cable and the cable sheath is secured to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The combination as in  claim 1 , further comprising a cable sheath extending over a portion of the cable and the cable sheath is secured to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The combination as in  claim 1 , wherein the cable conduit end is configured to snap-fittingly engage the opening of the cable abutment. 
     
     
         8 . The combination as in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of radial retention features prevent radial movement of the cable conduit end when the cable conduit end is inserted into the housing.