Male end fitting

Abstract

A motion-transmitting remote control assembly (10) comprises a flexible conduit (14) with a flexible core element (12) passing therethrough. The flexible conduit (14) has a male coupler (22) attached to one end of the flexible conduit (14). The male coupler (22) comprises a leading chamfered surface (24) and a relief (26) for being locked into a first type of female housing (28) via a spring biased locking ring (32). The male coupler (22) also includes a truncated convex surface (29) which, along with the relief (26), allows the male coupler (22) to be locked into a second type of female housing (110) having removable bolt (116) passing therethrough. The long cylindrical body portion (118) of the bolt (116) positively abuts the relief (26) to lock the male coupler (22) in the female housing (110).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A male coupler end fitting assembly (10) for coupling a flexible conduit (14) to a female housing (28) having a flexible core element (12) extending therethrough, said assembly (10) comprising: a flexible conduit (14) having a longitudinal axis (18) extending between opposite ends;   a male coupler (22) fixedly attached to said flexible conduit (14) for removably securing said flexible conduit (14) to a support structure (20);   said male coupler (22) including a substantially cylindrical body portion (23) defining an outer circumference, said cylindrical body portion (23) having a leading end (25) and a conduit attachment end (17) disposed on either end of said cylindrical body portion (23);   said leading end (25) having a leading chamfered surface (24) and a relief (26) circumscribing said male coupler (22), said relief (26) disposed adjacent said leading chamfered surface (24) and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (18), said relief (26) including a defined width extending from said outer circumference to an inner circumference smaller than said outer circumference;   truncated surface means (29) for increasing the circumference of said cylindrical body portion (23) from said inner circumference at said relief (26) to said outer circumference by sloping upwardly at a constantly changing slope, said assembly (10) characterized by;   said leading chamfered surface (24) disposed from said relief (26) a distance smaller than said defined width of said relief (26) for receiving means for coacting between a female housing, said truncated surface means and relief to retain said male coupler and flexible conduit in said female housing.   
     
     
       2. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said truncated surface means (29) sloping from said relief (26) upwardly toward said conduit attachment end (17). 
     
     
       3. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said truncated surface means (29) having the shape of a truncated hyperboloid. 
     
     
       4. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by a beveled surface (27) separating said leading chamfered surface (24) and said relief (26). .Iadd. 
     
     
       5.  A remote motion-transmitting control assembly (10) having a male coupler end fitting for coupling a flexible conduit (14) to a female housing (28) having a flexible core element (12) extending therethrough, said assembly (10) comprising: a flexible conduit (14) having a longitudinal axis (18) extending between opposite ends;   a male coupler (22) fixedly attached to said flexible conduit (14) for removably securing said flexible conduit (14) to a support structure (20);   said male coupler (22) including a substantially cylindrical body portion (23) defining an outer circumference, said cylindrical body portion having a leading end (25) and a conduit attachment end (17) disposed on either end of said cylindrical body portion (23);   said leading end (25) having a leading chamfered surface (24) and a relief (26) circumscribing said male coupler (22), said relief (26) disposed adjacent said leading chamfered surface (24) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (18), said relief (26) including a defined width extending from said outer circumference to an inner circumference smaller than said outer circumference;   a truncated surface (29) increasing the circumference of said cylindrical body portion (23) from said inner circumference at said relief (26) to said outer circumference, said assembly (10) characterized by:   said leading chamfered surface (24) disposed from said relief (26) a distance smaller than said defined width of said relief (26) for receiving means for coacting between a female housing, said truncated surface and relief to retain said male coupler and flexible conduit in said female housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       6.  A remote motion-transmitting control assembly (10) having a male coupler end fitting for coupling a flexible conduit to a female housing having a flexible core element extending therethrough, said assembly comprising: a flexible conduit having a longitudinal axis extending between opposite ends;   a male coupler fixedly attached to said flexible conduit for removably securing said flexible conduit to a support structure;   said male coupler including a substantially cylindrical body portion having a leading end and a conduit attachment end disposed on either end of said cylindrical body portion;   said leading end having a leading chamfered surface and a relief circumscribing said male coupler, said relief disposed adjacent said leading chamfered surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said relief including a defined width extending from said outer circumference to an inner circumference smaller than said outer circumference;   a surface for increasing the circumference of said cylindrical body portion from said inner circumference at said relief to said outer circumference, said assembly characterized by:   said leading chamfered surface disposed from said relief a distance smaller than said defined width of said relief for receiving means for coacting between a female housing, said surface and relief to retain said male coupler and flexible conduit in said female housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       7.  An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said surface is a truncated convex surface. .Iaddend.