Isolator for a motion transmitting remote control assembly

A motion transmitting remote control assembly (20) to be supported in a U- shaped slot in a support structure (76) defined by parallel edges (78) and a bottom edge (80) extending along an arc having a radius and connecting the parallel edges (78) with said assembly (20) retained therein by notches (82) in the parallel edges (78), said assembly (20) comprising;

• a flexible motion transmitting core element (22),
• a conduit (24) extending along an axis and movably supporting said core element (22),
• a connector (26) extending along said axis having an elongated tubular portion (28) surrounding said conduit (24) and crimped thereto and having a narrow end portion (30) axially shorter than said elongated tubular portion (28) and having a narrower diameter than said elongated tubular portion (28) and having a shoulder (32) disposed axially between said elongated tubular portion (28) and said narrow end portion (30) and defining an annular channel (34) extending circumferentially about said narrow end portion (30),
• a coupling body (36) having a tubular shape extending along said axis between a first end (38) and a second end (40) and a flange (42) extending radially about said coupling body (36) axially between said first and second ends (38, 40) defining a first pocket (44) on the first end (38) side of said flange (42) and a second pocket (46) on the second end (40) side of said flange (42),
• said coupling body (36) surrounding said connector (26) between said first end (38) and said flange (42) and presenting a ridge (48) extending radially into said annular channel (34) of said narrow end portion (30) of said connector (26) for securing said connector (26) to said coupling body (36),
• said coupling body (36) presenting a spherical pocket (50) between said second end (40) and said flange (42),
• a swivel tube (56) surrounding said core element (22) and having a spherical end (58) supported in said spherical pocket (50) for swiveling movement of said swivel tube (56) relative to said coupling body (36),
• a first isolator (52) including a first cylindrical portion (116) extending axially between said flange (42) and said first end (38) of said coupling body (36) and having a first inner surface (118) surrounding said first pocket (44) of said coupling body (36) and a first outer surface (120) disposed radially outwardly from said first inner surface (118),
• a second isolator (54) including a second cylindrical portion (124) extending axially from said flange (42) and axially beyond said second end (40) of said coupling body (36) and having a second inner surface (128) surrounding said second pocket (46) of said coupling body (36) and a second outer surface (130) disposed radially outwardly from said second inner surface (128),
• a support body (66) extending along said axis between a connecting end (68) and a swivel end (70) and surrounding said first and second isolators (52, 54) and having an inner radial surface (122) for contacting said first and second isolators (52, 54) for isolating said coupling body (36) from direct contact with said support body (66),
• said support body (66) defining a countersink (126) axially between said connecting end (68) and said swivel end (70) for receiving said second cylindrical portion (124) of said second isolator (54),
• said support body (66) surrounding said connector (26) adjacent said connecting end (68) and surrounding said swivel tube (56) adjacent said swivel end (70) and including a frustoconical inner wall (72) extending axially into said support body (66) from said swivel end (70),
• a cap (74) secured to said connecting end (68) of said support body (66) for radially engaging said first outer surface (120) of said first isolator (52) axially adjacent said first end (38) of said coupling body (36),
• said support body (66) defining a groove (84) extending in a U-shape having a first leg (86) for abutting one of the parallel edges (78) of the U-shaped slot and a second leg (88) for abutting another of the parallel edges (78) of the slot and a bottom leg (90) extending along an arc between said first and second legs (86, 88) having the same radius as the bottom edge (80) of the U-shaped slot for abutting the bottom edge (80) of the U-shaped slot,
• said support body (66) defining a pair of female guides (92) extending axially in opposite directions from said first and second legs (86, 88) of said groove (84),
• a pair of slider arms (94) extending axially through said first and second legs (86, 88) of said groove (84) from retainer ends (96) to distal ends (98) and movably supported in said female guides (92),
• said slider arms (94) including a cross member (100) extending transversely between said retainer ends (96) and having a grip surface disposed thereon,
• said support body (66) including a pair of snap-in retainers (102) for abutting said retainer ends (96) of said slider arms (94) for preventing said slider arms (94) from moving out of said female guides (92) to establish a locking position,
• a pair of biasing spring members (104) disposed within said female guides (92) and abutting said distal ends (98) of said slider arms (94) for exerting a biasing force on said distal ends (98) of said slider arms (94) to urge said slider arms (94) into said locking position,
• said slider arms (94) including a pair of locking tabs (106) projecting into said first and second legs (86, 88) of said groove (84) for engaging the notches (82) of the support structure (76) in said locking position and for moving axially relative to said support body (66) in response to an axial force on said grip surface to move said slider arms (94) axially against the axial biasing force of said biasing spring members (104) to move said locking tabs (106) to an insertion position,
• said first isolator (52) including a first web portion (132) projecting radially from said first outer surface (120) and extending axially shorter than said first cylindrical portion (116),
• said first isolator (52) including a first head portion (61) projecting radially from said first web portion (132) extending axially shorter than said first cylindrical portion (116) and extending axially longer than said first web portion (132) and compressed axially between said flange (42) and said cap (74),
• said first isolator (52) defining a first flange-side void (134) extending radially between said first head portion (61) and said first cylindrical portion (116) and axially adjacent to said flange (42),
• said first isolator (52) defining a first coupling-side void (136) extending radially between said first head portion (61) and said first cylindrical portion (116) and axially adjacent to said cap (74),
• said second isolator (54) including a second web portion (138) projecting radially from said second outer surface (130) and extending axially shorter than said second cylindrical portion (124),
• said second isolator (54) including a second head portion (62) projecting radially from said second web portion (138) extending axially shorter than said second cylindrical portion (124) and extending axially longer than said second web portion (138) and compressed axially between said flange (42) and said support body (66),
• said second isolator (54) defining a second flange-side void (140) extending radially between said second head portion (62) and said second cylindrical portion (124) and axially adjacent to said flange (42),
• said second isolator (54) defining a second coupling-side void (142) extending radially between said second head portion (62) and said cylindrical portion and axially adjacent to said countersink (126) of said support body (66),
• characterized by said first isolator (52) including a first rib (63) projecting radially beyond said first head portion (61) and contacting said inner radial surface (122) of said support body (66) for spacing said first head portion (61) radially from said inner radial surface (122),
• said first rib (63) disposed axially closer to said flange (42) than said first end (38) of said coupling body (36),
• said second isolator including a second rib (64) projecting radially beyond said second head portion (62) and contacting said inner radial surface (122) of said support body (66) for spacing said second head portion (62) radially from said inner radial surface (122),
• said second rib (64) disposed axially closer to said flange (42) than said countersink (126) of said support body (66),
• said first isolator (52) including a pair of first annular recesses (144) extending radially into said first outer surface (120) and axially disposed on opposite sides of said first rib (63), and
• said second isolator (54) including a pair of second annular recesses (146) extending radially into said second outer surface (130) and axially disposed on opposite sides of said second rib (64).