Multi-pass crimp collar for a looped cable
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsDaniel Hugh Kindstrand, Donald H. Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable assembly including a collar and a cable. The collar includes a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, each of which extends through the collar along a longitudinal dimension of the collar. The cable includes a looped end and a first cable segment extending through the first opening, a second cable segment extending through the second opening, a third cable segment extending into the third opening, and a fourth cable segment forming a loop between the first and second cable segments. The collar is crimped or swaged to the cable and is securely engaged with the first, second and third segments of the cable.
Claims23
A method of forming a looped cable from a cable and a collar, comprising:
- positioning a first segment of the cable in a first opening of the collar;
- positioning a second segment of the cable in a second opening of the collar;
- positioning a third segment of the cable in a third opening of the collar;
- forming a cable turn between the second and third segments of the cable;
- forming a loop with a fourth segment of the cable;
- and
- deforming the collar to a deformed state which engages the first, second and third segments of the cable, thereby substantially preventing movement of the first, second and third segments of the cable relative to the collar and securing the cable turn in a fixed orientation;
- wherein with the collar deformed, the cable defines a path sequentially comprising the first segment, the fourth segment, the second segment, the cable turn, and the third segment.
A cable assembly, comprising:
- a collar including a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, wherein each of the openings extends through the collar along a longitudinal dimension of the collar;
- and
- a cable comprising a looped end including a first cable segment extending through the first opening, a second cable segment extending through the second opening, a third cable segment extending into the third opening, and a fourth cable segment forming a loop between the first and second cable segments;
- wherein the cable comprises a wire rope and an outer coating, the first and fourth cable segments include the wire rope and the outer coating, and the second and third cable segments do not include the outer coating;
- and
- wherein the collar is crimped or swaged to the cable and is securely engaged with the first, second and third cable segments.
A method, comprising:
- providing a collar including a first portion defining a first opening having a first inner diameter, a second portion defining a second opening having a second inner diameter, and a third portion defining a third opening having a third inner diameter, the collar comprising a single-piece monolithic structure defining the first, second, and third portions;
- providing a cable including a first cable segment having a first outer diameter corresponding to the first inner diameter of the first opening, a second cable segment having a second outer diameter corresponding to the second inner diameter of the second opening, a third cable segment having a third outer diameter corresponding to the third inner diameter of the third opening, and a fourth cable segment connecting the first and second cable segments;
- positioning the cable relative to the collar, comprising:
- positioning the first cable segment in the first opening;
- forming a loop with the fourth cable segment;
- positioning the second cable segment in the second opening;
- and
- positioning the third cable segment in the third opening;
- wherein with the cable positioned relative to the collar, the cable defines a path that sequentially extends through the first opening in a first direction, through the second opening in a second direction different from the first direction, and into the third opening in a third direction different from the second direction;
- and
- deforming the collar such that the first portion securely engages the first cable segment, the second portion securely engages the second cable segment, and the third portion securely engages the third cable segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.