US Patent 7530288 Automatic adjust assembly with release lock

A motion transmitting remote control cable assembly includes a conduit having first and second ends and a central axis. A core wire is disposed along the central axis of the conduit. A molded fitting having first and second ends and a central bore is disposed at a first end of the conduit. The core wire extends through the central bore of the molded fitting. A hollow slider body including an outer peripheral surface and opposing first and second ends includes a central bore extending from the first to the second end. The core wire extends through the central bore of the hollow slider body. The hollow slider includes a slot formed through a top of the outer peripheral surface that defines a lock cavity. The molded fitting is movably disposed in the central bore of the hollow slider body. A spring that engages the hollow slider body in the molded fitting biases the hollow slider body and molded fitting apart. A lock member is disposed in the lock cavity and includes a varying sized lock slot formed therethrough. The molded fitting is disposed in the varying sized lock slot. The lock member is movable from an initial position where the lock member engages the molded fitting preventing movement of the molded fitting relative to the hollow slider body to an adjustment position allowing movement of the molded fitting relative to the hollow slider body for automatically adjusting slack in the core wire. The lock member is also movable to a locked position where the lock member engages the molded fitting preventing movement of the molded fitting relative to the hollow slider body. The lock member, hollow slider body and molded fitting are interconnected following assembly to prevent separation of the various components during shipping or installation.