Cable Connection Assembly

Abstract

A connection assembly for connection to a cable having an enlarged end piece includes a base having a connector at a first end for connection to an attachment and a cavity extending inward from a second end opposite the first end, a holder received within the cavity of the base and removably fixed within the cavity, and a shell having a side wall and an end wall defining a chamber receiving the base and the holder therein, such that the base is removably fixed within the chamber and at least the first end of the base extends out of the chamber. The holder has a passage receiving the cable therethrough, and the holder engages the enlarged end piece of the cable to retain the cable within the passage. The end wall of the shell has an aperture receiving the cable therethrough to engage the holder within the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connection assembly for connection to a cable having an enlarged end piece, the connection assembly comprising:
 a base having a connector at a first end configured for connection to an attachment, a cavity extending inward from a second end opposite the first end, and a base fastener hole extending through the base to the cavity, wherein the cavity has a threaded inner surface;   a holder received within the cavity of the base and having a threaded outer surface that is threadably engaged with the threaded inner surface of the cavity to removably fix the holder within the cavity, the holder having a receiver and a passage extending to the receiver, wherein the passage is configured to receive the cable therethrough, and the receiver is configured to receive and engage the enlarged end piece of the cable to retain the cable within the passage;   a shell having a side wall and an end wall defining a chamber receiving the base and the holder therein, such that at least the first end of the base extends out of the chamber, the end wall having an aperture configured for receiving the cable therethrough to engage the holder within the chamber, wherein the shell has a shell fastener hole extending through the side wall and into the chamber; and   a fastener extending through the shell fastener hole and received in the base fastener hole to removably fix the base within the chamber of the shell.   
     
     
         2 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ring comprising a resilient material and positioned within the chamber and between the holder and the end wall of the shell, the ring having a ring passage configured to receive the cable therethrough such that the ring extends around the cable.   
     
     
         3 . The connection assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the holder further comprises a first end having the receiver therein, a second end opposite the first end and adjacent to the end wall of the shell, and a recess in the second end, and wherein the ring is received within the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the holder further comprises a first end having the receiver therein, a second end opposite the first end and adjacent to the end wall of the shell, and beveled surfaces at the second end configured to assist a user in rotating the holder to thread the holder into the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The connection assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the base fastener hole extends from the outer surface of the base into the cavity, and the fastener extends through the base fastener hole to engage the holder and further removably fix the holder within the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the holder further comprises a slot extending from an outer surface of the holder to the passage and to the receiver, wherein the slot is configured to permit the cable to be inserted laterally into the passage and the receiver. 
     
     
         7 . A connection assembly for connection to a cable having an enlarged end piece, the connection assembly comprising:
 a base having a connector at a first end configured for connection to an attachment and a cavity extending inward from a second end opposite the first end;   a holder received within the cavity of the base and removably fixed within the cavity, the holder having a passage configured to receive the cable therethrough, wherein the holder is configured to engage the enlarged end piece of the cable to retain the cable within the passage; and   a shell having a side wall and an end wall defining a chamber receiving the base and the holder therein, such that at least the first end of the base extends out of the chamber, the end wall having an aperture configured for receiving the cable therethrough to engage the holder within the chamber, wherein the base is removably fixed within the chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The connection assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a ring comprising a resilient material and positioned within the chamber and between the holder and the end wall of the shell, the ring having a ring passage configured to receive the cable therethrough such that the ring extends around the cable.   
     
     
         9 . The connection assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the holder further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end and adjacent to the end wall of the shell, and a recess in the second end, and wherein the ring is received within the recess. 
     
     
         10 . The connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the cavity of the base has a threaded inner surface, and the holder has a threaded outer surface that is complementary to the threaded inner surface of the base, such that the holder is removably fixed within the cavity by threaded engagement between the threaded inner surface of the base and the threaded outer surface of the holder. 
     
     
         11 . The connection assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the holder further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end and adjacent to the end wall of the shell, and beveled surfaces at the second end configured to assist a user in rotating the holder to thread the holder into the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The connection assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the base has a base fastener hole extending from the outer surface of the base into the cavity, and wherein the connection assembly further comprises a fastener extending through the base fastener hole to engage the holder and further removably fix the holder within the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the base has a base fastener hole in an outer surface thereof, and the shell has a shell fastener hole extending through the side wall and into the chamber, and wherein the connection assembly further comprises a fastener extending through the shell fastener hole and engaged with the base fastener hole to removably fix the base within the chamber of the shell. 
     
     
         14 . The connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the holder further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end and adjacent to the end wall of the shell, and a receiver in the first end, such that the passage extends through the holder to the receiver, wherein the holder is configured to engage the cable such that the cable extends through the passage to the receiver, and wherein the passage has a width that is configured to be smaller than the enlarged end piece of the cable to resist passage of the enlarged end piece through the passage, and the receiver has a width that is enlarged with respect to the width of the passage, such that the receiver is configured to receive and retain the enlarged end piece. 
     
     
         15 . The connection assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the holder further comprises a slot extending from an outer surface of the holder to the passage and to the receiver, wherein the slot is configured to permit the cable to be inserted laterally into the passage and the receiver. 
     
     
         16 . The connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the connector comprises a clevis connector. 
     
     
         17 . A cable system for use with a weightlifting machine, comprising:
 a cable having an input end with an enlarged end piece; and   a connection assembly connected to the input end of the cable, the connection assembly comprising:
 a base having a connector at a first end configured for connection to an attachment and a cavity extending inward from a second end opposite the first end; 
 a holder received within the cavity of the base and removably fixed within the cavity, the holder having a passage receiving the cable therethrough, wherein the holder engages the enlarged end piece of the cable to retain the cable within the passage; and 
 a shell having a side wall and an end wall defining a chamber receiving the base and the holder therein, the end wall having an aperture through which the cable extends to engage the holder within the chamber, wherein the base is removably fixed within the chamber. 
   
     
     
         18 . The cable system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a ring comprising a resilient material and positioned within the chamber and between the holder and the end wall of the shell, the ring having a ring passage receiving the cable therethrough such that the ring extends around the cable.   
     
     
         19 . The cable system of  claim 17 , wherein the cavity of the base has a threaded inner surface, and the holder has a threaded outer surface that is complementary to the threaded inner surface of the base, such that the holder is removably fixed within the cavity by threaded engagement between the threaded inner surface of the base and the threaded outer surface of the holder. 
     
     
         20 . The cable system of  claim 17 , wherein the base has a base fastener hole in an outer surface thereof, and the shell has a shell fastener hole extending through the side wall and into the chamber, and wherein the connection assembly further comprises a fastener extending through the shell fastener hole and engaged with the base fastener hole to removably fix the base within the chamber of the shell. 
     
     
         21 . The cable system of  claim 17 , wherein the holder further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end and adjacent to the end wall of the shell, and a receiver in the first end, such that the passage extends through the holder to the receiver, wherein the cable extends through the passage to the receiver, and wherein the passage has a width that is smaller than the enlarged end piece of the cable to resist passage of the enlarged end piece through the passage, and the receiver has a width that is enlarged with respect to the width of the passage, such that the receiver is configured to receive and retain the enlarged end piece.