Rod end connector

Claim 1

A connecting device for coupling an elongated actuating rod terminating in a short substantially right angle end portion to an apertured lever member, the connecting device being an integrally molded plastic unit having a substantially rectangular flat base member with an actuating rod end portion receiving aperture at one end thereof, a substantially cylindrical retention means projecting from one side of the base member and having a bore therethrough axially aligned with the base member aperture, the cylindrical retention means comprising a reduced shank portion having a diameter complementary to the lever member aperture and a tapered shoulder portion slightly larger in cross sectional area than the shank portion, the shank portion being interposed between the base member and the tapered shoulder portion, the cylindrical retention means having at least one axially extending slot in the wall thereof which slot extends into the base member, the slot permitting resilient compression of the tapered shoulder portion to a size in which the latter will pass through the lever member aperture, the shoulder portion upon projecting through the lever member aperture expanding to prevent disconnection of the connecting device and lever member, the base member having on its other side at its apertured end an upstanding wall forming a socket open at the top and at one side to receive the actuating rod end, a plurality of upstanding rod retention legs, the rod retention legs having over-hanging lip portions between which the actuating rod is received for snap-fit retention as its right angle end is inserted through the bore of the retention means, and a stop on the cylindrical retention means side of the base member engageable with a predetermined lever member edge to orient the connecting device on the lever member in a predetermined relationship.