A bicycle control cable is provided with a central wire, an outer case and a radial protrusion. The central wire includes at least one metallic strand defining a radially outermost surface of the central wire. The outer case surrounds at least a portion of an axial length of the central wire. The outer case has a radially innermost surface. The radial protrusion spirally extends along one of either the radially outermost surface of the central wire or the radially innermost surface of the outer case in a direction intersecting with a center longitudinal axis of the bicycle control cable. The radial protrusion reduces a sliding resistance of the central wire relative to the outer case. The central wire is configured and arranged to slidably move in an axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis of the bicycle control cable within the outer case to operate a bicycle component.

A drive apparatus for a movable roof part of a roof system, and a threaded helix cable therefor. The drive apparatus has a threaded helix cable, which has a driver on the end, by which the threaded helix cable can be connected to a drive slide of a displacement mechanism in a force-transmitting manner. The driver has a bent sheet-metal part which interlockingly surrounds the threaded helix cable.

In a vehicle door latch device, ingress of rainwater into an outer cable of a Bowden cable is prevented. Vehicle door latch device includes: operation handle provided in a door; door latch mechanism attached in the door; Bowden cable having outer cable that is fixed at one end to the vicinity of operation handle and at the other end to door latch mechanism, and inner cable that is inserted into outer cable while being coupled at one upward end to operation handle and at the other end to release lever of door latch mechanism; and elastic cap provided at one end of the outer cable, having the corresponding one of cover portions in a cylindrical shape, extending in a movement direction of the inner cable extending from the one end of the outer cable, to cover the inner cable.

A tubular shaft for a tubular shaft instrument includes a hollow shaft component, an actuating rod arranged in the hollow shaft component, and functional elements that are attached at the distal ends of the shaft component and/or of the actuating rod. The actuating rod is axially displaceable relative to the hollow shaft component to move the distal sections of the functional elements toward one another, past one another, and/or away from one another. The actuating rod includes at least one bending area in which flexible segments and support segments alternate and in which the actuating rod has significantly less bending resistance than outside the at least one bending area. A friction-reducing layer on the at least one bending area of the actuating rod reduces the friction of the actuating rod on the inside wall of the shaft component.

In a vehicle door latch device, ingress of rainwater into an outer cable of a Bowden cable is prevented. Vehicle door latch device includes: operation handle provided in a door; door latch mechanism attached in the door; Bowden cable having outer cable that is fixed at one end to the vicinity of operation handle and at the other end to door latch mechanism, and inner cable that is inserted into outer cable while being coupled at one upward end to operation handle and at the other end to release lever of door latch mechanism ; and elastic cap provided at one end of the outer cable, having the corresponding one of cover portions in a cylindrical shape, extending in a movement direction of the inner cable extending from the one end of the outer cable, to cover the inner cable.

A sliding component comprises a base member, a plated layer, and a lubricant agent. The plated layer includes a metallic material and is disposed on the base member. The lubricant agent includes a fatty acid containing a carboxyl group. The lubricant agent contacts the plated layer.

A bicycle control cable is provided with a central wire and at least one resin string. The at least one string made of resin is spirally wound onto the radially outermost surface in a direction intersecting with a center longitudinal axis of the central wire with a pitch less than or equal to 1 millimeter. The at least one resin string defines a spiral gap between adjacent windings of the at least one resin string. The at least one resin string defines an outer sliding surface for reducing a sliding resistance of the central wire. The central wire and the at least one resin string define an inner wire configured to slidably move in an axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis of the central wire within an outer case to operate a bicycle component.

A tubular shaft for a tubular shaft instrument includes a hollow shaft component, an actuating rod arranged in the hollow shaft component, and functional elements that are attached at the distal ends of the shaft component and/or of the actuating rod. The actuating rod is axially displaceable relative to the hollow shaft component to move the distal sections of the functional elements toward one another, past one another, and/or away from one another. The actuating rod includes at least one bending area in which flexible segments and support segments alternate and in which the actuating rod has significantly less bending resistance than outside the at least one bending area. A friction-reducing layer on the at least one bending area of the actuating rod reduces the friction of the actuating rod on the inside wall of the shaft component.

The disclosed embodiments describe a method for producing a bent tubular shaft for a tubular shaft instrument as well as a tubular shaft produced in such manner as well as a tubular shaft instrument with such a bent tubular shaft. The tubular shaft is produced by providing a hollow shaft component and an actuating rod. The actuating rod in this case has at least one bending area in which flexible segments and support segments alternate. The at least one bending area of the actuating rod is provided with a friction-reducing layer before it is inserted into the shaft component in order to create a tubular shaft. The tubular shaft is then bent in an area that corresponds to the at least one bending area of the actuating rod.

A sliding component comprises a base member, a plated layer, and a lubricant agent. The plated layer includes a metallic material and is disposed on the base member. The lubricant agent includes a fatty acid containing a carboxyl group. The lubricant agent contacts the plated layer.