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 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.

A vibration damping device is configured to reduce vibration that causes lateral flexing of an elongated member that extends along a centerline. The device includes a split sleeve co-extending with and disposed about the elongated member, and a spring that extends about the sleeve and exerts a force that biases the sleeve radially inward.

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 remote control assembly includes a sheath having a longitudinal axis along a length thereof and defining an interior. A liner is disposed within the interior and coupled to the sheath. A wire has an outer surface and the wire disposed between and coupled to the sheath and the liner. The outer surface of the wire defines a plurality of notches separated into a first group of notches and a second group of notches. Each notch within each of the first and second groups defines a first distance therebetween substantially along the longitudinal axis. The first group of notches and the second group of notches define a second distance therebetween. The second distance is greater than the first distance.

A vibration damping device is configured to reduce vibration that causes lateral flexing of an elongated member that extends along a centerline. The device includes a split sleeve co-extending with and disposed about the elongated member, and a spring that extends about the sleeve and exerts a force that biases the sleeve radially inward.

A remote control assembly includes a sheath having a longitudinal axis along a length thereof and defining an interior. A liner is disposed within the interior and coupled to the sheath. A wire has an outer surface and the wire disposed between and coupled to the sheath and the liner. The outer surface of the wire defines a plurality of notches separated into a first group of notches and a second group of notches. Each notch within each of the first and second groups defines a first distance therebetween substantially along the longitudinal axis. The first group of notches and the second group of notches define a second distance therebetween. The second distance is greater than the first distance.

In a cable guard structure for a locking mechanism in which a lid hook is engaged with a first swing member to lock a fuel lid, and the locking of the fuel lid is released by a release operation through a cable connected to the side of the vehicle body side locking member, the first swing member is disposed at the general center of a vehicle body. The cable is routed in vehicle in a vertical direction. A cable guide guides the cable. The cable guide is a long tubular member, and is arranged substantially vertically. The cable is passed through the cable guide. Such cable guard structure for a locking mechanism can prevent access to a cable from the outside.