US3731272A - Handbrake controls for road vehicles - Google Patents

Handbrake controls for road vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3731272A
US3731272A US00128864A US3731272DA US3731272A US 3731272 A US3731272 A US 3731272A US 00128864 A US00128864 A US 00128864A US 3731272D A US3731272D A US 3731272DA US 3731272 A US3731272 A US 3731272A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
rod
button
bulb
handbrake
release mechanism
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00128864A
Inventor
E Cryer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ZF International UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Lucas Industries Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lucas Industries Ltd filed Critical Lucas Industries Ltd
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Publication of US3731272A publication Critical patent/US3731272A/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T17/00—Component parts, details, or accessories of power brake systems not covered by groups B60T8/00, B60T13/00 or B60T15/00, or presenting other characteristic features
    • B60T17/18—Safety devices; Monitoring
    • B60T17/22—Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T7/00—Brake-action initiating means
    • B60T7/02—Brake-action initiating means for personal initiation
    • B60T7/08—Brake-action initiating means for personal initiation hand actuated
    • B60T7/10—Disposition of hand control
    • B60T7/102—Disposition of hand control by means of a tilting lever
    • B60T7/104—Disposition of hand control by means of a tilting lever with a locking mechanism
    • B60T7/105—Disposition of hand control by means of a tilting lever with a locking mechanism the lock being released by means of a push button
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/20—Control lever and linkage systems
    • Y10T74/20576—Elements
    • Y10T74/20636—Detents
    • Y10T74/20672—Lever engaging rack
    • Y10T74/20696—Finger lever release
    • Y10T74/20702—Slidable

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT In a vehicle handbrake control, the operating button of the handbrake carries a bulb which is exposed through a lens positioned in the button.
  • One electrical connection to the bulb is made by a conductive rod which is connected to the handbrake release mechanism and is movable by the button to operate the handbrake release mechanism.
  • Another electrical connection to the bulb is made by way of a hollow conductive member within which the conductive rod is mounted so that an electrical circuit through the bulb can be made to energize the bulb.
  • the circuit also includes a switch so that the circuit can only be completed when the handbrake is operative.
  • This invention relates to handbrake controls for road vehicles.
  • a handbrake control includes a hollow conductive member, a conductive rod mounted for axial movement within said member, said rod being insulated from said member and being arranged to be coupled to a handbrake release mechanism, a button mounted for axial movement in said member, said button being accessible from one end of the member and engaged with said rod so that axial movement of the button is transmitted to the rod to move the rod, resilient means urging the rod and the button to an axial position wherein, in use, the release mechanism is inoperative, a lens positioned in the exposedend of the button and a bulbholder capable of supporting a bulb within the button, one electrical connection to the bulb being made in use by way of the rod and a second electrical connection to the bulb being made by way of said member, light from the bulb in use issuing from the button through said lens.
  • said bulbholder is defined in part by said button.
  • said rod is provided with an insulating cover.
  • the button is formed in insulating material and said lens is integral therewith.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a handbrake according toone example of the invention with part of the casing removed for clarity,
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of part of FIG. 1 to an enlarged scale
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view ofa further part of FIG. 1.
  • the handbrake control includes a tubular, conductive member 11 within which is mounted a conductive rod 12, the rod 12 being capable of axial movement relative to member 11 and being connected at one end 13 to a ratchet release mechanism 14 of the handbrake.
  • the end portion of the member 11 remote from the end 13 of the rod 12 is enclosed in a p.v.c. sheath 15 which can be shaped to define a handgrip.
  • An insulating button 16 is mounted in the end of the member 11 remote from the end 13 of the rod 12 and projects therefrom.
  • the button 16 is capable of axial movement relative to the member 11 and its end extending into the member 11 abuts against an annular brass collar 17.
  • a helical compression spring 18 is mounted in the member 11 and abuts at its ends against the member 11 and the collar 17 respectively, the spring 18 urging the button 16 to an inoperative position wherein one end of the button projects from the member 11.
  • the end of the rod 112 remote from the end 13 is mounted in an insulating member 19 which is secured to the collar 17 so that, the collar 17 is trapped between the member 19 and the button 16.
  • the rod 12 is coupled to the button 16 for axial movement relative to the member 11 so that when the button 16 is pressed into the member 11 the rod 12 is moved relative to the member 11 to operate the ratchet release mechanism of the handbrake, the resilience of the spring 18 urging the button 16 and the rod 12 back to the inoperative position when the button is released.
  • the insulating button 16 is in the form of a hollow body open at one end thereof, the button 16 and the collar 17 together with the member 19 defining a bulbholder. Positioned within the bulbholder is a bulb 21 with the conductive lug 22 of the bulb 21 adjacent the open end of the button. Further the end of the rod 12 carried by the member 19 projects from the member 19 towards the open end of the button 16 and a spring 23 urges the bulb 21 towards the rod 12 so that the conductive lug 22 engages the rod 12.
  • the collar 17 is formed with an integral flange 24 which extends round the periphery of the hole in the collar 17 and the arrangement is such that when the lug 22 is resiliently urged into engagement with the rod 12 the conductive body 25 of the bulb 22 engages the flange 24, the member 19 preventing shorting between the lug 22 and the body 25 by way of the rod 12.
  • the button 16 is formed from a translucent synthetic resin material and at its end adjacent the filament of the bulb 21 defines a lens 26 so that light emitted from the bulb issues from the lens 26.
  • the electrical contacts of the bulb 21 are the lug 22 which defines the live terminal of the bulb, and the conductive body 25 which defines the earth contact.
  • the body 25 is resiliently urged by the spring 23 into engagement with the conductive plate 17 which is in turn connected to the member 11 by the spring 18. Since the member 11 is, in use, secured to the body of a road vehicle the earth connection to the bulb 21 is made through the member 11 by way of the spring 18 and the collar 17.
  • an insulating bush 27 is inserted between the rod 12 and the mechanism 14 so that the rod 12 is insulated from the mechanism 14 which is of course connected to earth.
  • An electrical lead 28 is secured to the end 13 of the rod to provide a connection to the live terminal of the bulb 21 constituted by the lug 22 by way of the rod 12. Also in order to ensure that the rod 12 is insulated from the casing 11 the rod 12 is preferably surrounded by an insulating cover 29.
  • the lead 28 is connected to the battery of a road vehicle by way of the ignition switch of the vehicle and a switch operable by the handbrake so that, assuming that the driver of the vehicle closes the ignition switch without releasing the handbrake the bulb 21 will be energized and the lens 26 will be illuminated to provide warning of the nonrelease of the handbrake.
  • a flasher unit can be incorporated in the circuit including the bulb 21 so that when the ignition switch of the vehicle is closed without the handbrake being released the warning is provided by the bulb 21 flashing rather than giving a continuous signal.
  • a vehicle handbrake control including a hollow conductive member, a conductive rod mounted for axial movement within said member, said rod being insulated from said member, a handbrake release mechanism, means coupling the rod to the handbrake release mechanism so that axial movement of the rod operates the release mechanism to release the handbrake, a button mounted for axial movement in said move the rod, resilient means urging the rod and the said electrical circuit and operable so that the circuit can only be completed when the handbrake is operative.
  • buttons are formed in insulating material and said lens is integral therewith.

Abstract

In a vehicle handbrake control, the operating button of the handbrake carries a bulb which is exposed through a lens positioned in the button. One electrical connection to the bulb is made by a conductive rod which is connected to the handbrake release mechanism and is movable by the button to operate the handbrake release mechanism. Another electrical connection to the bulb is made by way of a hollow conductive member within which the conductive rod is mounted so that an electrical circuit through the bulb can be made to energize the bulb. The circuit also includes a switch so that the circuit can only be completed when the handbrake is operative.

Description

O United States Patent m1 m1 3,731,272
Cryer 1 May 1, 1973 541 HANDBRAKE CONTROLS FOR ROAD 3,508,625 4 1910 Hawkins ..350/69 x VEHICLES FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Edward Cryer, I-Iigham, near Burnley England 482,944 4/1938 Great Britain ..340/146 859,611 l/1961 Great Britain ..74l538 [73] Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited,
Birmingham, England Primary ExaminerJohn W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Kenneth N. Leimer [22] Filed. Mar. 29, 1971 Anamey nolman & Stem [21] App]. No.: 128,864
[57] ABSTRACT In a vehicle handbrake control, the operating button of the handbrake carries a bulb which is exposed through a lens positioned in the button. One electrical connection to the bulb is made by a conductive rod which is connected to the handbrake release mechanism and is movable by the button to operate the handbrake release mechanism. Another electrical connection to the bulb is made by way of a hollow conductive member within which the conductive rod is mounted so that an electrical circuit through the bulb can be made to energize the bulb. The circuit also includes a switch so that the circuit can only be completed when the handbrake is operative.
4 vClaims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w w M E T W N w w w L m m Patented May 1, 1973 3,731,272
2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR cnuomd CHM MGM.)
ATTQRNEYS HANDBRAKE CONTROLS FOR ROAD VEHICLES This invention relates to handbrake controls for road vehicles.
A handbrake control according to the invention includes a hollow conductive member, a conductive rod mounted for axial movement within said member, said rod being insulated from said member and being arranged to be coupled to a handbrake release mechanism, a button mounted for axial movement in said member, said button being accessible from one end of the member and engaged with said rod so that axial movement of the button is transmitted to the rod to move the rod, resilient means urging the rod and the button to an axial position wherein, in use, the release mechanism is inoperative, a lens positioned in the exposedend of the button and a bulbholder capable of supporting a bulb within the button, one electrical connection to the bulb being made in use by way of the rod and a second electrical connection to the bulb being made by way of said member, light from the bulb in use issuing from the button through said lens.
Preferably said bulbholder is defined in part by said button.
Conveniently said rod is provided with an insulating cover.
Desirably the button is formed in insulating material and said lens is integral therewith.
In the accompanying drawings,
FIG. 1 is a side view of a handbrake according toone example of the invention with part of the casing removed for clarity,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of part of FIG. 1 to an enlarged scale, and
FIG. 3 is a plan view ofa further part of FIG. 1.
Referring to the drawings, the handbrake control includes a tubular, conductive member 11 within which is mounted a conductive rod 12, the rod 12 being capable of axial movement relative to member 11 and being connected at one end 13 to a ratchet release mechanism 14 of the handbrake. The end portion of the member 11 remote from the end 13 of the rod 12 is enclosed in a p.v.c. sheath 15 which can be shaped to define a handgrip.
An insulating button 16 is mounted in the end of the member 11 remote from the end 13 of the rod 12 and projects therefrom. The button 16 is capable of axial movement relative to the member 11 and its end extending into the member 11 abuts against an annular brass collar 17. A helical compression spring 18 is mounted in the member 11 and abuts at its ends against the member 11 and the collar 17 respectively, the spring 18 urging the button 16 to an inoperative position wherein one end of the button projects from the member 11. The end of the rod 112 remote from the end 13 is mounted in an insulating member 19 which is secured to the collar 17 so that, the collar 17 is trapped between the member 19 and the button 16. Thus the rod 12 is coupled to the button 16 for axial movement relative to the member 11 so that when the button 16 is pressed into the member 11 the rod 12 is moved relative to the member 11 to operate the ratchet release mechanism of the handbrake, the resilience of the spring 18 urging the button 16 and the rod 12 back to the inoperative position when the button is released.
The insulating button 16 is in the form of a hollow body open at one end thereof, the button 16 and the collar 17 together with the member 19 defining a bulbholder. Positioned within the bulbholder is a bulb 21 with the conductive lug 22 of the bulb 21 adjacent the open end of the button. Further the end of the rod 12 carried by the member 19 projects from the member 19 towards the open end of the button 16 and a spring 23 urges the bulb 21 towards the rod 12 so that the conductive lug 22 engages the rod 12. The collar 17 is formed with an integral flange 24 which extends round the periphery of the hole in the collar 17 and the arrangement is such that when the lug 22 is resiliently urged into engagement with the rod 12 the conductive body 25 of the bulb 22 engages the flange 24, the member 19 preventing shorting between the lug 22 and the body 25 by way of the rod 12.
The button 16 is formed from a translucent synthetic resin material and at its end adjacent the filament of the bulb 21 defines a lens 26 so that light emitted from the bulb issues from the lens 26. The electrical contacts of the bulb 21 are the lug 22 which defines the live terminal of the bulb, and the conductive body 25 which defines the earth contact. The body 25 is resiliently urged by the spring 23 into engagement with the conductive plate 17 which is in turn connected to the member 11 by the spring 18. Since the member 11 is, in use, secured to the body of a road vehicle the earth connection to the bulb 21 is made through the member 11 by way of the spring 18 and the collar 17. Further at the end 13 of the rod 12 where the rod is connected to the ratchet release mechanism 14 an insulating bush 27 is inserted between the rod 12 and the mechanism 14 so that the rod 12 is insulated from the mechanism 14 which is of course connected to earth. An electrical lead 28 is secured to the end 13 of the rod to provide a connection to the live terminal of the bulb 21 constituted by the lug 22 by way of the rod 12. Also in order to ensure that the rod 12 is insulated from the casing 11 the rod 12 is preferably surrounded by an insulating cover 29. In use, the lead 28 is connected to the battery of a road vehicle by way of the ignition switch of the vehicle and a switch operable by the handbrake so that, assuming that the driver of the vehicle closes the ignition switch without releasing the handbrake the bulb 21 will be energized and the lens 26 will be illuminated to provide warning of the nonrelease of the handbrake.
If required, a flasher unit can be incorporated in the circuit including the bulb 21 so that when the ignition switch of the vehicle is closed without the handbrake being released the warning is provided by the bulb 21 flashing rather than giving a continuous signal.
Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A vehicle handbrake control including a hollow conductive member, a conductive rod mounted for axial movement within said member, said rod being insulated from said member, a handbrake release mechanism, means coupling the rod to the handbrake release mechanism so that axial movement of the rod operates the release mechanism to release the handbrake, a button mounted for axial movement in said move the rod, resilient means urging the rod and the said electrical circuit and operable so that the circuit can only be completed when the handbrake is operative.
2. A control as claimed in claim 1 in which the bulbholder is defined in part by said button.
3. A control as claimed in claim 1 in which said rod is provided with an insulating cover.
4. A control as claimed in claim 1 in which the button is formed in insulating material and said lens is integral therewith.

Claims (4)

1. A vehicle handbrake control including a hollow conductive member, a conductive rod mounted for axial movement within said member, said rod being insulated from said member, a handbrake release mechanism, means coupling the rod to the handbrake release mechanism so that axial movement of the rod operates the release mechanism to release the handbrake, a button mounted for axial movement in said member, said button being accessible from one end of the member and engaged with said rod so that axial movement of the button is transmitted to the rod to move the rod, resilient means urging the rod and the button to an axial position wherein, in use, the release mechanism is inoperative, a lens positioned in the exposed end of the button, a bulb holder supporting A bulb within the button, an electrical circuit including said bulb, one electrical connection to the bulb being made by way of the rod and a second electrical connection to the bulb being made by way of said member so that completion of said electrical circuit energizes the bulb to cause light from the bulb to issue from the button through said lens, and switch means connected in said electrical circuit and operable so that the circuit can only be completed when the handbrake is operative.
2. A control as claimed in claim 1 in which the bulbholder is defined in part by said button.
3. A control as claimed in claim 1 in which said rod is provided with an insulating cover.
4. A control as claimed in claim 1 in which the button is formed in insulating material and said lens is integral therewith.
US00128864A 1970-04-24 1971-03-29 Handbrake controls for road vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3731272A (en)

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GB1969970 1970-04-24

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US (1) US3731272A (en)
AU (1) AU2716371A (en)
BR (1) BR7102429D0 (en)
DE (1) DE2117949A1 (en)
ES (1) ES207126Y (en)
FR (1) FR2086312B1 (en)
GB (1) GB1335555A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0149070A2 (en) * 1983-12-12 1985-07-24 Knorr-Bremse Ag Hand brake, or blocking-brake arrangement for vehicles
US4876914A (en) * 1988-05-26 1989-10-31 Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd. Parking-brake operating device
US4881425A (en) * 1988-05-26 1989-11-21 Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd. Parking-brake operating device
US5863112A (en) * 1998-04-23 1999-01-26 Didato; Thomas Emergency brake illuminator
US6446528B1 (en) * 1998-09-26 2002-09-10 Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag Decoupled actuating element for a latching device for a selector lever

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3428156A1 (en) * 1984-07-31 1986-02-13 Adam Opel AG, 6090 Rüsselsheim Lockable handbrake lever

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1280952A (en) * 1915-10-30 1918-10-08 Edmund Marrison Blake Turning-indicator for vehicles.
GB482944A (en) * 1935-09-11 1938-04-08 Karl Worischek Improvements in and relating to direction indicators for motorcycles and cycles
US2343394A (en) * 1941-03-08 1944-03-07 Otto J Blomberg Brake signal
GB859611A (en) * 1958-07-30 1961-01-25 Sackville Ltd Improvements relating to hand brake levers for road vehicles
US2995737A (en) * 1957-06-03 1961-08-08 Harold F Zimmerman Warning light
US3508625A (en) * 1966-06-22 1970-04-28 Gen Alarm Corp Vehicular security brake device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1280952A (en) * 1915-10-30 1918-10-08 Edmund Marrison Blake Turning-indicator for vehicles.
GB482944A (en) * 1935-09-11 1938-04-08 Karl Worischek Improvements in and relating to direction indicators for motorcycles and cycles
US2343394A (en) * 1941-03-08 1944-03-07 Otto J Blomberg Brake signal
US2995737A (en) * 1957-06-03 1961-08-08 Harold F Zimmerman Warning light
GB859611A (en) * 1958-07-30 1961-01-25 Sackville Ltd Improvements relating to hand brake levers for road vehicles
US3508625A (en) * 1966-06-22 1970-04-28 Gen Alarm Corp Vehicular security brake device

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0149070A2 (en) * 1983-12-12 1985-07-24 Knorr-Bremse Ag Hand brake, or blocking-brake arrangement for vehicles
EP0149070A3 (en) * 1983-12-12 1986-07-16 Knorr-Bremse Ag Hand brake, or blocking-brake arrangement for vehicles
US4876914A (en) * 1988-05-26 1989-10-31 Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd. Parking-brake operating device
US4881425A (en) * 1988-05-26 1989-11-21 Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd. Parking-brake operating device
AU623549B2 (en) * 1988-05-26 1992-05-14 Toyoda Iron Works Co. Ltd Parking-brake operating device
US5863112A (en) * 1998-04-23 1999-01-26 Didato; Thomas Emergency brake illuminator
US6446528B1 (en) * 1998-09-26 2002-09-10 Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag Decoupled actuating element for a latching device for a selector lever

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2086312B1 (en) 1974-03-08
FR2086312A1 (en) 1971-12-31
GB1335555A (en) 1973-10-31
DE2117949A1 (en) 1971-11-04
ES207126U (en) 1976-03-01
AU2716371A (en) 1972-10-05
BR7102429D0 (en) 1973-04-05
ES207126Y (en) 1976-07-01

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