US 4,036,078 A · Brake pedal positioning mechanism

Abstract

A vehicle parking brake pedal positioning mechanism of the disclosure positions a parking brake pedal in an actuated condition against pivotal movement toward a released position by an infinite position locking action. A frame of the mechanism rotatably supports the brake pedal and a locking member about a common pivotal axis so as to be rotatable with respect to the frame and each other. The frame and the locking member respectively include first and second cam surfaces extending about the pivotal axis and having portions with increasing radii from the axis in a direction corresponding to the brake pedal movement from the released position to the actuated condition. A slide mounted to rotate with the brake pedal but to slide relative thereto has first and second opposite ends respectively engaged in a slidable manner with the first and second cam surface portions on the frame and the locking member such that the slide is locked between the cam surface portions to hold the pedal in the actuated condition in an infinite position manner. The locking member is normally spring biased about the pivotal axis in a direction so as to maintain the engaged condition between the second cam surface portion thereof and the second end of the slide and is selectively moved in the opposite direction to release the pedal for movement back to the released position. Preferably, the frame of the mechanism has a plate-like construction that is stamped to form a depression having a round aperture concentric with the pivotal axis and first and second round depression portions, with the first round depression portion defining the first cam surface, and with the second round depression portion mounting the locking member which has a round configuration and a round aperture that defines the second cam surface. A journal fixed to the brake pedal is rotatably supported within the round depression aperture of the frame and within a round aperture in a plate that maintains the locking member within the depression, and the journal includes a slot that receives the slide so that its opposite ends can engage the cam surface portions. A first leaf spring extends between the brake pedal and the locking member to provide the locking member bias and a pad pivotally mounted on the brake pedal is connected to the first leaf spring by a second leaf spring so as to be actuatable to release the locking member.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A vehicle parking brake pedal positioning mechanism comprising:

a frame adapted for mounting on a vehicle body;
a parking brake pedal mounted on the frame for movement about a pivotal axis between a released position and an actuated condition;
said frame including a first cam surface extending about the pivotal axis and including a portion having increasing radii therefrom moving in a direction corresponding to the direction of brake pedal movement from the released position to the actuated condition;
a locking member mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about the pivotal axis and including a second cam surface having a portion with increasing radii from the pivotal axis in the same direction as the first cam surface portion;
a slide mounted for pivotal movement with the brake pedal and for sliding movement relative thereto;
said slide including first and second opposite ends respectively engaged in a slidable manner with the first and second cam surface portions such that movement of the pedal from the released position to the actuated condition pivotally moves the slide into a locking relationship between the cam surface portions and thereby positions the pedal in the actuated condition in an infinite position manner against movement toward the released position;
spring means for normally biasing the locking member about the pivotal axis to maintain an engaged condition between the second end of the slide and the second cam surface portion on the locking member;
and release means for selectively pivoting the locking member about the pivotal axis in a direction opposite to the normal bias of the spring means so as to permit the pedal to move to the released position.

5 more elements

A vehicle parking brake positioning mechanism comprising a frame having a plate-like construction including a stamped depression defining a round aperture concentric with a pivotal axis and also defining first and second round portions;

a journal pivotally supported within the round aperture of the frame depression for movement about the pivotal axis;
a parking brake pedal fixed to the journal so as to be supported for pivotal movement on the frame about the axis between a released position and an actuated condition;
said first round depression portion of the frame being concentric with respect to the pivotal axis and defining a first cam surface having a portion with increasing radii from the axis in a direction corresponding to the direction of pedal movement from the released position to the actuated condition;
said second round depression portion of the frame being concentric with the pivotal axis;
a round locking member received within the second round depression portion of the frame for pivotal movement about the pivotal axis and including a second round cam surface defining a round aperture eccentric with respect to the pivotal axis;
said second cam surface of the locking member including a portion having increasing radii from the pivotal axis in the same direction as the first cam surface portion;
said journal defining a slot through the pivotal axis having opposite ends that respectively open toward the first and second cam surface portions;
a slide received within the slot of the journal so as to rotate with the pedal while being capable of sliding relative thereto;
said slide including first and second opposite ends respectively engaged in a slidable manner with the first and second cam surface portions such that movement of the pedal from the released position to the actuated condition pivotally moves the slide into a locking relationship between the cam surface portions and thereby positions the pedal in the actuated condition in an infinite position manner against movement toward the released position;
spring means for normally biasing the locking member about the pivotal axis to maintain an engaged condition between the second end of the slide and the second cam surface portion on the locking member;
and release means for selectively pivoting the locking member about the pivotal axis in a direction opposite to the normal bias of the spring means so as to permit the pedal to move to the released position.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Brake pedal positioning mechanism

Life of this patent

Brake pedal positioning mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15