Vehicle service brake pedal

In a brake system for a vehicle including brake actuator means operable to apply a brake application force signal to the wheel brakes of said vehicle, said vehicle including a frame and an operator's station defined by said frame, said actuator means including an input member movable between a brake released position and a brake applied position:

• a pedal operatively mounted on said frame within said operator's station, means operatively connecting said pedal to said input member for moving said input member between said brake released position and said brake applied position, and linkage means supporting said pedal for movement between a brake released position and a brake applied position, said linkage means being effective to maintain said pedal in its brake released position when the effective force applied to said pedal is applied to a first region of said pedal and to permit movement of said pedal to its brake applied position when said effective force is applied to a second region of said pedal;
• said linkage means comprising a first link member having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame of said vehicle and a second end pivotally attached to said pedal at a first angle to the vertical with respect to said first end when said pedal is in said brake released position, and a second link member spaced forward of said first link member and having a first end pivotally attached to the frame of said vehicle and a second end pivotally attached to said pedal at a second angle to the vertical with respect to said first end when said pedal is in said brake released position, said second region of said pedal being located forward of said second end of the first link member.