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US 4,281,736 AGranted
Method and apparatus for automatically applying and releasing automotive type parking brakes
OwnerVincent P. Lizzioinventor
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OwnerVincent P. Lizzioinventor
Estimating the term…
The specification discloses a novel method for automatically applying the parking brake of a vehicle when its transmission is placed in a first predetermined position, such as the park position for automatic transmission vehicles or in neutral for gearshift equipped vehicles. An apparatus, which either may be an integral part of the original equipment for newly manufactured cars, or a bolt-on after market device attached by suitable means to the parking brake assembly, moves the parking brake pedal arm in such assembly down to apply the brake. When the transmission lever is moved to a second predetermined position, such as the reverse or the neutral position, the lever arm which acted on the parking brake pedal arm to apply the device is released and the car is started, then the operator either manually releases the parking brake in the normal manner, or in cars equipped with an automatic parking brake release, the parking brake itself will be automatically released when the driver places his foot on the service brakes before shifting, allowing the car to be driven in the normal manner.
A method of automatically applying and releasing the parking brake on a transmission equipped vehicle, said method including the steps of placing the selector lever of said transmission into a first predetermined position, and causing said parking brake to be applied when said lever is placed in said predetermined position, when desired, removing said selector lever from said first predetermined position and placing it in a second predetermined position without causing said parking brake to be released, and causing said parking brake to be automatically released only when the service brake of said vehicle is applied simultaneously or subsequently to placing said lever in said second predetermined position, but prior to said vehicle resuming motion.
In combination in a vehicle equipped with a transmission and a selector lever for said transmission, a parking brake having a brake pedal arm and a service brake, an apparatus for automatically applying the parking brake on said vehicle when the transmission thereof is placed in a first predetermined position, said apparatus including means activated by said selector lever to cause said parking brake to be automatically applied when said selector lever is placed in a first predetermined position, means to cause said parking brake to remain applied when said selector lever is removed from said first predetermined position to a second predetermined position, and means to automatically release said parking brake of said vehicle when said service brake is applied simultaneously or subsequently to placing said lever in said second predetermined position, but prior to said vehicle resuming motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.