Parking brake assembly including automatic latching device associated with brake lever and cable, and method of connecting cable thereof

Abstract

A parking brake assembly comprising a pair of brake shoes pivotally mounted on a backing plate, a brake operating lever pivoted to the brake shoe and operable by a remote cable for pivoting the brake shoes against a brake drum, and a coil spring provided under compression between the brake lever and the backing plate. During shipment of the parking brake assembly, it is attached to an axle and the coil spring has an end that extends to an opening in the back plate. The cable including a conduit and an inner member, preferably a flexible strand, is handled separately. After the parking brake assembly is attached to an automotive vehicle, the cable can be connected even though the brake drum is in place and prevents seeing the interior of the brake assembly. Specifically, the strand is then forced through the conduit and the coil. The brake lever includes a bracket defining a ramp that guides an enlargement on the end of the strand until the enlargement extends beyond the band and then snaps laterally behind the bracket to provide engagement between the strand and the bracket and in turn the brake lever. The conduit of the cable which surrounds the strand is then connected to the backing plate by a connector on the conduit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.