Towed vehicle remote brake application means for use with a towing vehicle

A towed vehicle remote brake application means for use with a towing vehicle comprising:

• a) a compressed air storage means attached with respect to the towing vehicle for accumulating a supply of compressed air, said compressed air storage means comprising a compressed air tank member;
• b) an air compressor operatively secured with respect to said tow vehicle and being in fluid flow communication with respect to said compressed air storage means to generate and supply compressed air thereto, said air compressor means being driven by the motor of the towing vehicle;
• c) a pneumatic line means including a towed vehicle end means and a towing vehicle end means, said towed vehicle end means being in fluid flow communication with respect to said compressed air storage means to receive compressed air selectively therefrom, said pneumatic line means being flexibly resilient to facilitate fluid flow communication between said air storage means and said braking assembly during movement of the towing and towed vehicles;
• d) a pneumatic switch means manually movable between a closed position preventing compressed air flow through said pneumatic line means and an opened position allowing full flow of compressed air through said pneumatic line means, said pneumatic switch means being responsive to the application of brakes in the towing vehicle to move to the opened position;
• e) a braking assembly positioned within the passenger compartment of a towed vehicle between the brake pedal and steering wheel thereof and adapted to selectively exert bias against the brake pedal of the towed vehicle responsive to application of the brake pedal in the towing vehicle, said braking assembly comprising:
• (1) a rod member positioned extending from the steering wheel of the towed vehicle to the brake pedal thereof, said rod member including an upper end and a lower end defined thereon;
• (2) a pedal securement bracket attached with respect to the lower end of said rod member, said pedal securement bracket adapted to be detachably securable with respect to the braking pedal of the towed vehicle to selectively secure said rod member with respect thereto, said pedal securement bracket including:
• (a) a first plate member;
• (b) a second plate member;
• and
• (c) a threaded engaging member attached to said first plate member and said second plate member for selectively securing said first and second plate members in engaging relationship with respect to one another with the pedal of the towed vehicle abuttingly engaged therebetween;
• (3) a steering wheel securement bracket attached with respect to the upper end of said rod member, said steering wheel securement bracket adapted to be detachably securable with respect to the steering wheel of the towed vehicle to selectively secure said rod member with respect thereto, said steering wheel securement bracket comprising:
• (a) a U-shaped cradle adapted to bias against the undersurface of the steering wheel of the towed vehicle;
• (b) an upper securement yoke detachably securable with respect to said rod member to facilitate secure attachment between the steering wheel of the towed vehicle and said rod member and to allow for adjustment in the length of said rod member, said upper securement yoke comprising:
• (i) a ring member movable along said rod member for adjusting the longitudinal length between said upper end and said lower end thereof;
• (ii) a set screw rotatably engaging and extending through said securement yoke for detachable frictional engagement thereof with respect to said rod member;
• (4) a pneumatic control means secured with respect to said rod member and in fluid flow communication with respect to said pneumatic line means, said pneumatic control means being responsive to receiving pneumatic pressure through said towed vehicle end means of said pneumatic line means to extend said rod member between the steering wheel and braking pedal of the towed vehicle to exert downward bias against the braking pedal thereof to apply the brakes and to provide adjustability in the length of said rod means, said pneumatic control means further including a pneumatic piston means in axial alignment with respect to said rod means to facilitate axial movement and adjustability thereof, said pneumatic control means being in fluid flow communication with respect to said towed vehicle end of said pneumatic line means and being responsive to receiving compressed air therefrom to actuate and expand to urge said lower end of said rod means to exert bias against the brake pedal of the towed vehicle to actuate braking thereof;
• and
• (5) an air release valve means operative responsive to discontinuation of compressed air being supplied through said pneumatic line means to exhaust compressed air from within said pneumatic piston means to facilitate contraction thereof from the expanded position to cease braking of the towed vehicle.