Brake actuator for bicycles and the like

In a device for operating a brake of a pedal operated vehicle, comprising a brake operating lever projecting through an opening in a pedal crankshaft housing of the vehicle and having an inner end forming a first primary clutch element engageable with part of the circumference of a pedal crankshaft within the housing, a pilot clutch comprising two oppositely wound spring coils connected by a bight engaged in a yoke, the bight ends of the coils being directed in the direction of forward rotation of the crankshaft, the inner end of the lever having an end extending around the crankshaft circumference in the opposite direction to said yoke, means extending from the said end of the lever and wrapping around the crankshaft so as to form a second primary clutch element engageable with the circumference of the crankshaft at least in a zone opposite to that engageable by the lever, and means transmitting forces from the yoke to a distal end of said first primary clutch portion whereby to wrap the latter onto the crankshaft upon rearward motion of the crankshaft, the improvement wherein:

• the second primary clutch element is formed by a major peripheral portion of an annulus surrounding the pedal crankshaft within the pedal crankshaft housing, and the first primary clutch element is received within an arcuate slot formed through a remaining peripheral portion of the annulus, bearing surfaces on the annulus at opposite ends of said arcuate slot providing respectively the means transmitting forces from the yoke to the distal end of the primary clutch portion, and a fulcrum for engagement by said inner proximate end of the primary clutch portion, such that the pedal crankshaft can be clamped between the primary clutch element and the secondary clutch element.