Patents by Inventor Giovanni Fra

Giovanni Fra has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8448317
    Abstract: A brake adjuster for adjusting the working clearance of the shoes of an automotive drum brake. The adjuster has three co-axial elements, a first end element having a head portion for engagement with a first brake shoe and a threaded stem portion, an intermediate element in threaded engagement with the first end element, and a second end element having a head portion for engagement with a second brake shoe and a stem portion slideably connected with the intermediate element and free to rotate relative thereto. A reaction member is mounted on the intermediate element, and a toothed ring gear rotates with the intermediate element and is axially located between the second end element and the reaction member. A leaf spring acts between the second end element and the reaction member for pushing the second end element away from the intermediate element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Products Italia (SV) s.r.l.
    Inventor: Giovanni Fra
  • Patent number: 8196717
    Abstract: A drum brake has a pair of brake shoes (40) moveable radially outwardly into contact with an associated brake drum to provide a handbrake function by a cross strut (100) which acts between the brake shoes or between pivoting brake operating levers (14) which actuate the brake shoes. A handbrake lever (18) is pivoted on one brake shoe or brake operating lever (14) and contacts one end of the strut to displace the other brake shoe or brake operating lever towards the drum to apply the associated shoe against the drum and by reaction through the strut to also force the other brake shoe or brake operating lever toward the drum to apply the other shoe against the drum. The strut (100) is in two parts (101,102), one part being connected for movement with each respective brake shoe or operating lever, the strut parts having inter-engageable formations in the form of teeth (103,104) which when engaged allow the strut (100) to transmit axial force between the shoes or operating levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Products Italia (SV) S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Monopoli, Ivan Cecchelli, Giovanni Fra
  • Publication number: 20100299898
    Abstract: A brake adjuster for adjusting the working clearance of the shoes of an automotive drum brake. The adjuster has three co-axial elements, a first end element having a head portion for engagement with a first brake shoe and a threaded stem portion, an intermediate element in threaded engagement with the first end element, and a second end element having a head portion for engagement with a second brake shoe and a stem portion slideably connected with the intermediate element and free to rotate relative thereto. A reaction member is mounted on the intermediate element, and a toothed ring gear rotates with the intermediate element and is axially located between the second end element and the reaction member. A leaf spring acts between the second end element and the reaction member for pushing the second end element away from the intermediate element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Automotive Products Italia (SV) s.r.l.
    Inventor: Giovanni Fra
  • Publication number: 20100101905
    Abstract: A drum brake has a pair of brake shoes (40) moveable radially outwardly into contact with an associated brake drum to provide a handbrake function by a cross strut (100) which acts between the brake shoes or between pivoting brake operating levers (14) which actuate the brake shoes. A handbrake lever (18) is pivoted on one brake shoe or brake operating lever (14) and contacts one end of the strut to displace the other brake shoe or brake operating lever towards the drum to apply the associated shoe against the drum and by reaction through the strut to also force the other brake shoe or brake operating lever toward the drum to apply the other shoe against the drum. The strut (100) is in two parts (101,102), one part being connected for movement with each respective brake shoe or operating lever, the strut parts having inter-engageable formations in the form of teeth (103,104) which when engaged allow the strut (100) to transmit axial force between the shoes or operating levers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Marco Monopoli, Ivan Cecchelli, Giovanni Fra