Lever Carried Pawl Patents (Class 74/535)
  • Patent number: 6282980
    Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake actuator for a vehicle is provided having an eccentrically-mounted self-adjust cam assembly. The cam assembly is mounted eccentrically to the lever axis to provide a variable mechanical advantage during actuator stroke. The eccentric offset for the self-adjusting cam is less than the outside radius of the cam to reduce the overall space requirements of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Sykes
  • Patent number: 6240804
    Abstract: This mechanism includes a fixing device (5) comprising a fixing body (36) which meshes with toothing (34) of the support (1) and a helical fixing spring (37); a self-regulating device (3) comprising a traction body (11) to which is fixed the end of the steel cable (28) which links with the brake callipers or shoes attached to the mechanism, a spiral traction spring (12) and a helical locking spring (13), mounted coaxially to each other and so designed that, when the brake lever (2) is in the rest position, the spiral spring (12) subjects the cable (28) to traction, permanently adjusting the length of its sheathed portion; and a self-adjusting device (4) of the initial length of the cable (28) which includes a removable pin (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Gabas Cebollero
  • Patent number: 6237731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a parking brake actuating assembly for installation in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a parking brake actuating assembly that has a brake positioning bracket for properly positioning brake cables relative to cable receiving portions of a brake equalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Sykes
  • Patent number: 6131483
    Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake for a motor vehicle and including a brake lever pivotally supported on a bridge girder, a locking pawl for securing the brake lever on the bridge girder in any arbitrary put-on position of the parking brake, a brake cable driving element likewise supported on the bridge girder and spring-biased in a rotational direction, and an automatically engageable, upon application of the parking brake, formlocking clutch for releasable connecting the brake lever with the brake cable driving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: ED. Scharachter GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Kuller, Sven Bode, Hans-Peter Kalckert, Ulf Braker
  • Patent number: 6122990
    Abstract: A hand brake for motor vehicles, and including a trestle provided with a toothing, a brake lever pivotally supported on the trestle, a locking pawl for retaining the brake lever on the trestle in an arbitrary selected pull position, at least one brake cable, a spring-biased tensioning element for the brake cable supported on the trestle, and a spring-biased arrangement for connecting the brake lever with the tensioning element, with the tensioning element being formed as a tooth segment or a tooth wheel which is constantly form-lockingly connected with the brake lever and a brake cable connector associated with the trestle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: ED. Scharwachter GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Bode, Wolfgang Kopittke
  • Patent number: 6073513
    Abstract: A parking brake control having an improved release rod assembly comprising a release rod and a pawl. The pawl can be retained by the release rod so that the release rod and pawl can be stored and transported as a subassembly. Compression force is transmitted coplanarly from the release rod to the pawl. The release rod can be molded as a single piece and can dampen any rattling noise caused by contact between the release rod, the pawl and other parts of the parking brake control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Huebner
  • Patent number: 6016718
    Abstract: A hand brake with a foldable operation lever comprises a ratchet fixed onto a car frame and an operating lever that can be moved up and down and coupled by a hinge onto the ratchet. It also comprises a push button, a rod coupled to the push button, and a slider coupled to the rod. The slider is located inside the operating lever and forcibly rotates a pawl. The pawl is coupled by a hinge to a rotational body, which allows the operating lever to be selectively locked and released from the ratchet. The operating lever also includes a lever limiter, which limits the rotation of the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Samlip Inc. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Chul Park, Kyong Ro Lee
  • Patent number: 5907977
    Abstract: A cable tensioning system for removing s lack from a parking brake cable or the like including a parking brake cable operator having an improved resettable lockout arrangement for retaining an adjuster take-up reel in a spring-biased caged condition until the adjuster reel is connected to a first brake cable component. The first brake cable component is in turn connected to a second cable component which is in turn connected to the vehicle wheel parking brakes. The cable tensioning system provides enhanced efficiency during automotive assembly as well as when making repairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Huebner, Thomas Edward Pare
  • Patent number: 5875689
    Abstract: A vehicle parking brake operating mechanism having an arcuately movable brake handle arcuately rotatably mounted on a pin secured to a fixed mounting bracket, a cable reel assembly having a reel section attached to the brake handle and a hub section arcuately rotated on a sleeve bushing which is received on the pin in slidable but non-rotatable relation therewith, and a cable take-up spring in the cable reel assembly reel section having one end attached to that reel section and the other end attached to the a portion of the sleeve bushing which extends through the cable reel section as well as through the cable reel assembly hub section. The bushing is of lesser specific gravity than the pin and primarily withstands only bearing loads from the hub section to the pin and torsional loads exerted by the take-up spring. The pin is subjected to cantilever loads as well as bearing loads. The pin is preferably made of steel while the bushing is made of a suitable plastic or light metal alloy or powdered metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Huebner
  • Patent number: 5836218
    Abstract: A crankshaft for cooling pistons having oil passages which are respectively terminated at three weight balances have a couple of oil holes, so that the oil holes at the weight balances are equipped with oil jets and inject the oil toward each piston of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Gi Lee
  • Patent number: 5819595
    Abstract: A safety brake mechanism incorporates a self-regulating device and a self-adjusting device, the first including a traction body (36) attached to one end (44) of the steel cable (60) of the control cable and a traction spring (37) coupled to the pivot pin (5) of the brake lever (4), and a thrust body (47) coupled to the pivot pin (8) of the ratchet (6) lever (7), with both bodies (36, 47) having respective toothed portions (41, 52) for mutual meshing, so that when the brake lever (4) is in the rest position, the spring (37) subjects said end (44) to traction, permanently adjusting the length of the sheathed portion of the control cable, while the self-adjusting device includes, in the traction body (36) and on the support (2) of the mechanism corresponding orifices (42, 58) traversed ex-works by a retaining pin (59).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Gabas Cebollero
  • Patent number: 5816111
    Abstract: An actuator for a cable-controlled hand brake of a motor vehicle including a ratchet carrier attached to the vehicle body, a brake actuating lever hingedly supported on the ratchet carrier, a spring-biased drive pawl formed as a rocker and having a circumferential toothing, a cable-supporting drive disc coupleable with the brake actuating lever and cooperating with the drive pawl, and a locking device including a toothed segment formed on the stationary ratchet carrier, and a locking pawl supported on the actuating lever, with the locking pawl being formed as a two-part locking pawl with the two parts being hingedly supported on the brake actuating lever for pivotal movement about a common axis independently of each other, and the two parts being automatically mechanically connectable with each other upon pivoting in at least one of their pivotal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: ED Scharwachter GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolf-Dieter Borchers
  • Patent number: 5787761
    Abstract: A slack adjuster (1) for a cable operated system, such as a brake assembly operable by a brake lever (2), includes two drive parts (9) and (10) which are engageable to form a drive connection between the brake lever (2) and the cable (29) to enable the lever (2) to impart an actuating force to the cable 929) during movement of the lever (2) between a rest and a fully actuated position. The slack adjuster (1) further includes a pivotal lever (23) which is operable to disengage the drive parts (9) and (10) during a predetermined portion of one of either the applied or release strokes of the brake lever (2), but inoperative during other portions of the strokes, thereby enabling adjustment of slack in the cable (29) by movement of one drive (9, 10) relative to the other drive part (10, 9) to occur only during the one stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: PBR Automotive Pty., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nui Wang
  • Patent number: 5775174
    Abstract: A vehicular foot-operated parking brake control apparatus is designed to achieve reliable and easy operation of the apparatus while also reducing the apparatus size and the stroke loss. The apparatus includes a mounting bracket that is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body, and a pedal that is rotatably mounted on the bracket for rotation about a rotational axis, with the pedal being connected to a parking brake control cable. The pedal is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth and a pawl is rotatably mounted on the bracket for rotation between a first rotational position in which the pawl is engaged with the ratchet teeth and a second rotational position in which the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet teeth. The pawl is slidably mounted on the bracket to slide between a first slide position and a second slide position. The apparatus is designed to allow the parking brake to be engaged and disengaged by pressing on the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunari Kanbe, Takashi Ishikawa, Takuya Inaba, Masayoshi Katagiri
  • Patent number: 5735178
    Abstract: An actuating device for a parking brake with a shell-shaped handbrake lever essentially comprises a locking device that includes a detent segment with a detent pawl. The device is operated by an actuating rod. The handbrake lever is composed of half-shells enclosed by a cover strip with bearing bushings for the locking device as well as for pivotable mounting in a pedestal bearing that is mounted on the body. The connected half-shells are each provided with molded tubular guide projections for the actuating rod. The latter is connected with a one-piece handle that slips over it, producing, together with the cover strip and the half-shells, a flat continuous outer surface for the handbrake lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Vasil Barbunopulos
  • Patent number: 5564315
    Abstract: A locking system for vehicular seats, in particular motor vehicle seats, is described and includes a rail (9), having a row of identically designed snap-in holes (11), which are separated by identically long, web-like material members (13), and a part having with a pair of bolts (1, 7), which can be moved relative to the rail. The bolts (1, 7) of the pair of bolts can be moved independently of each other at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the rail. In each position along the rail (9) at least one bolt (1, 7) can fall into a snap-in hole (11). One of the bolts (1) has a segment (3), which tapers away from the basic body (1') and includes an end which has a smaller cross section and which adjoins an end segment (5), that faces the rail. The largest width of the pair of bolts (1, 7) exceeds the length of the snap-in holes (11). The smallest distance between the bolts (1) and (7) is larger than the width of the web-like material parts (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rolf Schuler, Udo Orzech, Ulrich Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5546828
    Abstract: A parking brake mechanism having a spring pressed rotary assembly providing a cable connection movable in opposite directions within an arcuate path and a cylindrical surface movable in opposite directions within the plane of the cylindrical surface in conjunction with the movement of the cable connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Atoma International Inc.
    Inventor: B. Paul Golarz
  • Patent number: 5533420
    Abstract: A parking brake mechanism for operating a parking brake cable includes an operating lever pivotally connected with a mounting bracket for movement between brake-applied and brake-released positions, a locking device for releasably locking the lever in the brake-applied position, and a self-adjust device for automatically removing slack from the parking brake cable when the lever is in the brake-released position, characterized in that at least one of the locking and self-adjust devices includes a spring clutch having an internal clutch spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Holding, Inc.
    Inventor: Randal J. Perisho
  • Patent number: 5485764
    Abstract: A ratchet wheel, connected to a motor through a worm gear and a worm wheel, is supported on a pedal shaft which pivotally supports a brake pedal. The ratchet wheel engages a ratchet member mounted on the brake pedal. When the brake pedal is depressed, the ratchet member rotates on the pedal shaft so that the brake pedal is turned with the ratchet wheel remaining stationary. When the motor is driven, the ratchet member is brought into engagement, so that the brake pedal is turned along with the ratchet wheel. When the ratchet member is operated by a release arm, the brake pedal is released from the ratchet wheel and returned to an original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinori Sugimoto, Atsushi Mori, Kunio Nanno
  • Patent number: 5484039
    Abstract: A parking brake system for use in a motor vehicle, mounted on a floor member which operatively connects a hand-operated brake actuator to a wheel brake is disclosed. The parking brake system comprises a pulley for reversing the direction of a rearwardly directed tensile force output from the brake actuator and transmitting a forwardly directed tensile force to the wheel brakes. The system allows a hand operated parking brake actuator to be used in a vehicle with a cable linkage routed into the front of the vehicle rather than into the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Singleton, Donald R. McCann
  • Patent number: 5467953
    Abstract: A stand, in particular a stand for a musical instrument keyboard, comprises two double-T stand segments which are connected with one another so as to be swivelable out of a rest position into a working position in the manner of a pair of scissors. A locking gear mechanism is included for determining the swivel angle and, accordingly, the working height of the stand segment associated with the swivel axis of the stand segments. The locking gear mechanism has a catch member which is associated with one stand segment. The other stand segment has an associated locking member of the locking gear mechanism acting against the force of a spring. The locking gear mechanism is a directional locking gear having a locking disk with a plurality of catch notches for determining the working positions. The locking member is in the form of a catch lever which is arranged tangentially to the locking disk and engages in the catch notches in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventor: Mario Malizia
  • Patent number: 5375481
    Abstract: A multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding a surgical retractor blade which permits a retractor blade to be rotated into the wound and retracted at the same time to duplicate the natural "toe-in" method of retraction achieved with the hand. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet holder to which is pivotally attached a ratchet pivot housing. The retractor blade is mounted in an opening projecting through ratchet pivot housing and held in position by a retractor pawl attached to the ratchet pivot housing. The ratchet pivot housing also has a curved ratchet which depends into a cooperating slot in the ratchet holder and engages a ratchet release bar which is mounted on the ratchet holder and spring biased into the ratchet slot. One end of ratchet release bar is positioned under an actuating surface of the retractor pawl. The application of pressure on the actuating surface will release both ratchets to allow adjustment of the retractor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff, Inc.
    Inventors: Rene J. Cabrera, Francisco A. Amaral, John J. Amaral, John R. Bookwalter
  • Patent number: 5365804
    Abstract: A countershaft type power transmission has a plurality of selectively engageable friction clutches for establishing a plurality of forward drive ratios and a reverse drive ratio between meshing gear members on an input shaft, a countershaft and an output shaft. One of the power paths established by the meshing gears includes a gear member rotationally fast on the output shaft. A parking pawl member is selectively engageable with this gear member to prevent output shaft rotation when parking is desired. The pawl has teeth formed thereon having a profile which permit continuous simultaneous engagement between two teeth on the pawl and two teeth on the gear member regardless of the rotational bias imposed on the output shaft during parking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Saturn Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Downs, Kyle K. Kinsey
  • Patent number: 5321994
    Abstract: A throttle control for connection to an engine throttle control wire broadly includes a shifter and a case, with the shifter including a rim which engages a corresponding bearing wall within the case to define a circular shift path and which enables the throttle control to be converted for either a positive-action or negative-action mode. The case includes a first portion and a second portion, with at least one of the portions preferably including an inner wall spaced radially inwardly toward a pivot axis of the shifter and away from the bearing wall. The inner wall preferably includes one or more recesses thereon for engagement with a follower on the shifter whereby the shifter may be releasably held by the recess at a preselected position along the shift path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Wescon Products Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Barnard
  • Patent number: 5303610
    Abstract: This brake, suitable for being connected to a brake cable (6), comprises a toothed sector (1) fitted with a dentation (2) which sector is intended to be fixed to the floor of the vehicle, a pawl (9) provided with locking teeth (13) interacting with the dentation (2) of the sector and a hollow manual gripping lever (5) equipped with an internal push-button rod (7), one end (7a) of which interacts with the pawl in order to keep it in the locking position of the brake due to the thrust of a return spring (14); the pawl (9), articulated about a pin (11), interacts with a member (17), which may be an additional tooth (17) forming part of an over-moulded covering (16) on the metal body (12) of the pawl, positioned between the teeth (13) of the locking mechanism and the pin (11), or an intermediate member which is not integrally connected to the pawl; this member is dimensioned in order to slide over the dentation (2) while the lever (5) is being operated, thereby keeping the teeth (13) of the locking mechanism away
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Rockwell Body Component Systems
    Inventors: Jean P. Noel, Bruno Gertsch
  • Patent number: 5272935
    Abstract: A hand brake for a motor vehicle includes a hand lever pivotably supported on a support bracket fixed to the vehicle body, and an adjusting disc likewise supported on the support bracket and connecting the hand lever with a pull member leading to a wheel brake shoe. A detent pawl supported on the hand lever cooperates with a toothed segment formed integrally with the support bracket and is released with an actuation rod longitudinally displaceable in the hand lever. The hand lever is connectable with the adjusting disc by a coupling pawl supported on the hand lever and slidably engaging a guide pin secured to a side surface of the support bracket. The adjusting disc is springbiased in the rotational direction so that it provides for progressive pull member displacement/force ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Ed. Scharwachter GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinz W. Heinemann, Sven Bode
  • Patent number: 5247850
    Abstract: The actuating device for a hand brake of a motor vehicle includes a hand lever pivotably supported on a support bracket fixedly secured to the vehicle body and displaceable against a bias of a return spring, and a traction lever that connects the hand lever with the drive element for actuating means of at least one wheel brake assembly of the motor vehicle. The actuating device further includes an automatically locking latching mechanism which is associated with the traction lever and is not connected with the hand lever. The latching mechanism provides for predetermined positioning of the drive element necessary for application of the brake. The latching mechanism is released with an auxiliary rod displaceable within the hand lever against a spring bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: ED. Scharwachter GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Lenzke
  • Patent number: 5243856
    Abstract: In a parking brake operating device for a motor vehicle, an operating lever and an intermediate lever are pivotally mounted around a transverse common shaft. The intermediate lever is pivotally mounted to a locking lever at its upper part. The locking lever is engaged with an engaging pin of the operating lever. A release lever is pivotally mounted at an upper part of the operating lever and is engaged with the locking lever in a locking position. By pressing an operating portion of the release lever manually, the release lever is disengaged from the locking lever, which is, then, disengaged from the engaging pin of the operating lever. Thus, the operating lever can easily be brought down by one hand of a driver while the parking brake is applied, and the inside of the motor vehicle is effectively utilized without keeping the operating lever upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamazaki, Katsushige Nakamura, Kyoichi Ishida
  • Patent number: 5217094
    Abstract: A parking brake control in which a spiral spring is loaded between a sector and a pedal and unwinds to take up slack in the cable of a vehicle parking brake and tension the cable when a locking pin is removed following installation of the control and connection of the cable to the sector. A pawl coacts with the same sector to hold the sector in its brake-applied position and to enable release of the brake by pushing on the pedal. A cam is carried by the pedal and acts against the cable to produce a mechanical advantage which progressively increases as the brake is progressively applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Atwood Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Walter, LaVern R. McCallips
  • Patent number: 5211072
    Abstract: A brake operator for a vehicle having a cable-operated park brake mechanism comprises a pedal lever pivotally mounted on a mounting bracket for movement between a brake-released position and a range of brake-applied positions, and a lever latch for selectively releasably latching the lever in any selected brake-applied position. The cable is attached to the lever by a reel having a circular cable-engaging surface, the reel being pivotally mounted on the lever eccentrically of the lever pivot and being pivotable to wrap the cable onto the circular surface to move the cable relative to the lever to remove slack. The eccentric mounting provides a predetermined ratio of cable travel per unit of lever movement. The cable tangentially engages the reel surface at the same location on the lever in all positions of the reel to provide the same predetermined variable ratio in all positions of the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Dura Mechanical Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Serge A. Barlas, Paul D. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 5205184
    Abstract: Brake designed to be connected to a brake cable (15), comprising a ratchet plate (1, 2) fixed to the floor of the vehicle, a pawl (4) designed so as to interact with the ratchet plate (2), and a handgrip lever (6) equipped with a push-button (18) associated with the pawl; it comprises a cassette casing (5) mechanically integral with the lever, containing the ratchet plate (1, 2) and the pawl (4), articulated on the ratchet plate and on the end of the brake cable (15). The cassette (5) is formed from two end plates (5a) between which are arranged the ratchet plate (1) and the pawl (4), and which are fixed to the lever (6) Because the lever is split into a grip lever (6) and a cassette casing (5), it is possible to make only the latter from sheet metal so as to enable it to withstand forces, whilst the lever (6) can be made from plastic molded into various shapes depending upon the desired aesthetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Rockwell Automotive Body Systems
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Noel, Philippe Clerc
  • Patent number: 5178237
    Abstract: A power-assisted hand brake for motor vehicles, which can be operated in an automatic and power-assisted mode with the aid of an electric motor. If the power assisted brake fails, a conventional parking brake is operated mechanically to apply emergency brakes. The handbrake includes a rotatable spindle with a threaded nut thereon which operates the brake by use of the motor. A carrier plate and pivot plates function to disconnect the nut so that a hand-operated lever can be used to manually operate the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Ursel, Uwe Schaper
  • Patent number: 5168768
    Abstract: A tilt steering wheel assembly includes a bracket member which supports an upper part of a steering column for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. A sector member has a set of adjustment teeth on one side and a pair of spaced apart detent recesses on the other side. A manually operable pawl member pivots with the bracket member, is slidable towards and away from the sector member has a teeth which are engageable and disengageable with the sector member teeth to releasably hold the bracket member and steering column upper part in a plurality of fine adjustment positions. A manually operable rod is movable towards and away from the sector member and is engageable and disengageable with the detent recesses to allow the sector member's, pawl, bracket member and steering column upper part to pivot together as a unit to a limit position and back to the particular position they occupied just before they were moved to the limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: David J. Easton
  • Patent number: 5067366
    Abstract: A servo-assisted device for operating a parking brake of a moto vehicle is described, consisting of a control lever for a brake cable or rod, mounted rotatably on a pivot, a ratchet mechanism adapted to permit rotation of the lever in a predetermined direction and a push button for disengaging the ratchet mechanism; the principal characteristic of the invention consists in the fact that the brake cable or rod is connected to the control lever through an actuator pivoted beneath the control lever and to a movable element of which the said brake cable is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Fiat Auto S.p.A.
    Inventor: Romolo Gandiglio
  • Patent number: 5054333
    Abstract: A cable-operated park brake actuator for a vehicle park brake is shiftable between engaged and disengaged positions; it includes an operating cable for shifting the park brake between positions, and a cable acutating pedal lever located in the vehicle operator compartment for operating the cable to shift the park brake from disengaged to engaged position upon pedal lever movement from deactuated to actuated position. The park brake actuator is provided with means for positioning the pedal lever in deactuated position, characterized by a stop member located adjacent the pedal lever for engagement thereby in deactuated position. The stop member is mounted for movement between a shipping position, enabling movement of the pedal lever from an operational condition to a non-operational condition to create slack in the cable, and an operating position for engagement by the pedal lever in deactuated position. A spring biases the stop member to its operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Dura Mechanical Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald G. Scott, Anthony R. Gurney
  • Patent number: 5005438
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission has particular usefulness in bicycles, completely eliminating the use of the commonly used derailleur and the exposed flexible cable and the readjustment problems inherent with that prior structure. The transmission includes separate concentric gear rings which to a certain extent operate independently of each other. A shift mechanism for shifting the transmission is such the transmission can not be shifted from one gear to a non-adjacent gear without stopping at a gear therebetween. That is, no gear can be skipped. This is accomplished by a particular relationship of a pawl, a pusher, a shift segment plate and barrels mounted on the shift segment plate, among other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventor: Ernest H. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5001942
    Abstract: Cable operating apparatus includes an automatic cable slack removing arrangement, characterized in that the cable tension-adjusting pawl is mounted both for pivotal movement between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the tension-adjusting ratchet, and for lateral movement between nested and extended positions relative to a pocket defined within the operating handle to which the pawl is connected. A cable-tension pawl spring biases the pawl toward the engaged and extended positions, so that when the pawl is engaged with the cable-tension ratchet, the cable tension will bias the ratchet in a direction to displace the pawl to its nested position in frictional engagement with the bottom wall of the pocket, whereby the pawl is more positively maintained in the ratchet-engaged condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Orscheln Co.
    Inventor: Billy G. Boyer
  • Patent number: 4993279
    Abstract: A tilt steering wheel assembly has a steering column that may be pivoted to a variety of tilt positions for adjusting the steering wheel to the comfort of an operator of a motor vehicle. The range of adjusted positions is limited between comfortable driving positions. A latch lever is provided for releasing the steering wheel from one of the adjusted positions so that it may be tilted to another of the adjusted positions. The lever is limited in its rotatable travel to limit the range of adjustable positions, but may be released from this limitation so that the steering column and steering wheel may be tilted to an extreme position for servicing components connected to the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Doescher, Roger L. Anliker
  • Patent number: 4958536
    Abstract: A cable control system for releasing a spring loaded device such as a latch or brake by a cable wherein one end of the strand of the cable is connected to the latch and the other end thereof is attached to a member that is yieldingly urged in a direction to maintain tension on the strand. An operating lever is pivoted adjacent the member and an arm is pivoted to said lever such that movement of the lever in one direction will cause the arm to engage the member and apply tension to the strand to release the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Babcock Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 4881424
    Abstract: A vehicular parking brake is incorporated within and operates in conjunction with a centrally mounted armrest. The parking brake is actuated by swinging the armrest upwardly. The locking components are fashioned such that the armrest may be returned to its rest position without effecting the release of the parking brake which is accomplished by pressing an easily reached release lever mounted to the armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Russell L. Clark, Roger Bomgaars
  • Patent number: 4876912
    Abstract: A switching mechanism for driving a self-propelling agricultural machine, particularly a harvester thresher, comprises a switching lever arranged to assume a switching-off position actuated by a spring force and a fixed abutment, and a switching-on position actuated against a spring force, and mechanical means for obtaining a fixed position of the switching lever, the switching lever being arranged so that it is movable both for obtaining the switching-on position and also for unlocking the switching lever from the fixed position in a same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Claas Ohg
    Inventor: Franz Stein
  • Patent number: 4876913
    Abstract: In a gear selector for controlling speed gears with a spring-loaded derailleur for sports and racing bicycles, there are associated with the gear selector operating lever (1), mounted rotatable against friction on a pivot (2), a snap-action mechanism controlling a plurality of lever positions with which a like number of positions of correct alignment of the speed gear with the various sprockets of the free wheel correspond, and means for activating and deactivating said mechanism on command. This snap-action mechanism comprises a notched member (4) with notches (18) in different positions, which is immediately interchangeable so as to adapt the gear selector to the control of any type of free wheel and of the most varied combinations of sprockets in free wheels, and at least one pawl for engaging the notches of said member and constructed integrally (5) with the spring which urges it into said engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.p.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Romano
  • Patent number: 4872368
    Abstract: A cable operating apparatus includes a pawl and ratchet arrangement for maintaining an operating lever in a cable-tensioning position. The pawl is bifurcated to define a pair of pawl tips, the pawl being pivotable in opposite directions for effecting alternate engagement of the pawl tips with the ratchet. The pawl contains a slot that receives the pawl pivot pin and which permits lateral movement of the pawl between a pair of end positions. An overcenter spring arrangement alternately pivotally biases the pawl in opposite directions when the pawl is displaced toward the end positions, respectively. A cam arrangement serves to effect lateral displacement and pivotal movement of the pawl when the operating lever is pivoted from the released position toward a cable tensioning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Orscheln Co.
    Inventor: Curtis H. Porter
  • Patent number: 4864886
    Abstract: A hand-operated brake actuator defining an integral portion of a console for an automobile seating arrangement. The actuator includes a primary lever arm (32) which defines a portion of the frame of the console and carries a compartment access cover. The primary lever arm is mounted for independent pivotable movement with respect to a secondary lever arm. The primary lever arm pivots the secondary lever arm which is retained in an engaged position to hold a brake cable in tension by a pull-to-release pawl mechanism. In the engaged position of the actuator, the primary lever arm is independently returnable to the stored position. A stationary ratchet sector member and a pawl are mounted on the secondary lever. The pawl ratchets over the ratchet sector and holds the secondary lever in the engaged position. A brake cable is attached to the secondary lever and is thereby held in tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventor: Russell J. Burgei
  • Patent number: 4856363
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly is provided including a sleeve or torque tube for locking or releasing a parking brake. The assembly includes a mounting bracket, an axle extending through the bracket, and a U-shaped handle assembly secured to the ends of the axle. A ratchet is secured to the mounting bracket. A pawl is pivotably mounted adjacent to the ratchet. The pawl is connected to the torque tube by a connecting rod. A spring urges the torque tube in a first direction, thereby causing the pawl to engage the ratchet. Rotation of the torque tube in the opposite direction causes the pawl to pivot away form the ratchet, thereby allowing the operator to release the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Wickes Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William J. LaRocca, David M. Trush
  • Patent number: 4854187
    Abstract: A self-adjusting hand brake assembly comprises a rack mounting a carriage biased for movement lengthwise thereof in direction by a spring. A pawl on the carriage engages the rack to retain the carriage in position. An anchor member is movable lengthwise of the rack and carriage, and comprises a member to which a brake-operating link is attached. A lever pivotted on the carriage is operable to move the member in direction to apply the brake. The member is retained in position by a pawl engaging the rack, which can be released by a button operating through a linkage to release the brake. The spring is of strength sufficient to take up slack in the brake linkage but insufficient to apply the brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Metallifacture, Ltd.
    Inventor: John E. Walters
  • Patent number: 4841798
    Abstract: An improved parking brake cable control apparatus includes an automatic cable tensioning device that is operable at the beginning and end of every parking brake operating cycle to take up cable slack and maintain uniform cable tension. The foot-operated parking brake lever pivots on a main pivot shaft between brake-engaged and brake-released positions, a releasable pedal pawl being provided that cooperates with a conventional pedal ratchet. A cable-tensioning ratchet connected with the parking brake cable is rotatably mounted on the main pivot shaft, and cooperating therewith are a lock pawl and a drive pawl connected with the apparatus housing and with the lever, respectively. The lock pawl is released by a release lever when the pedal is pivoted toward the released position, and the drive pawl is disengaged when the lever is adjacent the disengaged position, thereby to activate the cable tensioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Orscheln Co.
    Inventors: Curtis H. Porter, Jeffrey E. Tayon, Larry B. Champ
  • Patent number: 4834333
    Abstract: A height adjusting device for an automotive seat which is actuated by rotation of a drive rod through a gear and link mechanism. The seating height adjustment is locked and unlocked by means of a stopper and lock gear mechanism. A lock releasing means is provided in the stopper and lock gear mechanism such that raising and lowering of an operation lever causes the disengagement of the stopper from the lock gear though the lock releasing means to permit a desired higher or lower seating height adjustment, without any other special operations. The lock releasing means comprises a wire member and release plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seishiro Saito, Shigeru Kanai
  • Patent number: 4828323
    Abstract: An armrest assembly is self-adjusting as to height in response solely to the rotation of a connecting support lever to which an armrest is mounted. The adjustment mechanism includes a spring biased latch pawl engaging a ratchet wheel inside the support lever. The spring holds the pawl engaged to the ratchet when the support lever is rotated in one direction; the spring holds the ratchet wheel and pawl in disengagement when it is rotated in the other direction. The ratchet remains fixed relative to the movement of the armrest portion and the support lever. An adjustable cable running from the ratchet wheel through the support lever and into the armrest portion maintains the armrest portion in a horizontal position and provides adjustment above and below the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Cole T. Brodersen, Danny S. Foster
  • Patent number: 4828213
    Abstract: A height adjusting device for an automotive seat which is actuated by rotation of a drive rod through a gear and link mechanism. The seating height adjustment is locked and unlocked by means of a stopper and lock gear mechanism. A lock releasing means is provided in the stopper and lock gear mechanism such that raising and lowering of an operation lever causes the disengagement of the stopper from the lock gear though the lock releasing means to permit a desired higher or lower seating height adjustment, without any other special operations. The lock releasing means comprises a wire member and release plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seishiro Saito, Shigeru Kanai