Abstract: The present invention provides a braking system that is designed to give the rider of a vehicle an audible indication of an impending lock-up condition (i.e., a condition where the wheel of a wheeled vehicle or track or a snowmobile is not rotating relative to the vehicle). Preferably, the frequency of the audible indication is proportional to the speed of the wheel or track. In one embodiment, the characteristics of the sound (e.g., frequency) are tuned to achieve an audible indication that can be readily heard and perceived by a rider under specific conditions, such as when the rider is wearing a helmet and also in the presence of other noise, such as engine and exhaust noise. In general, an audible indication in the range of about 6 kHz+/?1 kHz is preferred. The audible indication can be altered by changing the geometry and dimensions of the brake rotor and brake pads.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake actuator adapted to be mounted on a vehicle handlebar and hydraulically coupled to a brake mechanism. The brake actuator includes a brake base adapted to be secured to the handlebar, and a reservoir adapted to be coupled to the brake base and containing brake fluid, the reservoir having a bottom surface. The hydraulic brake actuator further includes a piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the reservoir, a brake lever movable relative to the brake base between a released position and an actuated position, and a locking pawl positioned to limit movement between the brake lever and the piston-cylinder assembly, the locking pawl being at least partially positioned directly below the bottom surface of the reservoir.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake actuator adapted to be mounted on a vehicle handlebar and hydraulically coupled to a brake mechanism. The brake actuator includes a brake base adapted to be secured to the handlebar, and a reservoir adapted to be coupled to the brake base and containing brake fluid, the reservoir having a bottom surface. The hydraulic brake actuator further includes a piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the reservoir, a brake lever movable relative to the brake base between a released position and an actuated position, and a locking pawl positioned to limit movement between the brake lever and the piston-cylinder assembly, the locking pawl being at least partially positioned directly below the bottom surface of the reservoir.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes an improved pad holder for holding a brake pad in the brake assembly. The pad holder takes the form of a simple spring clip, preferably a wire form, that holds the rear surface of the pad tightly against the front surface of the piston or pistons of the associated caliper to prevent brake drag and brake rattle. The clip is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily installed without removing the disc or the caliper from the brake assembly. Indeed, the pad/pad holder subassembly can be removed from the brake assembly, without using any special tools, simply by imposing sufficient upward vertical retraction forces on the pad/pad holder subassembly to deflect the spring clip and to remove the pad holder from the pistons to which it is attached.