Abstract: A hinge assembly having a first bracket mountable to a hood or a body component and having a flange with an opening; a second bracket mountable to the other of the hood and the body component and having a flange with an opening; a bushing coupled to the first bracket and having a base disposed in the opening of the first bracket and defining a bore; a spacer, which includes a base having a first side with a knurl and a second opposite side, a shoulder extending from the second side into the bore, and a through hole extending through the base and the shoulder; a fastener having a head and a threaded shank extending from the head through the opening in the second bracket and the through hole in the spacer; and a nut threaded to the threaded shank with an end surface of the nut contacting the knurl.

Abstract: Provided is a retainer for assisting in installation of a parking brake actuator for use in a vehicle by limiting relative movement of an input lever and a mounting bracket. The retainer has a first part and a second part connected via frangible connection(s). The first part of the retainer is fixed relative to a mounting bracket and the second part is fixed relative to the input lever (via a pivot member). After installation, the lever is moved from its first, installation position to a second, in-use position. The application of force and movement of the lever rotates the pivot member, which rotates the second part of the retainer relative to the first part thereby breaking the frangible connection(s). The input lever of the brake actuator is then ready for use to apply or release brakes of the vehicle.

Abstract: A brake actuator for use in a motor vehicle having brakes actuable by a cable system with cables. The brake actuator includes a mounting bracket and an output member connected to the cables. The brake actuator includes an input lever mounted to the mounting bracket at a pivot for movement in brake applying and brake releasing directions. The pivot of the input lever is spaced axially from the output member and connected to the output member to effect movement of the output member. A plate is provided between the mounting bracket and the input lever and prevents contact between the mounting bracket and the input lever during movement between the brake applying and releasing directions. An additional plate is provided between the mounting bracket and a cover portion and prevents contact between the mounting bracket and the cover portion during movement between the brake applying and brake releasing directions.

Abstract: Provided is a retainer for assisting in installation of a parking brake actuator for use in a vehicle by limiting relative movement of an input lever and a mounting bracket. The retainer has a first part and a second part connected via frangible connection(s). The first part of the retainer is fixed relative to a mounting bracket and the second part is fixed relative to the input lever (via a pivot member). After installation, the lever is moved from its first, installation position to a second, in-use position. The application of force and movement of the lever rotates the pivot member, which rotates the second part of the retainer relative to the first part thereby breaking the frangible connection(s). The input lever of the brake actuator is then ready for use to apply or release brakes of the vehicle.

Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake actuator includes a brake lever that is movable between brake-released and brake-applied positions.

Abstract: The present application discloses a cable connector for use in attaching an input cable to an actuator in a vehicle braking system.

Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake actuator includes a brake lever that is movable between brake-released and brake-applied positions.

Abstract: A brake actuator for use in a motor vehicle having brakes actuable by a cable system with cables. The brake actuator includes a mounting bracket and an output member connected to the cables. The brake actuator includes an input lever mounted to the mounting bracket at a pivot for movement in brake applying and brake releasing directions. The pivot of the input lever is spaced axially from the output member and connected to the output member to effect movement of the output member. A plate is provided between the mounting bracket and the input lever and prevents contact between the mounting bracket and the input lever during movement between the brake applying and releasing directions. An additional plate is provided between the mounting bracket and a cover portion and prevents contact between the mounting bracket and the cover portion during movement between the brake applying and brake releasing directions.

Abstract: A brake actuating system in a motor vehicle having wheels and brakes for braking rotation of the wheels includes a cable system including a plurality of cables operatively connected to the brakes of the vehicle. An actuator is operatively connected to the cable system and is operable by an occupant of the vehicle for movement between applied and released positions to selectively increase and decrease the tension in the cables of the cable system to thereby activate and deactivate the brakes of the vehicle, respectively. A cable tensioner including a rotary input member is selectively and adjustably coupled to an input side cable of the cable system. The input member is rotatable in tensioning and releasing directions. The input side cable includes a retaining structure that prevents disengagement of the input member from the input side cable when the input member is rotated in the releasing direction.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator for a vehicle includes a toothed stationary sector fixed to a mounting structure, a brake lever pivotably mounted to the sector, a pawl mounted to the brake lever for movement between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the teeth, an elongated, substantially rigid release member mounted to the brake lever for movement relative to the brake lever between normal and depressed positions, and a motion-absorbing member connecting the release member to the pawl. When the brake lever is operatively connected to the vehicle brake cable and in a braking position thereof with the pawl in the engaged position thereof, moving the release member to the depressed position thereof without also moving the brake lever in the brake applying direction compresses the motion-absorbing member without moving the pawl from the engaged position thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a brake actuator for use in a motor vehicle. In a motor vehicle with one or more brakes activated by a cable system, there is a mounting bracket mounted in the motor vehicle. Movably mounted to the mounting bracket is a lever that can move in brake applying and brake releasing directions, and which is constructed to be connected to the brake cables. The lever applies tension to the brake cables when the lever is moved in the brake applying direction, and releases the tension when moved in the releasing direction. Mounted to either the lever or the mounting bracket is a retainer constructed to engage the other of the lever or the mounting bracket. The retainer acts to restrict the relative lateral movement of the lever and the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A brake actuating assembly for use in a vehicle includes a clutch assembly that includes a pinion provided on one of a lever and a mounting bracket of the actuating assembly. The pinion includes a shaft and a plurality of teeth that interact with an arcuate rack of teeth provided on the other of the lever and the mounting bracket. The clutch assembly also includes a torsion clutch spring that includes a plurality of coils wrapped around the shaft of the pinion, a fixed end at one end of the coils, and a free end at an opposite end of the coils. At least one of the shaft of the pinion and the spring is tapered in an axial direction thereof such that an interference fit between the spring and the shaft is lower near the free end of the spring than near the fixed end of the spring.

Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake actuator includes a brake lever that is movable between brake-released and brake-applied positions. A self-adjustment assembly connects to the lever and includes a rack, a pinion, and a clutch. The toothed rack mounts to the lever for movement relative to the lever along a longitudinal direction of the rack. The rack connects to a brake cable and is resiliently biased in a tensioning direction. The rotatable pinion continuously meshes with the toothed rack. The clutch engages to prevent the pinion from rotating when the brake lever is in its brake-applied position, and disengages to allow the spring-biased rack to take up slack in the brake cable when the lever is in its brake-released position.

Abstract: A brake actuating assembly for a vehicle having a brake system is provided. The assembly includes a mounting bracket for mounting the brake actuating assembly to the vehicle, and a pedal arm mounted to the mounting bracket for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. The pedal arm is connectable to the brake system such that movement of the pedal arm in a brake applying direction activates the brake system and movement of the pedal arm in a brake releasing direction de-activates the brake system. An arcuate rack of teeth is connected to the pedal arm, and a pawl that includes a tooth engages the rack. The assembly also includes a spring that has a first end that operatively connected to the pawl, and the second end that is operatively connected to the mounting bracket in an opening that includes a surface extending between a first stop and a second stop.

Abstract: A brake cable tension monitoring assembly and method for use with a brake actuator installed in an operative position in a motor vehicle. The tension monitoring assembly for sensing tension applied to at least one brake cable connected to a brake actuator installed in an operative position in a vehicle. The brake actuator including a lever movable in applying and releasing directions and the brake actuator being constructed such that tensioning of the cable forces the lever in the releasing direction. The monitoring assembly including a sensing device including a sensor, the sensing device being removably positioned between the lever and a surface and constructed and arranged to sense the movement of the lever in the releasing direction when the cable is being tensioned while the sensing device directly contacts the lever and the surface.

Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake actuator includes a brake lever that is movable between brake-released and brake-applied positions. A self-adjustment assembly connects to the lever and includes a rack, a pinion, and a clutch. The toothed rack mounts to the lever for movement relative to the lever along a longitudinal direction of the rack. The rack connects to a brake cable and is resiliently biased in a tensioning direction. The rotatable pinion continuously meshes with the toothed rack. The clutch engages to prevent the pinion from rotating when the brake lever is in its brake-applied position, and disengages to allow the spring-biased rack to take up slack in the brake cable when the lever is in its brake-released position.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a brake actuator for use in a motor vehicle. In a motor vehicle with one or more brakes activated by a cable system, there is a lever, a pawl resiliently biased to engage a sector, and a cam member. Connected to the cam member is a cable that can tension and release the pawl by movement of a button that is slidably engaged with the cam member.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a brake actuator for use in a motor vehicle. In a motor vehicle with one or more brakes activated by a cable system, there is a mounting bracket mounted in the motor vehicle. Movably mounted to the mounting bracket is a lever that can move in brake applying and brake releasing directions, and which is constructed to be connected to the brake cables. The lever applies tension to the brake cables when the lever is moved in the brake applying direction, and releases the tension when moved in the releasing direction. Mounted to either the lever or the mounting bracket is a retainer constructed to engage the other of the lever or the mounting bracket. The retainer acts to restrict the relative lateral movement of the lever and the mounting bracket.

Abstract: The present application discloses a cable connector for use in attaching an input cable to an actuator in a vehicle braking system.

Abstract: A brake actuator comprising: a mount including an input lever, a pivotal shaft; an operative output member connected to the shaft, a connector arm positioned adjacent the input lever and spaced axially from the output member; and an adjustable connection device, comprising: a link; a first connector connecting the link to the input lever, wherein the first connector comprises a seat provided on the input lever and supporting the link and a seat support structure between the input lever and the seat for supporting the seat; and a second connector connecting the link to the connector arm; to connect the input lever to the connector arm and the shaft via the link such that, when the output member is connected to one or more cables, movement of the input lever in either the applying or releasing directions pivots the shaft to apply or release tension to the cables.