Abstract: A foot-operated device for controlling a parking brake wherein a parking brake pedal is locked in its operated position through engagement of a pawl member with ratchet teeth. The pawl member is pivotally connected to the brake pedal, and the ratchet teeth are formed on a bracket fixed to a vehicle frame. The parking brake is released when a pedal pad pivotally connected to the brake pedal is pivoted on the pedal and the pedal is depressed. The pedal pad has an extension arm protruding toward the pawl member which is biased by a spring device in a first direction to cause the pawl member to engage the ratchet teeth while the pedal pad is placed in its original position. The extension arm directly engages the spring device to change the biasing direction thereof from the first direction to a second direction so that the pawl disengages from the ratchet teeth when the pedal pad is pivoted to its operated position.

Abstract: A foot-operated device for controlling a parking brake wherein a parking brake pedal is locked in its operated position through engagement of a pawl member with ratchet teeth. The pawl member is pivotally connected to the brake pedal, and the ratchet teeth are formed on a sector or bracket fixed to a vehicle frame on which the brake pedal is pivotally supported. The parking brake is released when a pedal pad pivotally connected to the brake pedal is pivoted on the pedal and the pedal is depressed. The pedal pad is operatively connected by a lever to the pawl member which is normally held in engagement with the ratchet teeth by a first spring member. The lever is pivotally connected to the brake pedal, biased by the first spring member and engageable with the pawl member to transmit a biasing force of the first spring member to the pawl member so that the pawl member engages the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: A foot-operated device for controlling a parking brake wherein a parking brake pedal is locked in its operated position through engagement of a pawl member with ratchet teeth. The pawl member is connected to a bracket pivotally supporting the pedal, and the ratchet teeth are formed on the pedal. The parking brake is released only when a pedal pad pivotally connected to the pedal is pivoted on the pedal and the pedal is depressed. Near the pawl member is disposed a lever pivotally connected to the bracket. The pedal, pedal pad, pawl member and lever are pivoted about respective axes which are parallel to one another. The pedal pad and the lever are connected by a connecting device which transmit a pivotal movement of the pedal pad to the lever such that a movement of said pedal pad incident to a pivotal movement of the pedal is not transferred to the lever.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control valve for a dual-circuit brake system of a vehicle. In this control valve a pair of valve pistons for controlling the braking hydraulic pressure delivered to each of rear wheel brakes are disposed in a housing parallelly and imparted with biasing force directed inwards of the housing by one biasing device. The biasing device is assembled or set within a cover of cup-shape such that the biasing device has been given a preload substantially equal to a biasing force necessary for the control valve before the cover is fixed to the valve housing. The biasing device includes a swingable guide rod attached at one end thereof to the cover with a pivot pin, a sliding member slidably fitted on the guide rod, and a compression spring disposed between the sliding member and a free end of the guide rod for biasing the sliding member toward the pivoted end of the guide rod.

Abstract: A braking fluid pressure control apparatus for a dual circuit type vehicle brake system. The control apparatus is provided with a pair of pressure reducing or pressure limiting valve plungers disposed in a housing parallelly one another, with respective rear ends being protruded out of the housing, and a biasing device for commonly biasing both rear ends into the housing. The biasing device includes a guide rod pivoted to the housing at an intermediate position of the pair of valve plungers oscillatably in a parallel direction to a plane including the axes of both plungers. On the guide rod a transmitting member having an operating portion abuttable to the rear ends of both plungers is slidably fitted and biased by a spring toward the rear ends of the plungers.

Abstract: The webbing retractor according to the present invention is suitably applied to a passive seatbelt system of the type, wherein one end of a webbing is secured to a door, whereby the webbing for restraining an occupant is automatically fastened to the occupant in accordance with the opening or closing of a door. Said retractor is provided therein with a release lever for forcedly separating a pawl meshed with a ratchet wheel solidly secured to a windup shaft so as to stop a webbing windoff rotation of the windup shaft in an emergency of the vehicle. Said retractor is further provided with a holding device for holding a condition where the release lever has been moved, so that the webbing can be unfastened from the occupant even when the vehicle is stopped in a tilted condition, thereby enabling the occupant to escape from the vehicle.

Abstract: Rollers are opposingly disposed at a drawing-out port for a seat belt webbing which is drawn out from a retractor. When an impact load has occurred, both the rollers are turned to tightly hold the seat webbing therebetween. Thus, a surplus length which is ascribable to the elongation and tight winding of the webbing is prevented from being drawn out.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor wherein in normal use the seat belt is completely extended from the retractor. The seat belt retractor including a base, a retractor shaft rotatably coupled to the base and having a belt passageway formed therein, a means for applying a retractor force to the retractor shaft and a belt passing through the passageway at an intermediate point of the belt whereby one portion of the belt serves as a lap restraining belt and the other portion of the belt serves as a shoulder restraining belt and both the lap and shoulder belts are simultaneously and equally taken up on a single take-up shaft of retractor one over the other shaft by the retracting force.

Abstract: An electrically activated ignition circuit system for a gas generator to be used to inflate a gas bag in a motor vehicle.The system includes a bridge circuit including a first ignition filament for igniting gas-producing substances disposed in a gas generating bomb and a second ignition filament for exploding a detonator to break a seal for the bomb; a source to supply current to the bridge circuit; and a collision sensor to couple the current from the source to the bridge circuit when a collision occurs. The current first heats the second filament to explode the detonator and then heats the first filament to ignite the gas-producing substances.