Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-02
2001-07-17
Luong, Vinh T. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Elements
C074S543000, C074S501600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260435
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is a brake lever for automobile vehicle safety brake mechanisms, which is particularly applicable to hand-operated safety brake mechanisms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is widely known, automobile safety brake mechanisms which can be operated by hand basically comprise the following known parts: a brake lever coupled by means of a pivot pin to a support fixed to the structure of the vehicle, in such a way that said coupling allows the user to rotate the brake lever in both directions between two preset positions, a rest position and a braking position, respectively, while the brake lever includes means for fixing the corresponding end of the steel cable of the control cable which links the brake mechanism with the brake shoe or brake caliper actuating mechanism; a ratchet which includes a lever, or ratchet lever, coupled by means of a pivot pin to the brake lever in such a way that said coupling permits rotation of the ratchet lever in both directions between two preset positions, a rest position and a braking position of the brake lever, respectively; and a ratchet-control device which, coupled to the brake lever, can be operated manually and acts upon the ratchet lever, and more specifically upon its power arm.
In general, on the brake lever the power arm has a substantially elbowed configuration in which two portions can be distinguished, a front or handgrip portion and a rear portion, respectively, the resistance arm consisting in a prolongation of said rear portion of the power arm. The ratchet-control device is mounted on the power arm and on the handgrip, while the rear portion is fitted with the ratchet and the means for securing the end of the steel cable of the control cable, and the resisting arm includes guiding means for the end portion of the steel cable.
It is usual practice for the brake lever to be made up of two metal plates which are to a certain extent symmetrical to each other, which plates when attached to each other form the brake lever as such on which the aforesaid parts are mounted: the ratchet; the ratchet-control device; the means for fixing the end of the steel cable of the control cable; and the guiding means for the end portion of the steel cable.
The fact that the brake lever is made up of two plates which can be coupled together, and the fact that other pieces are required for attaching the plates to each other, means high factory production and assembly costs which notably increase the cost of the safety brake mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A brake lever of new structure and operation for automobile vehicle safety brake mechanisms is made known hereby in order to provide a solution for the high cost of the known embodiments of brake levers such as those described above which have a structure of two plates which can be attached to each other.
The brake lever of the invention comprises means for coupling thereof to a support fixed to the structure of the vehicle by means of a pivot pin which permits rotation of the brake lever in both directions between two preset positions, a rest position and a braking position, respectively, means for attachment of a lever position-fixing ratchet, means for attachment of a ratchet-control device, means for fixing the end of an end portion of the steel cable of a control cable, and guiding means for said end portion of steel cable.
The brake lever of the invention is characterized in that it is single-piece, obtained by injection of plastic material, in which the power arm is of generally elbowed shape and comprises a front or handgrip portion in which there is a longitudinal cavity with open ends and a rear portion which, linking with the handgrip, is of generally U-shaped cross section forming two plates facing and parallel to each other, a first plate and second plate respectively, each one at a relatively short distance from the other, while both first and second plates are prolonged longitudinally to form first and second resistance arms, respectively.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, the longitudinal cavity of the handgrip is designed to receive the ratchet-control device.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, the first and second plates include means for attachment of the ratchet.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, the first plate includes means for securing the end of the end portion of the steel cable of the control cable.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, the exterior end of the first resistance arm includes guiding means for the end portion of the steel cable.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, the means for attaching the ratchet include, on each plate and facing each other, a through-orifice with a reinforcing rim on its exterior mouth.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, the fixing means of the end of the end portion of the steel cable include a fixing projection running longitudinally with respect to the first plate provided with a longitudinal through orifice.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, the guiding means of the end portion of the steel cable include a channel one of whose ends, the interior end, links tangentially with the longitudinal through orifice of the fixing projection, while its other end, the exterior end, forms a mouth designed to receive tangentially the end portion of the steel cable.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, on the linkage of the first and second plates with the first and second resistance arms, respectively, there is a transverse structural reinforcement rib.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, both plates, first and second, have structural reinforcement means which consist, on the exterior of each of them, in a plurality of ribs running transversally and in an outward-oriented perimetric lip.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, both resistance arms, first and second, have structural reinforcement means which consist, on each of them, in an outward-oriented perimetric lip and a plurality of longitudinal ribs which link said lip with the transverse linking rib.
According to another characteristic of the brake lever of the invention, both resistance arms, first and second, have structural reinforcement means which consist, over the entire width of each of them, in a thickened section which runs between the transverse linking rib and the exterior end of the resistance arm.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4353265 (1982-10-01), Lipshield
patent: 4373402 (1983-02-01), Barrett
patent: 4770057 (1988-09-01), Foggini
patent: 5052524 (1991-10-01), Husted
patent: 5265493 (1993-11-01), Solano et al.
Carcaño Sobre Jose Antonio
Ruf Morales Francisco
Fico Cables S.A.
Luong Vinh T.
Striker Michael J.
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