Brakes – Vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-03
2001-03-06
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Vehicle
C074S500500, C074S501600, C074S47100R, C074S502600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196357
ABSTRACT:
The content of Application No. TOKUGANHEI 9-216461 filed on Aug. 11, 1997 in Japan is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure for arranging a parking-brake lever.
The parking-brake lever (abbreviated as a “PKB lever” hereinafter) is mounted on an upper surface of a floor tunnel provided on a floor of an automobile. A cable is extended from the PKB lever and branched off into two cables via an equalizer arranged on the floor tunnel. Such two cables are connected to parking-brake mechanisms which are provided to right and left rear wheels respectively (see Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) Hei 9-66819 as a similar technology).
With respect to the PKB lever of this kind, as the PKB lever arranging position, in order to be used commonly in both the automobile equipped with a right-hand steering wheel and the automobile equipped with a left-hand steering wheel, there are a first position provided in a center area of an upper surface of the floor tunnel in the width direction of the automobile, a second position provided exclusively to the automobile with the right-hand steering wheel in a right side area in the width direction of the automobile in front of the first position, and a third position provided exclusively to the automobile with the left-hand steering wheel in a left side area in the width direction of the automobile in front of the first position.
In order to respond to such three positions in a series of automobiles, a large opening area is formed on the upper surface of the floor tunnel. In the case of the first position, the PKB lever is mounted directly in the opening area, and then the cable extended from the PKB lever is branched off via the equalizer so as to extend to the right and left rear wheels. In the case of the second position or the third position, the PKB lever is mounted to each position and then the cable is extended from the PKB lever via a dedicated through bracket provided in the opening area so as to pass through the floor tunnel and then is branched off via the equalizer so as to extend to the right and left rear wheels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, the above related art, in case the PKB lever is mounted to the second position or the third position, needs the dedicated through bracket to be fitted in the opening area, whereby the number of parts is increased. In addition, since the opening area must be formed large in size so as to mount the PKB lever directly to the first position, the through bracket to be fitted in the opening area is also increased in size. Because of such large through bracket, the tare, i.e., total automobile weight has been increased correspondingly.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure for arranging a parking-brake lever capable of reducing the number of parts and the tare.
In order to achieve the above object, the structure according to the present invention comprises a parking brake, a fitting hole, a pipe member, and a cable. The parking brake mounted selectively to a first position on a floor of a automobile body and a second position in front of the first position on the floor. The fitting hole is formed on the floor in back of the first position. The pipe member is fitted into the fitting hole and has opening area formed like a substantial flare shape expanded forward at front end thereof. The opening area is opened over the floor of the automobile body. The cable is connected to the parking brake and then extended backward to the inside of the floor via the opening area.
According to the above configuration, the pipe member is fitted into the fitting hole formed on the floor, so that the upper and under arias of the floor are connected via the opening area of the pipe member. The cable, which is extended from the parking brake being mounted to either of the first position and the second position, is introduced into the inside of the floor via the pipe member. Since the opening area of the pipe member has a substantial flare shape, the cable extended from the second position is introduced smoothly into the inside of the floor even if the cable is strung obliquely to the pipe member. If the parking brake is mounted to either of the first position and the second position, a large size through bracket is not needed. As s result, the number of parts and the tare are reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3897694 (1975-08-01), Hirst, Jr.
patent: 4379500 (1983-04-01), Kamino
patent: 4428613 (1984-01-01), Nomura
patent: 5690193 (1997-11-01), Baummann et al.
patent: 5910194 (1999-06-01), Cho
patent: 9-66819 (1997-03-01), None
Kramer Devon
McDermott & Will & Emery
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
Oberleitner Robert J.
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