The present disclosure, in general, relates to a parking system of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a parking brake lever assembly for a vehicle, where the parking brake lever assembly is able to indicate a state of operation of a parking brake lever.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A parking brake, also called as an emergency brake or e-brake, is a mechanical hand operated lever or foot-operated brake pedal that acts as a backup braking system or to hold a vehicle in its position when parked. It is located either between the front two seats or dashboard or to the left of your accelerator and brake pedal. The parking brake generally controls rear brakes and is a completely separate device from your vehicle's regular hydraulic brakes. The parking brake is in charge of keeping a parked vehicle stationary; and it will prevent the car from rolling down a hill or moving. The parking brake discussed is completely mechanical and use only cables and levers to operate. When a parking brake lever is pulled (or when a parking brake pedal is pushed), these cables transmit the necessary force to keep your vehicle in place or to stop the vehicle from rolling.
[0003] A typical parking brake lever 100 is shown in FIG. 1A. The parking brake lever 100 generally includes a push button 102 on one end and a pawl 104 on another end. A pawl tooth of the pawl 104 is always in a locking position with one of the teeth/notches of a ratchet plate 106. Further, the pawl 104 is

formed with a lever body 108 which remains rested and in contact with an indicator switch 110. The ratchet plate 106 and the indicator switch 110 are fixed on a mounting bracket 112 firmly attached to a vehicle body. The indicator switch 110 is configured to detect an on-position and an off-position of the parking brake lever 100 based on a state of contacting of the first indicator switch 110 with the lever body of the parking brake lever 100.
[0004] As shown in FIG. 1B, when the push button 102 is pressed and the parking brake lever 100 is pulled, a pawl tooth of the pawl 104 slides over one of teeth/notches of the ratchet plate 106 and locks on a ratchet notch causing application/operation of the parking brake. In such a situation, the lever body 108 loses contact or moves away from a sensing platform of the indicator switch 110. The indicator switch 110 then transmits an output signal to an indicating unit implemented in an instrument panel of the vehicle for indicating that the parking brake is engaged.
[0005] Similarly, to release the parking brake, the push button 102 is pressed and the parking brake lever 100 is pushed down to disengage the pawl teeth from the ratchet tooth/notch. In such a situation, the lever body 108 gets in contact or rests on the sensing platform of the indicator switch 110. The indicator switch 110 then transmits an output signal to the indicating unit implemented in the instrument panel of the vehicle for terminating the indication that the parking brake is engaged.
[0006] However, such indications are sometimes not sufficient to prevent roll over of the vehicle, especially while parking the vehicle on an inclined surface, because the existing indication is only about engagement of parking brake but not about level of engagement of the parking brake. For instance, the parking brake 100 may be locked at second or third notch of the ratchet plate 106, which may not be sufficient to hold the vehicle in an inclined surface. But since the lever body 108 has already lost contact or moved away from a

sensing platform of the indicator switch 110, the indicator switch 110 indicates that the parking brake is engaged. As a result, even after a driver pulls the parking lever 100 to park the vehicle, the vehicle may roll over and may cause damage to property or injures human.
[0007] Hence, there is a requirement in upgrading in a parking brake lever assembly which may provide better reliability, and may provide indication of proper engagement of the parking brake lever of the vehicle.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0009] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a parking brake lever integrated with indicator switch which will indicate sufficient engagement of parking brake lever during operation.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an integration of a system inside the parking brake lever that provides better parking operation awareness indication to a driver of a vehicle.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the parking brake lever assembly that will indicate to the driver that the lever of the vehicle is properly engaged.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the parking brake lever assembly that is configured to provide an indication or buzzer or signal through a vehicle communication network that sufficient parking brake lever operation is performed for safely holding of the vehicle without roll over while the driver is parking the vehicle and moving out.

[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the parking brake lever assembly that provides an indication to the driver about insufficient engagement of the parking brake assembly.
[0014] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the parking brake lever assembly that provides better performance and reliability.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present disclosure is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0016] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a parking brake lever assembly in a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0017] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a parking brake lever assembly in a vehicle. The parking brake lever assembly includes a mounting bracket fixed to a vehicle body. Further, the parking brake assembly includes a parking brake lever which is having a first end connected to a push button while a second end connected to a ratchet plate that is fixed on the mounting bracket. On the mounting bracket, a first indicator switch is fixed for detecting an on-position and an off-position of the parking brake lever. The first indicator switch actuates based on a state of contacting of the first indicator switch with the second end of the parking brake lever. Yet further, the parking brake assembly includes a second indicator switch fixed on the mounting bracket in between the first indicator switch and the ratchet plate. The second

indicator switch being configured to actuate based on positioning of the second end of the parking brake lever at a predefined notch of the ratchet plate after the detection of the on-position by the first indicator switch.
[0018] In an aspect, the first indicator switch detects the on-position of the parking brake lever when the first end of the parking brake lever is pulled upward by rotating the second end of the parking brake lever about a center of rotation of the ratchet plate.
[0019] In an aspect, the second indicator switch is positioned at a distance from the center of rotation so that the second indicator switch gets open at the predefined notch of the ratchet plate.
[0020] In an aspect, the predefined notch is selected based on a ratio of a contact point radius (R1) for the first indicator switch and a contact point radius (R2) of the second indicator switch.
[0021] In an aspect, the parking brake lever assembly includes a first indicating unit for indicating the parking brake on-position detected by the first indicator switch.
[0022] In an aspect, the second indicator switch is configured to output a signal to a controller that controls movement or remote locking or starting of the vehicle.
[0023] In an aspect, the parking brake lever assembly includes a second indicating unit for indicating a complete engagement of the parking brake based on the signal received from the second indicator switch.
[0024] In an aspect, the first indicator switch is configured to indicate application of parking brake when driver tries to drive vehicle in parking brake applied condition.

[0025] In an aspect, the parking brake lever has a lever body contactable with the first indicator switch and the second indicator switch, in a brake-release position of the parking brake lever.
[0026] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made regarding the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0027] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0029] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate conventional parking brake lever assembly of a vehicle;
[0030] FIG. 2A illustrates a parking brake lever assembly in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 2B illustrates the parking brake lever assembly having the indicator switches positioned at 1st notch of a ratchet plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0032] FIG. 2C illustrates the parking brake lever assembly having the indicator switches positioned at nth notch of the ratchet plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to con all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0035] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0036] FIG. 2A shows a concerned area of a parking brake lever assembly 200 of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The parking brake lever assembly 200 includes a paring brake lever 100 having a push button 102 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) on one end and a pawl 104 on another

end. A pawl tooth of the pawl 104 is always in a locking position with one of the teeth/notches of a ratchet plate 106. Further, the pawl 104 is formed with a lever body 108 which remains rested and in contact with a first indicator switch 110. The ratchet plate 106 and the first indicator switch 110 are fixed on a mounting bracket 112 firmly attached to a vehicle body. The first indicator switch 110 is configured to detect an on-position and an off-position of the parking brake lever 100 based on a state of contacting of the first indicator switch 110 with the lever body of the parking brake lever 100. In an aspect, the first indicator switch 110 is configured to indicate application of parking brake when driver tries to drive vehicle in parking brake applied condition.
[0037] Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first end of the parking brake lever 100 is pulled upward by rotating the second end of the parking brake lever 100 about a center of rotation (O) of the ratchet plate 106. As mentioned above, to engage the parking brake, the push button 102 is pressed and the parking brake lever 100 is pulled, resulting a pawl tooth of the pawl 104 to slide over one of teeth/notches of the ratchet plate 106 and locks on, say, 1st ratchet notch causing application/operation of the parking brake. In such a situation, the lever body 108 loses contact or moves away from the sensing platform of the first indicator switch 110. The first indicator switch 110 then transmits an output signal to a first indicating unit (not shown in figures) implemented in an instrument panel (not shown in figures) of the vehicle for indicating that the parking brake is engaged.
[0038] Further, as can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the parking brake lever assembly 200 further includes a second indicator switch 202 for confirming the sufficient application/operation of the parking brake. The second indicator switch 202 is fixed on the mounting bracket 112 in between the first indicator switch 110 and the ratchet plate 106. The second indicator switch 202

is configured to actuate based on positioning of the second end of the parking brake lever 100 at a predefined notch of the ratchet plate 106 after the detection of the on-position by the first indicator switch 110.
[0039] Further, the second indicator switch 202 is positioned at a distance from the center of rotation O so that the second indicator switch 202 gets open at a predefined notch, say nth notch, of the ratchet plate 106. In an aspect, the predefined notch is selected based on a ratio of a contact point radius R1 for first indicator switch 110 and a contact point radius R2 of the second indicator switch 202.
[0040] For instance, as can be seen from FIG. 2B, the lever body 108 loses contact from the sensing platform of the first indicator switch 110 when the parking lever 100 locks with a 1st notch of the ratchet plate 106, but the lever body 108 maintains a contact with a sensing platform of the second indicator switch 202. In this situation, the first indicator switch 110 indicates at the first indicating unit that the parking brake has been engaged, but the second indicator switch 202 remains in contact with the lever body 108. With such configuration, even though the first indicator switch 110 indicates the initial engagement of the parking brake, but the confirmation of the sufficient application/operation of the parking brake will not be made by the second indicator switch 202. This will prompt the driver to further pull the parking brake lever 100.
[0041] Once the second end of the brake lever 100 locks into a predefined notch, say nth notch, of the ratchet plate 106, the lever body 108 loses contact from a sensing platform of the second indicator switch 202, as can be seen from FIG. 2C.

[0042] Once the lever body 108 loses contact from the sensing platform of the second indicator switch 202, the second indicator switch 202 outputs a signal at a second indicating unit (not shown) implemented in the instrument panel for indicating a complete engagement of the parking brake.
[0043] Simultaneously, the second indicator switch 202 outputs a signal to a controller that controls movement or remote locking or starting of the vehicle. The controller then gives indication or buzzer or signal to a vehicle communication network that sufficient parking brake lever operation is done for safely holding the vehicle without roll over while a driver is parking the vehicle and moving out.
[0044] Thus, the present disclosure avoids improper engagement of the parking brake lever as well as overcomes the problem related to roll over of the vehicle due to such improper engagement of the parking brake lever. Further, the proposed parking brake lever assembly can be manufactured without incurring additional cost to vehicle.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0045] There is a plurality of features which are listed as technical advantages below:
[0046] The present disclosure provides an integration of system inside a parking brake lever that provides better parking operation awareness to the driver of a vehicle.
[0047] The present disclosure provides provide the parking brake lever assembly that will indicate to the driver that the brake lever of the vehicle is properly engaged or disengaged.

[0048] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever assembly that is configured to provide an indication or buzzer or signal to the vehicle communication network that sufficient parking brake lever operation is performed for safely holding the vehicle without roll over while the driver is parking the vehicle and moving out.
[0049] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever assembly that provide an indication to driver about insufficient engagement of the parking brake assembly.
[0050] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever assembly that is configured to operate the parking brake lever efficiently and durably.
[0051] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever assembly through which during parking brake actuation, a driver has to pull the lever until a second switch is activated and an indication in dashboard is displayed to indicate proper lever engagement.
[0052] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever assembly that provides better performance and reliability.
[0053] The present disclosure provides a parking brake lever assembly in a vehicle which is simple in design, light weight, and very cost effective.
Equivalents
[0054] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be

appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.

WE CLAIM:

1. A parking brake lever assembly (200) of a vehicle, comprising:
a mounting bracket (112) fixed to a vehicle body;
a parking brake lever (100) having a first end connected to a push button (102) while a second end connected to a ratchet plate (106) fixed on the mounting bracket (112);
a first indicator switch (110) fixed on the mounting bracket (112) for detecting an on-position and an off-position of the parking brake lever (100), the first indicator switch (110) actuates based on a state of contacting of the first indicator switch (110) with the second end of the parking brake lever (100); and
a second indicator switch (202) fixed on the mounting bracket (112) in between the first indicator switch (110) and the ratchet plate (106), the second indicator switch (202) being configured to actuate based on positioning of the parking brake lever (100) at a predefined notch of the ratchet plate (106) after the detection of the on-position by the first indicator switch (110).
2. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the first indicator switch (110) detects the on-position of the
parking brake lever (100) when the first end of the parking brake
lever (100) is pulled upward by rotating the second end of the parking
brake lever (100) about a center of rotation of the ratchet plate (106).

3. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second indicator switch (202) is positioned at a distance from the center of rotation so that the second indicator switch (202) gets open at the predefined notch of the ratchet plate (106).
4. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined notch is selected based on a ratio of a contact point radius (R1) for first indicator switch (110) and a contact point radius (R2) of the second indicator switch (202).
5. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a first indicating unit for indicating the parking brake on-position detected by the first indicator switch (110).
6. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second indicator switch (202) is configured to output a signal to a controller that controls movement or remote locking or starting of the vehicle.
7. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 6, comprising a second indicating unit for indicating a complete engagement of the parking brake based on the signal received from the second indicator switch (202).
8. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first indicator switch (110) is configured to indicate application of parking brake when a driver tries to drive vehicle in parking brake applied condition.

9. The parking brake lever assembly (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lever body (108) is contactable with the first indicator switch (110) and the second indicator switch (202), in a brake-release position of the parking brake lever (202).