Locking Device for Parking Brake Lever

Field of the Invention:

This invention relates to "Locking Device for Parking Brake Lever" and more particularly for a two wheeler.

Background of the Invention:

Conventionally parking brake for two-wheeler is provided with locking device for rear brake, which is hand lever or pedal operated. The locking device is operated to lock the rear brake to park the vehicle. In general hand brake lever has locking device, which is operated with the help of index finger.

To properly operate the locking device, three fingers are use to hold the brake lever and the thumb wrap around the handle grip for support. In this condition the index finger is used to operate the locking device lever. The current method makes it difficult to hold on to the brake lever with last three fingers and requires more effort and strain. Moreover for small fingers it becomes more difficult to operate the parking brake.

Economically it is always preferred to operate the switches or low efforts levers with thumb than index finger and hence the present invention has been devised keeping this in mind.

Summary of the Invention:

The present invention has been devised in view of the above difficulty and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a locking device for parking brake lever which can be operated easily.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for parking brake lever which can be operated with the thumb longitudinally i.e., towards the left side and right side.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for parking brake lever which can be operated in the vertical motion by the thumb.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide locking device for parking brake lever which requires minimum number of parts.

Further object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for parking brake lever which is of light weight.

Yet further object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for parking brake lever which is easily retrofittable.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein

FIG. 1 is a conventional scooter type motorcycle.

FIG. 2 shows the bottom view of handle bar with brake lever assembly and locking device according to one of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows rider's view of the locking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows section view of locking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows brake lever rear casting according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows bottom view of the locking device in operative and non-operative mode according to one of the embodiment of the present invention.

Detail Description of the Drawings:

The present invention is for any two wheelers which uses the hand lever to operate the parking brake. For the purpose of illustration a scooter type motorcycle is described first where the present invention is being applied.

A reference number 1 in Fig.1 denotes a front wheel, 2 denotes a front fork, 3 denotes a front fender, 4 denotes a front cover, 5 denotes a leg shield made of resin or metal, 6 denotes a handle bar cover, 7 denotes a headlight, 8 denotes a handle bar ,17 denotes a rear fender and 18 denotes tail lamp.

The center of the body forms a low floor board 9 for functioning as a part for putting feet and a under cowl 10 which is located below the rider's seat and covers at least a part of the engine, The under cowl is made up of metal or resin. The under cowl is hinged to the seat 11. A utility box 12 opens from the rear end to hinged portion. The utility box 12 is provided under the seat extending longitudinally of a vehicle body and the inside of the utility box has a large capacity so that a large article can be housed. A main frame 14 extended along the center of the body before and behind and made of a metallic pipe and is provided under the floor board 9. A swing type power unit 13 is coupled to the rear end of the main frame 14.

A rear wheel 15 is supported on one side of the rear end of the swing type power unit 13. The swing type power unit 13 is suspended in the rear of a body frame.

The side covers 16 both on left and right sides, covers the utility box 12 and other parts of the vehicle, thereby providing a good appearance to the vehicle.

In the scooter type motorcycle the hand lever is used to lock the parking brake. Hand operated rear brake for two wheeler is operated with left hand only, as per global regulation. According to one of the embodiment of the present invention and referring to figure 2, 3 and 4, the rear brake 201 is used as parking brake. The brake lever 202 is hinged on brake lever holder assembly 203. The said brake lever 202 can swivel within the limited range. The said brake lever 202 is connected to rear brake assembly through brake cable. A locking device 204 is attached to handle bar 205 by welding the mounting bracket.

The said locking device 204 comprises of mounting bracket 401, locking lever 402, torsion spring 403 and bolt 404. The said mounting bracket 401 is welded to handle bar 205. The said locking lever 402 and torsion spring 403 is assembled to the mounting bracket 401 with bolt 404. The said bolt 404 is engaged to handle bar 205 with a threaded hole 405. The said torsion spring 403 ensure the retraction of locking lever 402 when the brake lever 202 is not locked.

The said brake lever 202 is manufactured with aluminium die-casting. Referring to figure 5, a locking pin 501 for brake lever locking is also cast along with the main body hence making it a single integral member. The said locking pin 501 is in the preferably of the shape "V", to ensure smooth and firm engagement while making the casting defect free.
Since rear brake system is generally used as the parking brake, the said brake lever has to function for rear brake operation in normal condition. During this condition the brake lever is free to operate as demanded by the rider. Parking brake is required when the rider intents to brake the vehicle for a long duration without having to apply and hold the brake continuously. The said locking device 204 according to the present invention holds the brake in the intended position to avoid movement of the vehicle.
The rider holds the handle grip 206 and brake lever 202 while applying brake. The four fingers hold the brake lever in position and the hand along with the thumb wrap the handle grip for support.

To engage the parking brake and referring to figure 6, the brake lever 202 is pulled in the direction A and is held at a locking position (predetermined position). The locking brake 402 is pushed with the thumb in the direction B. When the locking lever end 601 is hooked with locking pin 501 of brake lever, the locking lever 402 and brake lever 203 can be released. The said brake lever 202 is said to be in parking mode in ' this condition.
To disengage the parking brake lever, the said brake lever is further pulled towards the handle grip side in the direction A, beyond the locking lever hook. The said torsion spring 403 causes locking lever 402 to disengage from the locking pin 501 and return to original position.

In another embodiment of the present invention the thumb is operated in vertical motion to engage the parking lever locking mechanism.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A locking device for parking brake lever in two wheelers comprising:

a mounting bracket attached to handle bar;

a locking lever assembled to the mounting bracket;

a spring assembled to the mounting bracket; and

a locking pin is provided on the brake lever,

wherein the locking lever is moved in the longitudinal direction to engage and disengage the locking pin.

2. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said locking lever is assembled to the mounting bracket preferably by a bolt.

3. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said spring is assembled to the mounting bracket preferably by a bolt.

4. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said bolt is engaged to the handle bar with a threaded hole.

5. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said spring is preferable a torsion spring.

6. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said locking pin is preferably of V shape.

7. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said mounting bracket is welded to the handle bar.