FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, rule 13]
TITLE: “A MECHANISM FOR INDICATING SAFE PARKING CONDITION OF A
VEHICLE”
NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT:
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company having its registered office at Bombay house, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, INDIA.
Nationality: Indian
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
Present disclosure generally relates to a field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively the present disclosure relates to safe parking of a vehicle. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a mechanism for indicating safe parking condition of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
Generally, vehicles such as minivans, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles and the like are provided with a cabin for accommodating passengers and a loading area which is adapted to receive load [i.e., payload]. Typically, loading and unloading goods from the vehicle requires the vehicle to be parked in required position and location. In order to park the vehicle in desired position and location, parking brakes are provided which can be engaged by the operator by actuating a parking brake lever positioned within the cabin of the vehicle. In some instances, the operator may skip actuating the parking brake lever to engage the parking brakes, when the vehicle is parked to perform loading and unloading of goods in the vehicle. Such scenarios may lead to movement of the vehicle, which causes damage to the goods, as the goods can fall out of the vehicle. The falling of the goods lead to injuries to operators and even fatality, which is undesired.
The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above, or any other limitation associated with the prior arts.
SUMMARY
The one or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by a mechanism as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the provision of the mechanism as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a mechanism for indicating safe parking condition of a vehicle is disclosed. The mechanism includes a parking brake lever which is disposed in a cabin of the vehicle. The parking brake lever is operable between an engaged state and a disengaged state. Further, the mechanism includes a linkage assembly which is disposed on a body of the vehicle. The linkage assembly is coupled to the parking brake lever through a first cable and is adapted to displace relative to operation of the parking brake lever

between the disengaged state and the engaged state. Additionally, the mechanism includes a locking pin which is movably supported on the body of the vehicle and coupled to the linkage assembly. The locking pin is adapted to displace between a first position and a second position to selectively lock a tailgate of the vehicle, corresponding to displacement of the linkage assembly. The locking pin is adapted to displace from the first position to the second position based on displacement of the linkage assembly corresponding to operation of the parking brake lever to the the engaged state, to allow unlocking of the tailgate, for indicating the safe parking condition of the vehicle. The configuration of the mechanism aids in indicating an operator about the vehicle being in the safe parking condition, thereby ensuring safe loading and unloading of goods in the vehicle.
In an embodiment, the linkage assembly includes a first lever. One end of the first lever is coupled to an end of the first cable. Further, the linkage assembly includes a link which is coupled to an another end, opposite to the one end of the first lever. Furthermore, the linkage assembly includes a second lever. One end of the second lever is coupled to the link and another end of the second lever is coupled to the locking pin.
In an embodiment, the another end of the second lever is connectable to the locking pin through a second cable.
In an embodiment, the first lever is adapted to pivotally displace based on displacement of the first cable to rotatably displace the link. Further, the second lever is adapted to pivotally displace based on rotational displacement of the link to displace the locking pin between the first position and the second position.
In an embodiment, the second lever is defined with a length longer than the length of the first lever for amplifying displacement ratio of the parking brake lever and the locking pin. The configuration of the linkage assembly having the second lever longer than the first lever thus, aids in displacement of the locking pin to greater length corresponding to actuation of the parking brake lever between the disengaged state and the engaged state. This facilitates operation of the linkage assembly through the parking brake lever, with minimum force requirement.

In an embodiment, the mechanism includes a resilient member coupled to the locking pin and configured to provide biasing force to the locking pin to displace from the second position to the first position.
In an embodiment, the mechanism includes a latch which is disposed in the tailgate of the vehicle. The latch is adapted to receive the locking pin in the first position to lock the tailgate.
In an embodiment, the mechanism includes a cable splitter which is connected between the first cable and the parking brake lever.
In an embodiment, the locking pin is movably supported on the body of the vehicle through a bracket. The bracket enables the locking pin to be supported proximal to the tailgate and also facilitates displacement of the locking pin.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a mechanism for indicating safe parking condition of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a linkage assembly connected to the locking pin, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of the locking pin locking a latch, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily 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
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other mechanism for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, 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. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an mechanism, assembly, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or mechanism or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a mechanism or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the mechanism or apparatus.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same numerals have been used to refer to the

same or like parts. The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figs. 1-3.
Fig. 1, is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrating a perspective view of a mechanism (100) for indicating safe parking condition of a vehicle. As an example, the vehicle may be a minivan, a light commercial vehicle, a heavy commercial vehicle and the like, which are capable of carrying cargo. In an illustrated embodiment, the mechanism (100) may be associated with operation (i.e., opening and closing) of a tailgate of the vehicle which may ensure safe parking of the vehicle during loading and unloading of goods in the vehicle. However, this should not be considered as a limitation as the mechanism (100) may be associated with operation of at least one of a door, a tailgate, a bonnet and any other part which may be accessible from outside of the vehicle. As seen in Fig. 1, the mechanism (100) may include a parking brake lever (1) which may be disposed in a cabin of the vehicle. The parking brake lever (1) may be operated between an engaged state (ES) and a disengaged state (DS) by an operator. In the engaged state (ES), the parking brake lever (1) may be adapted to engage parking brakes [not shown in Figs] of the vehicle and in the disengaged state (DS), the parking brake lever (1) may disengage the parking brakes of the vehicle. Further, the parking brake lever (1) may be connected to the parking brakes through a parking brake cable (2). In an embodiment, the parking braking cable may be routed along a body of the vehicle to connect the parking brake lever (1) and the parking brakes.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the mechanism (100) may further include a linkage assembly (5) which may be disposed on the body of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the linkage assembly (5) may be disposed on the body proximal to the tailgate of the vehicle. The linkage assembly (5) may be coupled to the parking brake lever (1) through a first cable (4). The first cable (4) may be adapted to displace relative to operation of the parking brake lever (1) from the disengaged state (DS) to the engaged state (ES). In an embodiment, the first cable (4) may be connected to the parking brake cable (2). The first cable (4) and the parking brake cable (2) may be coupled to each other through a cable splitter (3) [hereafter referred to as splitter (3)]. The splitter (3) may be adapted to receive the parking brake cable (2) at one end and receive the first cable (4) at the other end. The splitter (3) may aid in transferring the displacement of the parking brake cable (2) as a result of the actuation of the parking brake lever (1) to the first cable (4) and to the parking brakes.

Further, referring now to Fig. 2, the linkage assembly (5) may include a first lever (7). One end (7a) of the first lever (7) may be coupled to an end of the first cable (4), and another end (7b) of the first lever (7), opposite to the one end (7a) may be coupled to an end (8a) a link (8). Further, the linkage assembly (5) may include a second lever (9). One end (9a) of the second lever (9) may be coupled to the link (8) at another end (8a) of the link (8) opposite to the first lever (7), and another end (9b) of the second lever (9) may be coupled to a locking pin (6). In an embodiment, the another end (9b) of the second lever (9) may be connectable to the locking pin (6) through a second cable (4a). In another embodiment, the link (8) may be rotatably connected to the body of the vehicle through one or more supporting clamps (13).
In an embodiment, during operating of the mechanism, the first lever (7) may be adapted to pivotally displace based on displacement of the first cable (4) in response to operation of the parking brake lever (1) between the disengaged state (DS) and the engaged state (ES) such that, the link (8) may rotate relative to displacement of the first cable (4). Further, rotation of the link (8) may pivotally displace the second lever (9). The pivotal displacement of the second lever (9) may displace the locking pin (6) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP). In an embodiment, the second lever (9) may be defined with a length longer than the length of the first lever (7) which aids in amplifying displacement ratio of the parking brake lever (1) and the locking pin (6). That is, the locking pin (6) displaces to a greater length than the relative length of displacement of the parking brake lever (1). The configuration of the linkage assembly (5) thus, aids in displacement of the locking pin (6) to greater length corresponding to actuation of the parking brake lever (1) between the disengaged state (DS) and the engaged state (ES), whose travel distance is predefined based on the brake force required. This facilitates operation of the locking pin (6) through the parking brake lever (1), with minimum force requirement.
Referring again to Figs. 2 and 3, in an embodiment, the locking pin (6) may be movably supported on the body of the vehicle through a bracket (10). The bracket may enable the locking pin (6) to be supported proximal to the tailgate and may also facilitate displacement of the locking pin (6) based on actuation of the parking brake lever (1).. Further, the mechanism (100) may include a latch (12) which may be disposed in the tailgate of the vehicle. The latch (12) may be adapted to receive the locking pin (6) to lock the tailgate. That is, the locking pin (6) in the first position (FP) may be adapted to be received within the latch (12) to selectively lock the tailgate of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the locking pin (6) may be adapted to displace

between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP) corresponding to displacement of the linkage assembly (5).
In an embodiment, the first position (FP) of the locking pin (6) may correspond to a locked condition of the tailgate and the second position (SP) of the locking pin (6) may correspond to an unlocked condition of the tailgate.
In an embodiment, the locking pin (6) may be adapted to displace from the first position (FP) to the second position (SP) based on displacement of the linkage assembly (5) corresponding to the parking brake lever (1) being in the engaged state (ES). The displacement of the locking pin (6) from the first position (FP) to the second position (SP) may allow unlocking of the tailgate, which in-turn may indicate the safe parking condition of the vehicle as the parking brake may be engaged and movement of the vehicle may be restricted. Thus, the mechanism (100) aids the operator in ensuring that the vehicle is in safe parked position.
In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) may include a resilient member (11) which may be coupled to the locking pin (6). The resilient member (11) may be configured to provide a biasing force to the locking pin (6) to displace from the second position (SP) to the first position (FP), when the parking brake lever (1) may be displaced from the engaged state (ES) to the disengaged state (DS).
In an embodiment, the parking brake cable (2), the first cable (4) and the second cable (4a) may be including but not limiting to bowden cables.
In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) of the present disclosure aids in displacing the locking pin (6) from the first position (FP) to the second position (SP), in order to facilitate unlocking of the tailgate only when the parking brake lever (1) is operated from the disengaged state (DS) to the engaged state (ES). Thus, the mechanism (100) ensures safe parking condition of the vehicle during loading and unloading of goods in the vehicle.
In an operational embodiment, operation of the parking brake lever (1) from the disengaged state (DS) to the engaged state (ES), the parking brake cable (2) may be displaced towards the parking brake lever (1). That is, the parking brake lever (2) is pulled towards the parking brake lever (1). The displacement of the parking brake cable (2) may in-turn displace the first cable (4) towards the parking brake lever (1). In response to displacement of the first cable (4), the first lever (7) of the linkage assembly (5) may pivot which causes the link (8) to rotate which

in turn causes the second lever (9) to pivot. The pivotal displacement of the second lever (9) may cause the second cable (4a) to be displace towards the second lever (9), which causes the locking pin (6) to displace from the first position (FP) to the second position (SP), thereby unlocking the tailgate of the vehicle. Therefore, the mechanism (100) of the claimed invention provides a provision to unlock or open the tailgate only when the vehicle is safely parked via engagement of the parking brakes, i.e., by operating the parking brake lever (1) to the engaged state (ES), thus ensuring safety during loading and unloading in the vehicle.
Further, after loading or unloading of the vehicle, the tailgate may be closed and the parking brake lever (1) may be operated from the engaged state (ES) to the disengaged state (DS). Upon displacement of the parking brake lever (1) to the disengaged state (DS), the both the parking brake cable (2) and the first cable (4) may displace away from the parking brake cable (2). This displacement of the first cable (4) may displace the linkage assembly (5) in an opposite direction when compared to displacement during operation of the parking brake lever (1) to the engaged state (ES). The opposite displacement of the linkage assembly (5) may displace the locking pin (6) from the second position (SP) to the first position (FP) and thereby lock the tailgate of the vehicle. This ensures that tailgate opening is restricted when the parking brake lever (1) is at the disengaged state (DS).
In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) prevents movement of the vehicle during loading and unloading operations which may mitigate damage to the cargo. Furthermore, the mechanism (100) ensures the vehicle will remain stationary during ingress or egress, thereby preventing accidents. Thus, the mechanism (100) aids the operator in ensuring that the vehicle is in safe parked position.
In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) is simple in construction as it utilizes the existing components for the vehicle, and is easy to operate. Additionally, due to simple construction and less number of components, requirement for frequent maintenance is eliminated and costs involved in manufacturing are reduced.
It should be imperative that the mechanism and any other elements described in the above detailed description should not be considered as a limitation with respect to the figures. Rather, variation to such system and method should be considered within the scope of the detailed description.

Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be

limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope.

Referral Numerals:

Reference Number Description
100 Mechanism
1 Parking brake lever
2 Parking brake cable
3 Splitter
4 First cable
4a Second cable
5 Linkage assembly
6 Locking pin
7 First lever
8 Link
9 Second lever
10 Bracket
11 Resilient member
12 Latch
13 Supporting clamp
FP First position
SP Second position
ES Engaged state
DS Disengaged state

We Claim:
1. A mechanism (100) for indicating safe parking condition of a vehicle, the mechanism
(100) comprising:
a parking brake lever (1) disposed in a cabin of the vehicle and operable between an engaged state (ES) and a disengaged state (DS);
a linkage assembly (5) disposed on a body of the vehicle, the linkage assembly (5) being coupled to the parking brake lever (1) through a first cable (4) and is adapted to displace relative to operation of the parking brake lever (1) between the disengaged state (DS) to the engaged state (ES); and
a locking pin (6) movably supported on the body of the vehicle and coupled to the linkage assembly (5), the locking pin (6) is adapted to displace between a first position (FP) and a second position (SP) to selectively lock a tailgate of the vehicle, corresponding to displacement of the linkage assembly (5), wherein the locking pin (6) displaces from the first position (FP) to the second position (SP) based on displacement of the linkage assembly (5) corresponding to operation of the parking brake lever (1) to the engaged state (ES), to allow unlocking of the tailgate, for indicating the safe parking condition of the vehicle.
2. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly (5)
comprises:
a first lever (7), wherein one end (7a) of the first lever (7) is coupled to an end of the first cable (4);
a link (8), coupled to an another end (7b), opposite to the one end (7a) of the first lever (7); and
a second lever (9), wherein one end (9a) of the second lever (9) is coupled to the link (8) and another end (9b) of the second lever (9) is coupled to the locking pin (6).
3. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the another end (9b) of the second
lever (9) is connectable to the locking pin (6) through a second cable (4a).

4. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first lever (7) is adapted to pivotally displace based on displacement of the first cable (4) to rotatably displace the link (8).
5. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second lever (9) is adapted to pivotally displace based on rotational displacement of the link (8) to displace the locking pin (6) between the first position (FP) and the second position (SP).
6. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second lever (9) is defined with a length longer than the length of the first lever (7) for amplifying displacement ratio of the parking brake lever (1) and the locking pin (6).
7. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a resilient member (11) coupled to the locking pin (6) and configured to provide biasing force to the locking pin (6) for displacing from the second position (SP) to the first position (FP).
8. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a latch (12) disposed in the tailgate of the vehicle, the latch (12) is adapted to receive the locking pin (6) in the first position (FP) to lock the tailgate.
9. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a cable splitter (3) connected between the first cable (4) and the parking brake lever (1).
10. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking pin (6) is movably supported on the body of the vehicle through a bracket (10).
11. A vehicle comprising a mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1.